Toshiba Excite 13
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Put simply, the Toshiba Excite 13 is a huge tablet. It's a capable tablet, too, with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor that handles Ice Cream Sandwich well, but we imagine there are many people who won't get past its size and give it a whirl. In that regard, the Excite 13 reminds us of the Galaxy Note, a super-sized phone that never fails to produce a love-it or hate-it reaction.”
“The case for the Excite 13 is a simple one, and to some people will be really compelling. If you want a tablet that only travels as far as the distance between rooms in your home, that's great for watching movies, playing games, looking up recipes, or using as a serving tray, the Excite 13 is a pretty great device. All the extra screen real estate does cause a few problems, especially in games, but for relaxing on the couch and doing some light web surfing or plowing through a queue of YouTube videos, it's a pretty great device.Plus, if you're in the market for a 13-inch tablet, what choice do you have?”
“Ultimately, only the individual customer knows what's good for him or her, and the ideal screen size depends on what the tablet is being used for. While I commend Toshiba for providing customers with more choices and more space for those who need it, it's hard to imagine a situation where those extra 3.3 inches are completely necessary.Though the Toshiba Excite 13 was meant for the home, the portability of a tablet is part of its appeal. When propped up or docked, it functions beautifully and you don't feel like you're using one of Moses' rock slabs in The Ten Commandments. But with this device, it feels more like you're lugging this thing around than carrying it. In addition to the high cost, there's also the fact that most media files won't fit its aspect ratio perfectly, rendering that screen even more of a waste.If you like Toshiba's brand of tablets, consider the less cumbersome Excite 10 instead. It delivers similar specs, and yes, while it has 3 inches lopped off the display size, it has $200 chopped off the price, too.”
“In spite of these weaknesses, Toshiba deserves credit for taking a chance on the 13.3-inch tablet design. For entertainment, as well as for document creation and consumption, the Excite 13 is like no other tablet available today. But the price of admission is steep.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
With a 13.3-inch screen, the Toshiba Excite 13 is markedly different from many other tablets available on the market today, pretty much sitting in a category all on its own. If you believe that larger means better, then the Excite 13 should open up exciting possibilities for you. Like the Toshiba Excite 10 tablet, the Excite 13 is an Android-powered device that runs on NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 CPU. Actually, you can say that the Excite 13 is simply the 13.3-inch version of the Excite 10 because the two generally share the same features.
It has dual cameras—with the main one boasting a 5MP sensor at the back—and both are capable of recording videos and capturing still images. The amount of internal storage starts at 32GB and can be expanded even further with microSD cards, plus a SIM card can be inserted in order to make phone calls. Since it would be weird to hold up a 13.3-inch tablet to your ear when you’re on a call, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack that’s waiting to be put to good use. Speaking of which, there are several useful pre-installed apps which include calendar, alarm, and calculator applications for basic administrative tasks.
What else separates the Excite 13 from its 10-inch brother in Toshiba’s Android tablet lineup? The lack of built-in Wi-Fi. Wireless features are limited to Bluetooth and 3G only. You can quiz yourself endlessly as to why Toshiba decided to nix Wi-Fi on the Excite 13, but as it stands, it’s clear that the 10-inch version can offer a better experience not just for you but also your wallet. Unless you’re willing to lug around a nearly 1kg tablet without Wi-Fi just for the bigger and higher-resolution screen, that is.
Need to Know: Toshiba Excite 13
1. 1600×900 HD resolution 13-inch screen. (The Good)
2. Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor makes it easy to handle HD content. (The Good)
3. Lack of Wi-Fi can seriously limit usefulness while on the go. (The Bad)
4. Nearly as heavy as a full-size notebook but doesn’t come with its own keyboard. (The Bad)
What people actually want to know
When was the Toshiba Excite 13 released?
The Toshiba Excite 13 was released on June 30, 2012.
How long does the battery last on the Toshiba Excite 13?
The Toshiba Excite 13 has a 38 mAh battery.
Where can I download the Toshiba Excite 13 manual?
You can view and download the Toshiba Excite 13 manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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