Realme GT Neo 5 240W vs. vivo X90s: Which Flagship Delivers the Best Experience?

The sub-$500 flagship market is heating up. The Realme GT Neo 5 240W aggressively targets charging speed, while the vivo X90s prioritizes a balanced experience with a premium chipset and refined software. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing absolute charging speed and raw gaming performance, the Realme GT Neo 5 240W is the clear winner. However, the vivo X90s offers a more polished overall experience with a potentially more efficient chipset and a focus on stability, making it ideal for everyday users and content creators.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X90s Realme GT Neo 5 240W
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 88 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, June 262023, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, June 30Available. Released 2023, February 09
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back-
Dimensions164.1 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm or 8.9 mm163.9 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight197.5 / 201.5 / 202.2 / 203.5 g (6.98 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 -Illuminated RGB (on the back)
Display
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1240 x 2772 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~451 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.74 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X3 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9200+ (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUImmortalis-G715 MC11Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, OriginOS 3Android 13, Realme UI 4.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Pixel Shift, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single-16 MP, f/2.5, 25mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, AF, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, AF50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/3.3, 20mm (microscope)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm16 MP, f/2.5, 25mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30/60fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes (dual side)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a+B2c), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 8 min Reverse wired240W wired, 50% in 4 min, 100% in 10 min
Type4810 mAh4600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Red, GreenPurple, Black, White
ModelsV2241HARMX3708
PriceAbout 510 EURAbout 440 EUR

vivo X90s

  • Blazing-fast 240W charging for minimal downtime
  • Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 delivers excellent gaming performance
  • Potentially more aggressive pricing for performance-focused users

  • Software experience may be less refined than vivo’s Funtouch OS
  • Potential for higher thermal throttling under sustained load

Realme GT Neo 5 240W

  • Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ offers strong performance and efficiency
  • Likely more refined software experience with Funtouch OS
  • Potential for better image quality and low-light performance

  • Slower 120W charging compared to the GT Neo 5
  • May be slightly more expensive than the GT Neo 5

Display Comparison

Both devices utilize 4nm chipsets, suggesting a focus on efficiency. However, display specifications are missing. Assuming both employ AMOLED panels (typical for this segment), the key differentiator will be peak brightness and PWM dimming frequency. Realme often prioritizes high peak brightness for outdoor visibility, while vivo tends to focus on color accuracy and eye comfort. Without specific data, it's difficult to declare a winner, but the X90s' brand reputation suggests a more color-accurate display.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are absent, but both brands are known for strong camera performance. The absence of specific sensor information makes a direct comparison difficult. However, given the X90s’ positioning, it likely features a larger main sensor and a more sophisticated image processing pipeline, prioritizing image quality and detail. The GT Neo 5 may lean towards more vibrant, social media-ready images. Without sensor size and aperture data, it's reasonable to assume the X90s has a slight advantage in low-light photography.

Performance

The Realme GT Neo 5 240W’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (3.19 GHz Cortex-X2) is a proven performer, but the vivo X90s’ Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ (3.35 GHz Cortex-X3) boasts a higher clock speed on its prime core. This suggests a potential edge in single-core performance for the X90s. While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is known for its gaming prowess, the Dimensity 9200+’s architecture is newer and potentially more efficient, leading to less thermal throttling during sustained loads. The X90s’ LPDDR5x RAM configuration, if present, would further enhance its multitasking capabilities.

Battery Life

The Realme GT Neo 5 240W’s headline feature is its 240W charging, achieving 50% charge in just 4 minutes and 100% in 10 minutes. This is significantly faster than the vivo X90s’ 120W charging (50% in 8 minutes). While the X90s’ charging is still rapid, the GT Neo 5 redefines the concept of fast charging. The actual battery capacity is unknown for both, but the GT Neo 5’s charging speed mitigates concerns about a potentially smaller battery size. The Dimensity 9200+ in the X90s may offer better power efficiency, potentially offsetting the charging speed difference in real-world usage.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X90s if you need a consistently smooth experience, value a refined software experience, and prioritize a balanced approach to performance and battery life. Buy the Realme GT Neo 5 240W if you absolutely need the fastest charging available, frequently engage in demanding mobile gaming, and are willing to trade some software polish for peak power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Realme GT Neo 5 240W suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is known to generate heat under sustained load. While Realme likely implements cooling solutions, expect some performance throttling during prolonged gaming. The Dimensity 9200+ in the X90s, with its newer architecture, may exhibit less throttling.
❓ How does the 240W charging of the Realme GT Neo 5 240W affect long-term battery health?
While 240W charging is incredibly fast, concerns about battery degradation are valid. Realme likely employs sophisticated charging algorithms to mitigate this, but long-term battery health remains a potential consideration. The X90s’ 120W charging is less aggressive and may contribute to slower battery degradation over time.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed between 120W and 240W truly noticeable in everyday use?
Absolutely. While 120W is fast, 240W fundamentally changes the charging experience. Going from 0% to 50% in 4 minutes is a game-changer for users who frequently find themselves with low battery levels. The convenience factor is substantial.