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HP Stream 8 5900ng Tablet Review

Surf for free. The HP Stream 8 is an 8-inch Windows tablet with an integrated 3G modem, currently on the market for 209 Euros (~$247). The tablet also comes with 200 MB of data usage every month for 2 years - without a contract. Is this an enticing offer?

For the original German review, see here.

The HP Stream 8 broadens the spectrum of small tablets available on today's market with an interesting feature. HP's device is a simple 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet, equipped with a 3G modem. The modem makes it possible to access the Internet without a wireless Ethernet connection - no mobile contract necessary. Owners of this tablet can use up to 200 MB a month of data for two years - for free. But all told, is the Stream 8 an enticing offer? Our review reveals the answer. 

The Stream 8's competitors consist of inexpensive 8-inch tablets manufactured by other companies - especially Windows models. First and foremost comes the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845, which is equipped with practically identical hardware. Further rivals include the Toshiba Encore 2 WT8-B, the Point of View Mobii WinTab 800W and the Acer Iconia W4-820. None of these competing tablets have a 3G modem on board. 

Case

The HP Stream 8 weighs about 410 grams (~0.9 lbs). As a reference, the iPad Mini 3 weighs about 341 grams (~0.75 lbs). The HP tablet's case is constructed out of black plastic. The back side of the tablet is coated with a matte sheen that shows fingerprints almost immediately. The back side is held in place by just a few plastic clips and can be easily removed. The tablet is solidly manufactured and doesn't exhibit any serious weaknesses. Its stability is reasonably good as well. The Stream 8's case only gives slightly when twisted. 

The HP Stream 8 5900ng.
The HP Stream 8 5900ng.
The back side of the case can be removed.
The back side of the case can be removed.

Connectivity

At first glance, the Stream 8 lacks a microSD slot. But fret not: There is such a slot, hidden under the back lid of the device. Users who switch out microSD cards often will quickly grow tired of this. The positioning of the slot on the back side isn't optimal either, as the card is hard to grasp for removal. The SIM-card slot is also located under the back lid. Besides these two slots, the range of connections available on the Stream 8 is meager. There's a combined audio jack and a microUSB port - that's it. The latter also serves as the point of connection for the power supply. Like the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845, the tablet doesn't have an HDMI port. 

There are no connections on the left side of the device.
There are no connections on the left side of the device.
Right side: power button, volume rocker
Right side: power button, volume rocker
The bottom side of the tablet houses the speakers.
The bottom side of the tablet houses the speakers.
Top side: MicroUSB, audio combo
Top side: MicroUSB, audio combo

Communication

The Stream 8 is outfitted with a WLAN module from Realtek (RTL8723BS) that supports the WLAN standards 802.11 b/g/n. At first, the module's connection to our router proved to be stable, and the data transfer rates were more or less constant for the duration of our first few days of testing. But overnight, the Stream 8's WLAN function dropped significantly for no obvious reason. It could no longer find our router (though it stood just a few meters from the tablet), and it barely found any WLAN networks in our vicinity. A complete reinstallation of Windows did nothing to resolve the problem. The tablet also has a Bluetooth 4.0 module on board.

UMTS-Modem/HP DataPass

The Stream 8 can establish Internet connections via mobile networks. To this end, the tablet is equipped with a UMTS modem from Huawei (MU739). The modem supports HSPA+ and enables the device to reach download speeds of up to 21 Mbps. The SIM-card slot is designed for micro-SIM cards. 

Buyers of the tablet will receive a SIM card with their purchase that authorizes the use of up to 200 MB of free data each month for 2 years (HP DataPass). This data is accessible throughout any country in which Hewlett Packard offers DataPass. Currently, this includes Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland. In Germany, the tablet makes these connections over the E-Plus network

The system is simple to use: Insert the SIM card, start up the tablet and establish a connection. The service provider's website comes up the first time. On this website, the user must create a user account. Afterwards, the Internet can be accessed like normal. The provider also requires a copy of the user's government-issued identification card, but this needn't be uploaded immediately. Access to DataPass can be regulated by HP's own app in the Windows Store. This app enables the user to purchase additional data. However, as long as the user chooses not to purchase additional data, the provider doesn't require any payment information. The user doesn't enter into a mobile contract. 

A SIM card comes with the tablet.
A SIM card comes with the tablet.
Connection established.
Connection established.
The HP DataPass app shows how much data has been used.
DataPass Live tile.
DataPass Live tile.

Cameras

The Stream 8 comes equipped with two cameras. The webcam offers a resolution of 2 MP. The back camera has a resolution of 5 MP. The latter isn't suited for anything but the occasional snapshot. 

Webcam (2 MP)
Webcam (2 MP)
Back camera (5 MP)
Back camera (5 MP)
Reference (Canon PowerShot SX220 HS; 12 MP)
Reference (Canon PowerShot SX220 HS; 12 MP)

Accessories

The tablet comes with the aforementioned SIM card and a quick-start guide. 

Operating System

Like most inexpensive Windows 8.1 tablets, the Stream 8 comes with the 32-bit version of Windows 8.1. The 32-bit version conserves more resources - which is important for a device that only has 1 GB of RAM. 

Software

The tablet is accompanied by a year-long license for MS Office 365 Personal. The license must be activated within a certain time frame, otherwise it's forfeited. 

Maintenance

The back side of the tablet is removable, lending access to the SIM-card slot, the microSD slot and the battery. The battery, however, can't be simply taken out - to remove it, the device has to be disassembled further. 

Warranty

The HP Stream 8 is outfitted with a one-year warranty. The same goes for the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845. The HP tablet's warranty can be extended to two years for an additional 40 Euros (~$47). 

Touchscreen

HP equipped their tablet with a capacitive touchscreen that supports 5 touch points. The screen functions perfectly and reacts to input promptly. 

Display

The Stream 8's 8-inch display has a native resolution of 1280x800 pixels. At 327 cd/m², the screen's average brightness is good. Even so, the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845 (365.4 cd/m²) shines brighter. 

310
cd/m²
333
cd/m²
332
cd/m²
307
cd/m²
340
cd/m²
347
cd/m²
311
cd/m²
325
cd/m²
338
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 347 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 327 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 340 cd/m²
Contrast: 557:1 (Black: 0.61 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.89 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.19 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
46.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
50.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
73.3% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
48.83% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.44
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Acer Iconia W4-820-2466
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740, 64 GB eMMC Flash
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Display
11%
22%
2%
25%
-6%
Display P3 Coverage
48.83
55.7
14%
65.8
35%
51.3
5%
65.1
33%
45.85
-6%
sRGB Coverage
73.3
77.5
6%
80.4
10%
71.6
-2%
85.9
17%
68.9
-6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
50.5
57.7
14%
61.7
22%
52
3%
63.3
25%
47.39
-6%
Screen
20%
12%
-10%
7%
-5%
5%
-3%
0%
Brightness middle
340
382
12%
380.2
12%
295
-13%
333.3
-2%
220
-35%
417
23%
362
6%
333
-2%
Brightness
327
365
12%
365
12%
278
-15%
304
-7%
214
-35%
395
21%
352
8%
311
-5%
Brightness Distribution
88
87
-1%
86
-2%
84
-5%
83
-6%
88
0%
90
2%
86
-2%
85
-3%
Black Level *
0.61
0.35
43%
0.312
49%
0.38
38%
0.463
24%
0.303
50%
0.46
25%
0.44
28%
0.54
11%
Contrast
557
1091
96%
1219
119%
776
39%
720
29%
726
30%
907
63%
823
48%
617
11%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.89
4.97
-2%
7.03
-44%
8.01
-64%
4.98
-2%
5.08
-4%
6.59
-35%
6.78
-39%
4.64
5%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.19
4.44
-6%
7.12
-70%
6.58
-57%
4.47
-7%
5.85
-40%
6.96
-66%
7.26
-73%
4.78
-14%
Gamma
2.44 90%
2.37 93%
1.59 138%
1.72 128%
1.83 120%
2.43 91%
2.79 79%
2.94 75%
2.63 84%
CCT
7344 89%
6090 107%
6988 93%
6001 108%
6102 107%
7667 85%
7414 88%
6355 102%
6458 101%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
46.5
50.6
9%
53.88
16%
46.68
0%
57.17
23%
44
-5%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
16% / 18%
17% / 14%
-4% / -6%
16% / 12%
-6% / -5%
5% / 5%
-3% / -3%
0% / 0%

* ... smaller is better

Stream 8 vs. sRGB
Stream 8 vs. sRGB
Stream 8 vs. AdobeRGB
Stream 8 vs. AdobeRGB

The panel's contrast (557:1) and black value (0.61 cd/m²) are reasonably good. But here too, the Venue 8 Pro 3845 (1091:1; 0.35 cd/m²) achieves better results. The Stream 8 isn't capable of displaying the AdobeRGB and sRGB color spaces. The coverage rates fall at 65% (sRGB) and 46.5% (AdobeRGB).

Straight out of the factory, the display's average DeltaE 2000 deviation is 4.89 - not far from the target range (DeltaE of less than 3). At most, the display has a negligible blue cast.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Color saturation
CalMAN - Color saturation

HP installed an IPS panel with stable viewing angles in their Stream 8. As a result the screen content looks correct from any angle. The tablet is suited for outdoor use. However, due to its reflective screen, direct sunlight should be avoided.

Viewing angles: HP Stream 8
Viewing angles: HP Stream 8
The Stream 8 outdoors (photo taken under direct sunlight).
The Stream 8 outdoors (photo taken under direct sunlight).

Performance

The HP Stream 8 is an 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet. The device has enough computational power for office and Internet-related applications. The 3G modem enables the user to access the Internet on the go. Our test device is currently on the market for 209 Euros (~$247). We were unable to unearth any additional versions with different hardware, though HP also has a 7-inch tablet on the market with almost identical hardware. This tablet, dubbed the Stream 7, lacks a 3G modem and is currently available for 129 Euros (~$152).

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWINfo
System Information: HP Stream 8 5900ng

Processor

The Stream 8 runs on a quad-core Atom Z3735G processor. Thanks to its low energy usage (TDP < 4 Watts), the CPU can be passively cooled. The processor runs at a base clock speed of 1.33 GHz. Using turbo, the speed can be increased to up to 1.83 GHz. The system does in fact use the turbo. The CPU completed the Cinebench benchmark's single-thread tests at 1.58 to 1.83 GHz, while it ran the multi-thread tests at 1.58 GHz. The tablet achieved the same results in both battery mode and AC power mode. The Atom processor's performance power is on the low end. Its AMD counterparts are APUs in the E and A series.

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
1642
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
2925
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
958
Help
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
958 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
950 Points -1%
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
961 Points 0%
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
946 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
1189 Points +24%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
916 Points -4%
Acer Iconia W4-820-2466
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740, 64 GB eMMC Flash
963 Points +1%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1251 Points +31%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2925 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2907 Points -1%
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3219 Points +10%
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2899 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
3308 Points +13%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2891 Points -1%
Acer Iconia W4-820-2466
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740, 64 GB eMMC Flash
3352 Points +15%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3380 Points +16%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
724 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
720 Points -1%
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
771 Points +6%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
326 Points -55%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
882 Points +22%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2110 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2105 Points 0%
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2324 Points +10%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1047 Points -50%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2239 Points +6%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
517 ms *
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
471.7 ms * +9%
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
770 ms * -49%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
864 ms * -67%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
512 ms * +1%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
512 ms * +1%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
498 ms * +4%
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
609 ms * -18%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1034 ms * -100%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
696 ms * -35%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
393 ms * +24%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
621 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
642 Points +3%
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
837 Points +35%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
1214 Points +95%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
927 Points +49%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
610 Points -2%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
680 Points +10%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1205 Points +94%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
781 Points +26%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3381 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3375 Points 0%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3246 Points -4%
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5148 Points +52%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1989 Points -41%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
6827 Points +102%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3947 Points +17%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
8936 ms *
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
8969 ms * -0%
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5496 ms * +38%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
14907 ms * -67%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
9355 ms * -5%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
5976 ms * +33%
WebXPRT 2013 - Overall (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
305 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
305 Points 0%
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
378 Points +24%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
160 Points -48%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
384 Points +26%

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

If the user only works with the Windows 8.1 touch interface, the system is fast and stable. As soon as a desktop application is opened, however, the meager 1 GB of RAM is definitely noticeable. For example, there is frequently a delay as application windows load. The results in the PCMark benchmarks are more or less what we'd expect of a device with this hardware configuration. With its identical equipment, the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845 essentially attained the same results.

PCMark 7 Score
2157 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
1037 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
896 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
1155 points
Help
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2157 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2131 Points -1%
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2168 Points +1%
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2317 Points +7%
Acer Iconia W4-820-2466
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2484 Points +15%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
2560 Points +19%

Storage Devices

Like most tablets, the Stream 8 is outfitted with an eMMC module. The model at work in our test device has an overall capacity of 32 GB. 19.5 GB remains available to the user. A microSD card could provide additional storage. Buyers of this tablet also receive 1 TB of storage space in Microsoft's cloud service "OneDrive" free - for one year. At first glance, the eMMC storage's transfer rates are disappointingly low. But there's a reason: Out of the factory, the storage is encrypted. After the encryption is deactivated, the transfer rates rise to a normal level for eMMC storage.

32 GB eMMC Flash
Sequential Read: 160.2 MB/s
Sequential Write: 74.5 MB/s
512K Read: 143.9 MB/s
512K Write: 65.2 MB/s
4K Read: 17.52 MB/s
4K Write: 4.944 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 35.69 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 5.833 MB/s
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-24%
0%
-33%
16%
-44%
-30%
Read Seq
160.2

87.2

88.7
-45%
164.3
3%
53.8
-66%
166
4%

116
-28%

123.4
-23%
134.1
-16%
Write Seq
74.5

52.3

50.7
-32%
81.6
10%
40.15
-46%
75.7
2%

48.56
-35%

42.83
-43%
44.8
-40%
Read 512
143.9

81.2

80.6
-44%
141.2
-2%
51.7
-64%
157.2
9%

119.4
-17%

115.5
-20%
136.3
-5%
Write 512
65.2

37.9

43.57
-33%
63.4
-3%
32.57
-50%
59.7
-8%

42.53
-35%

25.83
-60%
12.07
-81%
Read 4k
17.52

16.43

10.66
-39%
12.24
-30%
8.043
-54%
19.04
9%

16.32
-7%

9.666
-45%
13.06
-25%
Write 4k
6.871

4.944

8.261
20%
9.341
36%
8.888
29%
17.43
154%

12.86
87%

4.149
-40%
5.92
-14%
Read 4k QD32
37.23

35.69

25.95
-30%
24.58
-34%
28.75
-23%
25.75
-31%

24.45
-34%

11.86
-68%
23.67
-36%
Write 4k QD32
9.406

5.833

10.77
15%
11.27
20%
10.65
13%
19.27
105%

16.23
73%

4.74
-50%
7.07
-25%

Graphics Card

Intel's HD Graphics GPU accompanies the Stream 8's Atom processor. The core supports DirectX 11 and runs at speeds of up to 646 MHz. The results in the 3DMark benchmarks fall within the normal range for this GPU. In the 3DMark benchmarks too, the Stream 8 and the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845 are on par with each other. Both tablets' results fall at the lower end of the GPU table. The Intel GPUs can't keep up with their AMD counterparts (the Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema) cores).

3DMark 11 Performance
196 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
11580 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
994 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
196 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
200 Points +2%
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
216 Points +10%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
209 Points +7%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
444 Points +127%
3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
11580 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
13071 Points +13%
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
15800 Points +36%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
9708 Points -16%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5631 Points -51%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
16523 Points +43%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
994 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
998 Points 0%
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1217 Points +22%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
955 Points -4%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1638 Points +65%
1280x720 Sky Diver Score (sort by value)
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
381 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
401 Points +5%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
982 Points +158%

Gaming Performance

The Stream 8 is primarily optimized for games from the Windows Store. The tablet usually has no problem with these titles. 3D games, which require more of the hardware, are mostly unplayable. Only a handful of games reach playable frame rates.

low med. high ultra
Crysis - GPU Benchmark (2007) 19 8.7
Trackmania Nations Forever (2008) 69.8 17.7
Resident Evil 5 (2009) 26.1

Emissions

The HP Stream 8 in the stress test.
The HP Stream 8 in the stress test.

System Noise

The processor completed our stress test (Prime95 and Furmark running simultaneously for at least an hour) at 1.33 GHz in AC power mode. The graphics core went about its work at 300 to 620 MHz. When we ran the stress test in battery mode, the CPU and GPU ran at 1.58 GHz and 620 MHz (respectively) for the first two minutes. After that, both speeds sank. The graphics core then ran at 300 MHz, while the CPU slowly and gradually throttled to 500 MHz. As the test continued, the CPU speed persistently rose and fell. The tablet never grew excessively warm - only in the area of the CPU during the stress test did the case temperature cross the 40 °C (104 °F) line.

 28.3 °C
83 F
28.8 °C
84 F
34.1 °C
93 F
 
 26.1 °C
79 F
26.7 °C
80 F
36.1 °C
97 F
 
 25.2 °C
77 F
25.3 °C
78 F
32.6 °C
91 F
 
Maximum: 36.1 °C = 97 F
Average: 29.2 °C = 85 F
28.6 °C
83 F
31 °C
88 F
30.5 °C
87 F
30.1 °C
86 F
27.5 °C
82 F
28 °C
82 F
27.2 °C
81 F
27.1 °C
81 F
26.4 °C
80 F
Maximum: 31 °C = 88 F
Average: 28.5 °C = 83 F
Power Supply (max.)  31.4 °C = 89 F | Room Temperature 21.8 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.5 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 30 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Tablet.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44.1 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.9 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.2 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.

Speakers

The speakers are located on the bottom side of the tablet. They produce a thin sound that is completely lacking in bass. Speech is easy to understand. Headphones or external speakers can provide a better sound.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The Stream 8 proves to be a real energy-saver. In idle mode, the tablet only consumes half a Watt. The display brightness doesn't influence the tablet's energy usage there. Under load as well, the device's power consumption rates are very low. Under medium load (3DMark06 running), the energy usage is a little higher than under full load (stress test: Prime95 and Furmark running), as the processor doesn't use its turbo during the stress test. Overall, the Stream 8 consumes less energy than the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.15 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.4 / 0.5 / 0.6 Watt
Load midlight 4.8 / 3.9 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

In idle mode, the Stream 8's battery keeps chugging along for 12:28 h. The Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845 (11:51 h) gives up the ghost a few minutes earlier. We determine a device's battery life in idle mode using the Battery Eater Reader's Test. During this test, the display runs at its lowest brightness setting and the wireless modules are deactivated. Under load, the HP tablet reaches a runtime of 2:39 h. Here too, the Venue 8 Pro (2:10 h) breathes its last breath a little earlier. We test a machine's battery life under load with the Battery Eater Classic Test. Here, the display runs at full brightness and the wireless modules are active.

In our WLAN test, which is designed to simulate practical, everyday use, the Stream 8's battery goes to its narrow bed after 5:24 h. The Venue 8 Pro (6:42 h) succumbs a little later. Here we run a script that automatically loads a new webpage every 40 seconds. The display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m². We test how long a device holds out while running a video by playing the short film Big Buck Bunny (H.264 encoding, 1920x1080 pixels) on an endless loop. The wireless modules are deactivated, and the brightness is once again set to about 150 cd/m². With a fully charged battery, the Stream 8 manages to keep it up for 5:50 h. The Venue 8 Pro (6:07 h) loses its vital signs a few minutes later.

Like the Venue 8 Pro 3845, the Stream 8's only energy profile is "balanced." We performed all our battery life tests with the "balanced" profile activated. In the tests that simulate more practical conditions, the Dell tablet does a little better, due to the fact that it has a somewhat larger battery (HP: 14.7 Wh, Dell: 18 Wh).

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
12h 28min
WiFi Surfing
5h 24min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
5h 50min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 39min
HP Stream 8 5900ng
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Acer Iconia W4-820-2466
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740, 64 GB eMMC Flash
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Battery Runtime
2%
5%
10%
1%
-36%
31%
24%
114%
Reader / Idle
748
711
-5%
782
5%
900
20%
607
-19%
321
-57%
942
26%
753
1%
1801
141%
H.264
350
367
5%
320
-9%
200
-43%
501
43%
729
108%
WiFi
324
402
24%
373
15%
390
20%
345
6%
300
-7%
484
49%
442
36%
653
102%
Load
159
130
-18%
153
-4%
183
15%
187
18%
183
15%
326
105%

Verdict

We liked the HP Stream 8 5900ng. The device is a simple 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet priced at 209 Euros (~$247). The tablet gives the user access not only to applications from the Windows Store, but also normal desktop programs. However, the latter shouldn't be heavily relied on, as the meager 1 GB of RAM proves to bottleneck the system's performance very quickly. But those who only use the tablet to run apps and view media content won't notice the limited amount of RAM. Thanks to its built-in 3G modem, the tablet can access the Internet without a WLAN connection. With the purchase of the tablet, the buyer receives 200 MB/month of free data via a mobile network for 2 years. The necessary SIM card comes in the device's packaging. The bright IPS display is also appealing. The tablet's battery life isn't spectacular, but it's satisfactory.

If you don't care about the 3G modem, the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845 is certainly worth a look, as the two devices are almost structurally identical and are equipped with practically the same hardware, but the Venue 8 Pro 3845 costs just 150 Euros (~$177). In our battery life tests that simulate practical, everyday use, the Dell tablet achieved longer runtimes, and its display offers stronger brightness and contrast.

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In review: HP Stream 8 5900ng. Test model courtesy of HP store.
In review: HP Stream 8 5900ng. Test model courtesy of HP store.

Specifications

HP Stream 8 5900ng (Stream Series)
Processor
Intel Atom Z3735G 4 x 1.3 - 1.8 GHz, Bay Trail-T
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Core: 646 MHz, 10.18.10.3643
Memory
1024 MB 
, LPDDR2
Display
8.00 inch 16:10, 1280 x 800 pixel, 5 touch points, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
, 19.5 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Valleyview SoC - HD Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: Audio combo, Card Reader: MicroSD, Sensors: Acceleration sensor, GPS
Networking
Realtek RTL8723BS (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, Huawei 3G
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.9 x 209 x 124 ( = 0.35 x 8.23 x 4.88 in)
Battery
15 Wh Lithium-Ion, 3.7 V, 4000 mAh
Operating System
Windows 8.1 (32 Bit) + Bing
Camera
Webcam: 2 MP (front), 5 MP (back)
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard Light: no, Charger, Micro USB cable, SIM card, Office 365 Personal (one-year license), 12 Months Warranty
Weight
410 g ( = 14.46 oz / 0.9 pounds), Power Supply: 82.3 g ( = 2.9 oz / 0.18 pounds)
Price
209 Euro

 

The HP Stream 8 5900ng.
The HP Stream 8 5900ng.
The back side shows fingerprints easily.
The back side shows fingerprints easily.
The card slots are located beneath the back side of the case.
The card slots are located beneath the back side of the case.
The SIM-card holder is for Micro-SIM cards.
The SIM-card holder is for Micro-SIM cards.
There is a MicroSD slot as well.
There is a MicroSD slot as well.
The battery is not removable.
The battery is not removable.
It has a capacity of 14.8 Wh.
It has a capacity of 14.8 Wh.
The power supply's nominal power rating is 10 Watts.
The power supply's nominal power rating is 10 Watts.
Reflections make it hard to see the screen content in the sun.
Reflections make it hard to see the screen content in the sun.
Additional data packages can be purchased through the DataPass app.
Additional data packages can be purchased through the DataPass app.
A piece of software seems to be responsible for localizing the app.
A piece of software seems to be responsible for localizing the app.

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Links

  • Manufacturer's information

Price Comparison

Pros

+Bright IPS display
+Reasonably good manufacturing quality
+One-year Office 365 licence
+3G modem with free data
 

Cons

-1 GB RAM
-No video output

Shortcut

What we like

The 3G modem with 200 MB per month of free data.

What we'd like to see

An HDMI port.

What surprises us

That HP gives the buyer of this tablet 200 MB of free data every month. The mobile connection was very easy to establish.

The competition 

Dell Venue 8 ProToshiba Encore 2 WT8-B-102, Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 8, Point of View Mobii WinTab 800W, Acer Iconia W4-820-2466, Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX, LG G Pad 8.0 V480.

Rating

HP Stream 8 5900ng - 01/05/2015 v4(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
75%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
45 / 65 → 69%
Weight
85 / 40-88 → 94%
Battery
89%
Display
81%
Games Performance
33 / 68 → 49%
Application Performance
37 / 76 → 49%
Temperature
87%
Noise
100%
Audio
40 / 91 → 44%
Camera
40 / 85 → 47%
Average
66%
79%
Tablet - Weighted Average
Sascha Mölck, 2015-01- 7 (Update: 2018-05-15)