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Dell Streak review

7.2/10 AVG.
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Dell Streak
Dell Streak
Dell Streak
Dell Streak
...


7.2/10
Informr score
The Dell Streak currently has an Informr score of 7.2 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 19 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The Dell Streak is very unusual in the sense that it has all the features of a tablet, but is similar in size to a smartphone. It has a five inch display and a 800 x 480 screen resolution. The screen is bigger than the iPhone 4 and bigger than the Android phones, HTC Evo 4G and Motorola Droid X.

Tablets such as the iPad 2 have a 9.7 or 10 inch screen, and if you are looking to use a tablet for emails, casual gaming, or HD videos then you might want a larger screen and a virtual keyboard that is easy to type on. But the Streak's size means neither of these two are possible.

As far as processing goes, the Dell Streak has a 1 GHz Qualcomm processor with 512 MB of RAM. It runs an old version of the Android OS, 2.2. Again, this means it is slightly behind new tablets that run on the Android 3.0. However, it is a very fast system, and can load websites very quickly as well through its WiFi. Most websites load in similar or faster times than the iPad, despite the smaller size, meaning you are not losing out on performance and speed. However, the Android 2.2 OS does not have the same quality and quantity of Android apps that the new 3.0 operating system offers, meaning users miss out in that sense.

Dell claims that their tablet is actually an improvement on larger tablets, because 95% of Android games do not take advantage of bigger screens anyway, and can be viewed or played as easily on this tablet as larger ones. However, it is difficult to judge the Dell Streak because it is not a smartphone and it is not a tablet. It is a hybrid between the two, similar in many ways to the iPod touch, and it remains to be seen whether there is a market for smaller tablets.

Need To Know Facts: Dell Streak

1. Small screen means it is easy to carry around. (The Good)

2. Fast web browsing. (The Good)

3. Small screen might make it harder to type and use certain features. (The Bad)

4. Android 2.2 instead of Android 3.0. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
1530 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Computer Shopper
Computer Shopper

The Streak 5, whether you buy it unlocked or with a two-year contract, comes with an industry-standard one-year warranty, as well as one year of "advanced exchange" service. There is no option for an extended warranty on Dell’s site. Bundled apps of note include Evernote; CoPilot Live; Quickof...

- Sarah E. Anderson, Computer Shopper
The Guardian
The Guardian

In summary, despite some minor niggles, the Dell Streak is an excellent device. I also think my experiment of trying to get the benefits of a 'pad and a smart phone in one device has worked. It is big enough to be easy to read, watch or interact with for extended periods but small enough to be highl...

- Kate Craig-Wood , The Guardian
PC Pro
PC Pro

Overall, then, this is a positive update. It’s faster, more intuitive and has more features than before. It also helps that Dell has priced the Streak quite aggressively: £399 inc VAT is competitive for a SIM-free device with this amount of power and features.We don’t suggest that...

- Tim Danton, PC Pro
Mobile Syrup
Mobile Syrup

Overall, I would welcome more of these devices in industry. However, issues relating to battery life, UI, and size must be addressed in order to satisfy and tempt future consumers. Personally, I would only purchase this device if I could use it with one the Canadian wireless carriers’ va...

- Joseph Rizzuto, Mobile Syrup
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

As it seems, the Samsung Galaxy Tab reigns on top of the Android tablet market right now with its solid performance and up-to-date experience. Although the Dell Streak is still trying to find a niche for itself, its outdated Android experience doesn't particularly make it the most suitable table...

- PhoneArena Team, PhoneArena


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Quick view

Screen Size
5"

The Dell Streak's screen size is 5 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a Snapdragon QSD8250 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
5+ MP
You can take photos or capture video with the tablet's onboard 5+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.
Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1530mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1530 mAh battery. Dell's performance ratings are 16 days standby time, 10 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Dell Streak Specs

Overview
Release Date June 7, 2010
Regions Available USA, Canada
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Snapdragon QSD8250 1 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 512 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Data Cable, Headset, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, HSDPA 7.2, HSUPA
Mobile / Cellular Data
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Yes
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 2.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Night mode, White balance, Scenes
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
VGA (640 x 480 pixels), 20 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Scenes
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel density Unknown
Size 5 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive Touchscreen, Gorilla Glass Display
Power & Battery
Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1530 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time Unknown
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Up to 16 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black, Red, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.2 x 7.9 x 1.0 cm (6 x 3.1 x 0.4 in)
Weight 218 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech No
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Graphics: Wallpapers
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
PC Synchronization: OTA
TV Out Info: HDMI
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, eAAC+, AAC+, AAC, AMR, WMA, WAV
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Wi-fi Encryption: -
Viewable document types: BMP, DOC, DOCX, GIF, HTML, JPG, PDF, PPT, TXT, XLS
Games: Yes
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: Facebook, Google Search, YouTube
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Dell Mini 5
Related Links Manual (PDF)
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