realme GT 7 Pro Review: India’s First Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Flagship Is a Powerhouse

The realme GT 7 Pro is here, and it’s making waves as the first Snapdragon 8 Elite flagship smartphone in India. With a focus on delivering cutting-edge performance, top-tier camera capabilities, and an all-around solid design, realme has crafted a device that truly pushes the boundaries of what a flagship can be. I’ve spent some time with the GT 7 Pro, and here’s my detailed take on this feature-packed smartphone.

Design: Mars Design Meets Ergonomics

realme has done a great job with the design of the GT 7 Pro, which it calls the Mars Design. The fluid design is both eye-catching and practical, with colors like Mars Orange and Galaxy Grey adding a touch of personality. At 222.8 grams, it does have some heft, but it feels premium, and the ergonomic contours ensure that it’s still comfortable to hold, even during extended use.

One of the standout features is the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which not only offers faster unlocking but also supports underwater fingerprint unlocking—something quite unique in the current smartphone market. The IP69 dust and water resistance rating adds to the overall durability, making it a rugged choice for those who need a phone that can keep up with an active lifestyle. The phone’s dimensions (162.45 x 76.89 x 8.55 mm) make it slightly larger, but it is well-balanced in hand.

The Mars Design draws inspiration from space and futuristic aesthetics, giving the GT 7 Pro a distinct look that sets it apart from the crowd. The back panel features a smooth, matte finish that feels great in the hand while minimizing fingerprints. The camera module is well-integrated into the design, with a sleek bump that doesn’t feel out of place. Overall, the realme GT 7 Pro exudes a sense of luxury and quality.

Display: RealWorld Eco² Display – A Feast for the Eyes

The realme GT 7 Pro boasts a 6.78-inch Eco² OLED Plus display, co-developed with Samsung. The panel features an impressive peak brightness of over 6500 nits, making it one of the brightest displays I’ve ever used. Even in direct sunlight, the screen remains legible, and the 120% DCI-P3 color gamut makes everything look vibrant and true-to-life.

realme’s 8T LTPO technology also helps improve battery efficiency. The variable refresh rate, which ranges up to 120Hz, ensures a smooth experience while optimizing power consumption. In comparison to other devices like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the GT 7 Pro holds its own in terms of color accuracy and brightness, making it an ideal companion for media consumption, gaming, and outdoor use.

The display also supports HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision, enhancing the dynamic range and overall picture quality when watching supported content. Whether you’re watching Netflix, YouTube, or playing high-resolution games, the RealWorld Eco² Display delivers a rich and immersive visual experience. The display’s quad-curved design adds to the aesthetic appeal while also reducing accidental touches, thanks to advanced touch-rejection algorithms.

Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Takes Center Stage

At the heart of the realme GT 7 Pro is the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, Qualcomm’s latest and most powerful SoC, built on the advanced TSMC 3nm process. The Antutu benchmark scores 2763840, which is simply phenomenal, and easily places this device among the top performers in the industry. The two Prime cores clocked at 4.32GHz, paired with six performance cores at 3.52GHz, make for a noticeable leap in power compared to previous generations.

In terms of real-world performance, whether it’s day-to-day usage or intensive gaming sessions, the GT 7 Pro never misses a beat. The GT Boost 2.0 and Iceberg VC cooling system allow the device to maintain peak performance without overheating, even under demanding loads like playing PUBG Mobile. I put the phone through its paces, running games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, and it delivered stable 120fps gameplay until the battery ran dry. There were no significant frame drops or stuttering, a testament to the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s prowess and realme’s attention to detail with cooling.

The overall efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Elite is another highlight. Compared to the previous generation, it delivers up to 45% improvement in both single-core and multi-core performance while consuming 44% less power on the CPU and 40% less on the GPU. This means not only do you get blazing-fast performance, but you also benefit from better battery life, which is crucial for a high-performance flagship.

AI-Powered Photography: King of Snapshot and Underwater Shots

The camera setup on the GT 7 Pro is impressive, particularly the AI Ultra-Clear Snap Camera. The main 50MP Sony IMX906 sensor delivers stunning shots, capturing even fast-moving subjects with ease. Whether it was my dog running in the park or cars speeding by, the GT 7 Pro managed to freeze these moments in time with incredible clarity, thanks to the AI Snap Mode.

The inclusion of an underwater photography mode is another unique addition. I tested it in a pool, and it worked seamlessly—the phone automatically switched to underwater mode once submerged. The photos came out surprisingly well, capturing the colors and textures beneath the surface with impressive detail. The GT 7 Pro also comes with a 3X telephoto lens and a 120X super zoom, allowing for detailed long-distance shots, which are comparable, if not better, than those taken with the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung S24 Ultra.

The ultra-wide-angle camera, equipped with an 8MP Sony IMX355 sensor, is capable of capturing stunning landscape shots, and the 16MP front camera provides excellent selfies with a good amount of detail and natural-looking skin tones. The AI Zoom Ultra Clarity also helps in getting better details in zoomed shots, especially in well-lit conditions. Video recording capabilities are top-notch, with support for up to 8K at 24fps and 4K at 60fps, ensuring that all your memories are captured in the best possible quality.

AI Features: The Dark Horse of AI in Smartphones

Realme is clearly putting a lot of emphasis on AI with the GT 7 Pro, and the results are pretty amazing. The AI Sketch to Image feature lets you create illustrations out of simple sketches—whether drawn directly on the phone or uploaded via the album app. I found this feature to be fun and useful, especially for those who want to get creative with their photos. You can draw additional elements to an existing picture, transforming it into something completely new.

AI Motion Deblur is another standout feature. It saved many of my shots from being wasted due to unintentional handshakes or subject motion. This AI enhancement is particularly beneficial when capturing fast-moving subjects, ensuring you get clear and crisp photos every time. It works seamlessly in the background and can be accessed via the album app to enhance any photos that may have been affected by motion blur.

Gaming performance is also taken up a notch with AI enhancements. The AI Gaming Super Resolution and AI Gaming Super Frame technologies help improve in-game visuals and frame rates—up to 1.5K resolution and 120fps. Genshin Impact looked stunning at these settings, with sharp textures and fluid animations, which contributed to a much more immersive gaming experience. The AI Gaming Super Resolution breaks through the original resolution limitations of games, providing a much sharper and visually pleasing experience.

Battery Life: The 6500mAh Titan Battery Delivers All-Day Power

The realme GT 7 Pro comes with a massive 5800mAh Titan Battery, and it’s an absolute game-changer. Whether you’re streaming videos, playing games, or simply browsing, this battery can keep up with your needs. I got around 20 hours of video playback on YouTube, which is significantly better than what I’ve seen from most other flagships. Even power-hungry activities like playing FreeFire Max for hours didn’t drain the battery as quickly as I expected.

Charging is just as impressive, thanks to the 120W Ultra Charge technology. I was able to charge the phone from 1 to 100% in just 30 minutes. This means even if you forget to charge your phone overnight, a quick plug-in during your morning routine will get you enough power to last through the day.

The 5800mAh battery is not only large but also features next-generation silicon-carbon anode technology, which helps in reducing the size while improving battery longevity. realme claims that the battery will retain at least 80% of its capacity after four years of use, which is great for those looking to keep their devices for a long time. During my time with the phone, I found that even after a heavy day of use, I still had about 20-30% battery left by the end of the day, which is quite impressive.

Software: realme UI 6.0 Brings a Smoother Experience

The GT 7 Pro is the first device to come with realme UI 6.0, based on Android 15. It brings a refined, fluid experience with improved visuals and features. I particularly liked the new “Touch to Share” feature, which allows seamless content transfer between realme, OPPO, and OnePlus devices—perfect for users with multiple devices in the ecosystem.

The UI itself feels smooth, and I put this to the test by recording app switching and general scrolling, then slowing the footage down to 0.4x speed. The GT 7 Pro maintained its smooth performance throughout, proving that realme’s optimization is on point. The Fluid Design of realme UI 6.0 introduces new icons, live alerts, and themes that are visually appealing and easy to navigate. The “Touch to Share” feature is an added bonus, especially for quick file transfers without having to rely on third-party apps.

Realme UI 6.0 also introduces enhanced privacy and security features, which include better app permissions and more control over data sharing. I also appreciated the new live alerts, which keep you updated on key notifications without being intrusive. Overall, the realme UI 6.0 makes the user experience more enjoyable and productive.

Gaming Experience: Built for Gamers

Gaming on the realme GT 7 Pro is nothing short of a delight. Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and the AI enhancements, the device delivers an exceptional gaming experience. The 11480mm² Iceberg VC cooling system ensures that the phone stays cool even during long gaming sessions. I played PUBG Mobile and FreeFire Max extensively, and the phone managed to keep a stable 120fps throughout, without any noticeable overheating.

The AI Gaming Super Frame ensures smoother gameplay by providing frame rates up to 120fps, which is double that of many standard smartphones. Games like Honkai: Star Rail looked incredibly fluid, and the enhanced graphics made for an immersive experience.

The GT 7 Pro also features dual stereo speakers that provide rich sound, which enhances the gaming experience. The 240Hz touch sampling rate also makes a noticeable difference in terms of responsiveness, especially in fast-paced games where every millisecond counts.

IP69 Water and Dust Resistance: Ready for Adventure

The realme GT 7 Pro comes with IP69 dust and water resistance, which is among the highest ratings available for consumer electronics. This means the phone can withstand immersion in up to 2 meters of water for 30 minutes. During my tests, I used the phone in wet conditions, and even took some underwater shots in a swimming pool. The phone handled everything without a hitch, making it an ideal companion for those who love outdoor activities.

The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor works even when the phone is wet, which is something I found extremely convenient. Whether you’re by the pool or caught in the rain, the GT 7 Pro keeps going without any issues.

Verdict: realme GT 7 Pro – A Game Changer for Flagship Smartphones

Realme has really pushed the envelope with the GT 7 Pro. From its powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset to its AI-powered camera and features, everything about this phone screams flagship quality. The 6500mAh battery, 120W fast charging, and industry-first underwater camera mode all add up to a device that feels innovative and packed with value. The realme GT 7 Pro starts at Rs. 56,999 for the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while the higher variant is Rs. 62,999 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Whether you’re a gamer looking for high frame rates, a creative individual looking to explore AI tools, or someone who simply wants a reliable and high-performing smartphone, the GT 7 Pro is an excellent choice. It’s a device that balances power, efficiency, and usability in a way that makes it a compelling option in the flagship market. If you’re in the market for a new premium smartphone, the GT 7 Pro is definitely worth considering.

Realme has managed to create a flagship that not only competes with the best but also sets new standards in several areas. The advanced AI features, incredible display, and powerful performance make the realme GT 7 Pro a true dark horse in the flagship segment—a device that delivers more than you expect, in every aspect. If you’re someone who values top-tier performance, cutting-edge AI capabilities, and a reliable, long-lasting battery, the realme GT 7 Pro should be at the top of your list.