Since the public beta version of AnTuTu V9 was launched, the performance and cost-performance rankings based on the new evaluation mechanism have attracted a lot of attention from the outside world. On May 7, AnTuTu announced the first performance rankings of the V9 version, which contained a wealth of information. We at Sanyi Life also provided a detailed interpretation of it. Recently, with the release of the new cost-performance rankings, a model that was just launched at the beginning of this year has also attracted a lot of attention.
Yes, this is realme’s flagship model, the GT Neo. As we all know, the smartphone market has been experiencing a “rise” this year, and in such a market environment, the GT Neo, which starts at only 1799 yuan, has excited many consumers with its impressive price. More importantly, looking at the cost-performance rankings released by AnTuTu this time, it is not difficult to find that within the price range below 1999 yuan, many of the highest cost-performance models are still older models released last year, and some are even outdated models from the 4G era. For these models, their cost-performance may indeed seem low, but in terms of performance and user experience, they are obviously hard to call outstanding.
However, this raises our doubts; the phenomenon of high cost-performance models being scarce in this price range reflects the fact that the prices of 5G smartphones are generally high today. So how does realme achieve a balance between “high configuration” and “affordable price” in such an environment, even winning the top spot in this price segment with its super high cost-performance index?
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Debuting Dimensity 1200, GT Neo’s Performance Is Outstanding
Clearly, when talking about the secret of the GT Neo’s cost-performance, we must first mention its main control chip, the MediaTek Dimensity 1200. Speaking of the Dimensity series, many friends will not feel unfamiliar, as it has become a highlight in the market throughout 2020. In the high-end segment, the Dimensity 1000+ allowed many users to enjoy flagship-level 5G performance at a price around 2000 yuan; in the mid-range market, the Dimensity 820, Dimensity 800, and Dimensity 720 further reduced the price of 5G smartphones while providing performance far exceeding that of comparable mid-range models from the 4G era. Why has the Dimensity series been so successful? Analyzing the configuration parameters, it is not difficult to find that actively adopting new processes, new architectures, and keeping up with consumer demands in functional design were key to MediaTek’s turnaround in reputation and market performance in 2020. The Dimensity 1200 is also a faithful successor to this approach.
First, in terms of process, the Dimensity 1200 uses TSMC’s 6nm process, which combines high performance and good yield. This allows it to achieve a higher operating frequency and more powerful computing units while avoiding the high costs and power consumption issues exposed by the current 5nm process, laying a key foundation for the GT Neo’s high cost-performance. Secondly, in CPU design, the Dimensity 1200 upgraded the “big core” part from four 2.6GHz Cortex-A77 cores to one 3GHz Cortex-A78 “super big core” plus three 2.6GHz Cortex-A78 big cores. Relying on the power of the new process and architecture, the CPU performance of the Dimensity 1200 is 22% better than that of the Dimensity 1000+, and its energy efficiency ratio has increased by as much as 25%. It is worth noting that in the current mobile main control field, Cortex-A78 is not common. Besides Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100, only MediaTek’s Dimensity 1200/1100 and Exynos 1080 use the Cortex-A78 architecture. Among these SoCs, the Dimensity 1200’s Cortex-A78 even has the highest clock speed.
As a result, through AnTuTu V9 performance testing, we can see that the CPU performance of the GT Neo has actually surpassed many top flagship solutions from 2020, including Snapdragon 865+, Kirin 990 5G, and Exynos 990, yet its price is much lower than that of the models equipped with these chips. Of course, the performance improvement of the Dimensity 1200 does not come solely from the CPU; in fact, the Mali-G77MC9 GPU it is equipped with has also seen a significant performance boost compared to the Dimensity 1000+. At the same time, the ISP and APU of the Dimensity 1200 have also undergone significant specification improvements, with the ISP supporting single-camera resolutions of up to 200 million pixels, significantly enhancing processing speed.
In terms of 5G performance, the Dimensity 1200 continues the series’ pioneering features such as 5G dual-carrier aggregation, dual SIM dual standby, and 5G UltraSave power-saving technology. The new modem also supports more 5G frequency bands, better enabling “global 5G roaming.” Additionally, based on consumers’ actual usage needs for 5G smartphones, the Dimensity 1200 has timely added support for dual 5G SA networks, laying the foundation for faster 5G networks in the future. Coupled with high-speed rail mode, elevator mode, and quick signal reconnection features, the Dimensity 1200 not only speeds up in 5G networks and is compatible with new network services but also significantly improves the everyday user experience.
Moreover, it is worth noting that the Dimensity 1200 upgraded the flash memory specification from UFS 2.1 to the current flagship standard of UFS 3.1. This means that its storage read/write speed, app installation, and game loading performance will see significant improvements, truly achieving the performance level expected of today’s flagship models.
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Rich and Adequate Detailed Configurations Bring Real Cost-Performance
It can be said that with the advantage of debuting the MediaTek flagship SoC Dimensity 1200, the GT Neo easily secured the top spot in the cost-performance rankings of this price segment. However, for this new model that sold over 200,000 units within 20 days of its launch, its sales performance and reputation cannot simply be explained by “high performance and low price.” Why do I say this? On one hand, high performance certainly represents smoothness in daily use, represents the thrill in gaming, and represents a longer system update cycle and better future application compatibility. But beyond that, smartphones have many usage scenarios and experiences that are not directly determined by “performance”; they also require manufacturers to invest effort in many other aspects.
Perhaps it is because they recognized this that the GT Neo did not merely focus on high specifications for the main control scheme. In fact, they have “piled on” many high configurations in various aspects, making it truly a youth product that combines fashion, high performance, and entertainment features. For example, to meet young consumers’ demands for high-quality and high-frame-rate mobile games, the GT Neo is equipped with an industry-exclusive copper-stainless steel heat dissipation module. This design is more rigid than pure copper heat dissipation designs and is less prone to deformation under the ultra-thin thickness, thus improving the durability and stability of heat dissipation performance. Meanwhile, the 120Hz refresh rate Samsung AMOLED gaming screen, the increasingly rare 3.5mm headphone jack, along with the standard stereo speakers and linear vibration unit, further enhance the GT Neo’s user experience in heavy-load entertainment, especially when running large games.
Therefore, we also tested the GT Neo with the game “Genshin Impact.” It can be seen that under the support of the GT mode, which can further unleash hardware performance, the entire gaming process showed excellent smoothness, maintaining a stable 50 frames per second throughout the game, with almost no significant fluctuations, and combined with the outstanding screen, it undoubtedly provides a more immersive gaming experience.
Not only that, the GT Neo is also equipped with a high-quality 64-megapixel rear triple-camera module, which, combined with the enhanced AI processing capabilities of the Dimensity 1200, can provide better visual results in daily photography, and has been specially adapted for the current popular video shooting needs with video stabilization and AI video enhancement algorithms. Coupled with its standard 50W high-power fast charging and a lightweight design of only 8.4mm thick and 179g, both in terms of appearance and “substance,” the GT Neo has become one of the most attractive high cost-performance 5G flagship models for young consumers in its price range.
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Accurately Grasping User Needs, Realme Is Accelerating Growth
Honestly, as the youngest smartphone brand, realme, which only returned to the domestic market in 2019, has been performing a “miracle of growth.” From initially rapidly emerging in several overseas markets to entering the top seven in the domestic market within a year, and to a staggering 463% year-on-year increase in sales in the first quarter of 2021, realme continues to repeat the astonishing rhythm of “launching one model and selling one model hotly.”
Why have they been able to achieve this? In the past, we often said that realme always has bold designs and quite attractive product prices, plus the identity of an emerging brand makes it easy to attract consumers dissatisfied with other products. However, as realme enters its third year in the Chinese market, simply relying on the brand’s “young identity” or product pricing strategy is clearly no longer sufficient to explain this continuous hot sales and rapid growth trend.
The fact that the GT Neo topped the AnTuTu cost-performance rankings for smartphones priced between 0-1999 yuan in April actually gives us an opportunity to re-examine the success of realme. Besides high configuration and affordable pricing, the GT Neo actually boasts a fashionable appearance, a series of experience-centered accessories, and even a lightweight structural design specifically addressing the current shortcomings of 5G smartphone experiences, convenient multimedia interfaces, and sufficient fast charging.
All of these reflect a common fact: realme’s success does not lie simply in high performance or low price, but in their accurate grasp of the mainstream needs of young consumers. By actively adopting advanced technologies, being willing to “pile on” the specs, and keeping up with fashionable design elements, they have gradually transformed their products into “trendy items” with outstanding cost-performance, complete entertainment design, and eye-catching aesthetics. What these models offer consumers is not just high cost-performance, but also a sense of identity for young users. This is something that most brands find difficult to achieve, and perhaps it is the key to realme’s increasingly rapid growth.
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