
Realme has launched the Realme GT 7 Pro and they have already raised the ceiling. You may wonder what exactly the GT 7 Pro set the bar in. The answer is performance as the brand becomes the first in India to introduce a phone with the Snapdragon 8 Elite powering its workload. The chipset has been making headlines since it was unveiled purely for how outrageously fast it can get.
Realme GT 7 Pro
Rs 59,999What Is Good?
- Robust build quality with an enticing minimal look
- Consistently tremendous performance
- Smooth display
- Long battery life
- Reliable primary and telephoto cameras
- IP68 and IP69 rating
What Is Bad?
- Bloatware apps with spammy notifications
- Low-resolution ultra-wide angle camera
- Smaller battery capacity in the Indian unit
Naturally, the question arises whether Realme just installed the hyped chipset in the GT 7 Pro and called it a day or if they have put efforts into building each aspect around the chipset, giving the phone the ability to spread its wings and stand pride among formidable phones like the iQOO 12 and the OnePlus 12. Read my review to find out the answer.
Pricing and Availability in India
The Realme GT 7 Pro is available via Amazon and the brand’s website. It can also be purchased from stores near you. The phone comes in two variants. You can avail of a discount of Rs 3,000 using a selected credit or debit card. Here’s a look at the pricing:
Variant | Price |
12GB+256GB | Rs 59,999 |
16GB+512GB | Rs 64,999 |
Performance and Software
In days of using the phone, the Realme GT 7 Pro has given me the experience of riding the Bugatti Tourbillon without driving it. I know there is no correlation between the two entities but the unbridled performance fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite simply compelled me to compare. Whatever tasks I performed throughout my day, switching between different camera modes, binge-scrolling across Instagram reels and more, were always done swiftly.
Hardware | Specifications |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
RAM | Up to 16GB LPDDR5X |
Storage | Up to 512GB UFS 4.0 |
Storage test | 265747 |
CPU Throttling test | 76% of its maximum performance |
Geekbench 6 | Multi-core: 9271, Single-core: 3056 |
Software version | Realme 6.0 based on Android 15 |
Connectivity details | Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Dual Band GPS, 360° NFC and IR Blaster |
Leading the chart by thousands is one thing, but trumping every phone by a million is a class of its own. But, that’s before the new wave of smartphones comes in, so we will have to wait for more head-to-head comparisons. Crazy feats aren’t limited to daily usage and benchmarks; in gaming, the GT 7 Pro also knocked the competition from last year out of the park.
For almost a month, I spent countless hours playing games like BGMI, Call of Duty: Mobile and COD Warzone on this phone. Each game always ran at the highest graphical quality with no lag, consistently hitting peak performance and with barely any heating issues.
The UI has always been a pivotal part of any smartphone. We interact with it frequently, making it powerful enough to sway people’s opinions on any phone.
With all these in mind, Realme nailed almost every aspect of the OS in Realme UI 6.0. Each animation was buttery smooth. It has a better implementation of the dynamic island and tons of new customisation options, like “Flux” themes.
You also get a few AI features like AI Sketch to Image which somewhat outputs acceptable images after interpreting your doodles and an AI eraser to clean some kinks from your photos.
However, the GT 7 Pro software’s main drawback is the inclusion of preloaded apps and some bloatware, accompanied by spammy notifications.
Design and Build Quality
When a phone offers boundless performance, it is natural to assume that its outer shell should reflect this trait through its design language. Realme glanced at this concept, laughed, and gave the GT 7 Pro a minimal look that conceals its beastly behaviour. If you pick its Galaxy Grey colour, you will see this attribute in full force. That said, the Mars Orange colour does add some spice to the design if this is what you prefer.
Design | Specifications |
Weight | 222.8g |
Thickness | 8.55mm |
IP rating | IP68 and IP69 |
Port and Button placements | Bottom: SIM tray, primary microphone, USB port, and speaker grille
Top: Secondary microphone and IR Blaster Right Side: Power button and volume button |
Besides its functional look, you will next notice how chunky the GT 7 Pro feels. It isn’t as thick as a decade-old phone but deviates from the unofficial standard thickness of flagship phones. While the GT 7 Pro may appear hefty, Realme has succeeded in getting the weight distribution right making the phone easier to lug around.
Another attribute the company perfected is the build quality. The GT 7 Pro has an aluminium frame that seems prepared to stand beside you in tough situations. The phone’s dual IP68 and IP69 rating strengthens it against dust and water, so you can take it for a swim and shoot some underwater action. But before jumping into action, be sure to read the fine print.
Display and Audio
While most brands opt for a curved or flat display, Realme has defied the norm by installing a quad-curved display on the GT 7 Pro. The screen not only lends the phone a unique look at the front but also offers superior picture quality. I cherished watching Dandadan anime due to how vibrant the series appeared with on-point colour consistency. The icing on the cake is with HDR10 and Widevine L1 certification, you can watch series or movies at their best quality on streaming services like Netflix.
Display | Specifications |
Size | 6.78-inch |
Type | AMOLED |
Resolution | FHD+ (1264 x 2780) |
Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i |
Refresh rate | 120Hz LTPO |
Peak brightness | Claimed: 6500 nits |
Other features | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner |
Speaking of brightness, I was barely inclined to go beyond 40 per cent intensity indoors as I could comfortably stack kills in COD Warzone without blinding myself. Outdoors, I could see the camera’s viewfinder with no strain on my eyes under the direct sunlight.
The audio quality was equally satisfactory since the stereo speakers were loud even at half the volume with a fairly balanced sound signature.
Camera
The GT 7 Pro’s cameras have performed admirably in my usage, enough to challenge the assumptions around any performance-centric phone’s camera. Before diving into how all three cameras performed in my usage, I want to preface that the phone had been updated a few times to iron out most kinks like boosted contrast.
Camera | Specifications |
Primary Camera | 50-megapixel Sony IMX906 with OIS, ƒ/1.8 |
Secondary Camera | 8-megapixel Ultra-wide, ƒ/2.2 |
Tertiary Camera | 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 Telephoto with OIS, ƒ/2.62 |
Selfie Camera | 16-megapixel, ƒ/2.45 |
Video recording capabilities | Up to 8K at 24 fps, Underwater Recording, video stabilisation: EIS/OIS |
The primary camera has a knack for taking detailed images that appeal to the eyes because of its on-point vibrancy. Beyond this, the HDR is mostly done right in these photos as there are instances where it was a bit off the mark in difficult situations.
The ultra-wide camera reflects almost all attributes of the main camera, but it doesn’t produce equally detailed images. Its lower megapixel count could be the reason behind this behaviour.
The telephoto camera stands equal to the primary camera while achieving better saturation. It generates near-accurate images with respectable HDR.
And, you can click praise-worthy portrait shots using this camera. The primary camera can take amazing portrait photos but doesn’t stand a chance against the telephoto counterpart.
The low-light images taken from the main and telephoto cameras were eye-pleasing. Be it Diwali or a walk at the flea market, I regularly took photos that I could post on Instagram without editing since these images were close to natural in details and colours with adequate exposure.
A few downsides I noticed were that some noises occasionally crept in while the slightly slower shutter speed blurred images in dimly lit situations due to sudden movements. The photos from the ultra-wide camera were satisfactory but relatively less detailed with a much slower shutter speed.
Speaking of selfies, the front camera can take photos that you can set as your next profile photo without much thought since it produces close-to-natural skin tones.
Battery and Charging
The Realme GT 7 Pro I received had a 6,500 mAh battery, so my experience varies from what you may experience with the Indian variant. Nonetheless, the phone usually managed to last a heavy day of usage, consisting of gaming, photoshoots, scrolling across Instagram feeds, and more, with 43% still left.
Battery | Specifications |
Battery | Our variant: 6,500mAh; 5,800mAh (Indian Variant) |
Charging Adapter | 120W fast charging, charger-in-the-box |
Charging Time | 34 minutes |
PCMark battery test | 15 hours and 32 minutes |
During our PCMark Battery test, the smartphone lasted 15 hours and 32 minutes, which is an acceptable number but not enough to outperform the Vivo T3 Pro, clocking in 6 more hours with relatively less capacity.
The 120W charger takes almost half an hour to charge the battery completely, which is just crazy.
Verdict
At the price of Rs 59,999, the Realme GT 7 Pro is a no-brainer if you want a mighty phone which coincidentally has reliable cameras. Above all, it offers a superb display and great speakers to have a gala while watching content. Besides, its big battery ensures no interruptions in your binge-watching sessions with all of these wrapped in an aluminium frame which can withstand tough situations with you.
Before purchasing the phone, you need to take note of its compromises: While the UI will remain speedy in your usage with buttery smooth animation, it can annoy you with unwarranted spammy notifications. Besides this, it’s unfortunate to see that the Indian variant of the GT 7 Pro won’t benefit from a bigger battery that can be found on the Chinese unit.
If you are looking for alternatives in this price range, the OnePlus 12 becomes an ideal choice if you want a flagship phone with a clean UI. And similarly, the Vivo X100 suits you if you want a terrific companion in your photographic journey. The new wave of Snapdragon 8 Elite phones are yet to come with the iQOO 13 already in the queue, so it’s also wise to wait for the market to settle in before making a purchase decision.