Dell Venue 8 7000 tablet now available in the UK for £326

Dell is now shipping the the Venue 8 7000 tablet in the UK, with prices starting at 326.

Dubbed the "world's thinnest tablet" due to its 6mm thickness, the 8.4in Venue runs Android KitKat 4.4, is powered by Intel's latest quad-core Atom processor and has 32GB of internal storage.

We take a look at the core features, which Dell hopes will make the device ideal for enterprise deployment.

1. RealSense cameras

The USP of the Dell Venue 8 7000 series is the camera technology. Dell is the first manufacturer to build Intel's RealSense technology into a tablet.

There are three 8-megapixel cameras on the rear of the device that allow it to detect the depth of every single object in a photo. Practical applications include the ability to measure the height, width and area of people and objects.

Adam Griffin, global senior tablet product manager at Dell, said there will be no other tablets with RealSense technology until Q3 of 2015.

Dell envisages the software will be used by estate agents, as they won't have to physically take measurements of the rooms in houses they are trying to sell. The firm also expects the technology to be used in the construction, furnishing and medical industries.

"We've even had engagement from hospitals. They are looking to take photographs of wounds - the camera will be able to depth map every part. If you take a photograph of it everyday, you'll be able to see exactly how that wound is healing," Griffin told journalists at a pre-briefing event in London.

"The Police force can also get more accurate facial recognition [using RealSense] as they can depth map faces."

Kinks in the software need to be ironed out. Measurements were out by approximately 2 feet during our hands on, but this was a pre-production unit and Dell assured us it will be ready in time for shipping.

Other uses of RealSense include the ability to refocus images after they have been taken. Dell has also built-in software to sync the camera with GPS, so photos can be sorted by location.

2. Portability & robustness

Despite having a larger display than the iPad mini 3, the Venue 8 7000 is the lighter device (330g vs 310g).

With a thickness of 6mm, the Venue 8 holds the title of the world's thinnest tablet with a thickness of 6mm besting the iPad Air 2 (6.1mm). However, it's not guaranteed to be the case when the device starts shipping in 2015.

To help the device survive in enterprise environments, Dell has also used a tough Magnesium alloy chassis, so the tablet has no flex.

3. Up-to-date Android

Dell will pre-load the device with Android Lollipop when it launches, with minimal changes to the operating system.

Android Lollipop comes with a range of security enhancements including Samsung's Knox' technology built-in. This will allow IT admins to separate work/personal content, as well as the ability to deploy apps in bulk.

4. High-quality display

The Venue 8 7000 packs an 8.4in edge-to-edge display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 (361ppi). This will make it useful for looking at HD images, videos and text.

It's up there with other high-end tablets, such as the iPad mini 3 with its Retina Display (2048 x 1536, 326ppi).

5. Connectivity

As well as the usual Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth connectivity, the Venue 8 7000 is expected to pack a SIM card slot for connectivity in the field. Dell will also make an adapter available allowing users to project the content of the screen to a TV or monitor.

This article was originally published on the 5/11/14 and was updated on the 5/2/15 to reflect the availability and pricing.