Realme GT Explorer Master vs Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+: Which Snapdragon Flagship Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and battery life, the Realme GT Explorer Master emerges as the winner. While the Redmi K40 Pro+ boasts the more potent Snapdragon 888, its 33W charging and potential for thermal throttling diminish its advantages, making the GT Explorer Master’s 65W charging and efficient chipset a more compelling package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme GT Explorer Master | Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1x | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 21 | 2021, February 25 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 27 | Available. Released 2021, March 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 159.9 mm x 72.5 mm x 8.0/8.8 mm (depending on color) | 163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 183.5/185 g (depending on color) (6.49 oz) | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| - | IP53, dust and splash resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| 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, MIUI 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| 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) | 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (macro), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | 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 |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, 50% in 13 min, 100% in 33 min | 33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min (advertised) |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4520 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, White, Aurora, Apricot | Black, White, Aurora |
| Models | RMX3366 | - |
| Price | About 380 EUR | About 470 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 117h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | 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 thermally efficient Snapdragon 870
- Excellent endurance rating (117h)
- Less powerful CPU/GPU than the K40 Pro+
- Display brightness not class-leading
Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+
- More powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
- Potentially better image processing capabilities
- Likely high-quality display panel
- Slower 33W charging
- Potential for thermal throttling
- Higher power consumption
Display Comparison
The Realme GT Explorer Master features a display capable of reaching 805 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even outdoors. While the Redmi K40 Pro+’s display specifications aren’t provided, Xiaomi typically equips its ‘Pro’ models with high-quality panels. However, without knowing its peak brightness, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. Both devices likely offer infinite (nominal) contrast ratios typical of OLED technology. The GT Explorer Master’s display is likely optimized for color accuracy and viewing angles, catering to media consumption and gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a detailed camera comparison is impossible. However, given the market positioning, it’s reasonable to assume both phones feature capable main sensors. The Redmi K40 Pro+ may have a slight edge due to the processing power of the Snapdragon 888, enabling more advanced image processing algorithms. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is likely a marketing gimmick and shouldn’t heavily influence purchasing decisions.
Performance
This is where the core difference lies. The Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+ is powered by the Snapdragon 888 (5nm), featuring the Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. This chipset offers a theoretical performance advantage over the Realme GT Explorer Master’s Snapdragon 870 (7nm). The 870, however, utilizes a more refined architecture and a larger process node, resulting in superior thermal efficiency. The 888 is known to throttle under sustained load, potentially impacting gaming performance over extended periods. The GT Explorer Master’s CPU configuration – 1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585, and 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585 – provides a balanced approach, prioritizing sustained performance over peak bursts. The lack of LPDDR5x RAM specifications for either device makes a direct comparison difficult, but both likely utilize fast RAM to complement their respective chipsets.
Battery Life
The Realme GT Explorer Master boasts a 65W wired charging solution, capable of reaching 50% charge in 13 minutes and 100% in 33 minutes. This is a significant advantage over the Redmi K40 Pro+’s 33W charging, which takes 52 minutes for a full charge. While the battery capacity of the GT Explorer Master isn’t specified, its endurance rating of 117 hours suggests efficient power management. The Snapdragon 888 in the K40 Pro+ is known to be more power-hungry, potentially offsetting any capacity advantage it might have. The faster charging of the GT Explorer Master provides a more convenient user experience, especially for those who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme GT Explorer Master if you need a phone that can comfortably handle demanding tasks all day long without overheating, and you value incredibly fast charging. It’s ideal for gamers who prioritize consistent frame rates over absolute peak performance. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+ if you absolutely require the highest possible CPU and GPU benchmarks, and are willing to accept potentially shorter battery life and slower charging speeds in exchange for that raw power.