The Realme GT 5G launches with a Snapdragon 888 SoC, 120Hz display and a 3.5mm jack

Realme has made the GT 5G, a phone that may have been keenly awaited due to its well-teased top-end specs, official. Its debut in China has also confirmed its Snapdragon 888 processor, paired with RAM and fixed storage that is LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1 respectively. 

On the outside, the GT 5G has triple 64+8+2MP rear cameras. This might strike some consumers as a bit too 2020 (at the best); however, Realme has made it clear that those looking for high-end mobile photography should hold out for the 8 Pro 5G instead this year, whereas the GT is for those who value speed and responsiveness over all.

Accordingly, not only does the new device have a 120Hz refresh rate for its 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen, Realme claims that it is augmented for gaming with a "4D vibration" haptic motor, "ultra-low" latency and "super control", even if a USB mouse or keyboard is used.

The GT 5G's screen is also equipped with an intelligent auto-brightness sytem, informed by dual ambient light sensors, for advanced eye protection. Realme has designed the phone to stay cool while using all these features (not to mention its new SoC) with a new "3D tempered liquid cooling" system that incorporates stainless steel as well as the more normal copper sheets and vapor-chambers, rated to reduce the GT's temperature by as much as 15°C under load.

The Realme GT also offers entertainment potential with stereo speakers enhanced with Dolby Atmos - not to mention an actual headphone jack. The OEM has put it up for pre-order already on its website, where it is offered in its glass-backed "Galacticos" (ice-blue) and "Deep sea airship" (dark electric blue) colorways, which start at just 2899 yuan (~US$448) for 8GB/128GB SKUs.

Those hoping for the "racing-style" vegan leather alternative hinted at in the phone's MWC Shanghai  teasers will not be disappointed: this new colorway ("Dawn") is also here, albeit in the GT 5G's top-end 12GB/256GB configuration only.

It goes for 3399 yuan (~$525; the same price as the glass-backed 12GB SKUs), which might just make it the best bargain in the 2021 premium space to date. Therefore, we can only hope for an international launch for the Realme GT 5G, and that it happens soon.

Until then, the Galaxy S21+ is available on Amazon