Review of the Realme GT2 Master Explorer Edition: A new flat-screen flagship

 A fantastic phone is the Realme GT2 Pro. In addition to having the greatest flat screen to date, it also placed top in our Speed Test. The Realme GT2 Master Explorer edition, the second half of Realme's flagship phone, is now available. We'll call it the "GT2 Master" because the name is too long. Although I apologise for the delay in posting this GT2 Master Review, I assure you that it will cover every aspect of it.

Realme GT 2 Master Explorer Design & Display

One of the few manufacturers, Realme, uses a flat screen for its flagship models. For the flat screen with an incredibly thin bezel, I'm sure many people will think about purchasing the GT2 Master. The screen is excellent, and the incredibly small bezel is a major selling point. Its left and right bezels are even thinner than the curved screen Xiaomi 12S Ultra, and its bottom bezel is around the same width as the iPhone (review). Additionally, it is more elegant than a phone like the K50, which also has a premium flat screen, because it doesn't have a plastic screen holder. Despite not being a Samsung screen, the display is still quite good. There isn't anything wrong with it outside the somewhat greenish side view and the FHD+ resolution.

We received a white GT2 Master. We didn't purchase that particular suitcase model. It's not because it's unattractive, I assure you; I just don't like it. This white back cover will be more to my liking because it is yellowish. At first sight, the camera module appears to be a distant relative of the OnePlus ACE while maintaining the realme family aesthetic. NFC, dual speakers, and the ability to accommodate two Nano SIM cards are all characteristics that the GT2 Master shares with the GT2 Pro. Additionally, the finger recognition region has been slightly lowered, making it less practical to use. The flat bezel on the GT2 Master is the largest alteration, which makes holding it less cosy.  But there are also a lot of advantages. For instance, when viewed from the front, the bezel appears thinner, and I prefer the more robust shape. More importantly, using the shoulder buttons will make you more comfortable. 

Realme GT 2 Master Performance & Gaming

What am I talking about, where are the shoulder buttons, you might be asking. Two pressure-sensitive triggers are actually incorporated into the bezel of the GT2 Master, and the flat bezel definitely prevents sliding when you press it. It looks and feels completely like a regular phone, unlike other gaming phones where the trigger has unique visual or tactile processing. And even if you wear a phone case, it won't hinder your control.

However, I still have two issues. The first is that the placement of the two triggers is not symmetrical; you will need to get used to the left side being a little shorter than the right side. The second is that it cannot be customised and can only be used as a game button. Although I wish it could, it can't be utilised as a camera shutter button. This time around, Pixelworks' newest X7 chip, which is mostly used for game frame insertion, is also included in GT2 Master. Although it doesn't happen in every game, I can no longer notice lag, which may be due to the new chip's increased capabilities.  I advise you to at the very least enable Genshin Impact.

Okay, let's see how the game actually performed. The GT2 Master can play PUBG at 90 frames per second while scarcely heating up. It's an excellent PUBG machine even without the trigger and without turning on game frame insertion. Genshin's frame rate curve is a little more intriguing. The frame rate changed a lot in the early iterations of the system, with the GT2 Master fixed at 55 frames per second in the second half of the game. For a more consistent gaming experience, the maximum frame rate was further restricted following an upgrade. The average frame rate and phone temperature did not significantly alter, though. The game frame insertion is activated. Genshin was able to maintain a very high frame rate of 90 fps. Even though Realme claims that adding gaming frames may increase power consumption, we saw no evidence of this in this mode, and the temperature is essentially unchanged. Therefore, I advise you to enable this option in Genshin Impact.

Benchmark results are no longer really important for this phone; game performance speaks for itself. So, if you're interested, stop now and watch it; otherwise, move on.

Realme GT 2 Master Explorer Camera

Unsurprisingly, the GT2 Master's primary camera is once more an IMX 766. An antique dish called the JN1 serves as the ultra-wide angle camera, while a 40x macro camera serves as the third camera. Let's begin with the most captivating. This macro camera is not a first; the OPPO Find X3 had a lens quite similar to this one. It may capture beautiful images. It can also be used to record video, albeit the film will be a little unsteady even though my hands have been holding the phone as still as possible. In any case, using it is enjoyable. It may not be used frequently, but it is always more useful than 2 MP macro or depth of field cameras.

I won't discuss too much about the main camera of the GT2 Master because the IMX 766's capabilities should be well known to everyone. They share the same benefits of having vibrant colours and high dynamic range as the majority of realme phones. In particular, the images taken in night mode have a wider dynamic range. However, this also makes the pictures look a little flat, therefore in the majority of situations, I advise using the standard setting to shoot pictures. Although GT2 Master lacks a telephoto lens, its main camera crop performs admirably during the day, matching the performance of phones with a 2x telephoto, but the image quality is poor at night. Additionally, realme like sharpening the image. The entire image resembles a painting.

The Realme GT 2 Master Edition's full-sized samples may be seen here.

The fisheye lens on the JN1's super wide-angle camera is similar to that on the OnePlus 10 Pro. However, the GT2 Master's JN1 functions admirably as a typical extreme wide-angle camera. It performs on par with a $500 phone as long as the fisheye mode is off. In addition to having inferior edge image quality, fisheye mode has a lower dynamic range than standard ultra-wide angle mode. In contrast to my recommendation for the primary camera, I do urge you to use the night mode at night because it will remove the majority of  the commotion to you.

Up to 4k 60fps can be supported for video recording, and 4k 30fps can be used for lens switching throughout the recording.

Realme GT 2 Master Explorer Battery

In the past, a phone couldn't have a large battery and quick charging at the same time, but the GT2 Master's 5000mAh battery and 100w charging capability prove that it is now possible. It takes only 30 minutes to fill this large battery and 5 minutes to charge it to 33 percent. The 8+ Gen 1 works well overall and saves the GT2 Master a lot of power on games when compared to the Redmi K50 Pro, which has a battery capacity of 5000mAh. All things considered, the GT2 Master is off to a terrific start, and I am eagerly awaiting the release of other smartphones with sizable batteries and quick charging. 

The current cost of the GT2 Master Explorer edition is about $518. It's not a "cheap" phone, but it is the least expensive 8+ Gen 1 phone that is currently available. And it's absolutely worth the $500 with the ultra-narrow bezel screen, gaming frame insertion, big battery, and 100w quick charging. I'm most anticipating Redmi's new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 phone right now, and then we'll be able to compare which of these is the best to purchase this year.