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Dell Venue 8 Pro review

7.8/10 AVG.
RATING
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Dell Venue 8 Pro
Dell Venue 8 Pro
Dell Venue 8 Pro
Dell Venue 8 Pro
Dell Venue 8 Pro
Dell Venue 8 Pro
Dell Venue 8 Pro
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7.8/10
Informr score
The Dell Venue 8 Pro currently has an Informr score of 7.8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 10 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Compact size and thin profile
  • Decent overall specs and battery life
  • Affordable price

What's bad

  • Lacks pre-packaged accessories
  • Screen resolution could be higher
  • Non-standard Windows button placement

Windows tablets aren't usually known for combining great features with an inexpensive price tag. That's what makes the Dell Venue 8 Pro, powered by Windows 8.1, somewhat special.

In his review of the Venue 8 Pro tablet on Tablet-News, Ed Hardy says that it "hits the 'sweet spot' of price vs. functionality." He also praises it for its ability to do everything a casual consumer needs at a very good price.

Reviewers have noted that the Venue 8 Pro would make for a good all-around mobile computer, with the likes of Chuong Nguyen from GottaBeMobile saying, "the Dell Venue 8 Pro allows you to take your desktop PC wherever you go." Of course, it won't offer identical performance to your typical desktop PC, but at least it has a leg up on the competition especially when it comes to bang for the buck.

Cnet's Dan Ackerman points out that there are certain things on the Venue 8 Pro which "feel like errors," such as the lack of pre-packaged accessories and the seemingly misplaced Windows button. So if you're switching from a different Windows tablet, this may represent a minor caveat.

With all of that said, there are still a lot of reasons to consider the Venue 8 Pro. As Computerworld's Preston Galla readily admits, "If you're looking for a reasonably priced, well-performing Windows 8.1 tablet, the Dell Venue 8 Pro is the one to get."


Windows
Operating system
Operating system
Windows
1.8 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.8 GHz
8"
Screen Size
Screen Size
8"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
4830 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GottaBeMobile
GottaBeMobile

Like so many other tablets. How great the Dell Venue 8 is going to be for your needs comes down to what you care about. At $179, it’s not a terrible eReader at all. Again, text is crisp and there’s plenty of storage if you ever want to watch a movie.However, the Dell Venue 8 at $179 is a...

- Travis Pope, GottaBeMobile
Cnet
Cnet

I've been waiting for the perfect 8-inch Windows 8 tablet, offering just the right design, features, and price. I'm still waiting, but the Dell Venue 8 Pro gets closer than anything else has to date. If Dell made it available from Day One with its paired keyboard accessory, put the Windows button ba...

- Dan Ackerman, Cnet
Ars Technica
Ars Technica

By most important measures, 8-inch Windows tablets are about a year or a year-and-a-half behind Android tablets. Applications for many major services exist, but they aren’t always up to the versions on other tablets. Windows 8.1 still needs some work before its touch interface is quite up to s...

- Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica
Tablet News
Tablet News

A good tablet for Windows fans to use for personal and occasional professional tasks, but not capable of being a full-time business computer.

- Ed Hardy, Tablet News
PCWorld
PCWorld

The Dell Venue Pro 8 will never replace your laptop, but that’s not the point. For $300, you get full Windows in a mini tablet, and despite the low price, it’s not cheaply done. It’s well built, performs well, and will run all day on battery. The only big caveats are the lack of po...

- Michelle Mastin, PCWorld


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Quick view

Screen Size
8"

The Dell Venue 8 Pro's screen size is 8 inches with 800 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.8 GHz

There is a Intel Atom Z3740D Quad core 1.8 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on the Windows 8.1 operating system (OS).

Camera
5+ MP
You can take photos with the phone's onboard 5+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.
Storage
32/64 GB

Internal memory is 32/64 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4830mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 4830 mAh battery.

Venue 8 Pro Specs

Overview
Release Date October 18, 2013
Regions Available USA
Operating System Windows 8.1

Compare Windows Smartphones

Processor Intel Atom Z3740D Quad core 1.8 GHz
Internal Storage 32/64 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
No
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB)
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
No
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Auto focus
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 800 x 1280 pixels
Pixel density 189 pixels
Size 8 inches
Sensors Motion / Accelerometer
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 4830 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 4 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 7 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black, Red
Dimensions [H x W x D] 21.6 x 13 x 0.9 cm (8.5 x 5.1 x 0.4 in)
Weight 395 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack Yes
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
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: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: No
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
Audio Formats: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MIDI, MP3, WMA, WAV
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Viewable document types: XLS, PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Manual (PDF)
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