Realme GT 6: favourable competition for Apple, Samsung, Google and co.

Realme smartphones have only been available since 2018. The Oppo subsidiary initially focussed on Asia and India. It has now also arrived in Europe and is already the fourth-largest manufacturer - particularly with its affordable entry-level models. The new GT 6 is intended to expand the target group. Realme itself brings the topic of "flagship killers" into play at the keynote in Milan.

Top specifications at a relatively low price - this could also appeal in Switzerland. Realme has so far been a niche market here, with devices only available as imports. The Chinese manufacturer is now officially launching the devices here too.

Better, faster, more enduring

First of all, the GT 6 impresses with its specifications. The 6.78-inch display is said to be up to 6000 nits bright, clearly outshining the competition from Apple, Samsung and Google. Realme promises that the screen is easy to read even in bright sunlight. The normal brightness is a maximum of 1600 nits. The device achieves 6000 nits in very bright light and only for part of the screen.

Realme uses the Snapdragon 8s Gen3 with 16 GB of RAM. It also comes with 512 GB of storage as standard. The processor does not quite match the performance of the fastest Snapdragon 8, but still belongs to the upper class.

This is also a clever place to save some money. Because in everyday use, you won't notice much difference between the second-best and best chip. In contrast to the battery size - which is key for many. At 5500 mAh, the GT 6 has more capacity than most smartphones in this class. The battery can be charged with 120 watts, but a suitable SuperVooc charger is not included.

Convincing design and materials

The smartphone has the typical Realme look: clean, simple and timeless. The three camera rings are framed by a metal circle. The back is split in two, with a thick strip with a highly reflective surface framing the camera system. In the first hands-on, the workmanship looks first-class - as I would expect from a top device.

The frame and the back are made of plastic, which I didn't realise at first. As soon as I realised it, I noticed it too. But the fact that it's not immediately noticeable speaks in favour of the material used.

Realme relies on the currently most stable glass on the market, namely Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The manufacturer also doesn't let itself down with the underlying screen: A display with 120 Hertz, LTPO technology, fast response time and support for Dolby Vision and HDR 10 is otherwise only available in devices for over 1000 francs.

The housing is water-resistant, but only IP65 and not IP68 as is usually the case with top smartphones. The device is therefore protected against rain and splashes, but you should not keep it under water for any length of time.

The cameras, the big question mark

At the keynote, Realme said surprisingly little about the camera system. Not really a good sign - especially as many flagship killers of the past didn't stand a chance against the top models from Samsung, Apple or Google in this area.

The 50-megapixel sensor of the main camera is the Sony LYT-808, which made its debut in the OnePlus 12. There is also a 2x optical zoom with 50 megapixels and a wide-angle camera with eight megapixels. The selfie cam has a resolution of 32 megapixels.

The manufacturer focussed on the night mode in the presentation - and this is probably the area in which the GT 6 excels. The sensor enables bright and less pixelated images in difficult light. At least that's the impression after the first hands-on. However, some of the competitors among the "real" flagships have the edge in the wide-angle and zoom range in particular.

However, I will only be able to judge this definitively after testing.

Artificial intelligence for everyone

The GT 6 is the brand's first phone with integrated AI. The Chinese manufacturer is working with partners such as Qualcomm, Google and Microsoft and integrating their solutions into its own software.

For example, Google Photos is installed as the default app and you can use all the smart AI features known from Pixel smartphones or Samsung. For example, you can crop objects with one click or remove objects from photos with just a few clicks.

Realme UI 5.0, which is based on Android 14, is installed on the devices. The operating system is reminiscent of the variants from parent company Oppo. Additional AI features are integrated: "AI Screen Recognition" takes a virtual screenshot and searches for what you are currently looking at. With "AI Smart Loop", you can share objects on the screen quickly and easily via third-party apps. "AI Gesture Control" allows you to operate the entire smartphone with gestures.

The aim of Realme is to make AI features available to the masses. That's why all models in all price ranges are to be equipped with it from now on.

Good price - compromises on the details

One variant of the GT 6 is available from us for the time being. This is the model with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage for 699 francs or euros. In other markets, there are also entry-level variants with just 8 GB of RAM for 100 francs or euros less.

Smartphones

EUR689,01

realme GT 6

512 GB, Razor Green, 6.78", Dual SIM, 50 Mpx, 5G

4

Smartphones

EUR697,83

realme GT 6

512 GB, Fluid Silver, 6.78", Dual SIM, 50 Mpx, 5G

4

Compared to the top models from other brands, which cost over 1000 francs or euros, that's not much. Even a Pixel 8 Pro as a low-cost solution costs over 800 francs.

However, the manufacturer is also making savings in certain areas in order to be able to push the price down. The plastic back and the "only" second-best processor, for example, mean you also have to do without wireless charging.

The most serious thing is that Realme still only offers three years of Android updates. The competition is more generous with software updates that sometimes last twice as long.