Realme GT Explorer Master vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance and Endurance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and value, the Realme GT Explorer Master emerges as the winner. Its significantly superior endurance rating (117h vs 86h) and comparable performance from the Snapdragon 870, coupled with faster charging, make it a compelling choice. The OnePlus 9 Pro offers a slightly more refined experience, but at a cost.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme GT Explorer Master | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| 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) / 1800 / 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 21 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 27 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.9 mm x 72.5 mm x 8.0/8.8 mm (depending on color) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 183.5/185 g (depending on color) (6.49 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak) | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| 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 | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, 50% in 13 min, 100% in 33 min | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, White, Aurora, Apricot | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | RMX3366 | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 380 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 117h | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 717879 (v9) GeekBench: 3050 (v5.1) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Realme GT Explorer Master
- Significantly longer battery life (117h endurance)
- Faster charging (33 minutes to 100%)
- More efficient Snapdragon 870 chipset
- Lacks wireless charging
- Potentially less refined camera software
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Wireless charging support (50W)
- Potentially superior camera image processing
- More premium brand perception
- Significantly shorter battery life (86h endurance)
- Snapdragon 888 can throttle under sustained load
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
Both devices feature excellent displays, with the OnePlus 9 Pro achieving 859 nits of peak brightness and the Realme GT Explorer Master reaching 805 nits. While the difference is measurable, it’s unlikely to be noticeable in most real-world scenarios. Both displays offer an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. Neither specification details refresh rate or panel technology (LTPO), but both are expected to offer smooth scrolling and vibrant colors. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s slightly higher peak brightness may provide a marginal advantage in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking in the provided data. Both are described as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Hasselblad partnership suggests a focus on color science and image processing, but without sensor size or aperture details, it’s difficult to definitively assess its advantage. The Realme GT Explorer Master, while potentially lacking the same level of software refinement, likely delivers competitive image quality given the Snapdragon 870’s image signal processor (ISP). The absence of details on optical image stabilization (OIS) makes it impossible to compare stabilization performance.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 9 Pro utilizes the Snapdragon 888 (5nm), while the Realme GT Explorer Master features the Snapdragon 870 (7nm). While the 888 boasts a higher clock speed on its prime core (2.84 GHz vs 3.2 GHz on the 870), the 870’s more efficient 7nm process and optimized architecture often translate to comparable real-world performance, particularly in sustained workloads. The 888’s Cortex-X1 core offers theoretical peak performance, but the 870’s Kryo 585 cores provide a balanced and efficient experience. The Realme GT Explorer Master’s thermal management is likely superior due to the 870’s lower heat output, potentially reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
This is where the Realme GT Explorer Master truly shines. Its endurance rating of 117 hours significantly surpasses the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 86 hours. While the OnePlus 9 Pro offers both 65W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging, the Realme GT Explorer Master’s 65W wired charging is faster, reaching 100% in 33 minutes compared to the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 29 minutes. The difference is marginal, but the Realme’s superior battery life means you’ll need to charge it less frequently. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s wireless charging is a convenience feature the Realme lacks.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme GT Explorer Master if you need exceptional battery life, fast charging, and strong gaming performance without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for power users and mobile gamers who demand endurance. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prioritize a more polished software experience, potentially better camera image processing (though sensor size is comparable), and wireless charging convenience, and are willing to pay a premium for those features.