Realme GT 8 Pro Arrives with a Camera You Can Actually Change, Sort Of

Realme has released the GT 8 Pro in China, a phone that gives control back to you in ways few others will. Five days before the official launch on October 21, the company flooded Weibo with teasers showing off the device in full. Simply put, Realme made something that makes you want to grab a screwdriver and mod, or at least the camera.

The colors are the first to catch your eye, with white shining with beige undertones, green shifting from deep forest to lighter accents depending on the light, and blue offering a midnight depth that avoids the usual over saturation. Each one has a matte metal frame that stays cool under stress, weighing 214g and measuring 8.2mm thick. Realme chose a recyclable material for the back panel that is as thin as paper but strong enough to flex without creasing.

On a device like this, the screen demands attention and the GT 8 Pro has a 6.78 inch BOE LTPO OLED screen with 2K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and beautiful animations. Brightness peaks at 7,000 nits, so outdoor visibility is not a problem, but drops to 1 nit for late night reading. An ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is behind the glass, fast and reliable even with wet fingers. Dual symmetrical speakers produce balanced sound, improved by Realme’s R1 graphics chip for clearer visuals in games and media, while the Sky Signal Chip S1 sharpens 5G signals in congested areas.


Power comes from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a chip that can handle casual browsing to long gaming sessions without breaking a sweat. Paired with up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage, the phone runs Android 16 under Realme UI 7, with three years of OS updates and four for security patches. The GT Performance Engine 3.0 keeps frame rates stable in games like Genshin Impact, while a 7K cooling area dissipates heat across the body.


The battery life is deliberate, with a 7,000mAh cell capable of lasting two days of mixed use—streaming, navigation, and occasional productivity. Wired charging is 120W, with a refill time of less than 30 minutes; wireless charging is 50W for cable-free use; and reverse wireless is 10W for charging earbuds or a smartwatch. IP69 rated, dust and high pressure water jet proof, thus submerging or spraying is not a concern.


Cameras are the heart of the GT 8 Pro and thanks to the partnership with Ricoh Imaging it’s borrowed directly from their GR series. The setup includes a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-808 main sensor with optical image stabilization, 50-megapixel Samsung JN5 ultrawide and 200-megapixel Samsung HP5 periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom and telemacro for close up details. Ricoh tuned the lenses for clarity, cut glare and distortion and boost sharpness across the board. Software adds GR Mode with quick launch interface, the signature shutter click and focal lengths at 28mm for wide shots or 40mm for tight compositions. Five tones—Standard, Positive Film, Negative Film, Monotone and High-Contrast Black & White—let you adjust warmth, contrast and grain on the fly, with options to share profiles or add GR watermarks to shots.


The rear camera module can be detached via two small screws and magnets and can be swapped in seconds for different styles. Standard units come round but early batches will include a square version, with teasers hinting at transparent panels, velvet wraps or even robot themed covers. Third party makers can flood the market with options and turn the back into a canvas for personal expression. Cases might need to be redesigned to accommodate the change but the built in matte finish reduces the need for extra protection anyway.

Global availability follows the China debut, with India launching on November 11 and other markets soon after. Pricing starts at $700 for the 16GB/512GB version, making the GT 8 Pro a direct challenge to pricier rivals. Realme didn’t invent the interchangeable camera but they made it practical and fun, and proved that flagships can evolve beyond locked down designs.
[Source]