Realme GT Explorer Master vs Google Pixel 6a: Which Mid-Range Champion Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing gaming and fast charging, the Realme GT Explorer Master is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 870 delivers superior sustained performance and 65W charging is significantly faster than the Pixel 6a’s 18W. However, the Pixel 6a’s image processing and software support make it a compelling choice for photography enthusiasts.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme GT Explorer Master | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 21 | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 27 | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 mm x 72.5 mm x 8.0/8.8 mm (depending on color) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 183.5/185 g (depending on color) (6.49 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, 50% in 13 min, 100% in 33 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, White, Aurora, Apricot | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | RMX3366 | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | About 380 EUR | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 117h | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 717879 (v9) GeekBench: 3050 (v5.1) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Realme GT Explorer Master
- Significantly faster 65W charging
- More powerful Snapdragon 870 processor
- Longer battery endurance (117h)
- Lower peak display brightness
- Less refined software experience compared to Pixel
Google Pixel 6a
- Superior camera image processing
- Brighter display (876 nits)
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
- Slower 18W charging
- Less powerful Google Tensor processor for gaming
Display Comparison
Both phones feature displays with an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, but the Pixel 6a boasts a higher peak brightness of 876 nits compared to the Realme GT Explorer Master’s 805 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight for the Pixel 6a. While both offer a good viewing experience, the Pixel’s brighter panel provides a noticeable advantage in outdoor scenarios. The lack of high refresh rate panels on either device is a notable omission in this price bracket, focusing instead on efficiency.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6a leverages Google’s renowned computational photography prowess, despite lacking a dedicated telephoto lens. Its image processing algorithms excel in dynamic range and detail, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. While specific sensor details are not provided, the Pixel’s strength lies in its software. The Realme GT Explorer Master’s camera system, while capable, relies more on hardware. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the Pixel 6a’s consistent image quality and user-friendly interface give it an edge for most users. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Realme makes a direct hardware comparison difficult, but the Pixel’s software optimization is a significant advantage.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme GT Explorer Master utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), an established performer known for its balance of power and efficiency. The Pixel 6a, however, is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor chip (5nm). While the Tensor excels in AI and machine learning tasks – benefiting Google’s camera algorithms – the Snapdragon 870 generally outperforms it in raw CPU and GPU benchmarks. The Snapdragon 870’s octa-core configuration (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585, 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) provides a robust foundation for multitasking and gaming. The Tensor’s (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1, 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) architecture prioritizes AI processing over sustained peak performance, potentially leading to thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
The Realme GT Explorer Master boasts an endurance rating of 117 hours, while the Pixel 6a manages 94 hours. This suggests the Realme offers superior battery life, despite having a similar capacity (not specified in the data). However, the Realme’s 65W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 50% charge in just 13 minutes and a full charge in 33 minutes. The Pixel 6a’s 18W charging, while supporting PD3.0, is considerably slower. This difference in charging speed significantly impacts the user experience, allowing the Realme to quickly top up its battery when needed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme GT Explorer Master if you need a phone for demanding mobile games, frequently transfer large files, or value incredibly fast charging. Its Snapdragon 870 excels in sustained performance. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prioritize a clean Android experience, exceptional still photography, and long-term software updates, even if it means sacrificing some raw power and charging speed.