The global partnership between realme and RICOH IMAGING redefines smartphone photography, offering an unparalleled snapshot experience through advanced co-engineering in optics, user interface design, imaging tones and personalized features. The realme GT 8 Pro series will be the first to exclusively feature the co-engineered RICOH GR camera features, setting a new standard in premium imaging.
Shenzhen, CHINA – October 14, 2025 – realme, the world's fastest-growing smartphone brand, today officially announced a long-term, strategic partnership with RICOH IMAGING COMPANY LTD. Following four years of profound preparation, the two brands made the announcement at a dedicated launch event in Beijing, China, confirming the highly anticipated realme GT 8 Pro will exclusively feature the co-engineered RICOH GR camera features. With the GT 8 Pro, users can experience street photography like never before, capturing every moment with precision, joy and creativity.
Chase Xu, Vice President and CMO of realme, stated, “This strategic partnership with RICOH GR marks a transformative leap in smartphone photography. We are committed to equipping users with a device that embodies freedom, creativity, and authenticity. The GT 8 Pro not only integrates GR’s iconic photography legacy but also sets a new standard for capturing and sharing experiences in the digital age.”
Kazunobu Saiki, General Manager of Camera Business Division at RICOH IMAGING COMPANY LTD., said: “Through this strategic collaboration, realme and RICOH GR have transformed decades of GR expertise into the GT 8 Pro. This collaboration transcends mere product innovation; it revitalizes street photography culture for the next generation.”
The thorough understanding of the pain points of young mobile users has led to the development of the GT 8 Pro's key photography concept of "Snap by No Rules," which aims to move beyond conventional imaging standards and allow each photograph to reflect individual style.
To deliver the ultimate snapshot experience, the R&D teams from realme and RICOH IMAGING have implemented bespoke customizations in the realme GT 8 Pro, ensuring unparalleled performance and quality in smartphone photography. The GT 8 Pro’s main camera adopts a brand-new ultra-high transparency lens group, co-developed with RICOH IMAGING. As the smartphone lens meeting RICOH GR optical standards, it boasts industry-leading anti-glare performance, higher resolving power and low distortion, ensuring every shot is captured with clarity and purity.
The immersive RICOH GR Mode faithfully inherits RICOH GR’s philosophy and aesthetics. A simple swipe opens the customized interface, replicating fast startup speed just like RICOH GR cameras. It features the same signature shutter click sound as the RICOH GR IV—each press confirms the capture of the moment’s emotion. Snap Mode lets users preset focus distance precisely; when inspiration strikes, no waiting is needed—intuitive operation delivers instant sharp shots.
For framing, the GT 8 Pro offers two classic RICOH GR focal lengths: 28mm and 40mm (In full-frame equivalent focal length). 28mm captures full street stories with rich details; 40mm hones in on moments of emotional peak. Viewfinder Mode hides all extra settings, turning the world into a frame—users immerse in the moment, and one click locks it in.
GT 8 Pro also includes five exclusive Classic RICOH GR Tones—Standard, Positive—crafted from hundreds of lighting scenarios and color tests, integrating RICOH’s nearly 30-year imaging expertise within one device. Users can further personalize their photos through the Customized Tone function by adjusting effect parameters to suit their style. Additional RICOH GR details enhance authenticity and social interaction. RICOH GR-style watermarks, dedicated albums with the GR labels, and the ability to share tone recipes foster a personalized street photography culture and community for young creators.
Blending RICOH GR’s heritage and smartphone imaging, the realme GT 8 Pro meets young users’ personalized imaging needs—appealing to both photography enthusiasts and casual users. realme GT 8 Pro will soon launch globally, bringing the iconic RICOH GR street photography experience to more users worldwide.
About realme
realme is a global consumer technology company disrupting the smartphone market by making cutting-edge technologies more accessible. It provides a range of smartphones and lifestyle technology devices with premium specs, quality, and trend-setting designs to young consumers. Established by Sky Li in 2018, realme has become one of the top 5 smartphone players in 30 markets globally in just three years, and realme has entered multiple markets worldwide, including China and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, and has a global user base of over 300 million. 2024 is the year of rebranding for realme with its new slogan, “Make it real.” Under the new brand spirit, realme will focus more on young users than before and bring real, clear, and tangible benefits to their lives. For more information, please visit www.realme.com.
