Realme GT8 Pro review: a flagship smartphone with standout design

Could Realme be behind this year-end’s standout smartphone? With the GT8 Pro, the brand is aiming to deliver a flagship-grade experience. To win buyers over, it is relying on flawless hardware alongside a camera system geared towards street photography. Is that a winning formula?

Oppo, OnePlus and Realme are sister companies within the same conglomerate. At the end of the year, all three brands are launching a premium handset: the Find X9 Pro, the OnePlus 15 and the GT Pro 8. It is the latter we are testing today.

Why does that matter? Because these three devices are near-identical and built around the same template: comparable hardware, the same chassis from one product to another, and an identically sized display. To stand apart, they therefore need their own distinctive features. For the Realme GT8 Pro, those are a customisable design, extensive AI tools and, above all, a camera module developed in partnership with Ricoh. Is that enough to make buyers choose Realme? Let us find out.

Realme GT 8 Pro: best prices

Base price: €1,199

Retailer	Discount	Price	Offer
Rakuten	-41%	€704	View offer
Amazon	-35%	€776	View offer
Boulanger	-13%	€1,049	View offer
FNAC		€1,202	View offer
Darty		€1,202	View offer

See more offers

Price and availability

The Realme GT8 Pro is a premium smartphone, so its lofty price is unsurprising: €999 or €1,199, for 256 GB or 512 GB respectively. This flagship takes on the market’s leading models head-on, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Pixel 10 Pro XL, OnePlus 15 and Oppo Find X9 Pro. So why should a buyer pick Realme instead of another manufacturer? The answer begins with a striking design.

Realme GT 8 Pro
Dimensions	161.8 x 76.9 x 8.2 mm
Weight	218 grams
Display	6.79-inch AMOLED 1440 x 2136 pixels 144 Hz 7000 nits (peak HDR)
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
RAM	16 GB
Storage	512 GB
OS	Android 16 Realme UI 16
Camera sensors	50-megapixel wide-angle sensor (f/1.8) 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor (f/2.0) 200-megapixel periscope telephoto sensor (f/2.6)
Selfie sensor	32 megapixels
Biometrics	Under-display fingerprint sensor
Battery	7000 mAh, 120 W fast charging
IP certification	IP66, IP68, IP69
Colours	Blue, white

A bold, customisable Realme GT8 Pro design

The Realme GT8 Pro’s biggest asset is plainly its design. Although it shares its chassis with its smartphone “siblings”, the Chinese brand has given it real character. Its rear panel uses a faux-leather "paper" finish. As the name suggests, it feels like crumpled paper beneath your fingertips. It is not only highly unusual visually, but exceptionally pleasant to hold. It is a genuine success. This is not the flashiest finish-the blue option remains fairly understated-but it gives the phone a tremendous look. Anyone after a more conventional rear panel can choose the white version, which does not receive this finish.

The GT8 Pro’s other standout feature is its customisable camera unit. An aluminium module can be bought separately. Using the supplied precision screwdriver, the original circular surround can be removed and swapped for a square one. It is clever, distinctive and enjoyable, offering something for every taste. We prefer the circular version, which looks better to us, but preferences will differ. An appropriately fitted rubber case is included with the replacement modules.

For everything else, Realme has opted for a familiar approach: flat aluminium edges, with the volume and power buttons grouped on the right. This is worth highlighting because the GT8 Pro does not adopt the additional buttons found on the OnePlus 15 and Oppo Find X9 Pro. In our view, that is a positive, as these extra controls are often of limited relevance. Here, Realme sticks to the essentials, and that is for the better.

At 8.3 mm thick, the GT8 Pro sits within the usual range. It does not impress in this regard, but it does not feel out of place either. Its 214-gram weight is similarly in line with current smartphones. The only slight drawback is that the weight leans a little towards the camera module, though it is nothing serious. You simply need to be mindful of that balance when taking it from a pocket, at least until you get used to it.

The display section is equally unsurprising, featuring a handsome 6.79-inch panel. We particularly like its heavily rounded corners, which bring a certain softness to the visual experience. As expected, there is an under-display fingerprint reader, positioned perfectly and working effectively. There is nothing to fault here: everything is where it should be.

The GT8 Pro is also convincing on the software front. It runs Android 16 with the Realme UI 7.0 overlay. It is pleasant in daily use and, most importantly, highly customisable. Realme has also chosen to integrate AI intelligently, whether for processing photos or summarising notifications. The latter is especially useful, although it is unfortunately only available in English for now. Essentially, the AI highlights your most important notifications, especially messages that need attention. For instance, if a contact asks you a question or makes a request, the AI will suggest replying. It is smart rather than gimmicky, as we used it throughout our entire test period. It is genuinely useful.

We do have two criticisms of Realme UI, however. First is the army of pre-installed manufacturer apps. Notes, alarms, music, calculator: why include them when Google’s equivalents are already there? The result is a great deal of duplication. Second is the interface’s overall design, which lacks a touch of personality. Why? It borrows the cues of a certain Apple, including poorer ideas such as Liquid Glass. At times, it almost feels as though you are using an iPhone 17. That is a shame, as there was scope to do better.

The Realme GT8 Pro is therefore a well-designed smartphone. While it is not the most ostentatious product launched this year, its interchangeable camera module and paper-effect rear give it a strong identity. We love it. But does the hardware live up to that promise? It is time to find out.

Impeccable technical credentials

There is no need to beat around the bush: in hardware terms, the Realme GT8 Pro is an example to follow. It starts with the screen. The phone has a large 6.79-inch 1440p AMOLED panel, though it defaults to 1080p. Its defining feature is a 144 Hz refresh rate, meaning it can display up to 144 frames per second. This is particularly valuable for gamers, as certain Android titles are compatible, including Call of Duty and PUBG. The refresh rate is adaptive, dropping when it is unnecessary in order to protect battery life.

There is nothing to criticise regarding display quality. As you would expect from AMOLED, the GT8 Pro delivers infinite contrast, deep blacks, bright whites and accurate colour temperature. Several colour profiles are available in the settings, accommodating fans of vivid colours as well as those who prefer a natural image. Brightness is another highlight: it reaches 1000 nits in normal conditions, with a 7000-nit peak. That ensures flawless readability even outside in strong sunshine. Watching a series while sitting on a bench or in a park? No problem. In short, the Realme GT8 Pro’s display is perfect.

The display is not the only area Realme has handled carefully. Inside the chassis sits a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. It is even the first smartphone in Europe to use it. Put simply, it is one of the market’s most powerful SoCs. The Realme GT8 Pro is clearly equipped for multitasking and gaming. Every demanding game runs smoothly, whether at 60 fps or 144 fps. If gaming is your priority, it is an excellent choice. Our only reservation concerns heat management. When pushed hard, the processor produces considerable warmth, which is not especially pleasant in the hand. Using a case resolves this issue.

However, it is battery life where the Realme GT8 Pro outclasses every rival. It has a 7000 mAh battery, which is enormous. We are not the kind of users who restrict their smartphone habits, yet the GT8 Pro lasted two days without difficulty. With more care, it can even stretch to an extra day. That is pleasing. It also supports 120 W fast charging, although the charger is not supplied, restoring it to 100% in a brisk 40 minutes. It is handy if you forget to charge overnight: plug it in while you are in the shower and it will last the day. In this respect, the GT8 Pro crushes the competition.

The Realme GT8 Pro is unquestionably one of the best-equipped phones we have tested from a technical standpoint. It is an outstanding performer and, logically, reaches the same level as the Find X9 Pro and OnePlus 15. All that remains is to see what it can do for photography.

An exemplary camera system

Photography is one area where flagship smartphones must now differentiate themselves. For the GT8 Pro, Realme has teamed up with Ricoh to create an unusual experience. The Japanese firm has brought its own signature, notably with a Ricoh GR mode intended to recreate the aesthetic of street photography. Technically, this remains a high-end setup, with the following sensors:

• 50-megapixel wide-angle sensor (f/1.8)
• 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor (f/2.0)
• 200-megapixel telephoto sensor (f/2.6)

Unsurprisingly, the Realme GT8 Pro performs admirably, particularly with its main sensor. Landscapes, portraits, indoor scenes, outdoor shots and macro photography: it handles contrast and colour reproduction extremely well. Its only weakness appears in backlit situations, conditions that are notoriously difficult. We will not hold that against it.

A swipe is all it takes to switch to Ricoh GR mode. This is not a technical change but software processing applied afterwards. Designed for street photography, whatever that may mean, Ricoh GR mode radically alters the image by heavily desaturating colours and darkening the final result. It is certainly aesthetic, but slightly artificial. We are not huge fans, but why not.

Realme goes further with an AI landscape mode, which also alters the image by adding punch to colours and slightly changing the scene, introducing extra light or detail. This can be paired with the AI editing tool built into the gallery. Again, it feels a little gimmicky; the phone does not need it to shine.

The ultra-wide-angle camera is decent, although a little behind the wide-angle unit. Even so, it still delivers pleasing images.

The 200-megapixel telephoto sensor is an excellent performer. It offers a top-tier 3x optical zoom, while digital zoom also produces excellent results. The GT8 Pro can extend as far as 120x zoom. Naturally, the results are unusable at that level, but the AI tries to rescue them and produce a clean image. It does not always succeed, but it works. It can prove useful for capturing a detail in a landscape.

Finally, night mode is a success. It does tend to brighten the image somewhat, prioritising visibility over realism, but the results are there. It does not reach the level of a Pixel 10 Pro, but it is clearly among the best.

Realme has therefore succeeded in its mission, delivering a high-quality and, above all, very coherent camera system. Our only disappointment is the somewhat gimmicky AI landscape mode.

Should you buy it?

That leaves the crucial question: should you buy it? Let us be direct: the Realme GT8 Pro is an excellent smartphone. It even earns a place among this year’s very best handsets.

That is hardly surprising. Its siblings, the Oppo Find X9 Pro and OnePlus 15, already sit at the top of the market, so it was logical for it to join them. An original design, strong performance, high-level cameras and, most importantly, incredible battery life: it has everything going for it. It is a very good pick.

The question is this: if you are buying a premium smartphone, why choose a Realme GT8 Pro rather than a Find X9 or a product from a rival brand? The GT 8 Pro is the straightforward choice. It focuses on the essentials instead of scattering its attention across irrelevant features and extra buttons. It is also the customisation choice: being able to change the camera module is brilliant. That is a real strength for a product whose biggest flaw is living in the shadow of its peers. Do not overlook this Realme GT8 Pro; it could surprise you. It certainly won us over.

Realme GT 8 Pro: best prices

Base price: €1,199

Retailer	Discount	Price	Offer
Rakuten	-41%	€704	View offer
Amazon	-35%	€776	View offer
Boulanger	-13%	€1,049	View offer
FNAC		€1,202	View offer
Darty		€1,202	View offer

See more offers

Realme GT8 Pro

€1,199

8.9

Display

9.5/10

Design

9.0/10

Battery life

9.5/10

Camera

8.5/10

Value for money

8.0/10

What we like

• Refined design
• Customisable camera module
• Superb display
• Powerful with excellent battery life
• Excellent camera system

What we like less

• Operating system lacks a little personality
• AI Landscape mode feels slightly gimmicky
• No 120 W charger supplied
• A little too similar to the Oppo Find X9 Pro and OnePlus 15