Unveiling the Dell Streak Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of Dell Streak

The Dell Streak, also known as the Dell Mini 5, was a notable attempt by Dell to bridge the gap between smartphones and tablets during its release in 2010. Standing out primarily for its 5-inch display at a time when most smartphones averaged around 3.5 inches, the Streak was an ambitious product aimed at users looking for a larger screen experience. Although it featured some cutting-edge technology for its time, it struggled to find a substantial audience, leading to its eventual discontinuation.

Design and Build

The Dell Streak presented a robust design with its dimensions at 152.9 x 79.1 x 10 mm and carried some heft, weighing 220 grams. Its larger size set it apart, primarily due to its 5-inch TFT display that provided enough space for browsing and media consumption. The protection offered by Corning Gorilla Glass ensured durability against scratches, adding to its appeal. The device accommodated a Mini-SIM and was available in several colors, including black, red, and white, catering to users' preferences.

Display Characteristics

Featuring a 5.0 inches TFT display, the Dell Streak brought a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. Although the pixel density was around 187 pixels per inch, which was considered modest, it allowed users to enjoy multimedia content and navigation with fair clarity during its time. The screen took up about 58.8% of the body, offering a viewing experience closer to a tablet than a traditional smartphone.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Dell Streak was powered by a Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon S1 chipset, featuring a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU and an Adreno 200 GPU. With 512MB of RAM, the device could manage basic multitasking and applications fairly well. Internally, it offered 16GB of storage, with the possibility of expansion via a dedicated microSDHC slot, allowing users to store additional data and media.

Camera and Photography

The Dell Streak featured a 5 MP main camera with an aperture of f/2.8, autofocus, and dual-LED flash, allowing for basic photography needs. It supported video recording at 480p at 20fps, and with a software update, had the capability to shoot 720p videos. The front-facing camera was a simple VGA sensor, suitable for video calls rather than high-quality selfies.

Battery Life

Equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1530 mAh battery, the Dell Streak offered a reasonable standby time of up to 400 hours and talk time up to 9 hours and 48 minutes. The battery life was fairly competent, allowing users to stay connected to their tasks and entertainment throughout the day without constant recharging.

Operating System and Software

Initially running on Android OS 1.6 Donut, the Dell Streak had the option to upgrade to Android OS 2.2 Froyo. This OS offered access to basic smartphone capabilities, including web browsing, email, and access to a range of applications through the Android Market. While not as sophisticated as later versions of Android, Froyo did introduce features like improved speed, additional memory, and the ability to browse and play Adobe Flash content on web pages.

Connectivity and Communication

The device supported GSM and HSPA technology, with 2G and 3G bands ensuring decent connectivity across networks. Data speeds up to 7.2/5.76 Mbps allowed for reasonable browsing and downloads. Communication features included Wi-Fi b/g with hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, and standard USB 2.0 connectivity. The lack of an FM radio might be a drawback for some users, but GPS with A-GPS was a significant inclusion for navigation.

Audio and Multimedia

The Dell Streak provided standard audio functionalities with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack. Users could enjoy their media at decent sound levels, though the audio quality in terms of noise at -84.7dB and crosstalk at -82.5dB was typical for devices of its era. The inclusion of Adobe Flash in the browser software increased the multimedia experience, allowing for a wider range of online content to be accessed.

Market Performance and Discontinuation

Despite its innovative attempt at combining the features of a smartphone and a tablet, the Dell Streak faced challenges in the market due to competition from similarly priced devices with better specifications and user experience. Initially priced around 190 EUR, it was a premium product for its specifications. With the rapid advancement in mobile technology, its offerings soon became outdated, leading to its discontinuation.

Conclusion

The Dell Streak serves as an interesting chapter in the history of mobile devices, as an early experiment in blurring the lines between phones and tablets. While it didn’t quite capture the market as Dell had hoped, it paved the way for future innovations in hybrid devices. It also represents an essential step in the evolution of smartphones, showcasing how user needs and technological capabilities have progressed over just a few years.