The Realme GT Neo 2 is the third member of the GT family, direct brother of the Realme GT and Realme GT Master Edition. It is situated in a middle point, thus being a high-end variant but somewhat lower in power as contrasted with the Realme GT. It is a mobile that has pleasantly surprised us: one of those phones that give more than what they already promise in the technical sheet.
This Realme GT Neo 2 passes through our review table, a phone with a weak point, and an extensive list of outstanding. It was difficult for the cocktail to come out with an unpleasant taste with Qualcomm power, ultra-fast charging, and a large battery.
Brief Pros and Cons Of Realme GT Neo 2
In favor
- The structure is exquisite, despite the plastic.
- The performance is simply spectacular.
- Fast charging (at least in the short term) is surprising.
Against
- The cameras are more typical of a low-mid-range mobile than of this set.
- A little more bass in the sound would have been the icing on the cake.
Overall Marks – 8.5 Out Of 10
Design – 8.5 / 10
Screen – 9 / 10
Performance – 9.25 / 10
Camera – 7.75 / 10
Software – 8 / 10
Autonomy – 8.75 / 10
Technical Brief Description of Realme GT Neo 2
Screen — AMOLED 6.62 inches, FullHD + resolution (2,400 x 1,080 pixels), Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Processor –– Snapdragon 870
RAM –– 8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR5
Storage — 128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.1
Software — Android 11+ Realme UI 2.0
Rear camera — Principal: 64 MP f/1.8, Wide angle: 8 MP f / 2.3, Macro: 2 MP f/2.4
Frontal camera — 16 MP f / 2.5
Battery — 5000 mAh, Fast charge 65 W
Connectivity — Dual SIM, 5G, 4G/LTE, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, USB-C
Others — On-screen fingerprint reader, Stereo speakers
Dimensions and weight — 162,9 x 75,8 x 8,6 mm and 199,8 g
Price — From ₹31,990
Design – Plastic can look premium too
The Realme GT Neo 2 is proof that plastic mobiles can feel like (almost) any other high-end variant. In this case, we have a device that does not exceed 200 grams in weight, with a matte finish that repels fingerprints very well (not so much the greasy of the fingers), and a slight rear curvature that makes it very pleasant in hand.
The Realme GT Neo 2, despite being plastic finishing, has a solid structure worthy of a device that aims to be premium.
The power button is slightly rough to make it easier to press. The keypad is well built, it is solid, it has the power button on the right side and the volume buttons on the left side. The keys are also made of plastic, but they are well finished, they do not dance in the least, and the vibration is pleasant. Despite being a device with more battery than the Realme GT, it is thinner than the plastic version of its older brother, with 9.00 mm thick.
At the level of dimensions, it is a large and bulky mobile, in the line of rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, as it is not excessively heavy, it is not as annoying in hand as some of its rivals that touch 230 grams.
The camera module barely protrudes, although the mobile dances slightly when we put it on its back on any flat surface. At the bottom edge, we find the speaker and type C port, leaving the upper part without other elements.
Regarding the front, it is totally conservative, with a hole in its upper left part and well-used frames, although with a noteworthy front chin. The general feeling offered by the device is being well built, solid, and perfect at this price. We would have appreciated glass on the back, but the matte finish hides the materials used.
Screen: a pleasant surprise
The screen of the Realme GT Neo 2 is 6.62 inches, has AMOLED resolution and a refresh rate (supposedly adaptive) of 120Hz. It promises a maximum peak of 1,300 nits and supports content in HDR10+. Realme said the screen can move between 30, 60, 90, and 120Hz to save energy. Adaptive rate may be activated in future updates, but it is not yet.
Saving this detail, the screen of the Realme GT Neo 2 is surprisingly good, and the surprise comes because, in a device that is around this price, we have a screen similar to those we found in 2020 in the expensive screen phones. The maximum brightness in the sun is sufficient (although a little more would not have hurt), the viewing angles are good, and the overall experience is magnificent.
The Touch Sampling Rate is one of the highest on the market, so the screen response is practically immediate.
To this must be added that the touch sampling rate is 600Hz, almost double that of its older brother, the Realme GT. The latency of the screen is practically non-existent, giving a feeling of fluidity that is difficult to describe.
The sampling rate refers to the times the screen checks if we press the screen, so the higher it is, the better it responds. The answer is immediate as you put your finger down, the screen reacts much faster than most of its direct rivals.
The panel is well-calibrated, has accurate colors, and fulfills its mission point by point. The only point to improve is the automatic brightness, somewhat slow as it already happened to us with the Realme GT. It is not something dramatic, but if we go out of the house to the street in full sunlight, it takes a couple of seconds to realize the exterior luminosity to go up the brightness.
Performance: an 870 pushed to the limit
We have tested several phones with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, but this Realme GT Neo 2 has managed to surprise us in performance. In our case, we have also been able to test the 12 GB RAM version. The Realme GT Neo 2 adds several factors: Qualcomm’s second-best processor, 120Hz refresh rate, 600Hz touch sampling, and Realme UI.
High power, high refresh rate, and an exceptional touch sampling rate: this mobile has it all to be lightning-fast.
The fluidity is outstanding, one of the most electric mobiles on the market. But the big surprise comes in games, especially when we talk about sustained performance. It can withstand intense days with the graphics to the maximum with hardly any frame drops.
This model incorporates a steam chamber with built-in stainless steel to dissipate heat. It ensures that the device does not burn, but if we give it a very demanding use, we will notice some extra degrees, although nothing alarming. We leave you below with the benchmarks of this phone.
Software: a full ROM, albeit very dense
Realme UI is the manufacturer’s customization layer, with a launcher relatively similar to Android Stock and with absolute menus, but that can be overwhelming. In this case, the ROM is based on Android 11, waiting for the new version of the layer to start arriving stably, based on Android 12.
Realme UI is a clean ROM loaded with settings, although we will need some time to adapt to all the functions it brings since there are not a few.
The settings menu makes a good separation of each of the system elements, but in the submenus, we find huge functions, perhaps too much. We liked the customization section, which allows you to configure the style of the icons, design of the apps, animations, colors, notification panel, etc.
We also have a positively complete gaming space, which locks automatic brightness, adjusts the resolution, allows adjusting the CPU profile, and blocks notifications, calls, and more.
Realme also incorporates a section of ‘practical tools’ very dense, although functional. Here we can configure the navigation gestures (own, they are not those of Android 11), movements (not to navigate but for screenshots and others), screenshot settings, screen recording, quick launch… We can do everything with this ROM, but we need a few days to configure everything.
Also, striking is a mode that Realme calls ‘GT Mode’, which serves the CPU and GPU to the maximum to improve performance. If the phone detects that we are not doing an intensive task, it turns off this mode automatically so that the battery does not fly.
In short, a very complete ROM, but one that requires a definite time and a learning curve, since there are settings everywhere and functions to customize practically any point of the phone.
Biometrics
At the biometric level, the Realme GT Neo 2 complies with a note. It has an ultrasonic fingerprint reader on the screen that works almost immediately and with a minimal error rate.
Facial recognition is also smooth, although it is done through the front camera, so it is not a safe method. It also needs enough light to function, and it is not as fast as it could be. In our case, we bet on its fingerprint reader as the primary method to unlock it.
Battery and Standby: a true champion (if we do not get excited playing)
The Realme GT Neo 2 has a generous 5,000mAh battery, accompanied by a 65W fast charge that, as we anticipate, is spectacular. In terms of autonomy figures, we have an average of seven or eight hours of the screen in a day and a half using social networks, a camera, navigation, and others. Yes, we have noticed that doing high-space tasks, the battery drops quickly, but still, it remains close to six hours of screen.
Charging 5,000mAh in 30 minutes is a true marvel. If we are in a hurry, with 10 minutes, we have more than 30% battery.
As for the loading time, it is outstanding. In just 10 minutes, it charges 30%, in 15 minutes more than 50%, and the full charge is done in 30 minutes. Half an hour to charge a 5,000mAh battery is an impressive figure, so if one day we are fair, with 15 minutes of charging, we have the rest of the day resolved.
Much of the heat goes to the charger itself during charging, an essential point for the battery life. We have not noticed excessive heat when charging this Realme, which also has an optimized charging system to detect usage patterns and lower the charging power if, for example, we charge daily at night.
Sound: two speakers boasting maximum volume
The sound has been another of the pleasant surprises in this Realme. The maximum volume is very high, with more than 110 decibels. The sound is stereo, with a front speaker and a lower one; something that provides a great experience both playing and watching videos since the speaker points frontally towards us.
In addition, at the software level, it has integration with Dolby Atmos, with different sound profiles (flight, indoor, outdoor, etc.). It does not become a sound in the line of high-end mobiles.
Camera: the only sin of this phone
The Realme GT Neo 2 has a 64-megapixel camera, an 8- megapixel ultra-wide-angle, and a 2-megapixel macro lens, the same configuration as the Realme GT. The front camera, integrated into the perforation of the screen, is 16 megapixels. Before we talk about the results of this photographic set, we will go over the Realme camera app.
Rear cameras
The detail of the Realme GT Neo 2 is entirely artificial.
Although the Realme GT Neo 2 behaves like a high-end on-screen in the camera section makes it an affordable device. In good light, the shots are correct, with a relatively accurate colorimetry, although with some oversaturation. The white balance does behave remarkably, although the sensor does not capture much detail.
HDR sometimes tries to raise the shadows too high and creates less natural photos.
The behavior of HDR is somewhat erratic, as it can not always control the highlights. We recommend leaving it on automatic to minimize the chance of burnt photos, but it takes a twist to really improve shots when you need a lot of dynamic range.
The results, in general, have that little touch of artificial processing, with a lack of fine detail and realism. However, it is a perfect daytime camera for average users, who do not demand too much.
Regarding the ultra-wide-angle, the results fall concerning the main camera, although it is not a bad camera. It performs the distortion correction in corners quite well, and as long as we shoot during the day, it is a sensor that we can get a lot out of.
Auto vs night mode.
When night falls, the results go down another small notch. We expected better dynamic range and sharpness, even though the sensor is somewhat fair. In low light conditions, we find some noise, very little sharpness, and even if we shoot in night mode, the results do not improve much. In these conditions, the shots are even more artificial making it quite close to the cheapest mid-range.
Concerning the ultra-wide-angle, it can defend the details even in night mode, so we recommend reserving it for better lighting conditions, where it knows how to shine.
As for the two-megapixel macro camera, it adds practically nothing to the whole. With this low resolution, we hardly get any detail. HDR does not work with this camera, and the colorimetry is totally inaccurate. It is much better to shoot up close with the primary sensor, even if we lose a few centimeters of distance.
The portrait mode is somewhat correct, with a bit of artificial blur and a crop that leaves behind some halos. It has appreciated inclusion, although Realme needs to readjust its algorithms to give us an extra naturalness in these shots.
Frontal camera
The selfie camera is more than sufficient in good lighting conditions. In fact, contextualized with its range, it is pretty good. There is a good level of detail, the processing with the skin is not too aggressive, and the HDR here does work somewhat better than the HDR. Although some highlights are leftover, sometimes. The portrait mode fails again, leaving some parts without blurring.
Video
At the video level, the Realme GT Neo 2 can record up to 4K 60 FPS, doing a good job of stabilizing daytime shots. The level of detail is sufficient, although it does not shine, and the HDR does not work quite well in video.
Final Words
The Realme GT Neo 2 is quite an all-rounder device, and it is not easy to find alternatives like that. It complies in power, battery, fast charge, design, screen, sound… The camera is its little sin, it is not a significant problem, but we did expect something more in this price range.
Despite its weak point, the Realme GT Neo 2 is enjoyed. It has a very balanced and more efficient processor at the thermal level than the Snapdragon 888 (although it is somewhat more powerful), its performance is outstanding, and it complies with everything required.
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