Is Realme GT 8 Pro Worth Rs 72,999? A Ricoh-Powered Flagship That Challenges Premium Giants
If you’re asking whether the Realme GT 8 Pro deserves your hard-earned money, here’s the answer. Launched in India on November 20, 2025, this flagship combines Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance, a Ricoh-tuned camera system designed for street photography, a massive 7000mAh battery with 120W fast charging, IP69 water resistance, and quirky swappable camera modules — all starting at Rs 72,999. It directly takes on rivals like the OnePlus 15 and Oppo Find X9, but the real question is: does it deliver for gamers, photographers, casual users, and power users alike? By the end of this review, you’ll know exactly whether the GT 8 Pro fits your needs or if you should skip it for something else.
Realme GT 8 Pro Review
Pricing and Availability: Where to Buy Realme GT 8 Pro in India
The Realme GT 8 Pro comes in three variants with the following pricing structure. The base 12GB RAM plus 256GB storage model starts at Rs 72,999. The higher-end 16GB RAM plus 512GB storage variant is priced at Rs 78,999. Additionally, there's a special Dream Edition featuring Aston Martin Formula One Team branding available exclusively in 16GB plus 512GB configuration for Rs 79,999.
Sales began on November 25, 2025, through Flipkart, Realme's official website, and select retail outlets across India. Early buyers can benefit from bank discounts of Rs 5,000 on ICICI, HDFC, and SBI credit cards, bringing the effective starting price down to Rs 67,999. The company also offers zero-cost EMI options for up to six months on select cards.
The standard model comes in two attractive color options: Diary White featuring a frosted glass finish and Urban Blue with a unique paper-textured vegan leather back made from recycled materials. The Dream Edition showcases iconic Aston Martin Racing Green with Lime Essence accents, complete with a silver Aston Martin emblem and Formula One-themed user interface.
Design and Build Quality: Innovation Meets Practicality
The Realme GT 8 Pro introduces an industry-first feature that sets it apart from every other flagship: swappable camera modules. Users can physically remove and replace the camera island with different designs, choosing between circular, rectangular, or robot-themed modules. This customization option is more than just aesthetic, it represents a bold step toward personalized smartphone design.
Despite housing a massive 7000mAh battery, the phone maintains remarkable dimensions at just 8.2 millimeters thickness and weighs 214 grams. The device feels premium in hand with its refined body featuring streamlined curve transitions based on the golden ratio and dual 2.5-dimensional edges for secure grip during extended use.
Build quality is flagship-grade with comprehensive protection ratings. The phone carries IP66, IP68, and IP69 certifications, making it resistant to dust, submersion in water, and even high-pressure water jets. The front display is protected by Crystal Armor Glass, while Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 shields the rear panel on certain variants.
Display: Brightness That Breaks Records
The 6.79-inch LTPS AMOLED display on the GT 8 Pro is genuinely impressive. It delivers Quad HD Plus resolution at 3136 by 1440 pixels with a 144Hz refresh rate specifically optimized for gaming titles like BGMI, Free Fire, and Call of Duty Mobile. The screen supports Dolby Vision content playback and recording, ensuring cinematic viewing experiences.
Realme GT 8 Pro Official Image
The headline feature is the peak brightness rating of 7000 nits in local areas. In real-world testing, the display reached 1951 nits for a 75 percent white swatch under bright light and peaked at 2262 nits in the gallery app. Manual brightness tops out at an excellent 953 nits, while the minimum brightness drops to a comfortable 1.6 nits for nighttime use. The display covers 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and includes hardware-level DC dimming to reduce eye strain.
Touch responsiveness is exceptional with 3200Hz instantaneous touch sampling rate and 360Hz four-finger sampling rate. This translates to incredibly responsive gaming performance, especially in competitive multiplayer titles where every millisecond matters.
However, there's one compromise worth noting. Unlike competitors like OnePlus 15 and Oppo Find X9 that use LTPO panels, the GT 8 Pro relies on LTPS technology. LTPO displays dynamically adjust refresh rates from as low as 1Hz to conserve battery, while LTPS panels maintain more constant refresh splits at 30Hz, 60Hz, and 90Hz. This difference impacts energy efficiency and can affect battery life during extended use.
Performance and Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Reality Check
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset powers the GT 8 Pro, built on a 3-nanometer process and featuring an octa-core Oryon CPU architecture. Qualcomm claims 20 percent faster CPU performance, 23 percent faster GPU performance, and 37 percent improved neural processing compared to the previous generation.
Benchmark scores are impressive. The device achieved 3711 in Geekbench 6 single-core and 11175 in multi-core tests. On AnTuTu Benchmark 10, it scored over 4 million points, placing it fifth on the global ranking list. In PCMark battery test, it delivered approximately 13 hours of continuous use.
Real-world performance is excellent for everyday tasks. Apps open instantly, multitasking is seamless with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, and the 512GB UFS 4.1 storage ensures fast read and write speeds. The phone handles demanding applications without breaking a sweat under normal usage conditions.
Gaming performance is where things get complicated. The GT 8 Pro includes several gaming-focused features: GT Performance Engine 3.0 for frame rate stability, R1 Graphics chip for enhanced visuals, S1 Sky Signal chip for improved network performance, and a massive 7000 square millimeter vapor chamber cooling system.
In practical gaming tests, BGMI runs at 120 frames per second with excellent stability. Call of Duty Mobile maintains a steady 120 FPS at medium plus ultra settings while consuming just 1.52 watts and staying cool at 36.9 degrees Celsius. Genshin Impact, a demanding open-world game, averages 44.5 FPS at highest settings with power draw around 1.88 watts and temperatures near 38 degrees Celsius.
However, sustained performance under extreme stress reveals thermal throttling issues. In 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress tests, the phone shows heavy throttling, dropping to just 28.6 percent of peak performance in Solar Bay and 38.9 percent in Wildlife benchmark. Surface temperatures reached 44.1 degrees Celsius across tests, and in some scenarios climbed to 54 degrees Celsius, making the chassis uncomfortably hot to hold.
This thermal behavior means the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 cannot maintain its peak performance during extended intensive workloads. For casual gamers and normal users, this won't be noticeable. But if you plan marathon gaming sessions with graphically demanding titles at maximum settings, the GT 8 Pro may struggle more than competitors with better thermal management.
Camera System: Ricoh Partnership Delivers Unique Photography Experience
The camera setup is where the Realme GT 8 Pro truly differentiates itself. The partnership with Ricoh Imaging Company brings GR-series photography DNA to smartphones for the first time. This collaboration goes beyond just brand placement, it fundamentally changes how the camera system captures and processes images.
The hardware comprises three rear cameras. The 50-megapixel main camera uses a 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX906 sensor with f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization, and electronic image stabilization. The 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera features a Samsung HP5 1/1.56-inch sensor with f/2.6 aperture and 3x optical zoom, extending to 6x lossless zoom and up to 120x hybrid zoom. The 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera covers 116 degrees with f/2.0 aperture but notably lacks autofocus. On the front sits a 32-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.4 aperture.
Realme GT 8 Pro Official Image
The main camera delivers good results in favorable conditions, though consistency can be an issue. In good lighting, images show decent detail and accurate colors, but focus can be hit-or-miss. Some shots come out soft with less sharpness than expected, and occasional noise creeps in. Low-light performance requires patience as images can lack sharpness and show visible noise, affecting overall quality. Lens flares and stray light sources could be better managed.
Where the GT 8 Pro truly excels is the 200-megapixel telephoto lens. This camera produces sharp, detailed images even at 12x lossless zoom. The large sensor size captures impressive amounts of detail, and the optical image stabilization keeps shots steady. For portrait photography, the GT 8 Pro delivers natural, pleasing skin tones that match real-life colors better than competitors. Edge detection is precise, creating clean separation between subject and background with smooth bokeh effects. Detail rendering in face, hair, and clothing textures is excellent.
The ultra-wide camera improved significantly from previous models, jumping from 8 megapixels to 50 megapixels. It captures good detail and handles dynamic range reasonably well. However, the lack of autofocus limits its macro photography capabilities and overall versatility.
The Ricoh GR Mode is the standout software feature. Activating it transforms the camera interface to mimic Ricoh's acclaimed GR series cameras. Users get fixed focal lengths at 28 millimeters and 40 millimeters matching popular GR focal lengths, a default 3:2 aspect ratio, distraction-free viewfinder mode, and special Snap Focus Mode with raise-to-shoot functionality and fixed focus.
Ricoh GR Film Tones offer five distinct looks: Standard for balanced natural rendering, Positive Film for vivid colors and higher contrast, Negative Film for softer tones and dreamy surreal effects, High-Contrast Black and White for dramatic monochrome with strong shadow play, and Monotone for distinctive character-rich black and white. There's also a customized tone option allowing users to fine-tune their preferred look. These filters genuinely change photo aesthetics without going over the top, though they add a slight grainy texture when zoomed in.
For selfies, the 32-megapixel front camera produces images with a warmer, slightly more processed look compared to competitors. It captures high detail though skin tone accuracy is lower than some rivals. The camera lacks autofocus which limits versatility for different shooting distances.
Video capabilities are comprehensive. The phone records 8K video at 30 frames per second, 4K at 30, 60, and 120 frames per second, and 1080p up to 240 frames per second. It supports 4K 120fps Dolby Vision recording and 10-bit Log format for professional color grading. However, video stabilization is suboptimal compared to class-leading competitors.
The Ricoh collaboration succeeds in creating a unique photography experience that appeals to street photographers and creative users. The depth of features and distinctive film tones set it apart from typical smartphone cameras. However, for average users who just want consistently great point-and-shoot results, the learning curve and sometimes inconsistent main camera performance may be frustrating.
Battery Life and Charging: Massive Capacity with Mixed Results
The 7000mAh battery is one of the largest in any mainstream flagship smartphone. In theory, this should deliver exceptional endurance. In practice, results are mixed.
Under normal usage patterns, the battery performs well. With moderate use including social media, video streaming, web browsing, and occasional gaming, the phone easily delivers a full day with battery to spare. Some users report getting two full days from a single charge with four to five hours of screen-on time reducing battery to around 40 percent.
However, heavy usage reveals efficiency issues. With 5G enabled continuously and around two hours of intensive camera use, battery life drops to barely 10 to 12 percent by 9 PM. Overall screen-on time in such scenarios is just six hours, which is disappointing for a 7000mAh battery. In PCMark battery benchmark, it scored about 13 hours, below the average for other 7000mAh phones like OnePlus 15 and Oppo Find X9.
The culprit appears to be the LTPS display panel rather than LTPO. Without dynamic refresh rate adjustment down to 1Hz, the screen consumes more power during light tasks. The thermal management during gaming also impacts efficiency, with sustained loads consuming significantly more battery than expected.
Charging speed partially compensates for battery life concerns. The included 120W SuperVOOC charger takes the battery from 20 percent to 100 percent in approximately 40 to 43 minutes. It reaches 50 percent in just 15 minutes, providing all-day power from a quick top-up. The phone also supports 55W PPS charging via standard USB Power Delivery chargers, which took the battery to 70 percent in 30 minutes during testing.
Wireless charging debuts on an internationally available Realme phone with 50W wireless charging capability, taking approximately 79 minutes for a full charge. The phone also includes 5W reverse wireless charging for topping up compatible accessories.
Battery health features include smart charging that learns your usage patterns and completes the final top-off just before you typically need the phone. This helps preserve long-term battery health by avoiding extended periods at 100 percent charge.
Software: Android 16 with Realme UI 7.0
The GT 8 Pro ships with Android 16 out of the box, making it one of the first devices to launch with Google's latest operating system. Realme UI 7.0 sits on top, sharing its foundation with Oppo's ColorOS 16 and OnePlus's OxygenOS 16. All three interfaces share the same basic structure, settings menu, and navigation patterns.
Realme promises four years of major Android version updates and five years of security patches. While not matching Samsung's seven-year commitment, this is respectable support for the Chinese market where manufacturers have historically been hesitant with long-term guarantees.
The interface features new material design inspired by light and shadow interplay, utilizing high transparency and soft blur layers to establish clear information hierarchy. Lock screen customization includes a wide selection of clock styles with three-dimensional depth effects where the clock appears behind image elements. The app drawer now supports category grouping similar to other manufacturers, with different large folder types in 1x3, 3x1, and 3x3 grid configurations.
AI features are prominent throughout. Mind Space provides mental health and meditation tools. Various pre-installed apps include Zen Space for digital wellbeing. The system includes AI-based battery management that doesn't aggressively kill background apps, ensuring better multitasking experience.
Bloatware is minimal compared to previous Realme UI versions, with fewer pre-installed applications cluttering the interface. The overall software experience is smooth and responsive during everyday use, though it doesn't feel quite as polished or feature-rich as OxygenOS 16 on the OnePlus 15.
Audio Quality and Additional Features
Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support deliver loud, clear audio with good separation. Speaker performance is excellent for media consumption and gaming, with minimal distortion even at maximum volume. The X-axis linear vibration motor provides precise haptic feedback that enhances the overall experience.
The ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor is lightning fast and accurate, working reliably even with wet fingers. This is a significant upgrade over optical fingerprint sensors that struggle in such conditions.
Connectivity is comprehensive. The phone supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX HD and LHDC 5 codecs, NFC for contactless payments, and an infrared blaster for controlling home appliances. The device supports 5G across 21 bands ensuring compatibility with networks worldwide. The S1 Sky Signal chip improves network performance in congested areas, and the balanced multi-band antenna system helps maintain lower latency during gaming.
One notable disappointment is the USB Type-C port limited to USB 2.0 speeds. At this flagship price point, users expect at least USB 3.2 speeds for fast file transfers and external storage connectivity. This feels like an inexplicable cost-cutting measure on an otherwise premium device.
Who Should Buy the Realme GT 8 Pro?
The Realme GT 8 Pro is ideal for photography enthusiasts who appreciate unique creative tools and want something different from typical smartphone cameras. The Ricoh GR mode offers genuine depth and distinctive film tones that will appeal to street photographers and artistic users. If you enjoy experimenting with your photography and value creative control, this phone delivers an engaging experience.
Users who prioritize display quality will appreciate the incredibly bright 7000-nit peak brightness and 144Hz refresh rate. The screen performs exceptionally well outdoors and delivers smooth visuals for gaming and media consumption.
Casual to moderate gamers will enjoy the strong performance in everyday gaming scenarios. Titles like BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, and similar games run beautifully with high frame rates and good thermal management during normal sessions.
Those who want unique design customization will love the swappable camera modules. This industry-first feature lets you personalize your phone's appearance in ways no other flagship offers.
Budget-conscious flagship seekers who want premium features at competitive pricing will find the GT 8 Pro appealing, especially with the Rs 5,000 bank discount bringing the effective price to Rs 67,999.
Who Should Avoid the Realme GT 8 Pro?
Power users who frequently engage in extended intensive gaming sessions should consider alternatives. The thermal throttling under sustained loads means performance degrades significantly during marathon gaming, and the phone gets uncomfortably hot.
Users who need reliable point-and-shoot camera consistency without learning curves should look elsewhere. While the Ricoh features are excellent, the main camera can be hit-or-miss, and the complexity might frustrate those who just want consistently great photos without fuss.
Heavy users who need maximum battery efficiency should consider phones with LTPO displays like the OnePlus 15. Despite the 7000mAh capacity, the GT 8 Pro's battery life under heavy use doesn't match the endurance of competitors with dynamic refresh rate management.
Those who frequently transfer large files or use their phone with external storage should note the USB 2.0 limitation. If fast data transfer speeds matter for your workflow, this will be frustrating.
Users who want the most polished software experience might prefer OnePlus 15 with OxygenOS 16. While Realme UI 7.0 is functional, it lacks some of the refinement found in its cousin interfaces.
Competition Comparison: How Does It Stack Up?
Against the OnePlus 15 at similar pricing, the GT 8 Pro offers superior telephoto camera capabilities, much brighter display, and unique design customization. However, the OnePlus 15 delivers better sustained gaming performance, superior battery efficiency, more polished software, and USB 3.2 speeds. For most users, the OnePlus 15 remains the safer, more well-rounded choice.
The Oppo Find X9 costs slightly more but offers better overall camera performance across all lenses and superior battery life. The GT 8 Pro counters with its distinctive Ricoh photography features and swappable design elements.
The Vivo X300 provides excellent cameras and comes in a more compact form factor with LTPO display. It's slightly less expensive and offers better USB connectivity, but has smaller battery capacity than the GT 8 Pro.
Final Verdict
The Realme GT 8 Pro is an ambitious flagship that succeeds in some areas while compromising in others. Its greatest strengths lie in the unique Ricoh camera partnership that genuinely offers something different in the crowded smartphone market, the incredibly bright display that performs exceptionally well in any lighting condition, and the massive battery capacity paired with fast charging.
The swappable camera modules represent genuine innovation in smartphone design, allowing personalization beyond simple color choices. The comprehensive water resistance and premium build quality justify the flagship positioning.
However, the thermal management issues under sustained loads, inconsistent main camera performance despite the excellent telephoto, disappointing battery efficiency for such a large capacity due to the LTPS panel, and the USB 2.0 limitation at this price point are legitimate concerns.
At Rs 67,999 after bank discounts, the GT 8 Pro offers compelling value for users who prioritize its unique features. It's not the most well-rounded flagship, and it's not perfect in any single category. But for photography enthusiasts who want creative tools, users who value display brightness above all else, and those who appreciate unique design elements, the Realme GT 8 Pro delivers an engaging, different experience.
If you want the safest, most consistent flagship experience, the OnePlus 15 remains the better choice. But if you're willing to work with a camera system that rewards creativity and experimentation, and you don't need absolute peak sustained performance, the Realme GT 8 Pro is a genuinely interesting alternative that brings fresh ideas to the flagship segment.
The phone earns a solid recommendation for the right user, but it's important to understand both its capabilities and limitations before making your purchase decision.
Realme GT 8 Pro Official Image (side view)
Pros and Cons Summary
Pros:
- Unique Ricoh GR camera mode with distinctive film tones and street photography features
- Excellent 200-megapixel telephoto camera with outstanding detail and portrait capabilities
- Incredibly bright 7000-nit peak display that's readable in any lighting condition
- Industry-first swappable camera modules for unique personalization
- Massive 7000mAh battery with 120W fast charging and 50W wireless charging
- Comprehensive IP66, IP68, IP69 water and dust resistance
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 delivers excellent everyday performance
- Competitive pricing at Rs 67,999 after bank discounts
- Strong gaming performance for casual to moderate gaming sessions
- Four years of Android updates and five years of security patches
- Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable
- Excellent audio quality with Dolby Atmos stereo speakers
Cons:
- Heavy thermal throttling under sustained intensive loads affects gaming performance
- Main camera inconsistency with hit-or-miss focus and occasional soft images
- Disappointing battery efficiency under heavy use despite 7000mAh capacity
- LTPS panel instead of LTPO limits dynamic refresh rate and power efficiency
- USB 2.0 speeds feel dated at flagship pricing
- Ultra-wide camera lacks autofocus limiting macro capabilities
- Front camera also lacks autofocus
- Video stabilization is suboptimal compared to competitors
- Software feels less polished than OxygenOS 16
- Ricoh camera features may overwhelm casual users who want simple point-and-shoot
- Phone gets uncomfortably hot during extended stress tests
- No charger included in most European Union markets
Realme GT 8 Pro Official Image (Front & Back view)
Technical Specifications Table
| Display | 6.79-inch LTPS AMOLED, 3136x1440px, 144Hz, 7000 nits peak, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm), Octa-core |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB UFS 4.1 (non-expandable) |
| Rear Camera | 50MP main (f/1.8, OIS, EIS), 200MP telephoto (f/2.6, 3x optical), 50MP ultrawide (f/2.0, 116°) |
| Front Camera | 32MP (f/2.4) |
| Battery | 7000mAh (dual-cell 2x3500mAh) |
| Charging | 120W wired, 50W wireless, 5W reverse wireless |
| Operating System | Android 16, Realme UI 7.0 |
| Dimensions | 163.2 x 75.9 x 8.2mm |
| Weight | 214 grams |
| Protection | IP66, IP68, IP69, Crystal Armor Glass front, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 rear |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, USB Type-C 2.0, IR blaster |
| Security | Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, face unlock |
| Audio | Dual stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, no 3.5mm jack |
| Colors | Diary White, Urban Blue, Dream Edition (Aston Martin Racing Green) |
| Price | Rs 72,999 (12GB+256GB), Rs 78,999 (16GB+512GB), Rs 79,999 (Dream Edition) |
