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. 1600x900 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 the Critics Are Saying...
- Sarah Silbert, EngadgetPut 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,...
- David Pierce, The VergeThe 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 pret...
- Steve Kovach , Business InsiderThe tablet has a massive 13-inch screen, easily making it one of the largest touchscreen devices you can buy today.
- Lynn La, CNETUltimately, 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 extr...
- Josh Smith, GottaBeMobileNot everyone is ready for a 13-inch tablet, and not every app is ready for a 13-inch Android tablet. I enjoy using the Excite 13 at home, and have been able to leave my iPad unused for the past week, something that was previously impossible with Android tablets. For the average user a 13-inch tablet...
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Manuals / User Guides
- Toshiba Excite 13 Manual (PDF)
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