Dell Streak review

Neither here nor there in terms of size, the 5in Streak from Dell isn't as sharp or as punchy as its leading rivals Tested at £450.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Falls between two stools, and not that gracefully: not a class leader

Pros

  • +

    Big screen for the price

  • +

    decent enough pictures

  • +

    fair spec

Cons

  • -

    Big verging on clunky

  • -

    vision and especially sound can be bettered

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

The 02-exclusive, Android-enabled Dell is an unusual device.

With its 5in screen, it's bigger than most phones, yet notably smaller than tablets such as Apple's iPad. So, does Dell have a true unique selling proposition or merely an oddity?

As a phone, it's hard to avoid the latter conclusion. Holding the Dell vertically to make a call works well enough, but it feels – and looks – odd.

Rotate the Streak horizontally, though, and it comes into its own. Viewing Star Wars: The Phantom Menace is, Jar Jar Binks aside, an enjoyable and entertaining experience, although it's neither as or punchy as its leading competitors.

It's a shame you can't load DiVx files either, although at least the fitted 512MB memory can be boosted by Micro SD up to 32GB. You can also buy a £55 dock (with HDMI out) to hook up to your TV.

Musically, the Dell is more challenged. The supplied earbuds are very poor: upgrade them and you can inject some pace and punch, but the basic sound is too muddled to be enjoyable.

See all our mobile phone reviews

Follow whathifi.com on Twitter

Join whathifi.com on Facebook

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test