For years, we’ve heard the term “flagship killer.” It’s a bold claim, often used for phones that offer high-end specs at a lower price. But as prices creep up everywhere, what does it really mean to be a flagship killer in 2025? Realme’s answer is the GT 7 series, and specifically, the GT 7 Dream Edition.
In this review, we’ll give you our honest take on the device. From build and design to performance, and camera, we’ll give you a deep dive of our experience. In the end, we’ll answer the question – Is realme successful in taking this smartphone into the flagship-level category?
Build and Design
Let’s start with the design, because it’s the first thing you’ll notice. The realme GT 7 Dream Edition is a collaboration with the Aston Martin Formula One Team, and it shows. The model I have is in the signature Aston Martin Racing Green, a deep, rich color that looks incredible. The back has what realme calls “Aerodynamic Flow Lines,” which are essentially textured grooves that give it a unique tactile feel.
I’ll be honest, when I first unboxed it, I wasn’t completely sold. The design is bold and very specific. It screams “racing,” and that might not be for everyone. It’s an acquired taste. However, it grew on me. After a few weeks, I started to really appreciate the craftsmanship. Knowing the story behind the design—the partnership between realme and Aston Martin, and the goal of creating something that feels fast and precise—made me see it differently. The small details, like the triple-layer engraved “Silver Wing” emblem, add a touch of class. It’s a phone that will definitely start conversations.
Beyond the look, the phone feels solid and well-built. It uses what realme calls IceSense Graphene on the back panel. While this is primarily for cooling (more on that later), it also feels different from glass or plastic. It’s smooth but not slippery. The phone is also rated IP69, IP68, and IP66 for dust and water resistance, which is great for peace of mind. And with ArmorShell Protection, it’s designed to survive drops from up to 1.5 meters. It’s a beautiful phone that’s also built to last.
Display
The screen on the GT 7 Dream Edition is fantastic. It’s a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution. Everything looks sharp and vibrant, with deep blacks and excellent color accuracy thanks to 100% DCI-P3 coverage. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and gaming feel incredibly smooth. Because it’s an LTPO panel, the refresh rate can automatically adjust down to save power when you’re just looking at a static image, which helps with the amazing battery life.
The real showstopper here is the brightness. It has a typical brightness of 1,000 nits, which is already good, but it can reach a peak of 6,000 nits. This is an almost absurdly high number, and it means you can see the screen clearly even in the brightest direct sunlight.
Realme also included a couple of thoughtful features. The first is Rainwater Smart Touch, which lets you use the screen even if your fingers or the display are wet. It actually works, which is a big deal if you ever get caught in the rain. The second is 2160Hz PWM Dimming, which reduces screen flicker at low brightness levels, making it easier on the eyes during late-night use.
Hardware
This phone is built for speed. It’s one of the first devices to use the MediaTek Dimensity 9400e processor. Now, this isn’t the absolute top-of-the-line Dimensity 9400, but I was surprised by how powerful it is. The performance is impressive, both in day-to-day use and during intense gaming. I never experienced any lag or stuttering, whether I was jumping between apps, editing photos, or playing demanding games.
Speaking of gaming, this phone handles everything you can throw at it. Games like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile run at a buttery-smooth 120 frames per second at max settings. A huge part of this sustained performance is the cooling system. The IceSense Graphene back panel isn’t just a marketing term; it’s a functional part of the phone’s thermal management. It works with a huge 7700mm² vapor chamber to pull heat away from the processor. Even after an hour of gaming, the phone was only warm to the touch, never uncomfortably hot.
Paired with 16GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, the hardware package is truly flagship-level. Apps open instantly, files transfer quickly, and you have more than enough space for all your games, photos, and videos.
Benchmark
For those who care about the numbers, the realme GT 7 Dream Edition puts up some impressive scores. Realme claims an AnTuTu score of over 2,057,584 and in my testing, it consistently hit over 2 million. This score puts it ahead of many phones running the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is a big achievement for MediaTek and realme. While benchmarks don’t tell the whole story, they confirm what I felt in real-world use: this phone is an absolute powerhouse.
Software and Other Features
The phone runs on realme UI 15, which is based on Android. It’s a clean and responsive interface with a lot of useful features. The Dream Edition comes with some exclusive touches, like a custom Aston Martin boot animation, icons, and charging animation, which all add to the special feel of the device.
Realme has also leaned heavily into AI with its “Next AI” features. One of the more useful ones is the AI Planner, which can scan your screen for things like flight bookings or appointments in chat apps and automatically add them to your calendar. It’s a small thing, but it’s convenient.
The bigger AI feature is the AI Gaming Coach. In supported games like Mobile Legends and PUBG, it can give you real-time tips and alerts. It will warn you about nearby enemy footsteps, tell you when your armor is low, or even predict your team’s chance of winning. It’s a bit of a gimmick for experienced players, but I can see it being helpful for newcomers who are still learning the ropes.
Another great feature is the SignalCatcher Chip. It’s a dedicated chip for improving network reception. Realme claims a 40% signal improvement in weak-signal areas, and while I can’t scientifically measure that, I did notice that the phone held onto a stable connection in places where other phones would struggle.
The biggest concern I’ve got though is the lack of eSIM support. According to realme, the units shipped to Philippines excludes this eSIM features. I do not exactly get this regional exclusion because eSIM in the Philippines is starting to gain traction.
Camera
The camera system on the realme GT 7 Dream Edition is one of its most underrated features. On a phone so focused on gaming, the camera can often be an afterthought. That’s not the case here. When I first got the phone, the camera was good, but a software update that rolled out during my review period made it even better.
The main camera is a 50MP Sony IMX906 sensor with OIS. It takes sharp, detailed photos with great color in good light. The OIS is a huge help for low-light shots, keeping things steady and reducing blur. I took it with me on a trip to Paris, and it captured everything from the Eiffel Tower during the day to the beautiful streets at night with impressive clarity.
There’s also a 50MP 2x telephoto camera. It’s not a periscope lens for crazy zoom, but a 2x optical zoom is incredibly useful for framing shots and getting closer to the action without losing quality. It’s perfect for portraits and capturing architectural details. The only weak link is the 8MP ultra-wide camera. It gets the job done for big landscape shots, but the quality isn’t as good as the other two lenses.
The software is packed with features. AI Landscape+ helps clean up hazy skies, and AI Lightning Snap is great for capturing fast-moving subjects. I especially liked the Travel Filters, which are inspired by classic film stocks and give your photos a unique look. For video, it can shoot in 4K at up to 120fps and even supports 4K Dolby Vision, which looks fantastic on the phone’s screen.
Overall, the camera is a strong all-rounder. It might not beat the top camera phones in every single category, but for most people, it’s more than capable of taking beautiful photos and videos. We have a dedicated article about its camera performance on this link.
Audio
The GT 7 Dream Edition has a solid audio setup with Hi-Res certified dual stereo speakers. The sound is loud, clear, and has a decent amount of depth. It’s great for watching videos or gaming without headphones. The speakers don’t have a ton of bass, which is expected from a phone, but the overall quality is very good.
Battery
This is where the realme GT 7 Dream Edition truly shines. It has a massive 7,000mAh battery. That’s a huge number, and it translates to incredible real-world endurance. After two weeks of using it as my daily driver, I did a full battery drain test. I started at 100% and used the phone for social media, gaming, video streaming, and taking photos. I managed to get an unbelievable 19 hours and 36 minutes of screen-on time before the battery hit 20%. This is easily a two-day phone for most people, and maybe even three for light users.
When you do need to charge, the 120W SUPERVOOC charger is ridiculously fast. It can go from 1% to 100% in about 40 minutes, and a quick 15-minute charge will get you to 50%. It also has Smart Bypass Charging, which powers the phone directly when you’re gaming while plugged in, reducing heat and saving the battery from unnecessary wear.
Verdict
The realme GT 7 Dream Edition is an excellent phone that largely lives up to its “flagship killer” ambitions. It delivers incredible performance, has the best battery life I’ve seen in a long time, and features a display that is second to none. The camera is surprisingly capable, and the Aston Martin design, while bold, gives it a unique and premium feel.
But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the price. At PHP 39,999, it’s not a cheap phone. While it offers a lot for the money, it’s priced high enough that it’s competing with other very good devices. The main trade-offs are an 8MP ultra-wide camera that feels a bit dated and a design that might not appeal to everyone.
So, who is this phone for? It’s for the power user. It’s for the person who wants top-tier gaming performance and a battery that will never let them down. It’s for someone who appreciates a unique design and a story behind their tech. If you value performance and battery life above all else, but still want a great all-around device, the realme GT 7 Dream Edition is one of the best options out there. It really does put incredible power within your reach.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
