realme GT 2 review - Those who do without the latest Snapdragon get the better deal
Possible competitors in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2022 | Realme GT 2 SD 888 5G, Adreno 660 | 199.8 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.62" | 2400x1080 | |
| 87.4 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2022 | Realme GT 2 Pro SD 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730 | 189 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" | 3216x1440 | |
| 85.1 % v7 (old) | 08 / 2021 | OnePlus Nord 2 5G Dimensity 1200, Mali-G77 MP9 | 189 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.43" | 2400x1080 | |
| 86.6 % v7 (old) | 10 / 2021 | Xiaomi 11T Dimensity 1200, Mali-G77 MP9 | 203 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | |
| 85.3 % v7 (old) | 02 / 2022 | Motorola Moto G200 5G SD 888+ 5G, Adreno 660 | 202 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.80" | 2460x1080 |
Case and features - Interesting and sustainable design
We really liked the realme GT 2 Pro when it was tested, but now we have received the cheaper, but also somewhat lesser equipped realme GT 2 for testing. The discounts compared to the GT 2 Pro are quite generous with up to 250 Euros (~$263). Here is an overview of the model variants:
- realme GT 2 128 GB mass storage / 8 GB RAM: 549 Euros (~$577)
- realme GT 2 256 GB mass storage / 12 GB RAM: 599 Euros (~$630)
The three color variants, Paper Green, Paper White and Steel Black remain, but you have to accept restrictions in the choice of materials. For example, the frame around the case is only made of plastic and instead of Gorilla Glass Victus, only the older Gorilla Glass 5 is available.
The two color options with "Paper" in the name are made of biopolymers that feel like paper, are lighter than usual plastics, and also reduce the CO2 footprint. In any case, the back of our green test device is chicly designed, whereas the black model looks simpler and is better suited if you like it restrained.
The realme GT 2 is not really handier despite a slightly smaller screen diagonal than its Pro brother. The build quality is pleasing, even though the smartphone can be twisted a bit more due to the plastic frame and creaking noises are then heard.
Two SIM slots are on board, but there is no option to install an eSIM and no microSD reader to expand the storage.
Communication, software and operation - realme cell phone with stable WLAN
The realme GT 2 is very stable in our Wi-Fi test and the speeds are also good: The smartphone can use Wi-Fi 6 networks well. 5G and numerous 4G frequencies are on board, so you should also be well prepared for international trips. In a random test, the realme phone also proves to have strong reception with a stable wireless signal.
The realme UI 3 preinstalled on the smartphone is based on Android 12. At the time of testing the security patches date back to April 2022 and thus testify to the manufacturer's regular update policy. realme promises 3 Android versions and 4 years of security updates for its smartphone.
Thanks to Android 12, the system's look can be extensively customized in many areas, but realme has also further tweaked its system and offers a new one-hand mode. With System Cloner, you can even run two completely separate systems on the phone.
The 120 Hz screen contributes to the smooth navigation through the menus, as does the high system performance. The touchscreen is precise, even in the corners, and the physical buttons can be felt clearly and are also placed sensibly for lefties. A fingerprint sensor is integrated into the screen and unlocks the smartphone quickly and reliably.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Xiaomi 11T | |
| Motorola Moto G200 5G | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Xiaomi 11T | |
| Motorola Moto G200 5G | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Realme GT 2 Pro | |
| Realme GT 2 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Realme GT 2 Pro | |
| Realme GT 2 | |
Cameras - Fewer megapixels almost everywhere
The realme GT 2 uses Sony's IMX 766 as the camera sensor for its main camera. This allows taking pictures with up to 50 megapixels, but pixel binning is used by default, which means the resolution is reduced to 12 megapixels and larger pixels are used for more brightness. We like the picture quality and color reproduction quite well in normal daylight, even though the sharpness in detail is not perfect. In low light and high contrasts, many details are still preserved even in dark areas.
Thus, while there are no differences in the main camera's sensor compared to the realme GT 2 Pro the rest of the cameras have to make do with fewer pixels across the board: This is probably most obvious in the ultra-wide-angle camera, where only 8 instead of 50 megapixels (12 megapixels with pixel binning) are available. Thus, the real GT 2 is less flexible for the user.
The realme GT 2 can record 4K videos, but not 8K movies like the Pro model. The quality of the recordings with the main sensor is still good, but the lower quality of the ultra-wide-angle lens means that the option to zoom smoothly between the lenses is missing.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main camera PlantMain camera EnviromentMain camera Low LightWide-angle camera
Display - Very bright and with DC dimming
The resolution of the AMOLED screen is 2400 x 1080 pixels, which is quite sufficient for the screen size of 6.62 inches to display a fine picture without visible pixels. However, the Pro model also offers the option for a 1440p resolution here, which is not available in the realme GT 2.
In terms of brightness, the smartphone is on a good level with a maximum of around 750 cd/m² and a very even illumination. The color reproduction is also quite accurate when desired, but does not quite come close to top phones. The screen can adjust its brightness in several steps, but not quite as finely as the Pro model.
We noticed PWM flickering. With the help of the DC dimming mode that can be activated in the realme Lab, the signal changes significantly to a relatively even flickering at around 50 Hz, which might be more pleasant for some users. However, since the reactions to flickering screens are very individual, only trying it out usually helps.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 98 %
Center on Battery: 759 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.14 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.87
ΔE Greyscale 2.8 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
99.3% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.16
| Realme GT 2 AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.6" | Realme GT 2 Pro AMOLED, 3216x1440, 6.7" | OnePlus Nord 2 5G AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.4" | Xiaomi 11T AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.7" | Motorola Moto G200 5G IPS LCD, 2460x1080, 6.8" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | -25% | -30% | 16% | 5784% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 10 ? | 15 ? -50% | 8 ? 20% | 2.8 ? 72% | 32 ? -220% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 6 ? | 6 ? -0% | 8 ? -33% | 2.8 ? 53% | 28 ? -367% |
| PWM Frequency | 495 | 367.6 -26% | 119.6 -76% | 120.2 ? -76% | 89290 17938% |
| Screen | -23% | -21% | 13% | -29% | |
| Brightness middle | 759 | 740 -3% | 594 -22% | 781 3% | 512 -33% |
| Brightness | 756 | 732 -3% | 594 -21% | 782 3% | 488 -35% |
| Brightness Distribution | 98 | 98 0% | 99 1% | 94 -4% | 87 -11% |
| Black Level * | 0.36 | ||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.14 | 3.25 -52% | 2.74 -28% | 2 7% | 3.42 -60% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.68 | 6.46 -14% | 6 -6% | 2.9 49% | 5.9 -4% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.8 | 4.7 -68% | 4.2 -50% | 2.3 18% | 3.7 -32% |
| Gamma | 2.16 102% | 2.213 99% | 2.278 97% | 2.28 96% | 7154 0% |
| CCT | 6517 100% | 5663 115% | 7322 89% | 6852 95% | 1.944 334362% |
| Contrast | 1422 | ||||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -24% /
-24% | -26% /
-24% | 15% /
14% | 2878% /
1908% |
* ... smaller is better
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 3 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 16 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.8 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 10 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 7 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 20 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.5 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 495 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 495 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 495 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8516 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings
Performance, emissions and battery life - older processor with a lot of power
With its Snapdragon 888 the realme GT 2 relies on an outdated SoC. However, since it is a top processor from last year, the performance should still be on a very high level. Our measurements and benchmarks confirm this: Our test device cannot quite keep up with the realme GT 2 Pro, but the other comparison devices are easily surpassed or are on par.
The performance should be sufficient for everyday use in most cases and there are also enough resources for gaming. The fast memory also contributes to a very smooth system.
However, the load temperature is quite high at over 45 °C (113 °F) in some cases. We measured at room temperature, so it could be quite uncomfortable to touch the real GT 2 under load in hot environments.
The stereo speakers, where the earpiece acts as a second speaker, offer a good overall sound without overdriving. External audio devices can be connected via USB-C or Bluetooth. All current aptX codecs are supported.
The battery of the realme GT 2 actually consists of two batteries that can store 2,500 mAh each. Thus, a total of 5,000 mAh is available. Like the Pro model, the battery system can be charged with up to 65 watts via the included power adapter and thus does not need an hour until it is full again.
The runtimes are not quite as good as those of the Pro model, but they are still absolutely suitable for everyday use with almost 16 hours in our WLAN test. You should easily survive two workdays without a power outlet.
| GFXBench | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme GT 2 | |
| Realme GT 2 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Xiaomi 11T | |
| Motorola Moto G200 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (32 - 73, n=26) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (5.5 - 166, n=205, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme GT 2 | |
| Realme GT 2 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Xiaomi 11T | |
| Motorola Moto G200 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (46 - 87, n=27) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (3.4 - 321, n=205, last 2 years) | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme GT 2 | |
| Realme GT 2 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Xiaomi 11T | |
| Motorola Moto G200 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (25 - 51, n=26) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (0.85 - 144, n=206, last 2 years) | |
| 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme GT 2 | |
| Realme GT 2 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Xiaomi 11T | |
| Motorola Moto G200 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (19 - 32, n=26) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1.2 - 129, n=205, last 2 years) | |
| Realme GT 2 | Realme GT 2 Pro | OnePlus Nord 2 5G | Xiaomi 11T | Motorola Moto G200 5G | Average 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 11% | 6% | -22% | -8% | 15% | 35% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 1914.4 | 1749 -9% | 1827 -5% | 1790 -6% | 1898 -1% | 1737 ? -9% | 2030 ? 6% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 776 | 1225 58% | 1256 62% | 942 21% | 712 -8% | 1164 ? 50% | 1646 ? 112% |
| Random Read 4KB | 283.6 | 273 -4% | 223.7 -21% | 139.3 -51% | 155.9 -45% | 286 ? 1% | 282 ? -1% |
| Random Write 4KB | 267.3 | 264 -1% | 239 -11% | 133.3 -50% | 322.5 21% | 319 ? 19% | 325 ? 22% |
Temperature
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45.4 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 44.1 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.5 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
Speaker
Realme GT 2 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.9% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (17.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.5% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.2% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 61% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 31% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 77% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Realme GT 2 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 30% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 49% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 43% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery life
| Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing | |
| Realme GT 2 Pro | |
| Average of class Smartphone (476 - 3244, n=206, last 2 years) | |
| Realme GT 2 | |
| OnePlus Nord 2 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G200 5G | |
| Xiaomi 11T | |
Pros
Cons
Conclusion - doing without can be worthwhile
The realme GT 2 Pro is in the upper class in terms of costs, while the realme GT 2 is already available at mid-range prices. For the reduced price you have to settle for the older Snapdragon 888, which is still a high-end processor from last year that is completely sufficient for most apps and guarantees a smooth system.
The Full HD screen does not have as fine a resolution as the Pro model, but it is very bright and can adjust its refresh rate in 4 steps. The metal frame around the casing that was present in the Pro model is absent. If you don't require a high-end phone, these are all differences that you can actually live with in view of a discount of up to 250 Euros (~$263).
The main camera sensor remains the same as in the GT 2 Pro, however, the wide-angle camera does not have pixel binning in our review sample, so the light sensitivity is not quite as high. However, the difference is hardly visible in terms of image quality. The GT 2 can record a maximum of 4K videos and the zoom function is limited.
The realme GT 2 Pro offers a lot of power and long runtimes at a good price, but the camera is not as flexible.
Overall, the GT 2 offers an even better price-performance ratio than the Pro model. It is still slightly more expensive compared to the competition, but you get a well-equipped upper mid-range phone. Missing features like wireless charging also do not hurt as much at the lower price.
However, the Pro model offers the slightly longer runtimes in our test. The Motorola Moto G200 offers an extended desktop mode for completely new application possibilities, but lacks an optical image stabilizer for the camera, for example.
Price and availability
The realme GT 2 is available directly from the manufacturer at https://buy.realme.com/eu/goods/201 for 550 - 600 Euros (~$578 - $631). notebooksbilliger.de still sells at the manufacturer's price. The smartphone is available at amazon.de and Cyberport.de as well.
Realme GT 2
- 08/30/2022 v7 (old)
Florian Schmitt
Price comparison
