One new thing I did during the pandemic was start reusing middle class devices after years of just commenting on flagship devices. The decision was taken because it was tired of commenting on the pinnacle devices that were almost no different from each other and the flaws were not so noticeable. This complicates the process of writing compelling device reviews.
The Realme release device is among the ones I started to review is the Realme C25s - a basic class device. Interestingly it is not so disappointing. Then I had the opportunity to comment on the Realme 9 Pro+ which is again better than initially expected. This time I review the Realme GT NEO 3 with higher specifications than the previous two devices. Will my good experience using the Realme device continue? Continue reading this brief review.
Specifications And Designs
Realme GT NEO 3
6.7 ″ AMOLED screen
FHD+, 120Hz, HDR10+
MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Processor (5nm)
Chip 4 X 2.85 GHz Cortex-A78
4 X 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55
Mali-G610 MC6 Graphics Chip
RAM 8GB LPDDR4X
256 GB UFS Internal Storage 2.2
Main Camera 50+8+2 Megapixel f/1.8+f/2.3+f/2.4, OIS
16 Megapixel f/2.5 selfie camera
5000 mAh battery
80W wired charging
SIM / Dual SIM / 5G Phone
NFC Yes
Audio Jack Missing
Waterproof None
Scanning System Finger scanner at the bottom of the screen
Selling Price RM 2099 (8/256GB)
The Realme GT NEO 3 can be seen as a more affordable Realme GT2 Pro model and therefore it has some similarities with that model. 6.7 ″ AMOLED screen with 120Hz support and HDR10+ is reused. The screen is beautiful, flat and detects touch well. The presence of a camera hole is a bit annoying when watching video but this is among the first world problems I’m used to because almost all devices on the market now have a camera hole.
The color display is very satisfying and since it’s an AMOLED panel, the content displayed on the screen is still clearly visible in the sunlight. A fingerprint scanner is also placed under the screen and it works quickly although I understood it was of the optical type. This fingerprint scanner also comes with a built -in pulse scanner that is accessed via the Realme Labs menu.
I didn't have any issues with the screen as it didn't disappoint. The bezel is also thin although this is not a premium flagship device.
What is disappointing is the screen protector that comes with the purchase. It was not so good as it was scratched and torn after a few days of commenting. So I remove this screen protector and recommend you buy a new more durable screen protector if necessary.
The design of the device I reviewed is very aggressive where the blue panel is matched with two racing strips. There are also other black and white color options. Reminds me of the design of the Shelby Cobra car released in the 60s. With a "fight stripe" on the back, it seems to give you a sign that this is a high -performance device.
The panel is made of plastic material which makes it not trap dirt easily but does not feel premium. The camera hump is moderately large by 2022 standards and also not too high. If the presence of bumps and fighting stripes on the back panel is less appealing to you, the Realme provides a black silicone frame that covers these two elements quite effectively.
The power and voice adjustable buttons are located on the right side. The charger port, SIM tray and one of the two stereo speakers are located at the bottom. Overall the device is comfortable in hand. If there is a drawback is that this device is not waterproof, no 3.5mm audio jack and no support for microSD cards. This is the fact that the majority of modern Android devices in 2022 with many features that were once standard are now no longer included.
Software
The Android 12 operating system is used with the latest launch of Realme UI 3.0. This launcher is lightweight and very similar to the native Android. But additional features like RAM Expansion which adds 2/3/5 GB of RAM added virtually with some storage sacrificed are also included to differentiate it from a Pixel. In terms of design, this launcher looks neat and non -fibrous. Most importantly it still operates even though the device is only supplied with 8GB of RAM.
With the use of Android 12, the device supports an automatic color theme system that changes according to the Material You background. A pretty interesting feature because all the interface elements can be customized quite easily. The interface is also similar to stock Android for with minimalist icons. Throughout the review period the device ran extremely smoothly without any chronic issues.
Additional features provided by Realme are:
Flexible Windows - Displays multiple applications in a floating window.
Gestures - Support various gestures to control the device and take screenshots.
Kids Space-Mode for kids with some apps can be locked.
Smart Sidebar - Quick shortcuts to eight select apps directly from the sidebar.
Quick Launch - Launches three popular apps directly from the lock screen.
Simple Mode - Easy mode for seniors with a larger interface and louder ringtones.
Edge Lighthing - A notification light that uses the side of the screen as a whole.
Always on Display - Display important information even when the screen is off.
Bench mark
The benchmark scores recorded are as below:
Geekbench 5 - 963 marks (1 core)/ 4008 marks (multi core)
Antutu 3D - 742,992 marks
The score recorded by the Dimensity 8100 is comparable to the Snapdragon 870. This is a very good good MediaTek that five years ago became the stuff of jokes because their chip is seen as cheap but weak. The Dimensity Series manages to clean up the charcoal on MediaTek’s face with it not only being able to deliver high performance but at a more affordable price. Even in the Geekbench 5 test, the score for multi-core was higher than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
No issue playing firsts like PUBG Mobile, Diablo Immortal and COD Mobile at high settings. More importantly the amount of heat released after a few continuous MP sessions is also better if you want to compare with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. I prefer a cool device in the hand for comfort rather than high performance but the hand feels like it will burn.
The issue only arises when wanting to install the Netflix app. MediaTek chips have not been fully tested to use this popular application. As a result it cannot be downloaded on the Play Store. The application also refuses to operate when installed sideloading. The GT NEO 3 is a good device for gaming but has trouble installing some video streaming apps.
Telephony and GPS
The device is equipped with a sub-6GHz 5G modem but at this time it is still not supported by DNB. During the review period only LTE networks could be tested and no issues were found. Phone calls are bright with VoWiFI support but no VoLTE support. WiFi speed is also very satisfactory due to support up to WiFI 6.
GPS performance is as good as cellular performance. Location can be easily tracked when the app is opened. The GPS connection was never disconnected even in the middle of Kuala Lumpur between tall buildings.
Camera
The trikamera system used is equipped with wide angle, ultra wide angle and macro sensors. This is very similar to what was found on the Realme 9 Pro+ before. The main wide -angle lens is matched to the Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS as used on the Oppo Find X5 Pro.
Rarely is a gaming device equipped with a good camera system complete with OIS. All the interesting features available on the Realme 9 Pro+ are also included on the GT NEO 3. Good news because in my opinion this camera system is one of the best for a non -flagship device.
Interesting features on the camera app are night mode, portrait, panorama and Street Photography. Street Photography allows artistic photos to be taken. Among them is the Neon Trail which follows the long traffic light path and also Light Painting. The following are some sample photos taken using the GT NEO 3.
Battery
The 5000 mAh battery provided is great for a device with a chip near the pinnacle. I was able to get an operating time of up to 16 hours in simple use with an SOT of about 8 hours. In heavier use with the first continuous play, I was able to last around 5 hours only.
This is a usage time comparable to other flagship Android devices. With the 80W fast charger included with every purchase, the process of recharging the battery only takes around 40 minutes. This is a very fast charging time which is very fast.
Audio
There are stereo speakers that support Dolby Atmos audio but only when they are connected to headphones or earphones. This mode cannot be used on physical speakers located below and above the device. It is better if Atmos can be used on physical speakers to provide a better gaming experience. But the fact is that on more affordable devices this is what happens to reduce costs.
In the box
Here is what is received with every purchase of a device in Malaysia.
1x Realme GT Neo 3.
1x Translucent silicone frame.
1x 80W SuperDart Charger.
1x USB-A to USB-C charger cable.
1x SIM Pin.
1x Manual
Conclusion
The Realme GT NEO 3 is marketed as a gaming device. It deserves to be categorized as a gaming device because of its excellent performance especially in terms of running first at high settings, high frame rate and good thermal control. No overheating issues I experienced during the review period. In fact it’s probably the coolest gaming device ever reviewed so far. What makes it unique is that it still comes with a sleek camera system. The pictures taken are very good compared to other gaming devices that are just like the performance rate of the camera.
But it’s still not a real gaming device as it doesn’t have extra shoulder buttons or gaming -specific accessories as can be seen on Black Shark, ROG and Red Magic devices.
Even so at a price of RM2099 each, I can recommend the Realme GT NEO 3 to those looking for a gaming device that works as advertised. The only negative is that there are no audio jacks and no extra gaming buttons. But at the price offered and better performance than the Snapdragon 870 I feel this shortcoming is forgivable.
Pro
Large screen with good color display and 120Hz
The performance of the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 is very good and not hot.
Fast charging up to 80W.
Good photography capabilities for a phone for a start.
The interface is like the original Android.
Cons
No audio jacks.
Problems installing Netflix.
There are several fat apps installed.
Dolby Atmos is not supported on physical stereo speakers.