Realme GT Neo 5 SE review: specs, battery & used prices
Hands-on-style overview of the Realme GT Neo 5 SE with Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2: screen, cameras, battery, performance and what it costs used.
Summary
The Realme GT Neo 5 SE is a 2023 performance mid-ranger on the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2, with a 6.74-inch 144 Hz OLED, a 5500 mAh battery with 100 W charging, and a 193-gram body. Our catalog scores it 79 on everyday use and 80 on charging, with the 8/256 GB trim listed new near $300 and a single used example around $290. A 64-megapixel main camera records 4K30 video without stabilization. The Realme GT Neo 2 is the predecessor, and the Realme GT Neo 6 is the successor.
Display and design
The 6.74-inch flat OLED refreshes at 144 Hz, a step above the usual 120 Hz of the class, with peak brightness listed at 600 nits in our records. The 193-gram body keeps the GT family's flat-frame, performance-first styling, and our compactness score of 84 confirms an ordinary large phone rather than a bulky one. There is no ingress rating in our records for this model.
Performance
The Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 earns an everyday axis of 79 and a gaming axis of 28 in our model: the platform was notable for delivering near-flagship responsiveness at mid-range cost, with excellent efficiency that flatters the 5500 mAh cell. Long 3D sessions are steady rather than exceptional. Tracked trims run from 8 up to 16 GB of RAM, and our records leave the software window closing now.
Camera
A 64-megapixel main sensor leads the rear, joined by an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel macro, recording up to 4K30 without optical stabilization. The camera axis of 29 is mid-tier: daylight shots are detailed for the price, while low light and handheld video expose the missing stabilization. It is a camera budgeted to keep the price down, not a selling point.
Battery and charging
The 5500 mAh battery scores 50 on our battery axis, a comfortable full day and often more, and the 100 W charger scores 80 in our records, restoring the cell in about half an hour. Big battery plus fast refill at a $300 new price was the entire GT Neo 5 SE proposition, and it holds up well as a used buy. Wireless charging is absent at this tier.
Verdict
The GT Neo 5 SE is a performance-per-dollar specialist: a 144 Hz OLED, an unusually efficient platform and hundred-watt-class charging at about $290 used per our single tracked listing. The camera, the absent ingress rating and the closing software window are the accepted trade at this price. For budget buyers who prioritize responsiveness and refill speed, it remains a rational pick, with the GT Neo 6 as the newer step.
Data sheet
Overall score
high tier (0–100 composite of performance, battery, value and longevity)
Review scores
nanoreview.com editorial · 0–100| Screen | 6.74" OLED |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 |
| Memory (RAM / storage) | 8 GB / 256 GB · 12 GB / 256 GB · 12 GB / 512 GB · 16 GB / 1024 GB |
| Battery | 5,500 mAh |
| Main camera | 64 MP |
| Released | 2023 · Android |
Memory & used prices
| RAM / storage | New | Used (eBay median) | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 / 256 GB | $300 | $290 | 1 listing |
Resale trend
Estimate from two anchors: launch MSRP $300 (2023) and used-market median $290 (2026). −1% / year · next year ≈ $287
Cost to own ≈ $0.3/mo · buying now at $290, 2-year horizon
Money could earn ≈ $1.0/mo · the $290 kept at 4.17%/yr (US Treasury 3-month bill, as of Sep 21, 2026)
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