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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 believed 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 pleasurable within the latter half of the 12 months.
And identical to that, we’re within the 2026 cycle, and testing of the brand new vehicles suggests this season ought to be simply as attention-grabbing. Earlier than that although, it is time to check out an attention-grabbing 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 workforce, however that does not make the telephone any much less intriguing.
A design Adrian Newey could be pleased with
If something, Realme went above and past in designing the telephone, and the GT 8 Professional Dream Version appears to be like fairly completely different to the common GT 8 Professional. The model did an important job translating Aston Martin’s livery, and the metallic paint conveys a way of magnificence that you simply simply do not get with the usual mannequin. You even get circulation traces etched on the rear, and that simply appears to be like 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 characteristic on the GT 8 Professional is the interchangeable digital camera covers, and that is out there on this system 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 a bit of little bit of aptitude to the telephone (not that it wants it). Truthfully, the GT 8 Professional Dream Version is likely one of the most hanging telephones round, and though Aston Martin is not rivaling Pink Bull or McLaren but, that will change quickly due to the brand new rules and Adrian Newey’s wizardry.
As is normally 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 digital camera cowl designs), and unboxing the telephone is an event — appropriately 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 could simply be the best-looking one I used but, though 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 somewhat attention-grabbing, and it has a superb in-hand really feel, though it feels heavier than the likes of the Discover X9 Professional, which is the truth is 6g heavier. The telephone comes with a 6.79-inch AMOLED panel, and it’s simply as vivid and has related shade accuracy to the very best telephones round — I did not see any points within the month I used the telephone.
Standout internals — and cameras that can delight you
If something, Realme is doing a superb job with the panel generally, and that’s noticeable whereas gaming. The one quibble on this space is that the system misses out on LTPO tech, so it would 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 taking part in choose video games.
Like its Chinese language rivals, the GT 8 Professional Dream Version makes use of the most recent 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 system exceeding 53 levels whereas operating artificial exams. In common gaming, I noticed it get uncomfortably sizzling, however no a lot that I could not truly maintain it (which was the case throughout 3DMark testing).
Outdoors of that, there aren’t 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. Truthfully, all telephones I used within the final 12 months have managed to take action, and apart from outliers just like the iPhone Air, it is a given that you will recover from a day with any telephone in 2026.
Whereas it would not have the very best digital camera sensors, Realme’s collaboration with Ricoh means there are tangible good points 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 major digital camera, 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 apart from that, you get the identical digital camera interface because the Discover X9 Professional. Total digital camera tuning is fairly nice with this technology, and the Dream Version takes fabulous photographs in any situation, and also you get sufficient capturing modes and filters to make your photographs stand out a bit of bit.
Switching over to the software program, you get loads of customized tweaks to focus on the Aston Martin collaboration, together with icons, backgrounds, and results. It would 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 possibility.
Aside 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 is analogous to what OnePlus does with the OnePlus 15. The one problem 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 wherever nearly as good on the digital camera aspect of issues because the GT 8 Professional.
The most effective half is that the telephone would not price far more than the common mannequin, so should you’re an F1 fan seeking to purchase a brand new telephone, the GT 8 Professional Dream Version is a good selection as we head into the 2026 season.
Realme GT 8 Professional Dream Version
The GT 8 Professional Dream Version is the very best telephone should you’re an F1 fan seeking to get a brand new system this 12 months.
