Since the first rumors many months back, to Michael Dell flashing his prototype in the street and then a few quiet appearances at trade shows, the Dell Streak has taken its time coming to market. Running Android on a broad, eye-catching 5-inch display, there’s little like it on the market and it’s been an attention-grabber ever since. Yes, the Streak is a device that certainly prompts questions – among geeks and everyday users alike – but the one we set out to answer is simple: is it any good? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.
Perhaps the question most asked of us was “is it a phone?” Dell are at pains to insist that the Streak is an Android-powered tablet with voice capabilities – we’re guessing it’s easier to position your new device when you’ve basically got the segment to yourself – but in reality it’s more difficult to classify. Contrary to expectations it’s surprisingly pocket-friendly; its 220g heft will make your jacket hang unusually if you opt for the inside pocket, but we dropped it into our front jeans pocket with room to spare. If you prefer your trousers to look sprayed-on then you may have issues (not just with the Streak but with blood circulation), but the narrow 9.98mm thickness makes a big difference.
Of course, as slim as the Streak is, it’s still bigger face-on than your average Android smartphone. That’s to accommodate the 5-inch WVGA 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, and after a short while you won’t begrudge the dimensions; the display is bright and crisp, and the touchscreen responsive. Physical controls are limited to power, volume and the camera shortcut along the top edge, together with three touch-sensitive keys running down the right-hand bezel for back, menu and home. The 3.5mm headphone socket is annoyingly placed on the top edge, while on the bottom there’s an even more frustrating proprietary connector used for recharging and synching the Streak.
When the upcoming HDMI Dock for the Streak – which will allow it to be easily hooked up to an HDTV for media playback – goes on sale that proprietary connector will carry both power and video. We wish, though, that Dell had picked regular micro-HDMI and microUSB ports, like on the HTC EVO 4G; as the HDMI docking station for that handset shows, it’s still possible to make an easy dock without bypassing standardised connectors.