Realme GT Neo 3 review

Available today is the Realme GT Neo 3 (150W), an unlocked phone that comes with an impressive array of high-end hardware. I’ve had this for about 10 days now and use it as a second device.

This review will continue to evolve over the next few weeks as I get a chance to delve deeper into the experience, but I’m ready to share my first impressions.

I quickly fell in love with the Realme brand as each of their phones has an incredibly solid build quality with hardware that rivals much more expensive counterparts.

Although the company appears to be releasing a steady stream of models, not all are offered worldwide. However, things are increasingly expanding for the brand as it seeks to claim its place as one of the top handset makers in the world.

About the Realme GT Neo 3

Similar to “GT” classified cars, the phone has a sporty look, with a pair of racing stripes running vertically through the rear. The white lines look sharp against the blue and definitely catch the eye.

The screen measures 6.7 inches with a pinhole camera in the top center; It has a resolution of 1080 x 2412 pixels, a refresh rate of 120 Hz and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Under the hood is a MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. This puts it at the top in terms of performance. With eight cores (four Cortex-A78 CPU cores running at 2.85GHz and four Cortex-A55 CPU cores running at 2.0GHz0), it’s more than enough to get work done and have enough headroom for gaming.

design

My test unit was Nitro Blue, but it will also be available in Sprint White and Asphalt Black. I quite like the look of this one and was pleased to find that the protective case that came with it was almost see-through. There are few things more silly than buying a phone with a unique design or finish and then hiding it under a case.

I find the GT Neo 3 to be a bit thinner in the hand than my main phone, the Google Pixel 6. I appreciate every millimeter I can get when it comes to one-handed use. Between that and the barely noticeable overall thinner design, I like how that feels.

The fingerprint reader sits below the display and feels a little closer to the bottom than other phones I’ve used. It doesn’t really change anything, but it can take some time to get used to.

The two stripes run through the left half of the phone right through the middle of the camera module. The large main sensor sits on top and the flash sits neatly between the other two cameras. I like the symmetry here; it feels intentional and thoughtful.

software

The Realme GT Neo 3 runs an Android 12-based Realme UI 3, which is largely similar to the default experience. If you’ve used a Google, Motorola, or BLU phone for the past few years, things will look pretty much the same.

There are enough customization features and “extras” to make the phone experience feel unique to you, but I suspect many users just take the default settings and go with them.

A number of additional apps were pre-installed on my test device, including Amazon, Booking.com, LinkedIn and TikTok. I’ve also noticed some apps that may duplicate some Google titles or otherwise be considered “bloatware” by some.

I’ve certainly seen worse offenders here, and I understand that some of these partnerships help keep phone prices in line. However, it’s worth noting that you don’t get a clean OS-only load.

camera

As for the cameras, the phone has a 50-megapixel main Sony IMX 766 sensor with optical image stabilization, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. A 16-megapixel camera is located around the front.

I wish I could talk more about the results and give a deeper insight here. To be honest I just haven’t had enough free time in the last week or so. In the few shots I took around the house and office, I was happy with the images.

So far everything I’ve shot has been sharp and detailed and extra vivid. The white balance is accurate, especially in daylight shots. Lower light settings don’t seem to be a big issue for me these first few days.

There are many modes and options in the app that make me and many others happy. Switching between the different cameras is just as easy as calling up live filters and switching to video.

Performance

I have a love-hate relationship with setting up a new phone. On the one hand, it’s a hassle to go through and install apps, log in, adjust my security settings with Google, etc. I’m often picky about what I load for the first few days as I’m not entirely sure how often I use the phone as my main device become. On the other hand, when I’m ready to settle in, I love starting with a blank canvas of sorts and customizing the new phone.

I’m still at the stage where not all my apps and games are loaded on the Realme GT Neo 3. Still, I’m very confident that it will handle multitasking, gaming, and syncing accounts without a problem.

I’m using the global version of the phone with my T-Mobile SIM card and found the 5G connectivity was pretty much the same as my Pixel 6. Speeds in the Akron, OH area are typically around 35Mbps /s down and 8Mbps up, which is easily what I want or need.

A high refresh rate is one of those features we’ve been living without for years. We’re just starting to see over the last gen or two, and it’s still something that’s not really necessary. However, if you’re a gamer, you’ll want your phone to have that 120Hz (or higher) refresh.

While I could do with something that is 90Hz or even lower, I don’t want it anymore. Glad to see the 120hz stuff here in the select games I have installed. Smooth, silky graphics and animations for victory!

Perhaps the real kick for the GT Neo 3 is that it supports UltraDart 150W charging, with a 150W charger included in the box. According to Realme, only five minutes on the charger is enough to reach 50% battery. In fact, this is the fastest charging available in a smartphone to date. If you’re worried about the 4,500mAh battery being smaller than the competition, think about how much less time you’ll be spending on the mains.

My global unit doesn’t have the standard US plug, so I couldn’t test the 150w stuff. That being said, I can attest to the fact that it still only takes a few minutes for the phone battery to make any significant movement. I didn’t have to worry about charging as even a 10 minute commute to work is enough to get me through the rest of the day.

I really like the fingerprint reader on the Realme GT Neo 3 as it was easy to set up and very quick to read. Accuracy is pretty high and feels a lot faster than what I’m experiencing with my Pixel 6.

parting thoughts

Priced at around $550, this is a lot of phone for the money. It has a great color and design and feels good in the hand. The display is big and bright, and graphics and animations look buttery smooth.

I’m really digging the phone so far and think it’s something I’ll recommend to others. One of the problems we occasionally encounter with 5G phones is that they don’t have support for US bands. This global model has worked admirably for me with T-Mobile in my hometown and on general travel, and I’m getting 5G connectivity where I expect it to be.

The performance as a whole doesn’t even feel like a thing, because I haven’t seen any stuttering, forced closing, or hanging up yet. The battery life was incredible and the charging speed is as advertised.

I like the customization features that the handset allows such as: B. opening via the smart sidebar, switching to split screen, quick launch of selected apps from the lock screen and edge lighting for notifications.

You can learn more about the realme GT Neo 3 on the phone manufacturer’s website (varies by region) with the option to buy it in select markets. For example, an 8G+128G variant is offered in India with a Starting price of INR 36999 (about $480); However, it has an 80W charger. The realme GT NEO 3 150W (12G+256G) is available from INR 42999 ($550) in India.