The Realme GT7 is here, and let’s not beat around the bush: everyone was waiting for the famous 7,000mAh battery and the promise of a smartphone that doesn’t ask for mercy at noon or midnight! This GT7, like its twin the realme GT7T, clearly does not arrive with empty pockets: between a display that breaks brightness records, gaming and photography AI, and performance that shamelessly flirts with high-end excellence… There’s plenty to dream about. So, marathoner or sprinter? What if, ultimately, we could have it all?
Unboxing the Realme GT7 & GT7T
You can feel that Realme wanted to take care of the experience right from the first contact. We will also notice the small AI logo in the corner, which, as we will see, will be omnipresent in these editions.
Upon opening, we discover the smartphone wrapped in a thin plastic protection, placed on a simple backdrop, devoid of frills, that breathes simplicity but also sturdiness. No unnecessary gadgets, but smart storage: the USB-C 3.1 cable, along with a light but effective silicone case, ready to protect the GT7 (or GT7T of course) from the daily hazards without weighing it down too much.
The design of the GT7 stands out with its controlled sobriety. The matte IceSense graphene back provides a unique, cool to the touch, almost soft feel. An interesting detail: thanks to this material, goodbye to unsightly fingerprints that invade the backs of other smartphones :)
The glacier blue and matte black colors assert themselves with class: neither too flashy nor too dull. We immediately notice the presence of the camera module up high, slightly protruding, which gives the whole device a technical look, almost designed to last. This is not about flashy bling but a serious design choice.
In terms of dimensions, you can feel that the 7,000mAh battery is not forgotten. The GT7, at 207 grams, feels substantial in hand; it’s neither too heavy nor too light, with rounded edges that facilitate grip; a balance between robustness and daily comfort. And yet, despite this size, Realme has ensured it stays within reasonable limits (16.2 cm in height, 7.6 cm in width, and 0.8 cm in thickness).
On this note, the GT7T follows almost the same recipe, except it is just a tad thicker, proof of the internal adjustments made to offer a slightly more accessible version without sacrificing quality.
The back of the realme GT7T received for testing is made of yellow vegan leather, crossed by a black stripe, echoing the style of race tracks. The texture feels very pleasant in hand as well. Personally, I really like this design! Sadly, it comes with a black silicone case to protect it, which completely obscures this beautiful back. A transparent case would have been more advisable.
The display is impressive: a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel, Full HD+, with a peak brightness that reaches 6,000 nits. Yes, you read that right! In normal use, you really have to be under blazing sun to benefit from this maximum brightness, but this capability is a strong selling point for adventurers or those who enjoy binge-watching their series in high brightness conditions. The bezels are quite slim, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 ensures optimal protection. For touch, the adaptive 120Hz refresh rate delivers a very smooth experience, perfect for gaming as well as for scrolls without stuttering.
We also notice the disappearance of the headphone jack, which, although regretted by some purists (including myself!), is becoming the norm in these ranges. Fortunately, the stereo sound from the speakers is powerful, clear, and spatially well managed, which greatly compensates for listening to music or watching favorite content without headphones. The IP69 rating immediately reassures about robustness against water and dust. Great for those who take their smartphone everywhere, even to the beach or in heavy rain.
In short, the first impression is of a smartphone built to last over time, both elegant, sturdy, and practical. Not just another gadget but a tool designed for real life. A real breath of fresh air in a market that can sometimes be overly standardized.
The GT7T, for its part, naturally retains the essence of this manufacturing quality, with some concessions due to its more accessible positioning: a slight overweight and a thickness that gains a millimeter or two, while keeping a comfortable grip. The screen remains the same luminous jewel, making it an excellent choice for those who want the essentials at their best without diving into the extreme performance that its older brother offers.
Right out of the box, the observation is clear: Realme has worked on its packaging and finishes to offer a product that pleases the eye and the hand, with the kind of little details that make all the difference in daily use. You want to pick it up, look at it, use it without delay. And that, is already an excellent start.
Configuration and Discovery: Two Philosophies, One Smooth Experience
As soon as it starts up, the Realme GT7 immerses you directly with its fresh Realme UI 6 interface straight from Android 15. The initial setup goes smoothly, between configuring Wi-Fi, restoring from a Google backup (or the old smartphone, thanks to the quick transfer via QuickStart), managing accounts, and, a notable point, a fairly simple cleanup of pre-installed applications. Here, there is no feeling of being overwhelmed by bloatware (a few partner apps, but we can remove them with a few taps without regret), and, importantly, system updates happen right from the start in the background, so as not to spoil the discovery with endless loading screens (rare and appreciated).
That’s for the logistics. But the real joy is the sensation of fluidity. The GT7 is powered by its Dimensity 9400e, a high-end Mediatek chip that literally goes full throttle. In use, it’s simple: it flies in all situations! Multitasking, editing 4K videos on the go, GPS navigation through the narrow streets of Orléans, or (let’s be honest) a long session of Call of Duty Mobile under the covers, nothing slows it down. Even in GT mode, activated with a swipe, you can feel the machine getting a significant boost (it does get a bit warm, but the IceSense graphene back tempers the rise in temperature). It’s the perfect example of a smartphone you can count on, even after a day of juggling photo editing, social media, and smart home monitoring.
The management of notifications and customization also reaches perfection: super responsive and customizable Always-on display (you can even show a funny phrase or an event reminder), configurable kids space, divided work/personal profiles, and above all, the omnipresent AI: contextual action suggestions, AI translator on any screenshot or message, automatic event creation from an email with a double tap on the back of the phone… Gemini is of course also part of the package. You can sense that Realme really pushes the intelligent assistant wherever it is relevant.
The network configuration is solid: Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 (the must for those with fiber and recent devices!), support for 5G across all bands, dual SIM (but no eSIM on the GT7T, a logical concession given the price).
The under-display fingerprint sensor is impressively responsive, and the 2D facial recognition does its job in 99% of cases, even when the lighting is low.
A nice detail: during the first launch, the smartphone offers a guided demo of the main AI and camera functions, which can be skipped but proves useful for discovering the enormous range of settings available. I highly recommend following it to unleash the full potential of this smartphone! You quickly find yourself playing with the anti-reflective photo mode, erasing unwanted elements in a shot with two taps, or testing intelligent notifications during a video conference (tip: the AI cuts off distracting notifications, a real plus in meetings…).
The GT7T does not fall short in this discovery either: Dimensity 8400-Max processor, less powerful (not made for the most demanding games or the frenzy of professional multitasking), but the smartphone never lags behind. Android remains fluid, multitasking holds up well, web browsing is pleasant, and the touch screen is impressively responsive. The little AI extras are perfectly adapted: screen sharing, kids space, smart schedule management (effective “do not disturb” mode), it’s tailored for the daily life of a connected family… or a professional on the go.
The adjustability of color profiles on the fly, the AI audio tweaks, the interface modularity to remove everything you don’t want, you can sense that you’re dealing with a smartphone designed to last and adapt to each user profile without hassle. Yes, a few modules still need refining in terms of translation or AI summarization, but for the rest, it’s hard to find anything more practical and rich at this price level.
In summary, the configuration and discovery on the Realme GT7 (as with GT7T) are very satisfying. Everything is ready to use, customizable, and designed for those who love tinkering… but also for those who just want it to work, quickly and well, with minimal effort. What more could you ask for?
My Usage Feedback: Battery Life, Photo Quality, and Daily Life
My adventure began during a stay on the Brittany coast, where the Realme GT7 instantly became my companion. First observation, and not the least: the battery life. I was able to go without hesitation for three full days, between walks on the granite trails, GPS navigation “the hard way” in the rain, and a series of shots in landscape mode. By evening, I still had enough battery to stream an episode or two.
The 120W fast charging saved me a couple of times: a quick fifteen minutes plugged in before heading to the port, and boom, the phone was ready for another long photography session. You truly stop worrying about searching for a socket everywhere, and that, changes your life. But you still need to have the appropriate charger, of course, since like most phones nowadays, no charger is included.
In Brittany, it’s hard not to pull out your smartphone at the slightest glimpse of sunlight. I truly put the triple camera to the test: wind-swept coastal landscapes, Morlaix alleys at sunset, it all gets captured.
The AI modes “Travel” and “Landscape” activate easily and significantly enhance the shots. The colors are vibrant without turning into caricature, and the sharpness remains good even on wide shots (although, against the light, we notice a slight drop in precision in the darkest details).
A little trick tested: in a port photo, just a tap to remove reflections from a puddle or the fence at the edge of the quay, making it look like you’ve got the best-located café in town.
I noticed a real improvement in AI for managing natural scenes typically found in Brittany: rocks, choppy sea, changing sky, all the elements are usually well “blown out” on less capable phones; here, the GT7 almost always manages to hold its own.
For selfies: the 32MP camera performs very well, with or without light, and 4K videos remain stable even while running on the sand.
The telephoto also does an excellent job. Here’s an example with a zoom of x2 and x5:
The 5G signal held strong wherever I could catch it, and the Wi-Fi 7 connection at my parents’ home was robust, even streaming 4K for the whole family.
The audio part, often overlooked, pleasantly surprised me (in a good way!). The stereo sound performs very well, even in the reverberating rooms of stone houses, although, to be honest, the bass doesn’t compare to that of a dedicated speaker. But how nice it is to have real volume and clarity without headphones.
There are still a few hiccups: while the grip is pleasant, the size and weight almost remind you after a long day as an amateur reporter (though in reality, it’s nothing compared to my S24 Ultra, which is a real brick :p). I would have also liked to find wireless charging to complete an almost perfect picture and easily charge my smartphone when I place it on my Thomson alarm clock. A few photos in night mode, especially during the famous local fest-noz, would have benefitted from a bit more detail in high contrasts, although, let’s admit, the tendency to smooth a bit helps forget many previous lighting aberrations.
Lastly, it’s worth noting the overall sturdiness. During this little trek, the phone showed no signs of wear or scratches, despite roaming everywhere in nature and in the sand. And the IP69 waterproofing is serious, especially next to a fishing port or during surprise showers.
In one word? The Realme GT7 has held up on all fronts: photography, battery life, versatility, and practicality, even in the Celtic humidity. A true 21st-century adventurer, tested and approved on (very) Breton soil.
Conclusion
This Realme GT7, honestly, plays in a category where we didn’t expect it. Not perfect (the lack of wireless charging, the dimming not as smooth as a Google Pixel, the weight in a thin pocket), but a monster of autonomy, with versatility for everything, and a well-calibrated price against its rivals. If I had to choose a smartphone today, under €500, it would surely be this one!
The GT7T, in a lighter version, will please those who want great battery life, a nice screen, and a fast Android experience, without necessarily seeking extreme performance or professional photography. Starting at €379, it’s an excellent price-quality ratio for those on a tighter budget.
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