Realme GT 7

Four OS upgrades and six years of security patches from its May 2025 release, so security support runs to May 2031. That is a substantial improvement on older Realme phones, which typically offered two OS upgrades and three years of patches, and it makes the GT 7 a credible long-term buy in a way its predecessors were not.

Two days of moderate use is realistic, and heavy users will comfortably clear a full day with substantial reserve. Realme achieves the capacity with silicon-carbon cell chemistry, which stores more energy per unit volume than conventional lithium-ion. Combined with 120W charging, the practical result is that battery anxiety largely disappears.

The GT 7T costs around $175 less and shares the same 7,000mAh battery, 120W charging and IP69 rating. The GT 7 adds a Dimensity 9400e instead of the 8400 Max and a 50MP 2x telephoto the 7T lacks entirely. The 7T has a brighter 6,000-nit 144Hz panel. Both promise six years of patches — the 7T is the better value unless you want the telephoto.

More so than stock-leaning alternatives like Nothing OS or a Pixel. Realme UI 6.0 is fast and feature-rich but ships with a number of preinstalled applications and promotional content in some regions. Most can be uninstalled or disabled, and a first-run cleanup takes around ten minutes.