Initial verdict: The realme GT Neo 3 Naruto edition pays homage to the iconic anime series with its orange and black design. While it’s impressive how much detail has been placed into even the accessories, the smartphone itself is still a solid performer that isn’t all gimmicks.

Pros

• Naruto theme isn’t tacky and pays proper homage to the series
• Bright and vivid AMOLED display
• Processor is both powerful and efficient
• 160W charger comes in the box

Cons

• Further software tweaks needed

realme GT Neo3 Naruto Edition Specs

• Dimensity 8100 processor
• 6GB/8GB/12GB RAM
• 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 internal storage
• 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, 120hz refresh rate, HDR10+
• 50-megapixel f/1.8 IMX 766 main camera with PDAF and OIS; 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera; 2-megapixel f/2.4 macro camera
• 32-megapixel selfie camera
• Dual SIM
• 4G, LTE, 5G
• WiFi 6, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
• In-display fingerprint scanner, Stainless steel vapor cooling
• Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio
• 4500mAh/5000mAh battery
• 150W charging/80w charging
• Android 12, realmeUI 3.0

Unboxing and Packaging Contents

The package comes in this rather interesting scroll with some Naruto and realme branding etched into the leather. It unfurls a bit, but opening the device up involves pulling out the scroll’s end to expose the box hidden inside.

Taking out the contents reveals more goodies, like the included 160W SuperDart charger also fashioned in the Naruto signature colors. A grey jelly case was also found inside the box as expected with devices such as this. However, we’ve seen some anime-inspired cases come with the phone in other PR releases. Whether this is the final list or roster of inclusions in the box remains to be seen – but we’re happy with what we get here.

Other basics like documentation for the phone are also included.

Design

The rear of the realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition is a sight to behold. The orange pops out and shifts its hue depending on the angle of perception. Its matte glass finish adds a premium feel to it, with the colored and black segments split by the Uzumaki seal: a red circular symbol.

The camera module and upper part of the back end are done with a shiny silver look. On the left side resides the triple rear camera module and flash, while the opposite area has some references and the official branding of collaboration between the phone brand and the show.

Up front, meanwhile, features an almost bezel-less design and a camera hole punch right in the middle.

On the device’s side are the volume rockers for adjusting the sounds coming out of the smartphone at any particular moment. At the bottom, meanwhile, rest the USB Type-C port, bottom-firing speakers, and the SIM tray.

Display

Special edition or not, the realme GT Neo 3 sports a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display covered in Gorilla Glass 5. Considering the nature of this screen technology, colors are plenty vivid and don’t appear washed out whatsoever. While it’s not the brightest display out there, most would consider the backlight adequate even with outdoor usage in direct sunlight.

A 120Hz refresh rate ensures the user of a fluid experience when scrolling between pages and applications. While coming from a 90Hz display won’t be as much of a noticeable upgrade, those who previously used a 60Hz display will feel the night and day difference between the two. Unlike flagship devices though, the refresh rate isn’t adaptive so it’s on a constant and consistent 120Hz. This type of screen will chug battery power like a child with an icy cola on a hot summer day.

Cameras

The largest lens you can see at the top is the 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main camera with PDAF and OIS. It is supported by an 8-megapixel ultrawide shooter along with a 2-megapixel macro camera. That Sony main sensor is the same one that can be found in the OPPO Find X3 Pro we enjoyed taking snapshots with, the upcoming OnePlus Nord 2T, and too many upper-midrange to flagship devices to mention.

That’s why the fact that the main camera’s performance is solid came to us as no surprise. It can easily capture even minute details within the shot. It led to some stunning night photos that didn’t result in much grain or glare in the photos.

 

The ultrawide lens blurred out some of the detail though. There is definitely some sort of hazy effect that can be nitpicked in the image above.

A selfie photo in the ideally-lit Upper Box Greenhills studio shows that the front camera works well with ample lighting.

We’ll play with the system a bit more to see its quirks and features; focusing more on the supporting sensors and selfie shooter rather than the main one.

Internals

Found inside the realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition is the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor. This chipset has quickly grown to be one of the most popular from the brand, renowned for its excellent thermal management and strong baseline performance. It’s been touted by some outlets as a more powerful Snapdragon 888, with more consistency than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 especially during prolonged gaming sessions.

These are bold statements as both of those appear in flagship devices that are significantly more expensive than this smartphone.

Scrolling through menus and whatnot posed no problems for the GT Neo 3. It appears as though stutters and lagging are relics of the distant past. Despite this though, we do believe realmeUI 3.0 could use further optimization to elevate the experience even further and milk the potential of its powerful hardware.

With this much power under the hood, industry-leading 160W charging aims to top it back up in record times.

Wrap up and Initial Conclusions

The realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition is a wonderfully crafted smartphone and collector’s piece for fans of the Naruto franchise. The smartphone itself was already a package of epic proportions with an AMOLED high refresh rate display, powerful processor, and awesome battery capabilities – but the design pushes it even further. Impeccable execution of the orange and black themes means that you would not be ashamed to be seen with this smartphone in public.

Due to the fact that it ticks those boxes, this device gets a pass from us.

Unfortunately the realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition won’t be offered in the Philippines according to the brand – here’s to hoping they change their mind.