Realme GT Explorer Master vs. Huawei Mate 20 Pro: A Clash of Titans

The Realme GT Explorer Master and Huawei Mate 20 Pro represent different eras of smartphone technology. The Realme focuses on modern performance and charging speeds, while the Mate 20 Pro boasts a refined camera system and a premium design. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone reigns supreme.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme GT Explorer Master offers significantly faster charging and a more powerful processor, making it ideal for gamers and power users. However, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro's camera and sunlight readability are superior. Ultimately, the Realme wins on value, while the Mate 20 Pro excels in photography.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme GT Explorer Master Huawei Mate 20 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2021, July 212018, October 16. Released 2018, October 31
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, July 27Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.9 mm x 72.5 mm x 8.0/8.8 mm (depending on color)157.8 x 72.3 x 8.6 mm (6.21 x 2.85 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight183.5/185 g (depending on color) (6.49 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~538 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)OLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Kirin 980 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Mali-G76 MP10
OSAndroid 11, Realme UI 2.0Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm-
Triple50 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)40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging65W wired, 50% in 13 min, 100% in 33 min40W wired, 70% in 30 min 15W wireless 2.5W reverse wireless
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsGray, White, Aurora, ApricotEmerald Green, Midnight Blue, Twilight, Pink Gold, Black
ModelsRMX3366LYA-L09, LYA-L29, LYA-AL00, LYA-AL10, LYA-TL00, LYA-L0C
PriceAbout 380 EURAbout 800 EUR
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -87.7dB / Crosstalk -87.8dB
Battery life Endurance rating 117h Endurance rating 85h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: 254000:1 (nominal), 4.965 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker -25.6 LUFS (Very good) -28.9 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 717879 (v9) GeekBench: 3050 (v5.1) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 273913 (v7), 391046 (v8) GeekBench: 9712 (v4.4) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme GT Explorer Master

  • Blazing-fast 65W charging
  • Powerful Snapdragon 870 processor
  • Excellent battery life (117h endurance)
  • High peak brightness display (805 nits)
  • Competitive price

  • Camera not as refined as Mate 20 Pro
  • Design may not appeal to everyone

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

  • Excellent camera with Leica optics
  • High contrast ratio display
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Slower charging speeds (40W)
  • Older Kirin 980 processor
  • Lower battery life (85h endurance)
  • Less bright display

Display Comparison

The Realme GT Explorer Master boasts a measured peak brightness of 805 nits, offering excellent visibility even outdoors. The Mate 20 Pro has a respectable 4.965 sunlight visibility rating and a very high contrast ratio of 254000:1, indicating deep blacks and vibrant colors. While the Realme's brightness gives it an edge in direct sunlight, the Mate 20 Pro's contrast ratio provides a more immersive viewing experience overall.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro was renowned for its camera at launch, and it still holds up well. Its image processing is excellent, producing detailed and vibrant photos. The Realme GT Explorer Master's camera is competent, but it doesn't quite match the Mate 20 Pro's overall image quality, particularly in low light. The Mate 20 Pro's Leica optics are a key differentiator.

Performance

The Snapdragon 870 in the Realme GT Explorer Master is a significant performance upgrade over the Kirin 980 in the Mate 20 Pro. The 870 offers faster processing speeds and better graphics performance, making it ideal for demanding games and multitasking. The Mate 20 Pro is still capable, but it shows its age in comparison.

Battery Life

The Realme GT Explorer Master takes a commanding lead in battery life with an endurance rating of 117 hours, significantly outperforming the Mate 20 Pro's 85 hours. Coupled with its 65W charging, it can be fully charged in just 33 minutes, a massive advantage over the Mate 20 Pro's 40W wired charging.

Buying Guide

The Realme GT Explorer Master is perfect for those seeking a high-performance phone with blazing-fast charging at a competitive price. It's great for gamers, social media enthusiasts, and anyone who values speed. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a good choice for photography lovers and users who prioritize a premium feel and excellent sunlight visibility, even if it's an older model.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Realme GT Explorer Master worth buying in 2024?
Yes, the Realme GT Explorer Master still offers excellent value for its price, especially if you prioritize performance and fast charging. However, consider newer models if camera quality is your top priority.
❓ How does the Huawei Mate 20 Pro's camera compare to modern smartphones?
While the Mate 20 Pro's camera was excellent in its time, modern smartphones have significantly improved in terms of image processing, low-light performance, and features. It's still capable, but it won't match the latest flagships.