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I am nonetheless smarting over how final season ended; Max had all of the momentum going into Abu Dhabi, and I assumed he’d have the ability to as soon as once more clinch the title with the barest of margins. However, Lando deserved the win; McLaren was constant all through the season, and if something, the racing was pleasant within the latter half of the yr.
And similar to that, we’re within the 2026 cycle, and testing of the brand new automobiles suggests this season must be simply as fascinating. Earlier than that although, it is time to check out an fascinating collaboration: the Realme GT 8 Professional Dream Version. The telephone retails in India for ₹79,999 ($870), which is simply ₹1,000 ($11) greater than the common 16GB/512GB mannequin of the GT 8 Professional. Now, Realme is not technically partnered with the Aston Martin F1 staff, however that does not make the telephone any much less intriguing.
A design Adrian Newey could be happy with
If something, Realme went above and past in designing the telephone, and the GT 8 Professional Dream Version seems fairly totally different to the common GT 8 Professional. The model did an excellent job translating Aston Martin’s livery, and the metallic paint conveys a way of class that you just simply do not get with the usual mannequin. You even get stream strains etched on the rear, and that simply seems cool.
Dominating the rear is the Aston Martin emblem in silver, and it contrasts very nicely with the inexperienced hue of the telephone. A differentiating design function on the GT 8 Professional is the interchangeable digicam covers, and that is obtainable on this machine as nicely — you get a rounded and sq. cowl, and each are designed to imitate a Kevlar end that appears fairly nice.
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The inexperienced design has yellow accents, and this once more provides slightly little bit of aptitude to the telephone (not that it wants it). Actually, the GT 8 Professional Dream Version is among the most placing telephones round, and regardless that Aston Martin is not rivaling Pink Bull or McLaren but, which will change quickly because of the brand new laws and Adrian Newey’s wizardry.
As is often the case with each restricted version telephone, the GT 8 Professional Dream Version comes with a customized packaging that has loads of cool equipment. You get two instances (to accommodate the 2 digicam cowl designs), and unboxing the telephone is an event — accurately on a tool like this. It is a small factor, however I like that the SIM card ejector is styled after the AMR25, and it might simply be the best-looking one I used but, regardless that I just like the arc reactor that POCO bundled with the X7 Professional Iron Man Version.
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The design makes the GT 8 Professional Dream Version reasonably fascinating, and it has a great in-hand really feel, regardless that it feels heavier than the likes of the Discover X9 Professional, which is in truth 6g heavier. The telephone comes with a 6.79-inch AMOLED panel, and it’s simply as vivid and has comparable shade accuracy to one of the best telephones round — I did not see any points within the month I used the telephone.
Standout internals — and cameras that may delight you
If something, Realme is doing a great job with the panel usually, and that’s noticeable whereas gaming. The one quibble on this space is that the machine misses out on LTPO tech, so it does not go right down to 1Hz whereas idling. In any other case, you get the usual 120Hz, with the choice to go as much as 144Hz whereas enjoying choose video games.
Like its Chinese language rivals, the GT 8 Professional Dream Version makes use of the newest Qualcomm silicon, and I did not see any points in common use. The one draw back is that it tends to overheat, and that is the case on the telephone as nicely, with the machine exceeding 53 levels whereas operating artificial exams. In common gaming, I noticed it get uncomfortably sizzling, however no a lot that I could not really maintain it (which was the case throughout 3DMark testing).
Outdoors of that, there are not any issues with the {hardware}. The Dream Version comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and with a 7,000mAh battery, the telephone manages to final a day and a half comfortably — even with heavy use. Actually, all telephones I used within the final 12 months have managed to take action, and aside from outliers just like the iPhone Air, it is a given that you’re going to recover from a day with any telephone in 2026.
Whereas it does not have one of the best digicam sensors, Realme’s collaboration with Ricoh means there are tangible features on this space with the GT 8 Professional Dream Version, and that is encouraging to see. The telephone will get a 50MP customized Sony LYT-700 most important digicam, 200MP Samsung HP5 that acts because the tele lens with 3x and 6x modes, and a 50MP OmniVision wide-angle lens.
The telephone additionally will get a devoted Ricoh GR mode with guide controls, and aside from that, you get the identical digicam interface because the Discover X9 Professional. General digicam tuning is fairly nice with this technology, and the Dream Version takes fabulous pictures in any state of affairs, and also you get sufficient capturing modes and filters to make your photographs stand out slightly bit.
Switching over to the software program, you get loads of customized tweaks to spotlight the Aston Martin collaboration, together with icons, backgrounds, and results. It does not look gaudy within the least, and the icons are first rate sufficient that I did not see the necessity to change to the default ColorOS choice.
Apart from that, the telephone runs Android 16 out of the field, and the interface is fluid, with glorious customizability. Realme has all the usual ColorOS 16 options, nevertheless it calls the interface Realme UI 7.0, which has similarities to what OnePlus does with the OnePlus 15. The one situation is that the telephone will not get as many software program updates, with Realme guaranteeing simply 4 platform updates.
This telephone is a dream
There have been different F1 telephones, with OnePlus rolling out the 6T McLaren and 7T Professional McLaren Version half a decade in the past. However with the GT 8 Professional Dream Version, Realme did a wonderful job with the design, and whereas I nonetheless like my 6T McLaren fairly a bit, it wasn’t anyplace nearly as good on the digicam aspect of issues because the GT 8 Professional.
The most effective half is that the telephone does not value rather more than the common mannequin, so in case you’re an F1 fan seeking to purchase a brand new telephone, the GT 8 Professional Dream Version is a superb selection as we head into the 2026 season.
Realme GT 8 Professional Dream Version
The GT 8 Professional Dream Version is one of the best telephone in case you’re an F1 fan seeking to get a brand new machine this yr.