Toshiba Kira, we have tested it

The Toshiba Kira is the spearhead of the Japanese company for the consumer market. An ultrabook with a screen that almost doubles the level of Full HD resolution and touch capacity , one of the latest Intel processors or an attractive and light design. All this with the Windows 8.1 operating system and a remarkable autonomy of up to 9 hours of use without the need to recharge the computer. We have had the opportunity to test this laptop in depth. These are our conclusions.

High resolution display with attractive design

One of the most attractive aspects of the Toshiba Kira is undoubtedly its screen. This 13.3-inch panel marks an excellent resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, which almost doubles the level of detail that we find in a Full HD monitor and that reaches a density of 221 dpi . With this resolution, we enjoy excellent quality in games or movies. It should also be noted that it is a touch panel , with a very remarkable and precise response. Without a doubt, an interesting alternative to move through the Windows 8 menus, although due to its characteristics it is likely that we spend most of the time using the keyboard and mouse. The level of brightness is noticeable, but it can be difficult for us to see certain points on the screen when it receives the impact of sunlight. Regarding the design of this equipment, the Kira remains in competitive figures of 1.35 kilos in weight and 1.9 centimeters in thickness. This greatly facilitates its transport and makes it a good travel companion. Its construction has used a magnesium alloy with a silver color and a laminated pattern that gives it a somewhat rustic touch. ToshibaHe also wanted to highlight that this equipment has been designed through a honeycomb-shaped base structure, which should make it more resistant to shocks and falls. In almost the entire model, a lot of robustness is appreciated , except for the side frames that surround the keyboard area and that house the connections. Shortly after use, a small crack formed right in one of the USB ports, but it may well be a problem with the test model itself. What we did like a lot is its keyboard . The keys are well separated and although they do not rise much above the base after a few minutes typing a good level of comfort is achieved . Also, the keyboard is backlitand various brightness levels can be determined.

Memory and power

In the field of memory, the Kira bets on a 256 GB SSD memory card . It must be said that the operation of this disk is really fast, which allows us, for example, to start using the computer from the main Windows 8 screen only four or five seconds after turning it on. This agility is also appreciated when exchanging files or when accessing different applications. To run this equipment, the laptop relies on a dual-core Intel Core i7-4510U processor with a power of 2 GHz per core. Thanks to Turbo Boost technology , this power grows up to 3.1 GHzat times of greatest demand. This chip joins an 8 GB RAM memory to be able to run heavier processes without slowing down the system. The heat dissipation is quite efficient, and although it is common for this laptop to get hot while operating in our tests it has never done so beyond an acceptable temperature. Noise is hardly ever appreciated either (except when the processor is very demanding), which makes the Kira very quiet and pleasant to use.

Operating system and applications

Inside this laptop we find the Windows 8.1 Update operating system . The Microsoft platform has received several important improvements to enhance its use in a traditional way, such as the appearance of the taskbar whenever we lower the mouse to the bottom (in any app). On the other hand, the use of a touch screen will allow us to move with greater agility through the main Windows interface and take advantage of all the possibilities of this system. Among the pre-installed applications we would like to highlight a direct access to Google Drive , Google's online storage system . We also have several tools forToshiba management and a trial version of McAfee Antivirus . One of the great advantages of this Windows is that we will be able to use a vast majority of the applications that already worked under Windows 7. We also have the Microsoft app store , although it is still a less mature platform than the Android store or that of Apple .

Connectivity and multimedia

In the field of connections, this laptop stands out for its compatibility with the WiFi AC protocol . If we have a compatible router, we will be able to connect directly to the 5 GHz broadband . This has the advantages of a more uncongested network capable of reaching higher speeds. How could it be otherwise, we will have three USB 3.0 ports , a protocol that multiplies the transfer rates of traditional USB by ten. In addition, one of these ports incorporates a function to charge mobile devices even when the computer is suspended. We also have a full-size HDMI port (which is appreciated) or Bluetooth 4.0 connection .Connections are completed with a card reader capable of Micro SD or SDXC cards and a headphone slot. For the multimedia field, Toshiba has reinforced this laptop with Harman Kardon speakers that offer a performance above what is usually usual in an ultrabook, both for sound power and quality. In short, this sound system together with the good screen of the Kira make it a very interesting device to watch movies or play games (although the lack of a dedicated graphics card will make us have to console ourselves with modern but not very demanding games ). Finally, we must also highlight a webcamwith a resolution of 0.9 megapixels to use applications like Skype .

Autonomy

According to the official data from Toshiba , this laptop is capable of reaching a use of up to nine hours and ten minutes without the need to go to a cable. During our tests and in more demanding use, the laptop lasted about five hours without problems with the screen at maximum brightness and navigation and use of office applications. A competitive team that becomes an excellent travel companion.

Price and reviews

The Toshiba Kira is now available for 1,500 euros. In short, this is a first-rate ultrabook for demanding users who want to enjoy the latest in design and screen. A team that has a very remarkable balance between its different specifications and which can be removed very few defects. Among the most notable addition to the dot resolution screen with 2,560 x 1,440 pixels also we liked the performance of your speakers and the inclusion of an entry HDMI full size. On the other hand, this laptop seems destined for multimedia performance that is somewhat limited by the lack of a dedicated graphics card as standard.Although it is still an excellent option for movies or games that are not very powerful.   Toshiba Kira

Display and keyboard 

Power and graphics 

Memory

Design

Sound

software

Connections

Autonomy

+ info

Price 1,500 euros