Realme isn't playing around. After weeks of cat-and-mouse teasers, they’ve finally
locked in
January 22, 2026, for the Neo 8's China debut. This isn't just another mid-range refresh; it’s a direct shot at the iQOO Z11 Turbo. Why the hype? Because Realme managed to fit an
8,000mAh silicon-carbon battery into a frame that’s only 8.3mm thin.
Key points
- Launching Jan 22, 2026, in China; global rebrand as Realme GT 8 expected later.
- Massive 8,000mAh battery paired with 80W charging and a slim 8.3mm body.
- Features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset with up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM.
- Samsung-made 6.78-inch M14 AMOLED screen with a 165Hz refresh rate.
- Triple camera system includes a 50MP periscope lens with 120x digital zoom.
The Screen: Samsung’s M14 Wizardry
They’re using a customized 6.78-inch AMOLED M14 panel from Samsung. It’s the same "luminescent material" found in high-end flagships, but tweaked for the Neo 8 to hit:
- 165Hz Refresh Rate: Serious overkill for scrolling, but perfect for the high-frame-rate gaming titles launching this year.
- 6,500 Nits Peak: You could probably use this phone as a flashlight in broad daylight.
- 1.5K Resolution: That sweet spot between battery efficiency and crisp detail.
Hardware: Built for the "AnTuTu" Chasers
Under the hood sits the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. Realme claims they’ve pushed this chip to an AnTuTu score of 3.58 million. To keep that performance from throttling, they've included a massive cooling chamber and a semi-transparent back panel with the "Awakening Halo" RGB strip.
- RAM/Storage: Up to a ridiculous 24GB RAM and 1TB storage.
- Charging: 80W wired. It’s not their fastest, but with 8,000mAh to fill, it's a calculated trade-off for battery health.
- Durability: IP68/IP69. It’ll survive a dunk and high-pressure jet washes.
Cameras & Rebranding
Don't let the "gaming" focus fool you. The camera setup is actually decent: a 50MP main (OIS), 8MP ultrawide, and a 50MP periscope telephoto with 120x digital zoom. Expect this phone to hit India later as the Realme GT 8, likely priced around ₹34,999.