Realme GT Neo 2 review: A bold and powerful mid-ranger


    Realme GT Neo 2

    Realme is back with yet another capable mid-ranger in the form of the GT Neo 2 that features quicker charging than Google’s Pixel 6 series. Packing in the reheated version of 2020’s flagship Snapdragon 865 processor with a healthy portion of RAM, an excellent AMOLED display, and a trio of rear cameras, Realme’s latest mid-ranger is full of delightful features. And, if you pick one of the brighter Neo Green or Neo Blue colorways, the GT Neo 2 cannot help but draw attention to itself.

    With prices starting from £400 (~$510), is the Realme GT Neo 2 a worthy contender in the mid-range segment? Join us after the break for our review.

    Design

    We’ve got the Neo Green colorway of the GT Neo 2 in for review and let me tell you first up that it’s a striking design that is loud and somewhat brash without going over the top. The dual stripes running vertically down the rear panel give it a sporty aesthetic, and it’s only when you look closely that you realize that Realme has embossed its “Dare to Leap” slogan on the thinnest strip. The larger stripe bears the Realme branding, with the rest of the rear panel, including the camera housing, splashed in the Neo Green color.

    The black plastic frame of the phone complements the design which, thanks to the rounded corners and edges, is pretty comfortable to hold without a case and surprisingly, not hugely slippery. Build quality is excellent and the phone’s 200g weight is evenly balanced.

    The USB-C port is flanked by a speaker chamber and the SIM tray, with the power button lurking on the right edge and the volume up and down controls on the left edge of the phone.

    Hardware

    Realme GT Neo 2
    Software Android 12, Realme UI 3.0
    Display 6.62-Inch E4 AMOLED, FHD+ Resolution (1080 x 2400), 120Hz Refresh Rate, 600Hz Touch Sampling Rate, 397ppi, 1300nits Peak Brightness
    Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 Octa-core;
    Adreno 650 GPU
    Memory 8/12GB (+7GB of Virtual RAM)
    Storage 128/256GB, UFS 3.1
    Rear Cameras 64MP Main Camera, F/1.8 Aperture; 8MP Ultra-wide Lens; 2MP Macro Lens
    Camera Features 64MP Mode, Super Nightscape, Panoramic View, Pro Model, Bokeh, HDR, Ultra Wide-angle, Ultra Macro, AI Scene Recognition, AI Beauty, Filter, Dazzle Color Mode, Text Scanner, Portrait Distortion Correction, Tilt-shift, Starry Mode, Street Photography Mode
    Front Camera 16MP
    Battery 5,000mAh
    Charging 65W SuperDart, 0-100% in 36 Minutes
    Wireless Charging No
    IP Rating N/A
    Audio Jack No
    Security In-display Optical Fingerprint Sensor, Face Unlock
    Networking Dual nano-SIM
    Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, Dual Frequency GPS;
    Bluetooth Audio Codec: SBC, AAC, APTX, APTX_HD, IDAC, IHDC
    Sensors Magnetic Induction Sensor,
    Light Sensor,
    Proximity Sensor,
    Gyrometer,
    Acceleration Sensor
    Dimensions 162.9 x 75.8 x 8.6mm
    Weight 200g
    Colors Neo Green, Neo Blue, Neo Black
    Price 8/128GB: €449
    12/256GB: €549

    Performance

    It has to be said that the E4 AMOLED panel on the Realme GT Neo 2 is excellent with vibrant colors, great viewing angles, and high brightness levels. The 120Hz refresh rate, coupled with 600Hz touch sampling, makes for a slick enjoyable experience whether scrolling through Twitter or playing fast-paced games such as Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG.

    And, thanks to the power of the Snapdragon 870 and the 12GB of RAM, the GT Neo 2 manages gaming sessions like a boss. The phone doesn’t heat up uncomfortably during extended sessions, which is at least partly down to the 8-layer cooling system that includes a stainless steel plate, copper alloy, and diamond thermals gel.

    As you can see from the results of the usual benchmarking apps below, the GT Neo 2 is a very powerful handset.

    Battery

    Battery life is strong and will last you through the day with ease although with a little nursing it will manage two days of usage. Having taken the GT Neo 2 with me as my daily driver on a long-haul flight (11-hour plus a 4-hour bus ride to the airport) from London to LA recently, I can tell you that it performed admirably and I still got to the hotel with some juice left in the tank, which was something of a surprise.

    Even when you flatten the battery, the 65W SuperDart fast-charging means that you only need to attach the power cable for 36 minutes to get back to 100%, which means that battery anxiety is something you never have to worry about with the Realme GT Neo 2. A 15-minute charge tops up the battery to around 50% which for most folk will be more than enough to get through the day.

    Software

    Running on Realme UI 2.0 that is based on Android 11, the software experience of the GT Neo 2 is clean and easy to use with an almost stock Android appearance. There are tons of options to customize the interface to your liking from changing the shape and size of the app and Quick Panel icons to adjusting the color and effect of the edge lighting and the UI accent color.

    The Realme Labs option in the main menu lets you try out new features such as DC Dimming, Sleep Capsule, and Smooth Scrolling. All in all, Realme UI 2.0 is user-friendly and extremely stable, with menu options where you’d expect to find them.

    The GT Neo 2 is scheduled to gain early access to Android 12 (Realme UI 3.0) sometime during this month (December 2021), and we’ll update the review once the update has rolled out.

    Camera

    The trio of rear cameras consists of a 64MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and one of those superfluous 2MP macro cameras, which makes it pretty much the same as the Realme GT’s complement. There are tons of options within the camera app which is neatly laid out and easily navigated.

    As you might expect, the 64MP (Sony IMX682) sensor is where the action is at with its pixel-binning technology and F/1.8 aperture. The images it produces are vibrant and err slightly on the Samsung scale of saturation, perfect for social media posts and the like.

    Without the benefit of OIS, low-light imagery is so-so, but you can still produce a more than an acceptable image with the Night Mode feature.

    The 8MP ultra-wide lens is actually pretty good as well and manages to take a photo that is vibrant and detailed, just so long as you don’t zoom in too much. The macro lens is unnecessary, and to use it you’ll have to head over to the ‘More’ menu to find Ultra Macro mode which has to be said, produces somewhat disappointing results and only confirms what many reviews consider the 2MP sensor to be – pointless.

    Finishing with good news, the 16MP front-facing camera is very capable and produces sharp and clear images with a nice level of bokeh in portrait mode, even of yours truly.

    Verdict

    Already on sale in India and Europe, Realme’s GT Neo 2 represents a slight muddying of the GT series when you consider the GT 5G model. While the Nord 2 5G boasts a better camera experience, the GT Neo 2 has a more appealing design and is more powerful and longer-lasting than OnePlus’s mid-ranger. The combination of the Snapdragon 870 processor, the 120Hz AMOLED display, excellent battery life, and the speedy 65W charging makes the Realme GT Neo 2 a compelling mid-range offering, especially in the Neo Green and Neo Blue colorways.

    Realme GT Neo 2 | From €449 | Realme Store / Amazon


    He’s been an Android fan ever since owning an HTC Hero, with the Dell Streak being his first phablet. He currently carries a Realme GT Neo 2 in his pockets, a Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 in his backpack, and thinks nothing of lugging a 17-inch laptop around the world. When not immersed in the world of Android and gadgets, he’s an avid sports fan, and like all South Africans, he loves a good Braai (BBQ).




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