History of Dell Streak in Timeline

The Dell Streak 5, launched in 2010, was an Android-based phablet featuring a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen. It had dual cameras: a 5MP rear camera with dual-LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera for video calls, both capable of recording video. Its defining characteristic was bridging the gap between smartphones and tablets, offering a larger screen experience than typical smartphones of the time.

June 2009: Dell Streak Development Disclosed

In June 2009, the development of the Dell Streak was first disclosed.

October 2009: Dell Streak Capable of 3G Phone Calls

In October 2009, it was revealed that the Dell Streak tablet was capable of making 3G phone calls.

September 2010: Android 2.1 Update for O2 Customers

In early September 2010, customers on the British O2 mobile phone network were given the opportunity to install Android 2.1 through an Over the Air update. However, this update caused an uproar due to bugs and removal of some features.

December 2010: Dell Offers Unlocked Streaks with Android 2.2 (Froyo)

In December 2010, Dell offered unlocked Streaks with Android 2.2 (Froyo). Earlier versions were released with Android 1.6.

2010: Dell Streak 5 Release

In 2010, the Dell Streak 5, also known as the Dell Mini 5, was released. This phablet featured a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen, a 5MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, and a VGA front camera for video calling.

January 2011: Dell Streak 7 Announced

In January 2011, Dell announced a seven-inch version of the Streak at the Consumer Electronics Show.

August 15, 2011: Dell Discontinues Streak 5

On August 15, 2011, Dell discontinued the Streak 5. Customers attempting to purchase the device were directed to a "Good Bye, Streak 5" landing page.

December 2, 2011: Dell Discontinues Streak 7

On December 2, 2011, Dell discontinued the larger Streak 7 tablet. However, Dell continued to sell a 10-inch tablet in China at that time.

2011: Streak 7 Receives Tepid Reviews

In 2011, the Streak 7 received a tepid reaction from one reviewer due to its poor display and software bugs/glitches at launch. The Streak was considered bulky, and the Android 2.2 "Froyo" that it ran was geared more for smartphones instead of tablets. It compared poorly to other Android tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, while almost all tablet computers released in 2011 had failed to gain much market share in the face of overwhelming demand for the Apple iPad 2.