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Dell Venue 8 Pro (Model 3845) Tablet Review Update

Success. Intel's Bay Trail platform and Windows with Bing enable manufacturers to build cheaper and cheaper notebooks and tablets. Dell took advantage of these developments and just released an 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet with a bright, high-contrast IPS display -- for just 160 to 180 Euros (~$199 to ~$224).

For the original German review, see here.

In January of this year (2014), we reviewed Dell's 8-inch Venue 8 Pro 5830 Windows tablet. At the time, the tablet cost about 270 Euros (~$336) and made a good impression on us. Our current test device, the Venue 8 Pro 3845, is a slimmed-down version with more modest hardware: The tablet only has 1 GB of working memory, and the hard drive space was cut in half (64 GB to 32 GB). But the price was nearly cut in half too. Dell is only charging around 160 Euros (~$199) for the new tablet. Is it possible to get a decent device at such a low price?

The Venue 8 Pro's competitors include all the 8-inch Windows tablets built by other manufacturers. Examples include the Toshiba Encore 2 WT8-B-102, the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 8 and the Point of View Mobii WinTab 800W.

Because the two Venue 8 Pro models are structurally identical, we won't cover the case, connectivity, display or speakers in detail. Further information on these subjects can be gleaned from our review of the Venue 8 Pro 5830.

Case

The Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845 is housed in the same case as the Venue 8 Pro 5830 we reviewed in January. But Dell did make two little adjustments: Firstly, the 3845's control buttons are black (5830: silver), and secondly, the power button and the Windows key switched places.

Connectivity

In terms of connections, nothing has changed: Like the earlier model, the Venue 8 Pro 3845 is equipped with just a memory-card reader (MicroSD) and a micro USB 2.0 port. The tablet's battery also charges through this port, which means it's not possible to use a USB device and charge the battery at the same time.

Top: audio combo, power button
Top: audio combo, power button
The speaker is located on the bottom of the device.
The speaker is located on the bottom of the device.
Right side: Micro USB port/power connection, Windows key, volume rocker, memory-card reader (MicroSD)
Right side: Micro USB port/power connection, Windows key, volume rocker, memory-card reader (MicroSD)

Dell sent us a few optional accessories to try out with their Venue. At extra cost, these accessories compensate a little for the device's dearth of connections. One of these items is a USB adapter that makes it possible to charge the battery and use a USB device simultaneously. The adapter also enables the user to run a USB-based hard drive without an external power supply, though this only works when the tablet's power supply is connected. The adapter is listed at about 30 Euros (~$37) on the English version of Dell's website. This accessory is a very sensible supplement to the tablet, and we certainly wouldn't want to go without it.

The other accessory Dell sent us was a "Dell Cast" HDMI streaming stick. This device enables the user to wirelessly connect a monitor/television to the Venue 8 Pro. The stick slides into the display's HDMI port and gets the energy it needs to run through the display's USB port. This not only gives the user the ability to display the tablet's screen content on the external panel ("screen mirroring") -- it also makes it possible to use the desktop "normally" on the big screen. The device works very well, but we'd prefer a simple cable connection here. The stick is available in the US for about $80 (~64 Euros).

The adapter makes it possible to use the USB port while the battery is charging.
The adapter makes it possible to use the USB port while the battery is charging.
Hard drives can run without an external power supply.
Hard drives can run without an external power supply.
The stick is accompanied by a cable that provides the stick with energy.
The stick is accompanied by a cable that provides the stick with energy.

Display

Dell outfitted their Venue 8 Pro 3845 with the same display they chose for the Venue 8 Pro 5830. The two devices offer an IPS display with stable viewing angles, as well as very good brightness and contrast. Even though the two panels are the same model, our measurements differ slightly. This is normal. The results from two identical panels are never 100% alike.

386
cd/m²
353
cd/m²
334
cd/m²
375
cd/m²
382
cd/m²
362
cd/m²
380
cd/m²
369
cd/m²
348
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics AUO00C4 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 386 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 365.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 382 cd/m²
Contrast: 1091:1 (Black: 0.35 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.97 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.44 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
50.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
57.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
77.5% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
55.7% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.37
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
10%
-9%
13%
-16%
Display P3 Coverage
55.7
65.8
18%
51.3
-8%
65.1
17%
45.85
-18%
sRGB Coverage
77.5
80.4
4%
71.6
-8%
85.9
11%
68.9
-11%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
57.7
61.7
7%
52
-10%
63.3
10%
47.39
-18%
Screen
-9%
-26%
-11%
-19%
-17%
-23%
-18%
Brightness middle
382
380.2
0%
295
-23%
333.3
-13%
220
-42%
417
9%
362
-5%
333
-13%
Brightness
365
365
0%
278
-24%
304
-17%
214
-41%
395
8%
352
-4%
311
-15%
Brightness Distribution
87
86
-1%
84
-3%
83
-5%
88
1%
90
3%
86
-1%
85
-2%
Black Level *
0.35
0.312
11%
0.38
-9%
0.463
-32%
0.303
13%
0.46
-31%
0.44
-26%
0.54
-54%
Contrast
1091
1219
12%
776
-29%
720
-34%
726
-33%
907
-17%
823
-25%
617
-43%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.97
7.03
-41%
8.01
-61%
4.98
-0%
5.08
-2%
6.59
-33%
6.78
-36%
4.64
7%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.44
7.12
-60%
6.58
-48%
4.47
-1%
5.85
-32%
6.96
-57%
7.26
-64%
4.78
-8%
Gamma
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
6090 107%
6988 93%
6001 108%
6102 107%
7667 85%
7414 88%
6355 102%
6458 101%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
50.6
53.88
6%
46.68
-8%
57.17
13%
44
-13%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
1% / -4%
-18% / -21%
1% / -5%
-18% / -18%
-17% / -17%
-23% / -23%
-18% / -18%

* ... smaller is better

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

Performance

The Dell Venue 8 Pro is a very inexpensive 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet. The device's performance is adequate for running office and Internet applications. On the Dell website, the tablet is listed at 199 Euros (~$247). As we were writing this review, we found the tablet for just 159 Euros (~$197) from a major online vendor. Dell also offers versions with different hardware, including models with a UMTS modem.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWInfo
System Information: Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845

Processor

The little tablet runs on an Atom Z3735G quad-core processor. The processor's TDP of less than 4 Watts makes it possible for the device to be passively cooled. The CPU runs at a base clock speed of 1.33 GHz. Using turbo, the speed can be increased to up to 1.83 GHz. These numbers are identical to those we recorded during our testing session with the Venue 8 Pro 5830 and its Atom Z3740D processor. There is one difference between the two CPUs, however: The Z3740D supports up to 2 GB of working memory, whereas the Z3735G only supports a maximum of 1 GB. Both CPUs' performances rate toward the low end of the scale, between the AMD APUs from the E and A series.

The Z3735G's full performance capabilities aren't accessible. The machine completed the Cinebench benchmark's single-thread tests at 1.58 to 1.83 GHz. The processor ran the multi-thread tests at a constant 1.58 GHz. These numbers are the same in both AC power mode and idle mode.

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
950
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
2907
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
1568
Help
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
950 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
961 Points +1%
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
946 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
1189 Points +25%
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 +32%
Lenovo B50-45 (MCD2GGE)
Radeon R2 (Mullins/Beema/Carrizo-L), E1-6010, Seagate Momentus Thin 320 GB ST320LT012
983 Points +3%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2907 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3219 Points +11%
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2899 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
3308 Points +14%
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%
Lenovo B50-45 (MCD2GGE)
Radeon R2 (Mullins/Beema/Carrizo-L), E1-6010, Seagate Momentus Thin 320 GB ST320LT012
1619 Points -44%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
720 Points
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
771 Points +7%
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 +23%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2105 Points
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)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
471.7 ms *
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
770 ms * -63%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
864 ms * -83%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
512 ms * -9%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
512 ms * -9%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
498 ms * -6%
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
609 ms * -29%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1034 ms * -119%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
696 ms * -48%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
393 ms * +17%
Lenovo B50-45 (MCD2GGE)
Radeon R2 (Mullins/Beema/Carrizo-L), E1-6010, Seagate Momentus Thin 320 GB ST320LT012
468 ms * +1%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
642 Points
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
837 Points +30%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
1214 Points +89%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
927 Points +44%
Point of View WinTab 800W
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 16 GB eMMC Flash
610 Points -5%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
680 Points +6%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1205 Points +88%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
781 Points +22%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
3375 Points
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 +53%
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)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
8969 ms *
Asus Memo Pad 8 ME181CX
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3745, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5496 ms * +39%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
14907 ms * -66%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
9355 ms * -4%
HP Stream 14-z050ng
Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema), A4 Micro-6400T, 32 GB eMMC Flash
5976 ms * +33%
WebXPRT 2013 - Overall (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
305 Points
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%
Browsermark - 2.1 (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
936 points
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1309 points +40%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
894 points -4%

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

Although the Venue 8 Pro's processor is 64-bit capable, Dell installed the 32-bit version of Windows 8.1 on their tablet. The reason: The 32-bit version saves resources. Because this device only has 1 GB of RAM, conservation of resources is especially important. In general, the tablet runs fluidly -- especially in "RT" mode. If the desktop is in use, the scant working memory does have an effect on the speed from time to time; for instance, occasionally windows only load after a delay. The results in the PCMark benchmark are on the low end and correspond with the performance capabilities of the tablet's Atom processor.

PCMark 7 Score
2131 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
1062 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
893 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
1150 points
Help
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2131 Points
Toshiba WT8-B-102‏
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2168 Points +2%
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
2317 Points +9%
Acer Iconia W4-820-2466
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2484 Points +17%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
2560 Points +20%

Storage Devices

The Venue 8 Pro's mass storage device is an eMMC module with a capacity of 32 GB. The recovery partition occupies about 9 GB. Subtracting the storage space required for installing Windows, the user is left with about 12 GB. A little more space can be freed by removing the additional software provided by Dell. The storage space can be expanded via MicroSD card. The eMMC storage doesn't run particularly quickly, but the reason for that is easily identified: The Venue 8 Pro comes with activated encryption. If this feature is turned off, the transfer rates increase significantly. With the encryption deactivated, this storage module is actually one of the faster of its kind. We included the results in CrystalDiskMark with deactivated encryption in the table below.

32 GB eMMC Flash
Sequential Read: 88.7 MB/s
Sequential Write: 50.7 MB/s
512K Read: 80.6 MB/s
512K Write: 43.57 MB/s
4K Read: 10.66 MB/s
4K Write: 8.261 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 25.95 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 10.77 MB/s
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
37%
-16%
48%
-18%
-2%
Read Seq
88.7
164.3
85%
53.8
-39%
166
87%

116
31%

123.4
39%
134.1
51%
Write Seq
50.7
81.6
61%
40.15
-21%
75.7
49%

48.56
-4%

42.83
-16%
44.8
-12%
Read 512
80.6
141.2
75%
51.7
-36%
157.2
95%

119.4
48%

115.5
43%
136.3
69%
Write 512
43.57
63.4
46%
32.57
-25%
59.7
37%

42.53
-2%

25.83
-41%
12.07
-72%
Read 4k
10.66
12.24
15%
8.043
-25%
19.04
79%

16.32
53%

9.666
-9%
13.06
23%
Write 4k
8.261
9.341
13%
8.888
8%
17.43
111%

12.86
56%

4.149
-50%
5.92
-28%
Read 4k QD32
25.95
24.58
-5%
28.75
11%
25.75
-1%

24.45
-6%

11.86
-54%
23.67
-9%
Write 4k QD32
10.77
11.27
5%
10.65
-1%
19.27
79%

16.23
51%

4.74
-56%
7.07
-34%

Graphics Card

Intel's HD Graphics graphics core is responsible for the tablet's graphics output. The GPU supports DirectX 11 and runs at a frequency of up to 646 MHz. Of all the graphics cores that are currently available, this chip is the weakest model. As to be expected, the results in the 3DMark benchmark come in toward the very bottom of our performance table. The Venue 8 Pro model we already reviewed is equipped with the same GPU, but because the earlier model's graphics core runs at a somewhat higher speed and has more RAM at its command, it achieved better results in our tests. AMD offers much more powerful GPUs in this low price range -- specifically the Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema) and Radeon R4 (Beema) cores.

3DMark 11 Performance
200 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
13071 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
998 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
200 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
216 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
209 Points +5%
3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
13071 Points
Dell Venue 8 Pro
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3740D, 32 GB eMMC Flash
15800 Points +21%
Lenovo ThinkPad 8
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3770, SanDisk SEM64G
9708 Points -26%
LG G Pad 8.0 V480
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5631 Points -57%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
998 Points
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%
1280x720 Sky Diver Score (sort by value)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Z3735G, 32 GB eMMC Flash
401 Points

Gaming Performance

For modern 3D games, the hardware built into our test device is simply too weak. Only a few titles run fluidly at reduced resolution and image quality. It is true, however, that there isn't enough storage space available for most games anyway. Games from the Windows Store are perfectly playable on the tablet.

low med. high ultra
Trackmania Nations Forever (2008) 72 18
Resident Evil 5 (2009) 26.3
Dirt 3 (2011) 24.1 12.9

Emissions

System Noise

The device runs silently, due to the fact that it has neither a fan nor a conventional hard drive.

Temperature

The tablet completed the stress test (Prime95 and Furmark running simultaneously for at least an hour) in the same way in both AC power mode and battery mode. The processor goes about its work at 1.58 GHz, while the graphics core runs at 620 MHz. During the stress test, the device didn't heat up excessively. Only in one spot on the back side of the device did the temperature measure a somewhat warm 48 °C (118.4 °F).

Max. Load
 37.9 °C
100 F
39.5 °C
103 F
38.7 °C
102 F
 
 30.1 °C
86 F
30.9 °C
88 F
40.4 °C
105 F
 
 27.7 °C
82 F
28.6 °C
83 F
34 °C
93 F
 
Maximum: 40.4 °C = 105 F
Average: 34.2 °C = 94 F
37.4 °C
99 F
48 °C
118 F
43.1 °C
110 F
33.3 °C
92 F
37.4 °C
99 F
37.5 °C
100 F
27.3 °C
81 F
31.1 °C
88 F
31.2 °C
88 F
Maximum: 48 °C = 118 F
Average: 36.3 °C = 97 F
Power Supply (max.)  50.6 °C = 123 F | Room Temperature 20.9 °C = 70 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.2 °C / 94 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 40.4 °C / 105 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 48 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.8 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.

Energy Management

The processor's TDP lies under 4 Watts. As a result, the whole device doesn't require much energy. Nevertheless, at 4 to 6.6 Watts in idle mode, the tablet proves to be relatively thirsty. The Point of View Mobii WinTab 800W, which is outfitted with the same amount of working memory and the same CPU, is satisfied with half that wattage. The Venue 8 Pro's high energy consumption rates when turned off (3.7 Watts) and in standby mode (1.7 Watts) are particularly striking. We continued to measure these same rates 10 minutes after we activated standby mode / shut the device off.

Update December 08 2014: With the battery fully charged, we left the tablet on our desk in standby mode for two days. After 24 hours, the battery had drained about 13% of its charge; after another 24 hours, altogether it had lost 22% of its charge. With these numbers in mind, we estimate the tablet has a maximum standby-life of just under 10 days.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 3.7 / 1.7 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4 / 6.4 / 6.6 Watt
Load midlight 8.6 / 8.1 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 Venue 8 Pro's battery lasts 11:51 h. With that time, the tablet positions itself between the Toshiba Encore 2 WT8-B-102 (15:00 h) and the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 8 (10:07 h). We determine a device's battery life in idle mode with the Battery Eater Reader's test. In this test, the screen brightness is set to minimum and the wireless modules are turned off. Under load, the Dell tablet peters out after 2:10 h. We determine battery runtime under load using the Battery Eater Classic test. Here the screen brightness is set to maximum and the wireless modules are activated.

The Venue 8 Pro ran out of steam after 6:42 h in our WLAN test. This test is designed to simulate practical, everyday use. A script automatically loads a new webpage every 40 seconds, and the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m². The Encore 2 (6:30 h) and the ThinkPad tablet (5:45 h) come in behind our tablet here. To determine a device's battery runtime during video playback, we run the short film Big Buck Bunny in a loop. The wireless modules are deactivated and the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m². The Venue 8 Pro chugged along for 6:07 h here. The Encore 2 (5:20 h) gave up the ghost earlier.

Overall, the Venue 8 Pro offers good battery life. The device's battery runtimes are more or less on par with its sister model's. Note: The Venue 8 Pro only offers two energy profiles -- "Balanced" and "Dell." We ran all our battery life tests with the "Balanced" profile activated.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
11h 51min
WiFi Surfing
6h 42min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
6h 07min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 10min
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
7%
4%
4%
-42%
32%
24%
116%
Reader / Idle
711
782
10%
900
27%
607
-15%
321
-55%
942
32%
753
6%
1801
153%
H.264
367
320
-13%
200
-46%
501
37%
729
99%
WiFi
402
373
-7%
390
-3%
345
-14%
300
-25%
484
20%
442
10%
653
62%
Load
130
153
18%
183
41%
187
44%
183
41%
326
151%

Verdict

On the whole, the Dell Venue 8 Pro made a good impression on us. This is a simple Windows 8.1 tablet designed primarily for Internet and media-related applications, on the market for just 160 to 180 Euros (~$199 to ~$224). In order to put such a low price tag on their device, Dell economized with inexpensive hardware and the Bing version of Windows 8.1. Even so, the tablet doesn't have a cheap aura about it. Anyone who wants to accomplish work-related tasks on the device will appreciate the one-year Office 365 Personal license -- though the system can't handle several Office windows at a time. The limited amount of working memory (1 GB) makes itself apparent in such situations. We were very happy to discover that Dell installed the same bright, high-contrast IPS panel in their 3845 model as in the Venue 8 Pro 5830. Both Venue 8 Pro models are rather penniless when it comes to connections. For instance, neither device has an HDMI port. In order to connect the tablet to a bigger display or a TV, the user will have to purchase a solution like the "Dell Cast" stick.

Just a few days ago, we published our review of the Point of View Mobii WinTab 800W 8-inch Windows tablet. The device is equipped with the same processor and the same amount of working memory, but it costs 50 Euros less (~$62 less) than the Venue 8 Pro. In a direct comparison, the Dell tablet is the clear winner: It offers longer battery life, more storage space and a brighter display with higher contrast.

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In review: Dell Venue 8 Pro. Test model courtesy of Dell.
In review: Dell Venue 8 Pro. Test model courtesy of Dell.

Specifications

Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845 (Venue 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 
, DDR3, Single-channel, Soldered
Display
8.00 inch 16:9, 1280 x 800 pixel, 10-point multi-touch, AU Optronics AUO00C4, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
, 12 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Valleyview SoC - HD Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: Audio combo, Card Reader: MicroSD, Sensors: Brightness sensor, Orientation sensor
Networking
Realtek RTL8723BS (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9 x 216 x 130 ( = 0.35 x 8.5 x 5.12 in)
Battery
18 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Windows 8.1 (32 Bit) + Bing
Camera
Webcam: Front camera 1.2 MP; Back camera: 5 MP
Additional features
Speakers: Mono, Keyboard Light: no, MS Office (trial version), 12 Months Warranty
Weight
388 g ( = 13.69 oz / 0.86 pounds), Power Supply: 75 g ( = 2.65 oz / 0.17 pounds)
Price
199 Euro

 

The Venue 8 Pro's display diagonal measures 8-inches.
The Venue 8 Pro's display diagonal measures 8-inches.
The backside has a grippy texture.
The backside has a grippy texture.
The camera on the back side of the tablet offers a resolution of 5 MP.
The camera on the back side of the tablet offers a resolution of 5 MP.
There is a memory-card reader (MicroSD).
There is a memory-card reader (MicroSD).
A protective cover is available at extra cost.
A protective cover is available at extra cost.
The protective cover...
The protective cover...
...can also be used as a stand.
...can also be used as a stand.
Two rubber feet hold the tablet in the desired position.
Two rubber feet hold the tablet in the desired position.
An optional stylus is available for about 30 Euros (~$37). (Image: Dell)
An optional stylus is available for about 30 Euros (~$37). (Image: Dell)
There is only one speaker.
There is only one speaker.

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Toshiba WT8-B-102‏ Tablet Review
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Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Links

  • Manufacturer's information

Price Comparison

Pros

+Brighter IPS display with higher contrast and stable viewing angles
+Reasonably good manufacturing quality
+Good battery life
+One-year Office 365 license
+Low price
 

Cons

-1 GB RAM
-No video output
-High power drain in standby

Shortcut

What we like

The bright, high-contrast IPS display.

What we'd like to see

A video output port.

What surprises us

Nothing.

The competition

Toshiba 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

Dell Venue 8 Pro 3845 - 12/04/2014 v4(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
76%
Pointing Device
82%
Connectivity
38 / 65 → 58%
Weight
85 / 40-88 → 94%
Battery
88%
Display
83%
Games Performance
34 / 68 → 50%
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, 2014-12-11 (Update: 2018-05-15)