Dell Venue 8 Pro – Unboxing and first impression of the 8-inch Windows tablet

Dell Venue 8 Pro

With Windows viii.1 unleashed by Microsoft a couple of weeks agone, it's about time nosotros started seeing some new hardware. One of the big new areas for Microsoft is in the 8-inch tablet range, where Apple and Android have been fighting information technology out for some time at present.

Sure, Microsoft had the Acer W3 only with its craptacular brandish, they needed some more finesse from their other OEMs.

Enter Dell with their recently announced Venue 8 Pro tablet. Running full Windows 8.1 with an Cantlet processor, we have to wonder if the device has what it takes. Head by the break to run into our unboxing video and first impressions!

Dell Venue viii Pro - $299/$350

Windows 8.1 (32-bit)
eight" IPS Hard disk drive impact display (1280x800)
Intel Atom Quad-Core processor (Z3740D); 2MB cache, up to i.8 GHz
ii GB of RAM
32 GB of internal storage (64 GB optional); microSD expansion
802.11n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0
Office Home and Pupil 2022 Tablet Edition
Integrated Intel Hard disk graphics
5 MP rear camera; 1.two MP front facing camera
18WHr bombardment (Rated for 10 hours)
Thickness – 0.35" (9mm)
Weight: 0.87 lbs (395g)

On newspaper, the specs are respectable and in real life, they seem to hold up. Windows 8.1, built for smaller devices and optimized for Cantlet processors, handles just fine in our initial tests. The Quad-Core Cantlet processor should requite an edge in functioning over the Acer W3 and other early Windows 8 tablets, which only had a Dual-Core.

Dell Venue 8 Pro back

The feel of the device is solid. It'south not too heavy, relatively thin and easy to handle in 1 hand. Interestingly, viii-inch tablets and Windows viii.1 lends itself to using it in portrait style rather than landscape.

The real story here though is regards to the display, which is quite fantastic. As others have pointed out, y'all'll desire to disable the auto-brightness in Settings, otherwise it will seem likewise dim. Once transmission control is empowered, the brandish is a real charmer. Not bad viewing angles, bright and suitable colour rendition. It's night and 24-hour interval between information technology and the W3.

Dell Venue 8 Pro camera

The rear camera gets filed under "okay" as it volition go the job done. It'due south muddy, not likewise sharp and the colors are banal. Same with the front facing photographic camera. The Surface ii is much better hither, but we're not expecting too much for such a pocket-size device anyway.

The one speaker seems to crank with little baloney. While not stereo, it should suffice for most uses on the Venue 8.

Dell Venue 8 Pro Windows Key
Oddly placed Windows primal

The one complaint nosotros have is that there is no front facing Windows key. Instead, in that location is ane at the tiptop of the device, similar to a power push. Information technology'southward awkward to use and you'll notice yourself using the Charms Windows central more often to navigate back to the Start menu. We're not certain why Dell could non have put either a physical or capacitive key on the front bezel. It's strange, but non a bargain killer.

The device comes with an optional digitizer pen (not Wacom), though ours hasn't showed upward but yet to evaluate.

Dell Venue 8 Pro display
An excellent IPS brandish

For $299, we're quite impressed with the Dell Venue 8 Pro. It'southward priced correct, feels groovy in the manus and the display is pinnacle notch. Will Lenovo best Dell? It'south difficult to say simply then far, we like what we see here.

The Dell Venue viii Pro is now available direct from Dell for$299. A 64 GB version is too available for $50 more.

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