Realme GT Master Edition has a refined design and an interesting quality / price ratio. Impressed by the premises, I was able to use this smartphone as my personal device for a few weeks. The time has come to take stock and in this review I will tell you the strengths and weaknesses of the new mid-range of the Chinese brand.
Mid-range Technical Data Sheet As usual we start from the technical sheet, the list of specifications helps us to give context to the smartphone. Realme GT Master Edition mounts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC, a 2.4GHz octa-core with 6nm architecture and integrated model X53, with support for the latest generation 5G networks. There are 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage space
The rear cameras are 3 and there is no lack of Wi-Fi 6, NFC and Bluetooth 5.2, which allows – among other things – to connect and manage 2 headphones at the same time.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor 8 GB RAM 128/2566 GB memory 6.43 ″ AMOLED display, 120Hz FullHD + resolution, 1080 x 2400 pixels Rear camera Three lenses: – 64 MP, f / 1.8 – Ultra Wide: 8 MP, f / 2.2 119 ° – Macro: 2 MP, f / 2.4 Front camera 32 MP , f / 2.5 Battery 4300 mAh Dimensions 159.2 mm x 73.5 mm x 8.7 mm Weight 180g USB Type-C NFC Yes 5G Yes Wireless charging No Design made by Naoto Fukusawa The refined and interesting design of Realme GT Master Edition has been redesigned in collaboration with the Japanese designer Naoto Fukusawa, whose signature can be found immediately below the brand logo. While on the front we have the classic punch-hole design, with thin edges and selfie camera integrated in a small hole, the back has an unmistakable design. This particular back is only present on the device in Voyager Gray color, the white and black variants have a more traditional design.
In the package there is a soft silicone cover, which incorporates in all respects the design of the back cover, including the artist's signature.
Fukusawa created the back of the GT Master Edition taking inspiration from the world of travel, in particular the typical “bumper” texture of trolleys. Constructed in faux leather, the back cover gives a nice feeling to the touch and an effective grip.
Speaking of pure aesthetics, this particular aspect may not please everyone, I like it a lot and I must admit that in these days of testing I have received appreciation from several friends and relatives. This design gives the device a premium aspect, a quality typical of much more expensive smartphones and which allows it to stand out in a market packed with increasingly similar devices.
The opaque and rough back goes well with the glossy finish of the photographic compartment, consisting of 3 optics of the same size. The build quality of the Realme GT ME is excellent, the front glass slightly rounded at the edges and the not too generous dimensions guarantee good usability even with one hand.
The last gem concerns the audio sector, there is only one speaker at the bottom but there is – listen, listen – the 3.5mm jack for headphones. I personally haven't used it for years and haven't missed it, but many users are still fond of wired headphones and will appreciate the choice made by Realme.
120Hz AMOLED display, not bad The Realme GT Master Edition screen is a 6.4-inch AMOLED in FullHD + resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. A really great display, above average for a device belonging to this price range (€ 300-350), 120Hz is the real strength of the panel.
Obviously, the possibility remains to set the maximum refresh rate or lower it to 60Hz, to preserve the battery from the greater consumption given by the 120Hz.
Even the color reproduction convinced me, it is possible to choose the temperature and the vividness, calibrating the panel according to your preferences. The maximum brightness reaches 1000 nits and the screen is always clearly visible, even in direct sunlight, too bad for the automatic sensor which seemed too conservative to me, I was forced to deactivate the automatism and adjust the brightness manually .
Excellent SOFTWARE and convincing performance The new Realme GT Master Edition brings with it the Realme UI 2.0, based on Android 11. The interface is simple and intuitive, without too many unnecessary features or pre-installed applications, but not bare either.
As often happens on Chinese devices, the translations and the layout of the menus did not fully convince me, but I must admit that I have seen a good step forward compared to version 1.0.
The Realme UI in fact derives from the more famous ColorOS, the interface developed by OPPO which in the last few times has proved to be among the most convincing. The modernization work and the attention to detail contribute to one of the best user experiences in the Andorid panorama.
Speaking of pure performance, Realme GT Master Edtion performs well in all conditions. Browsing through the menus and switching from one application to another I did not find any slowdown whatsoever, even in gaming the excellent Qualcomm processor performs very well.
Lately we reviews recommend the purchase of smartphones in this price range, precisely because the performance offered by the mid-range SoCs do not make you regret the top of the range from over 800/1000 euros.
As usual, by purchasing a mid-range the most significant sacrifices reside in the photographic sector, but we will talk about this topic in the next paragraph.
Photos AND VIDEO IN LINE WITH THE PRICE The photographic sector of Realme GT Master Edition offers the same configuration seen on the GT, of which I invite you to read our full review. The performances are very similar if not almost comparable to the standard GT.
The main camera is 64 MP, then there's an ultra-wide-angle camera with a 119 ° angle and finally a macro sensor.
I could summarize the photographic capabilities of this Master Edition with just one adjective: discrete. In this price range I don't expect much more from the photographic sector, the quality of the shots is excellent but not excellent, ideal for uploading photos to social media.
In good lighting conditions, the main camera and the wide-angle camera work very well, with always correct exposure and sharp and well-focused images. Even the chromatic reproduction convinced me, with vivid but never excessive colors and without any predominant tonality.
In low light, the night mode intervenes, which however did not impress me very much. The software does nothing but increase the exposure and slow down the shutter, the HDR intervenes but is not decisive and the final result is an uneven shot, which I would define “forced”.
The macro lens, on the other hand, is very interesting, personally I prefer it to zoom because it allows me to capture beautiful images from a new perspective. Obviously it is a lens to use during the day, the maximum aperture f / 2.4 does not allow it to capture well exposed images in low light conditions.
There is not much to say about the videos. It can record in 4K resolution at 30 fps, the focus is precise and responsive and the stabilization works quite well too. The general quality of the footage is sufficient for uploading to social media, but obviously it cannot keep up with high-end smartphones.
AUTONOMY The 4300 mAh battery allows the GT Master Edition to complete a day of intense use without any problem, I arrived at the after dinner always with an abundant 15-20% of remaining autonomy. The credit goes to the excellent Qualcomm processor, but also to the software optimization work done by Realme.
Using the charger included in the package takes advantage of the Super Dart Charge fast charging, with an output of 65W. Recharge your smartphone from 0 to 100% in just over half an hour and it only takes a few minutes to recover a 30/40% battery and go out for the evening with greater peace of mind.
Price and conclusion Realme GT Master Edition is available on Amazon at a price ranging between € 300 and € 350, often the protagonist of interesting downward offers.
I can only promote this Realme GT Master Edition with flying colors, the back cover design convinces me and I'm sorry that it is only offered in gray color. The general performance did not make me regret the much-renowned top of the range, except for the photographic sector, which obviously cannot and should not be compared to smartphones that cost three times as much.
I recommend the purchase to anyone with a budget of around 300 euros and looking for a concrete smartphone, beautiful to look at, with well-optimized software and good photographic skills.
