It's a mid-range device, and yet, for some strange reason, it's one of those phones that interests me more than other options. Some of them are far more innovative and important for the future of smartphones. The reason? Because ultimately, these are the phones most people use, so let me tell you about the Realme GT Master Edition.
Video analysis
A mid-range phone with a lot to say
The Realme GT Master Edition is a new mid-range phone . It's the latest offering from a manufacturer that has steadily grown in popularity since entering the Spanish market. This is due to two main reasons: good performance and good prices.
Logically, this does not mean that each and every one of their products is perfect, but when you assess the quality/price ratio, it is difficult not to think that they may be the ideal model for a specific audience. I think this new phone could go a little further and be a very good option for a large majority.
A curious way to break with the classic aesthetic
In terms of design, it is difficult to make something new and the use of different materials such as plastic, metal or glass with their respective textures, colors, finishes, etc., are the only elements that manufacturers can play with. The problem is that the idea that only certain finishes give a premium appearance has already been established in the heads of many users.
That's why it's important to promote the idea that not everything made of glass is the best. To achieve this, realme has partnered with Naoto Fukasawa to create a different back design. This may be a big hit or a complete miss, but if you think about it, it's a touch of differentiation that helps break away from the classic back design.
Furthermore, the materials chosen for its manufacture offer two important benefits: better grip and easier cleaning . You won't have to worry about fingerprints, unlike other materials such as glass, or even low-quality metal or plastic.
This time, the back is made of vegan leather, which, along with the gray tone and the shapes inspired by a travel suitcase, makes it look like a device that could be seen as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option. There are also two variations with other materials, in moon white or cosmos black, which can be seen on the brand's website.
For the rest, the camera module, the edges and the front part do not change compared to other options. It's not the foldable Galaxy Z Flip 3 that I recently got to review as well, but it's still a phone that feels great in the palm of your hand.
As a summary, some details of its physical and design section:
- Compact and comfortable design: with 159,2 x 73,5 mm, it seems to me a very pleasant terminal to use on a daily basis and also to always carry in a trouser pocket. Besides that it only weighs 180 gr.
- Front camera in a hole in the screen: it is located in the left corner and although there will be likes for everything, it is a location that for an integrated selfie camera with a hole in the screen bothers a little less
- Accessibility to physical buttons: Due to their very dimensions, accessing the volume and power control buttons (each located on opposite sides) is somewhat comfortable regardless of the size of the hand
- Nice texture: the texture of the vegan fue and the shapes of this special edition also make it very pleasant to hold. And it may also help to give it a touch of positive differentiation even though it is a mid-range
For the rest, nothing that cannot be seen in images. Like, for example, the USB C connection for charging and data transfer or the 3,5mm audio jack that remains despite the popularity of True Wireless headphones.
The user experience
A high-end terminal, for which you have to pay a significant amount of money, things are asked for that others are forgiven. However, the user experience, performance and its capabilities to do all kinds of tasks is something that is equally in demand. Logically, you have to know the differences that a phone that costs 1.000 euros will offer and I have the latest in high-end processors, with a much cheaper one and lower range micros, but not always in experience.
On this occasion, the realme GT Master Edition makes use of a configuration that we will soon see many more times:
- Qualcomm processor Snapdragon 778 with 5G connectivity
- 6 and 8 GB of RAM, our version has 8 GB
- Internal storage of 128 and 256 GB
- 6,43-inch AMOLED screen and a 120 Hz refresh rate
- To all this we add support for 5G, 4F networks, Bluetooth connectivity, WiFi 6, NFC and that FM radio that many users still like so much.
With this technical sheet, the most important thing to highlight is the performance of the processor. A chip that could be said to be practically released by them at a time when accessing new micros is not easy.
Of course, beyond simply looking at raw numbers, the important thing is understanding what they mean. That's why we also need to consider realme UI 2.0 , the Android customization capabilities it uses.
With both elements, my expectations were the usual ones with these types of phones and they were. Aware of certain limitations, day-to-day use has been satisfactory. So much so that beyond getting used to the particular aesthetics of the layer, the functions supported by Android 11 as well as the apps that you can install will run without any problem.
So, in addition to its solid performance with all kinds of tools, games, and operating systems, its connectivity options and screen are what really make it stand out. It also offers a GT mode to push the processor to its limits.
This screen, with AMOLED technology and a 120Hz refresh rate, offers a smooth experience that's a significant plus for a mid-range phone. But it doesn't stop there; it also delivers in terms of color, brightness, and contrast.
From the outset and presumably over time, the device will continue to offer a very satisfying experience. Therefore, in this section, it could be considered a mid-range flagship killer.
The eyes of the realme GT Master Edition
Four cameras, three in the rear main module and one in the front. That is the bet at the photographic level that realme offers on this phone. But we already know that the number of sensors used is the least important detail, because sometimes they include options that are impractical on a day-to-day basis.
Here it really does not break schemes in that sense, it would have been great to have an optical zoom, not just the option to do it digitally through the sensor cutout. But let's go in parts.
The front camera features a 32MP Sony sensor with an f/2.5 aperture. Combined with a wide variety of modes through its native camera app, the results seem more than adequate. They're good, although on occasion it struggled to interpret scenes with strong lighting or in low light, as the processing wasn't particularly helpful. But overall, it's quite capable.
The front camera photography is quite good. Sometimes, in strong backlighting, you have to adjust the exposure manually, but the results are as expected.
The rear camera, with its three lenses ( 64MP f/1.8 wide-angle, 8MP f/2.3 ultra-wide-angle, and 2MP macro ), offers an interesting setup, but nothing groundbreaking compared to its competitors. However, it's worth noting that the main sensor is 1/2 inch, larger than those of some rivals and therefore brighter.
Here are the different levels of zoom that the phone allows, from 0,6x ultra-wide to 5X with digital cropping of the sensor. Curiously, the 2x mode is the one that has convinced me the most.
In night photography, it is noticeable that, despite the size of the sensor, there are situations where it is difficult to control the exposure and processing a bit. Even so, it is in the average of the majority of proposals.
The macro sensor still does not convince me and not only because of its 2MP, but because personally it is a type of photo that despite liking it on a day-to-day basis does not give me much. Finally, in photos with good light there is no problem.
In short, the cameras are not bad. Logically they are not a reference to their range, but together they can offer striking results. Although in the mid-range, in the photography section, the skill of the user, his patience and how he takes advantage of both the virtues and weaknesses of the camera to take the right snapshot according to the situation counts much more.
Realme GT Master Edition, what you should know
At this point, you may be wondering if the realme GT Master Edition is a good or a bad option? Well, let me tell you what I consider to be the most important thing, what you should know in order to assess and choose whether or not you are interested:
- Physically It is comfortable and the touch is pleasantI think most will like that vegan leather finish
- The screen looks very good and the refresh rate of 120 Hz in a terminal like this is a point in favor
- The fingerprint reader works perfectly.
- The battery holds up well and the 65W charging system It is a delight for the days of more intensive use. Without a doubt, it saves you and compensates for not having a wireless charging option
- In terms of sound, it is heard well, but it is not its greatest attraction
- Cameras are versatile, you can do interesting things, but don't look for a proposal that serves as a reference. Macro is too much for me and I always dream of medium ranges with a telephoto lens
- Excessive performance for 90% of users
In short, the Realme GT Master Edition is somewhat of a flagship killer in the mid-range , and while I've never been entirely fond of that expression (because there aren't better or worse phones, just better or worse options depending on individual needs), it performs very well and will give other models a run for their money. And at around €299 on sale, it's very attractive.
After the launch period, the PVP will be between 349 and 399 euros depending on the configuration of 6/128 GB or 8/256 GB. At those prices it is still a good option, but it already has more rivals. So the ideal is to access it with the launch price or wait for it to go down again.