Realme GT Neo 3T long term review: Fast, but not fresh

Realme’s lineup of mid-range and upper midrange devices is probably the most interesting among brands operating in India right now. The brand has always had at least one good contender for every segment, thanks to their multi-device strategy. But it also means that standing with a new phone becomes increasingly difficult at times.

The Realme GT Neo 3T is a good example of this, as it felt like another addition to the GT Neo series that surely packs performance. But lacks the flair of a fresh new phone. This is why I decided to spend some more time with the device before I giving my verdict on it. After spending over a month with the phone, here’s what I feel about the Realme GT Neo 3T.

The GT series as a whole is one that’s all about performance. The GT Neo 3T is no different. With the Snapdragon 870, one of the most reliable Snapdragon 800-series chips in recent years at its helm, the GT Neo 3T flies through daily use with zero problems.

I have spent enough time with the 870 with both the iQOO Neo 6 and the OnePlus 9R over the last year. I can testify that the chipset is relevant even today, despite being succeeded by three Snapdragon 8-series chips since it’s introduction. The 870 may not be as powerful as the Snapdragon 888, but will offer better thermals and, practically, more than enough performance and graphical capability in this segment. In fact, the only phone I can think of that outperforms the Neo 3T at this price is the Redmi K50i, but then the Neo 3T beats the Redmi K50i with an AMOLED display.

I tried the Realme GT Neo 3T with a number of casual titles like Subway Surfers and Vector, as well as more demanding games like Apex Legends over the weeks, and I can gladly say that the phone handles both without sweating. Graphic settings can be tuned to the maximum for most games and the phone’s thermals were better than I expected at this price.

Both the Realme GT Neo 3T camera setup and the photos I shot with the phone don’t offer anything new to the market. The 64MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide sensor, the software features of Realme UI and the useless 2MP macro camera, have all been seen before, and that’s a good thing. This makes the GT Neo 3T camera a reliable one, something that’s more important in this segment than a flashy new sensor with more megapixels and less optimisation.

The phone also records 4K at up to 60fps from the rear camera and videos were pleasant enough in good lighting, although you’re still capped at 1080p recording from the 16MP front camera. Check out some of our samples below.