Realme GT 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: A Flagship Face-Off

The Realme GT 8 Pro arrives as a performance-focused contender, boasting the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE aims to deliver a refined flagship experience at a more accessible price point. This comparison dissects their key differences, focusing on performance, display quality, battery life, and camera capabilities to determine which phone reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and blazing-fast charging, the Realme GT 8 Pro is the clear winner. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE offers a more balanced package with a superior camera system and Samsung’s established software ecosystem, making it ideal for mainstream users.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme GT 8 Pro Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, October 212023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, October 21Available. Released 2023, October 05
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), aluminum alloy frame, fiber-reinforced plastic back or silicone polymer (eco leather) backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.8 x 76.9 x 8.2 mm (6.37 x 3.03 x 0.32 in)158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 3.01 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - International· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - China· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight214 g or 218 g (7.69 oz)209 g (7.37 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 4Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3136 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~508 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.79 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM), 7000 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1450 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - InternationalOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - USA
ChipsetQualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - USA
GPUAdreno 840Xclipse 920 - InternationalAdreno 730 - USA
OSAndroid 16, up to 4 major Android upgrades, Realme UI 7.0Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesRicoh lens, Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama, switchable camera bumpLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 22mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 200 MP, f/2.6, 65mm, (periscope telephoto), 1/1.56", 0.5µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 16mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.64µm50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR, Dolby Vision, 10-bit LOG8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama-
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide), 1/3.1", 0.7µm10 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS, HDR, Dolby Vision4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYes, 360˚Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASS, NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoUnspecified
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, 120W UFCS, 14.4W PD, 55W PPS, 14.4W QC, 15 min to 50%, 43 min to 100% 50W wireless, 79 min to 100% 10W wireless reverse 5W reverse wired25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 7000 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsDiary White, Urban Blue, Green, Aston Martin GreenMint, Cream, Graphite, Purple, Indigo, Tangerine
ModelsRMX5210SM-S711B, SM-S711B/DS, SM-S711U1, SM-S711U, SM-S711W, SM-S7110, SM-S711N
Price€ 899.99$ 219.95 / C$ 327.90 / £ 248.99 / € 272.00 / ₹ 34,999
SAR0.99 W/kg (head)     1.27 W/kg (body)0.80 W/kg (head)     0.72 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.76 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)
EU LABEL
Battery60:32h endurance, 1100 cycles-
EnergyClass B-
Free fallClass D (60 falls)-
RepairabilityClass C-

Realme GT 8 Pro

  • Unmatched charging speed (120W)
  • Superior processing power with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
  • Significantly brighter display
  • Longer battery lifespan (1100 cycles)

  • Camera system likely inferior to S23 FE
  • Realme’s software experience may not appeal to all

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

  • Excellent camera system with refined image processing
  • Polished Samsung software experience
  • Strong brand recognition and ecosystem
  • Good battery life

  • Significantly slower charging speed (25W)
  • Inferior processing power compared to GT 8 Pro
  • Dimmer display

Display Comparison

The Realme GT 8 Pro’s display significantly outshines the Galaxy S23 FE with a measured peak brightness of 2262 nits compared to the Samsung’s 985 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels, the Realme’s higher brightness and potentially higher PWM dimming rate (data unavailable, but typical for Realme flagships) could make it a better choice for users sensitive to flicker. The S23 FE’s display is still good, but the GT 8 Pro offers a more vibrant and readable experience.

Camera Comparison

Samsung traditionally excels in camera performance, and the S23 FE is no exception. While specific sensor details are missing for the GT 8 Pro, the S23 FE’s camera system, with its likely larger main sensor and sophisticated image processing algorithms, will deliver more consistent and refined results, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The S23 FE’s video capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from Samsung’s expertise in video stabilization and dynamic range. The GT 8 Pro’s camera is likely competent, but it’s unlikely to match the S23 FE’s overall image quality.

Performance

The Realme GT 8 Pro’s Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) represents a substantial leap in performance over the Exynos 2200 (4nm) found in the international S23 FE, and even the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the US variant. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s Oryon V3 Phoenix CPU cores (2x4.6 GHz + 6x3.62 GHz) offer a significant advantage in multi-core performance compared to the S23 FE’s octa-core configuration (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 + 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 + 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510). The 3nm process node also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The S23 FE will be capable, but the GT 8 Pro is in a different league for gaming and demanding tasks.

Battery Life

The Realme GT 8 Pro boasts impressive charging capabilities with 120W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in just 15 minutes and a full charge in 43 minutes. It also supports 50W wireless charging. The S23 FE, limited to 25W wired charging, takes 30 minutes to reach 50% and lacks the GT 8 Pro’s speed. While the S23 FE’s battery endurance is reported at 8:28h of active use, the GT 8 Pro achieves 20:24h, a massive difference. The GT 8 Pro’s 1100 charge cycles also suggest a longer lifespan for the battery itself.

Buying Guide

Buy the Realme GT 8 Pro if you need uncompromising processing power for demanding games and applications, and value the fastest charging speeds available. Its 120W charging and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 are unmatched in this price bracket. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you prefer a more polished software experience, a versatile camera system with strong image processing, and the brand recognition of Samsung’s ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 in the S23 FE suffer from overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2200 is known to be less thermally efficient than newer chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. While Samsung has implemented thermal management solutions, extended gaming sessions may result in noticeable throttling, leading to reduced performance. The GT 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with its 3nm process, is less prone to overheating.
❓ How effective is the 120W charging on the Realme GT 8 Pro with real-world usage, and does it generate excessive heat?
The 120W charging on the GT 8 Pro is exceptionally fast, delivering a 50% charge in just 15 minutes. While it does generate some heat during charging, Realme’s thermal management system effectively mitigates it, preventing damage to the battery. The phone will be warm to the touch, but not uncomfortably hot.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the S23 FE actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on smartphones offer limited detail and image quality. While they can capture close-up shots, the low resolution often results in soft and noisy images. It's more of a marketing feature than a genuinely useful camera component.
❓ Does the Realme GT 8 Pro support high frame rates (90fps or higher) in popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is more than capable of handling high frame rates in PUBG Mobile. The GT 8 Pro should be able to achieve 90fps or higher with optimized settings, providing a smoother and more responsive gaming experience. However, achieving consistent high frame rates will depend on the game’s optimization and the phone’s thermal management.