Realme GT Explorer Master vs OnePlus 8T: A Clash of Flagship Killers

The Realme GT Explorer Master and OnePlus 8T both aim to deliver flagship-level performance without the flagship price tag. But which one truly reigns supreme? We've put these two contenders head-to-head in a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme GT Explorer Master edges out the OnePlus 8T thanks to its slightly faster Snapdragon 870 chipset and superior battery endurance. While both offer excellent value, the Realme's performance and longevity give it a slight advantage for users prioritizing speed and battery life.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme GT Explorer Master OnePlus 8T
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN
Launch
Announced2021, July 212020, October 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, July 27Available. Released 2020, October 16
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)160.7 x 74.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 2.92 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight183.5/185 g (depending on color) (6.49 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak)Fluid AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 11, Realme UI 2.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm 5 MP (macro) 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome)
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)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (market dependant)
Battery
Charging65W wired, 50% in 13 min, 100% in 33 min65W wired, 100% in 39 min
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, White, Aurora, ApricotAquamarine Green, Lunar Silver, Cyberpunk 2077 Edition
ModelsRMX3366KB2001, KB2000, KB2003, KB2005
PriceAbout 380 EUR€ 130.75
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 117h Endurance rating 104h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.6 LUFS (Very good) -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 717879 (v9) GeekBench: 3050 (v5.1) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 586000 (v8) GeekBench: 3126 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme GT Explorer Master

  • Faster Snapdragon 870 Chipset
  • Superior Battery Life (117h Endurance)
  • Slightly Faster Charging
  • Stylish Design (often with unique color options)

  • Software might be less polished than OnePlus OxygenOS
  • Camera performance could be slightly inconsistent

OnePlus 8T

  • Smooth and Refined OxygenOS Software
  • Fast Charging (65W)
  • Good Overall Camera Performance
  • Well-Established Brand Reputation

  • Slightly Slower Performance than Realme
  • Shorter Battery Life (104h Endurance)
  • Older Chipset (Snapdragon 865)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a fluid and responsive experience. The Realme GT Explorer Master boasts a marginally higher peak brightness of 805 nits compared to the OnePlus 8T's 802 nits, though the difference is barely noticeable in real-world use. Both have excellent contrast ratios (Infinite nominal).

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable. Both phones offer versatile camera systems with multiple lenses. The Realme GT Explorer Master might have a slight edge in certain lighting conditions due to potential software optimizations, but overall, both capture good quality photos and videos. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) would need further investigation for a definitive conclusion.

Performance

The Realme GT Explorer Master holds a clear advantage here, powered by the Snapdragon 870 chipset. This chip offers a noticeable performance boost over the OnePlus 8T's Snapdragon 865, particularly in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. Both phones handle everyday tasks with ease.

Battery Life

The Realme GT Explorer Master shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 117 hours, significantly surpassing the OnePlus 8T's 104 hours. While both support 65W fast charging, the Realme charges slightly faster (33 min vs 39 min to 100%).

Buying Guide

The Realme GT Explorer Master is ideal for gamers and power users who demand top-tier performance and long-lasting battery. The OnePlus 8T is a great choice for those who value a smooth, refined user experience and fast charging, with a slightly more mature software ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software?
The OnePlus 8T generally has a more polished and refined software experience with OxygenOS, known for its clean interface and smooth performance. Realme's UI is improving but may not be as mature.
❓ Is the Snapdragon 870 significantly faster than the Snapdragon 865?
Yes, the Snapdragon 870 offers a noticeable performance improvement over the Snapdragon 865, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks and sustained performance.