The smartphone world has a new contender vying for flagship supremacy. The Realme GT 8 Pro has officially landed in India, bringing with it a powerhouse combination of Qualcomm’s latest chipset, groundbreaking camera technology co-developed with Ricoh, and a battery that refuses to quit. But does this device truly deliver on its ambitious promises? Let’s dive deep into everything you need to know before making your purchase decision.
Price and Availability
The Realme GT 8 Pro launched in India on November 20, 2025, with sales beginning November 25 through Flipkart, Realme’s official website, and select retail stores. The pricing structure is as follows: the base variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage comes in at Rs 72,999, while stepping up to 16GB RAM with 512GB storage will cost you Rs 78,999. There’s also a special Dream Edition inspired by the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, available exclusively in 16GB/512GB configuration at Rs 79,999. Early buyers can take advantage of a Rs 5,000 bank discount and receive a free camera deco customization set with standard models.
Design: Modular Innovation Meets Premium Craftsmanship
Realme has taken a bold approach to smartphone design with the GT 8 Pro. The standout feature is the industry-first interchangeable camera module system, allowing users to swap between circular, square, and even robot-styled camera island covers using an included Torx screwdriver. This modular approach adds a personalization element rarely seen in smartphones, though whether you’ll change it more than once is another question entirely.
The device comes in two colour options: Diary White featuring a frosted AG glass finish that feels smooth and resists fingerprints, and Urban Blue sporting a paper-textured vegan leather back made from recycled materials. At 214 grams, the phone strikes a reasonable balance between premium heft and everyday practicality. The aluminum frame provides structural integrity, while comprehensive IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings ensure the device can withstand dust, water immersion, and even high-pressure water jets.
Display: Brilliance Redefined
The Realme GT 8 Pro features a stunning 6.79-inch QHD+ BOE Q10 Flexible AMOLED display that sets new benchmarks for brightness. With a resolution of 3136 x 1440 pixels delivering 508 pixels per inch, everything looks razor-sharp. The panel supports up to 144Hz refresh rate for buttery-smooth scrolling and gaming, paired with a 360Hz touch sampling rate for responsive interactions.
Peak brightness reaches an extraordinary 7000 nits, making outdoor visibility exceptional even under direct sunlight. Standard high brightness mode delivers around 2000 nits, while manual settings can achieve approximately 953 nits. The display supports HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision content, covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut with 10-bit colour depth, and includes hardware-level DC dimming for reduced eye strain. Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection guards against scratches and minor impacts.
Performance: Snapdragon’s Finest Under the Hood
Powering the GT 8 Pro is Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, built on a cutting-edge 3nm process. This octa-core beast features a 2+6 Oryon CPU configuration clocking up to 4.6GHz, delivering approximately 20% faster CPU performance, 23% improved GPU output through the Adreno 840, and a 37% boost in AI processing via the Hexagon NPU compared to its predecessor.
The device pairs this silicon with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, ensuring lightning-fast app launches and seamless multitasking. Realme has also included its dedicated Hyper Vision AI chip (R1 display processor), enabling features like native 2K super resolution and 120fps super frame rate in supported games. The GT Boost 3.0 engine uses AI to balance thermal management, power consumption, and frame stability during intensive gaming sessions.
To keep temperatures in check, Realme has implemented a massive 7000 sq mm vapour chamber cooling system, the largest in the company’s history, providing 30% more coverage than previous generations. During extended gaming sessions, surface temperatures can reach around 54 degrees Celsius, and while throttling does occur under sustained heavy loads, the phone maintains roughly 70% of peak performance.
Camera: Ricoh Partnership Delivers Professional Results
The camera system represents perhaps the most significant upgrade for the GT series. Realme’s four-year partnership with Ricoh, the legendary Japanese camera manufacturer known for its GR series compact cameras, has resulted in a genuinely compelling imaging package.
The triple rear camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor (Sony IMX906, 1/1.56-inch) with OIS, f/1.8 aperture, and 7P aspherical lens featuring five-layer anti-reflective coating to minimize glare and ghosting. The star of the show is the 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP5 periscope telephoto camera (1/1.56-inch sensor) offering 3x optical zoom, 6x lossless zoom, and up to 120x hybrid zoom with OIS and a remarkably close 19-25cm minimum focusing distance. Completing the trio is a 50MP ultra-wide shooter with 116-degree field of view and f/2.0 aperture. For selfies, a 32MP front camera handles the job adequately, though fixed focus remains a limitation.
The dedicated Ricoh GR Mode transforms the camera experience with an immersive, minimalist viewfinder featuring 28mm and 40mm focal lengths, five classic GR film profiles (Positive Film, Negative Film, High-Contrast B&W, Standard, and Monotone), and even the authentic GR shutter sound. Street photography enthusiasts will appreciate the Snap Focus Mode for quick captures.
Video capabilities are equally impressive, supporting 4K at 120fps with Dolby Vision on both main and telephoto cameras, 8K at 30fps recording, and 10-bit Log 4K 120fps for professional colour grading flexibility.
Battery and Charging: All-Day Power, Lightning-Fast Recovery
The Realme GT 8 Pro houses a massive 7000mAh silicon-carbon battery that delivers exceptional endurance. In testing, the device achieved an Active Use Score of approximately 20 hours and 24 minutes, with Realme claiming 21.3 hours of YouTube playback and 7.66 hours of intensive BGMI gaming.
When you do need to recharge, 120W SuperVOOC wired charging takes you from empty to full in about 40 minutes, with a 15-minute charge providing enough juice for extended use. The device also supports 50W wireless charging, reaching full capacity in approximately 79 minutes. Even standard USB Power Delivery chargers with PPS can achieve 70% in 30 minutes at around 45W sustained power.
Software: Android 16 with Realme UI 7.0
The GT 8 Pro runs Android 16 with Realme UI 7.0, featuring a promised four years of major OS updates and five years of security patches. The software includes customizable lock screen clock styles with 3D depth effects, new app drawer category grouping, various large folder layouts, and extensive AI-powered features. The interface feels polished and responsive, offering the flexibility power users expect while remaining accessible to newcomers.
Connectivity and Additional Features
Comprehensive connectivity options include 5G with eSIM support, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX HD and LHDC 5, NFC, infrared blaster, and USB Type-C. Navigation support covers GPS, NavIC, BeiDou, Galileo, GLONASS, and QZSS satellite systems. Audio enthusiasts will appreciate the dual symmetrical stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, while the ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor provides fast and reliable biometric authentication. An X-axis linear motor delivers precise haptic feedback enhanced by third-generation ESA ultra-wideband technology.
Verdict: Should You Buy the Realme GT 8 Pro?
The Realme GT 8 Pro represents a significant evolution for the brand, transitioning from flagship killer to genuine flagship contender. The Ricoh partnership elevates photography capabilities substantially, the display brightness sets industry records, and the battery-charging combination eliminates range anxiety entirely. While the modular camera design feels somewhat gimmicky and thermal management under extreme loads shows room for improvement, these are minor complaints against an otherwise stellar package.
At Rs 72,999 onwards (Rs 67,999 with bank discount), the GT 8 Pro competes directly with devices like the OnePlus 15 and iQOO 15, offering comparable or superior specifications while maintaining Realme’s value-focused positioning. For photography enthusiasts, performance seekers, and anyone wanting flagship features without flagship pricing, the Realme GT 8 Pro deserves serious consideration
