Realme GT 5G Comes With Qualcomm's Flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC At Under $500

People who are on the lookout for a new Android smartphone might want to check out the Realme GT 5G. It may seem like an entry-level option at $430, but its Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset says otherwise.

The mobile phone is packed with other flagship-grade specifications with a wallet-friendly cost that rivals other premium models out there. Among Chinese Android OEMs, Xiaomi's Mi 11 was recognized as the first to have Qualcomm's latest processor. This was followed by Samsung Galaxy S21, which was launched in January.

What the silicon brings to the table on top of performance is the advanced Snapdragon X60 5G Modem-RF system. The latter is integrated into every Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset.

With the X60, the GT 5G can take advantage of the modem's carrier aggregation feature to optimize its mobile data connectivity. It provides users with faster internet and reduced latency on their supported device.

Qualcomm likewise noted that the Snapdragon X60 inside the Snapdragon 888 is built "on the leading 5-nanometer process node." Another noticeable benefit would be the improved battery life, the chipmaker said.

Compatibility with both sub-6 GHz and mmWave 5G spectrum with simultaneous communication makes the Snapdragon 888 a versatile upgrade over its predecessor. Thus, the Realme GT 5G is one of the most affordable Android smartphones to have it on board in 2021.

Design-wise, Realme's 5G-ready unit will ship in three colors: Deep Sea Blue, Galactic Silver and Dawn Yellow. The first two are presented in a typical profile with glass and metal, while the latter is a bit different, thanks to the leather texture of its back panel. The combination of its yellow finish and the black stripe that runs up to the main camera module gives it a sporty appearance.

The GT 5G's primary imaging configuration uses a 64-megapixel main, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle and a 2-megapixel macro lens.

Meanwhile, its 6.43-inch 2400 x 1080 AMOLED panel has a hole-punch cutout on the upper left corner that houses a 16-megapixel selfie shooter. According to GSMArena, this has a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

Its 4,500 mAh battery of the smartphone supports 65W fast charging technology. However, it does not support wireless charging.

Those who want to get a Realme GT 5G can choose between its 8GB RAM + 128GB and 12GB RAM + 256GB variants.

Finally, Realme GT 5G ships with Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 and has a 3.5 mm headphone port, which is becoming a rarity on modern smartphones these days.