Realme GT 8 Pro Dream Edition review: Powerful performance meets super photography

Our Rating: 4/5Realme's GT series has consistently pushed boundaries, offering flagship features without making a big hole in your pocket. The latest GT 8 Pro takes this ambition further. This time, Realme has partnered with the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team and legendary camera brand RICOH GR to create a device that combines racing aesthetics with serious photography credentials.

Realme GT 8 Pro is available in three variants, including the Dream Edition, which we tested. The limited-edition Racing Green model, designed in collaboration with the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team, is priced at Rs 79,999. The device boasts the latest features, such as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a RICOH GR camera system with a 200MP telephoto lens, and a 7,000 mAh Titan Battery.

All these features help the GT 8 Pro to position itself as a contender for users who value both performance and creative expression.

But can it live up to the racing pedigree and photography heritage it borrows from? After extensive testing and several weeks of regular use, here's our take on Realme's latest flagship offering.

Design and display

Realme GT 8 Pro Dream Edition's design immediately sets it apart from conventional flagships. The Racing Green colour variant we received draws inspiration from Aston Martin's F1 livery, with "lime essence" accents that pay tribute to over six decades of racing heritage.

At 8.3 mm thick and weighing 218 grams (for the Racing Green variant), the device maintains a balance between presence and comfort. The dual-curve body continues the design language from previous generations, now refined with a recessed transition for a steadier, more ergonomic grip. Despite its substantial battery capacity, we found the phone lightweight and comfortable for extended use, including gaming sessions.

The Racing Green finish features a racing-grade metallic paint finish on the back cover that catches the light beautifully. The Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team branding and aerodynamic flow lines create a distinctive aesthetic that stands out without being excessive. The back panel resists fingerprints and dust reasonably well, maintaining its appearance even with regular use.The standout design element is the Switch Design feature of the camera island.

The box included camera layout-switching design tools, and we found ourselves frequently changing layouts and adjusting configurations. This interactive element added a playful dimension to the device, allowing us to customise the camera module's appearance quite often. We particularly enjoyed this feature, finding it engaging to switch between different layouts depending on our mood.However, the rear camera module, while visually striking, still produces noticeable wobble when the phone rests on a flat surface.

This is a minor inconvenience, but worth noting for users who frequently use their phones on desks or tables.

The power button and volume rockers are positioned on the right edge, providing easy access. Currently, button customisation is limited primarily to camera functions, though Realme has indicated more options will come in future updates.Durability receives attention with IP69+IP68+IP66 certifications.

This comprehensive protection means the device can withstand immersion in water up to 2 metres deep for 30 minutes and resist high-pressure water jets. The use of Gorilla Glass 7i on the front protects against scratches and drops, making it suitable for daily use in various conditions.The GT 8 Pro features a 6.79-inch LTPO AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution (3136×1440 pixels), delivering sharp visuals at 508 ppi.

The screen-to-body ratio of 94.20% maximises the viewing area while maintaining manageable device dimensions. The adaptive 144Hz refresh rate ensures responsive touch interaction, with intelligent adjustment down to 1Hz to conserve battery during static content.

Display quality is impressive. The panel offers balanced contrast, accurate colours, and deep blacks. The screen delivers a decent dynamic range with 10-bit colour depth and 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, ensuring visuals appear vibrant and lifelike.

Whether browsing, streaming videos, or gaming, the phone’s display provides an engaging experience.Brightness is a highlight, with Realme claiming a peak of 7000 nits for HDR content. During outdoor testing, the display remained clearly visible even under direct sunlight, with adaptive brightness adjusting smoothly to the surroundings. This made the device comfortable to use in various lighting conditions, from dimly lit rooms to bright outdoor environments.The display also features eye comfort technologies, including 1-nit night display mode, full-brightness DC dimming, and low blue light certifications. We didn’t face any eye strain during extended use, even while doomscrolling Instagram before sleeping.The front camera is housed in a centrally aligned punch-hole cutout, keeping screen interruption minimal and maintaining design symmetry.

Camera performance

Realme says thatthe GT 8 Pro's camera system has been developed in collaboration with RICOH GR, a Japanese company with nearly 30 years of photography experience.

The rear camera setup includes four sensors. The primary RICOH GR camera uses a 50MP sensor with a 1/1.56-inch size and f/1.8 aperture. This sensor features a 5-layer anti-reflection coating and is tuned to meet RICOH GR's optical quality standards. During testing, this camera delivered detailed shots with natural colour reproduction in various lighting conditions.Complementing the primary camera is a 50MP ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and a 116-degree field of view.

This lens captured expansive scenes with good sharpness and minimal edge distortion. The ultra-wide camera proved helpful in architectural photography and landscape shots.The standout feature is the 200MP Ultra Clarity Telephoto Camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and an f/2.6 aperture, offering a 65mm-equivalent focal length. This periscope telephoto lens represents one of the highest pixel counts available in smartphone telephoto cameras.

The sensor size matches the primary camera's, providing strong performance even at a distance. Optical image stabilisation (OIS) combined with electronic image stabilisation (EIS) ensured stable shots even at higher magnifications.During testing, the telephoto camera produced sharp images with good detail retention at high zoom levels. The optical quality remained consistent, making it suitable for portrait photography and distant subjects. Here are some camera samples:

The front houses a 32MP selfie camera with an f/2.4 aperture and an 82-degree field of view, delivering detailed self-portraits with natural skin tones.The RICOH GR partnership goes beyond hardware. Realme has integrated RICOH GR's Intuitive Algorithm Engine, which reduces algorithmic artificiality by lowering sharpening, reducing smearing, and minimising AI-generated effects. The RICOH GR Film Tone feature offers multiple shooting modes. A ‘Standard’ mode for natural photos that balances colour accuracy and texture for clean, detailed shots. A ‘Positive Film’ for a rich visual style with firm story-driven film texture.

A ‘Negative Film’ for soft desaturation that creates a fresh, natural atmosphere through muted colours. A "B&W" or monotone mode that focuses on greyscale transitions and texture details for classic black-and-white photography. Last but not least, a "Hi-B&W" model that boosts line and structure expressiveness for striking monochrome images. Here are some samples:

These modes, collectively called Ricoh GR Recipe, allow users to experiment with different photographic styles.

We found these particularly effective for street photography and casual shooting, where the film-like character added mood to images. We played around a lot with the Hi-Contrast B&W mode, which produced pleasing monochrome photos.The phone’s camera interface includes Ricoh GR Classic Operation features designed for intuitive shooting. The ‘Classic Focal Length’ options, 28 mm and 40mm, are optimised for street photography.

The Snap Focus Mode sets a fixed focus distance to capture photos instantly without refocusing. Along with this, there’s a ‘Viewfinder Mode’ that offers a simplified interface focusing on the viewfinder without operation setting interference.

These features create a photography experience that feels more deliberate and different from typical smartphone camera apps.For video recording, the Realme GT 8 Pro supports cinema-grade specifications.

The rear cameras can record 8K at 30fps, 4K at 120fps/60fps/30fps, and 1080P at multiple frame rates. Dolby Vision support is available for 4K and 1080P recording. The camera system includes professional video modes, slow-motion capabilities up to 480fps at 720P, and time-lapse photography. Meanwhile, the front camera supports 4K video at 60fps and 30fps/30fps and 1080P at 60fps/30fps, providing flexibility for vlogging and video calls.During testing, video quality remained consistent across different cameras. Stabilisation worked effectively during movement, and the ability to shoot high-frame-rate video provided creative options for post-production.

Performance and software

Dual flagship chips power Realme GT 8 Pro: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform and the Hyper Vision+ AI Chip. Paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, the device handles demanding tasks effortlessly.

During testing, we experienced no lag while opening apps, even with more than 20 apps running in the background. Multitasking, app switching, and heavy workloads all proceeded smoothly.

Gaming performance is handled by GT Boost 3.0, Realme's proprietary chip-level performance solution. During extended sessions of graphics-intensive titles like BGMI, the phone maintained stable frame rates with minimal frame drops.

In our tests, BGMI maintained an average frame rate of about 60 FPS. The AI Super Frame feature enables up to 144 FPS gameplay, while AI Super Resolution provides up to 2K resolution gaming.

AI Video HDR enhances visual detail during gameplay.The 7K Ultimate VC Cooling System, which features a single-layer VC maximum-coverage design, kept temperatures manageable during prolonged gaming. The device remained comfortable to hold even during intensive use.Running on Android with Realme UI 7.0, the interface offers a polished and customisable experience. The updated UI features Light Glass Design, inspired by the interplay of light and shadow, creating a more dimensional look. Ice Cube Icons add subtle depth and transparency, while the Misty Glass Control Centre adds a frosted-glass effect. The Breathing Dock layout improves interface clarity and readability.The interface includes minimal bloatware, providing a relatively clean experience.

Realme also promises 4 years of major Android OS upgrades and 4 years of security patches, making it future-ready.The hybrid stereo speaker system delivers balanced audio. The bottom-firing speaker combines with the top speaker (which also functions as the earpiece) to create immersive sound. The system routes the opposite channel's track at a lower volume to each speaker for added depth. In landscape orientation, channels adjust dynamically based on positioning.AI integration extends throughout the system. The AI Framing Master, which integrates with Google Gemini 2.5 Flash models, provides intelligent composition assistance for photography. This feature helps users achieve aesthetically pleasing shots with minimal effort.

Battery and charging

Battery life is supported by the 7000mAh Titan Battery, one of the largest capacities available in flagship smartphones. The company claims that the battery maintains performance even in extreme conditions, including temperatures as low as -25°C.

Realme claims the battery retains its health for up to 5 years with its 16% silicon-content design.Real-world endurance was impressive during testing. The device handled heavy usage, including extended gaming, 4K video recording, and continuous 5G connectivity, without requiring midday charging. Charging is handled by 120W Ultra Charge technology, which juices up 50% of the battery in approximately 15 minutes and achieves a full charge in under 45 minutes.

While not the fastest available, the larger capacity justifies the slightly longer charging time. For ultra-fast charging, tap the circular animation on the screen to charge even faster.The phone also supports 50W wireless charging (AirVOOC), completing a charge in under an hour. This offers convenience for users who prefer cable-free charging; however, we noticed some heating during wireless charging.The device supports SuperVOOC 2.0 and several other charging protocols, ensuring compatibility with various third-party chargers.

However, actual charging speeds may vary depending on the adapter used.To optimise battery longevity, Realme UI also includes features such as intelligent charging algorithms that adjust charging patterns based on usage habits, helping maintain battery health over the device's lifespan.

Verdict

Realme GT 8 Pro Dream Edition, priced at Rs 79,999, positions itself as a compelling flagship that merges racing aesthetics, photography credentials, and robust performance.

The collaboration with Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team and Ricoh GR creates a device with a distinct character in a market of increasingly similar flagships.The Ricoh GR camera system stands out for its authentic approach to photography. Rather than relying on heavy AI processing, the system prioritises natural images with film-like characters. The 200MP telephoto camera provides reach and detail that few competitors can match.

The interchangeable camera layout design adds a playful, customisable element that we genuinely enjoyed.The 2K HyperGlow Display with 7000 nits peak brightness delivers exceptional visual quality for media consumption and gaming. The 7000mAh Titan Battery provides endurance that outlasts most flagships, while 120W wired and 50W wireless charging offer flexibility in power management.Performance from the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Hyper Vision+ AI Chip combination handles demanding tasks effortlessly.

GT Boost 3.0 technology ensures sustained gaming performance with effective thermal management. The comprehensive IP69+, IP68, and IP66 water resistance, along with Gorilla Glass 7i protection, make it suitable for various usage scenarios.The Racing Green Dream Edition variant brings F1-inspired aesthetics that will appeal to motorsport enthusiasts. The attention to detail in design elements, from the racing-grade metallic paint to the Aston Martin branding, creates a premium feel.For users seeking a well-rounded flagship experience with distinctive design, capable photography, and long-lasting battery life, the Realme GT 8 Pro is a compelling option.