HomeMacityAndroid World Realme is a brand that has entered the smartphone stage with a straight leg, presenting excellent devices with a value for money that is always valid and interesting. This time, however, the brand comes out into the open, presenting a high-end terminal that does not want to fear comparisons. You can immediately understand it from the data sheet, which includes Qualcomm's top-of-the-range processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Here's how our road test went.
Realme continues in its desire to amaze users since unboxing, presenting devices with original and recognizable features. With the GT Pro Explorer model, the brand has proposed unusual rear panels in vegan leather, with designs inspired by travel trolleys. Now, Realme uses a new formula to target a different audience, this time not interested in travel, but concerned about the environmental impact.
It does so with the Paper Green or Paper White versions, created in collaboration with the industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa; the two Paper themed models restore the look and texture of real paper. The true meaning of this design, however, goes beyond simple aesthetic tastes, and the choice is very precise: the rear shell is made with bio-based polymers. In this way, the brand claims, we get to produce 35.5% less carbon emissions, 63% less per kilogram, which is actually a lot considering how many of these phones will be produced during their lifetime. There are also two other finishes, Steel Black and Titanium Blue, instead made with traditional materials, but considering that the peculiarity lies in the Paper model, we are ready to bet that these will be the most sold.
Realme is keen to point out that its commitment to protecting the planet does not end only in the rear body of its flagship: design and packaging reduce the use of plastic equivalent to 3.5 million plastic bottles. In the package, however, there is still the wall adapter for charging.
Display
The rear body of this terminal is not the only unusual choice made by the brand. Even the screen, in fact, offers original features. It is a 2K AMOLED unit with 6.7-inch diagonal LTPO 2.0, 509 PPI, and a brightness of 1400 nits peak. Unlike other flagship of competing brands, realme has preferred a flat display, without curved edges, a choice that will appeal to many users, who in the past have not liked the use of curved displays on the sides, operated by the top of the range. 
The colors of the display appear immediately lively, with very deep blacks. The panel supports variable refresh rates up to 120Hz, with software being able to reduce frequencies down to 1Hz whenever possible to conserve battery in some cases.
Performance
As already mentioned, Realme GT2 Pro does not discount anyone in terms of technical characteristics. This is why it counts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 among its ranks, like many of the top of the range currently on the market. To support the processor, especially to keep high temperatures in check, Realme has included what it calls the largest stainless steel vapor cooling chamber ever seen on a phone, along with a “Diamond Thermal Gel”.
In fact, we have noticed that during even intensive use, the Realme GT2 Pro manages to keep temperatures low, and even the benchmark data certainly suggests that the processor is not subject to throttling.
In daily use, probably also thanks to this large vapor chamber, and therefore to the never high temperatures, there is a great fluidity of the system, one of the most evident appreciated on today's terminals. We also compared it with other top of the range today, even more expensive, and Realme GT 2 Pro was never second to none. The benchmark tests, for those who love numbers, have outperformed competitors in the same range, but with the highest price list.
Never a lag, never a slowdown, with a truly remarkable background reactivity, among the highest appreciable on a terminal today.
When in the sound department, however, Realme GT2 Pro employs a stereo speaker configuration, where the ear capsule acts as a second speaker. The result is still good sound, with a fairly high volume, which lacks a bit of power when it comes to bass. Overall though, it is a department that will absolutely satisfy the vast majority of users.
Cameras
Realme GT2 Pro has a triple camera system. The main sensor is a 50MP Sony IMX766, which performs very well, returning photos with bright colors and a high level of detail, even in less than ideal lighting conditions, such as indoor light. Even the night mode does an appreciable job, and even from this point of view it does not look bad in the face of configurations that are more performing than other top of the range competitors.
The main sensor is flanked by an ultra-wide camera, with a 50 MP Samsung JN1 sensor, with a FOV lens of 150 already appreciated in other flagships, such as the OnePlus 10 Pro. The camera department of the device is really fun to use even for the 3 MP macro sensor with 40X magnification, and with the microscope functionality that is truly appreciated, even after long use. 
We enjoyed using this mode, even simply to photograph objects of common use, such as a simple tablecloth, a piece of cloth, the leaf of a plant. On several occasions we wanted to see how the objects that circulated around us looked like under the microscope.
What is missing is, unfortunately, a dedicated telephoto lens, and the multimedia department therefore suffers on the zoom department. This lack also negatively affects bokeh images: in fact, depth estimation and blur do not always look as smooth as possible.
Below is a series of shots taken with the terminal:
Three shots under the microscope, in which it is possible to see the fibers of a carpet, and those of a leaf:
Any fabric under the microscope 
a carpet 
one leaf
Autonomy
The terminal has a large 5,000 mAh battery which seems to be a standard figure for today's flagships by now. To be honest, the autonomy seemed to us slightly lower than the Realme GT 2 Neo, which boasts the same nominal power. Furthermore, compared to other competitors who are aiming for impressive charging speeds, GT2 Pro offers a 65W SuperVOOC from OPPO. However, it is an excellent charging speed, which can charge the terminal in less than 40 minutes: even a 10 or 15 minute flash charge will ensure you, for example, to exceed half a day very well.
Realme UI 3.0
Realme GT2 Pro runs Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0, which is based on OPPO's ColorOS. The software runs really well, has no significant shortcomings, and indeed offers important functions, such as one-handed use, which similarly recalls Apple's Reachability function.
Also present are the always on, screen shortcuts with bars to launch apps and functions quickly. Overall, the operating system is always responsive, even one thing that will make users turn up their noses: the company has officially declared that it will not go beyond two years of software support for its devices. Considering that it is a top of the range, in fact, we would have expected a longer lasting support.
On the other hand, the GT mode will like, especially for gamers, able to enhance even more the performance of the device, even if at the expense of energy consumption, which will precipitate tangibly.
Conclusions
Realme GT2 Pro is the company's first entry into the top-of-the-range market. For us this is an absolutely successful attempt. It is a rather handy terminal, with small dimensions, and a weight of 189 grams which allows you to use it really well.
A praise for the materials used, which also give it an original aesthetic that stands out from the crowd. In daily use it is extremely fluid, without any lag, able to keep temperatures at bay.
The launch price starting from 649 euros made it practically a must, considering the technical characteristics, processor in the first place, while the current price list starting from 749 euros will make it a little less attractive to most. If he had kept the early bird as the standard price we would be talking about a practically obligatory purchase.
In any case, Realme GT 2 Pro is a fun terminal to use, performing, and with all the credentials to be a real top of the range.
PRO
AGAINST
No certifications
Prices and availability
In the 8 + 128 GB version you buy at 749.99 euros (at the time of writing at 649 it is a must), while in the 12 + 256 version the price rises to 849.99 euros.
