It’s been almost two years since the last GT phone made its way overseas. And now, realme is back with a new GT model for the international audience. Say hello to the realme GT 6, the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone, which will make its official global — and Philippine — debut on June 20.

(Update, June 20: Our realme GT 6 review is up!)

We’re already working on our full review of the device, so stay tuned for that. For now, here’s our initial impressions of the realme GT 6.

Looks to match its speed

If you’ve been following along realme’s most recent releases in China, the GT 6 should look familiar. That’s because the global model looks a lot like the realme GT Neo6 for the Chinese market, except it has three independent rear cameras instead of just two.

The back and the front curve towards the middle frame, making the smartphone look and feel elegant in the hand. Its body is pretty slim at 8.96mm, and the weight is manageable at 199 grams.

The glass back of the realme GT 6 sports the same Nano Mirror Design, in silver and green colors, with mirror-like Nano Mirror Glass on the upper section, where the rear cameras are located. The company says the device’s overall aesthetic is inspired by pricey sports cars, and the high-gloss finish up top does feel right at home in the high-performance flagship segment and adds to the handset’s premium appeal.

That said, it’s also a fingerprint-magnet. If you have sweaty palms, you’ll probably want to use the included case to maintain its pristine appearance. Thankfully, the rest of the back, which realme says uses titanium-textured glass, does a much better job of keeping smudges and prints away, while remaining smooth to the touch. The camera-lens rings are made using high-grade stainless steel, which translates to an estimated 20% increase in hardness compared to your average lens ring.

The realme GT 6 comes with stereo speakers, as expected of smartphones in its class, and the secondary speaker is located inside a tiny cutout on the top frame. You won’t find a headphone jack here, but then again, that’s hardly surprising in 2024. A welcome addition, though, is the potentially useful IR blaster next to the extra speaker that can be used to control nearby devices and home appliances.

Fast performance, even faster charging

Inside the realme GT 6 is the flagship-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, an AI-centric 5G chipset built on a 4nm TSMC process for serious efficiency and power. According to Qualcomm, this octa-core processor delivers up to 20% and 15% better CPU and GPU performance compared with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, respectively.

In synthetic tests, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 boasts potential Antutu scores reaching 1.5 million, putting it in the same league as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, last year’s popular choice among flagship Android devices. Our review unit even posted higher benchmark scores in Geekbench 6 than our other daily driver, which is built around the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

But Qualcomm’s powerhouse chip isn’t just about raw numbers. It’s designed to elevate your overall smartphone experience. Whether you’re taking photos, navigating the latest realme UI 5.0 custom interface, or dominating battlegrounds in AAA titles, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 promises smooth performance, minimal stutter, even when multitasking between different apps, and impressive power efficiency.

realme backs this up with GT Mode, a feature within the UI that prioritizes resources for running games, aiming for consistent frame rates, sharp visuals, and cooler thermal performance. Additionally, the realme GT 6 offers Geek Power Tuning, which power users will appreciate. This software feature lets you tinker with the clock speeds of your device’s individual CPU cores, tailoring performance to specific games like PUBG Mobile or Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, or saving battery when needed by downclocking them.

As for the battery, realme has opted for a dual-cell battery with a combined 5,500mAh capacity. This translates to a 10% increase in battery capacity versus recent realme models, including the GT Neo 3 and GT 3, promising all-day use on a single charge.

More impressively, the realme GT 6 supports fast charging up to a whopping 120 watts using the in-box GaN charger that’s been shrunk for portability without sacrificing performance. It uses the phone’s dual-cell battery and the brand’s Battery Sense Voltmeter technology for efficient, high-speed charging, so going from zero to full shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes, or around 10 minutes, if you’re only charging the battery to 50%.

The best part? Rapidly charging your GT 6 won’t come at the expense of long-term battery health. Thanks to a combination of smart-charging features, the handset’s battery should retain at least 80% capacity even after 1,600 charge cycles. That’s double the industry standard of 800 cycles.

An eye-catching display built for gaming and entertainment

Beyond a true flagship-level chipset, the realme GT 6 also boasts a panel fit for gaming and multimedia enthusiasts. It packs a generous 6.78-inch panel with a sharp 1.2K resolution that translates to a crisp 450 pixels per inch.

This screen is a feast for the eyes, offering 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy and a stunning 1.07 billion colors for lifelike visuals and a contrast ratio that goes from a minimum of 60,000:1 to a typical 5,000,000:1, ensuring deep blacks and vibrant highlights. HDR10+ support further enhances the viewing experience, while Sunlight Display Mode lets you enjoy the content even under sunny conditions.

The display technology itself is cutting-edge, with realme opting for an 8T LTPO OLED panel, enabling a variable refresh rate that seamlessly adjusts between 1Hz and 120Hz. This translates to smooth visuals for everyday use and power efficiency if needed. In fact, the 8T LTPO panel is claimed to be 20% more power-efficient than traditional LTPS screens, effectively extending the GT 6’s battery life.

The display doesn’t skimp on protection, either. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 shields it from scratches and drops, while a tiny 2.74mm diameter punch hole minimizes distraction for the selfie camera. The realme GT 6 even boasts certifications for eye care, including a TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certification with high-frequency 2,160Hz PWM dimming to minimize screen flicker at low brightness levels, reducing eye strain during prolonged use.

Just about everything about this screen screams flagship phone, and it’s definitely something to look forward to.

Final thoughts

The realme GT 6 definitely leaves a strong first impression. From its powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor and beefy battery coupled with blazing-fast charging to its gorgeous LTPO OLED display with variable refresh rate, the device appears to be a well-rounded flagship contender.

We’re eager to put the realme GT 6 through its paces in our full review to see if it lives up to the hype, but so far, it’s shaping up to be a compelling option in the ultra-competitive flagship segment.

For updates, you can follow realme’s official Facebook page.

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