Dell Venue Pro Reviews

We have to look at the Dell Venue comparatively. If you're considering this device, you're probably also considering other unlocked phones, probably ones that will work with T-Mobile if you're in the US. One of our favorite phones, the Nexus S, happens to fit both of those criteria, plus it's superior in many ways: it's faster, it has the latest version of Android, the screen quality is better, and it's much lighter. Taken by itself, the Dell Venue is a fantastic Android handset, thanks to terrific build quality, an interesting UI, and great day-to-day performance. It's also a bit last-generation. It doesn't have a front-facing camera or a dual core processor, it's shipping with an older version of Android, and there aren't many options associated with the Dell Stage UI.

Honestly, one of the best things about the Dell Venue is the fact that it’s one of those handsets you don’t quite expect to see in the wild – thus, it’s able to stand out more amongst the usual pack of smartphones out there. Looking into it more, Dell has done a magnificent job with its design, and much like its Windows Phone 7 sibling, every inch of it seeps with elegance – though, it doesn’t quite hit the high marks in all categories with its performance. In the end, its $99.99 price point is fitting for a handset with its hardware, but no longer competes on the same level as some of the newer handsets on the scene. For the money, it’s a respectable offering that stands out from the usual crop out there.

All in all, it's hard to find much fault with the Venue. If you need a phone with a physical keyboard, you'll obviously want to skip over this one. Those in the market for a slate-style phone though, unlocked on AT&T, and capable of moving briskly through multi-tasking, the Dell Venue is a safe bet. We'd highly recommend putting it in a case because of the slippery gloss coating, and we can't say that the 8MP camera is a real point-and-shoot replacement, but it's definitely not bad. At $499.99 without a contract (and again, able to use SIMs from anywhere), it's priced right in line with other higher-end unlocked phones too.

The Dell Venue is a powerful Android phone with a smooth UI, but there's little to distinguish it from the competition.

The Dell Venue is a good option for those looking for an unlocked Android phone, but it falls a bit short of the competition.

All in all, Dell's delivered a solid phone that comes in nice package, as well as a form factor that's no doubt more tolerable for the average joe. For what it's worth, the Venue is certainly a very attractive deal (in Hong Kong, at least), especially with its relatively new OS, slick UI, and a surprisingly good camera. If Dell gets around to tweaking the charging issue, audio quality, camera app, and camcorder performance, then the Venue would pretty much be the must-have phone. Well, except we all know that it probably won't get its 2.3 update until a gazillion months later. Anyway, it'd be good enough if Dell can amend some of these bugs before the Venue lands in other countries, if ever.