Toshiba Encore – Hands on and first impressions

Toshiba Encore – Easily on and first impressions

A quick look at Toshiba'due south Windows 8.one viii-inch tablet

When it comes to 8-inch tablets with Windows 8.1, consumers accept quite a few choices this vacation season. The good news here is that so far, almost all of them have been really good in terms of performance due to the similarity in specs. Still, from Dell Venue viii Pro to Lenvo's Mixx2 to the Toshiba Encore, each brings a little something to the tabular array.

Which i is the best? I'll answer that later, only for now, I'chiliad taking a expect at the Toshiba Encore.

Toshiba Encore specifications

Intel Atom Z3740 Quad-Core at 1.iii GHz (up to ane.8 GHz burst)
8 inch IPS 1280 ten 800 display
Windows viii.one (x86, non RT)
32 GB of storage, micro SD expandable
2 GB of RAM (DDR3)
Micro HDMI
eight MP rear camera, ii MP front facing
one.1 pounds (16.9 ounces)
viii.40 x 0.43 x 5.40 inches
802.11bgn
GPS via GNSS (Updated)

When information technology comes to raw specs, the Toshiba falls in line with the Dell and Lenovo offerings. The IPS display is solid, though not spectacular, performance is really good for this class of device and even the camera (when it works) is noteworthy.

The large selling bespeak for many with the Toshiba is the concrete micro HDMI port. While many people don't need (or care) about such a feature, for some it'south a must take and is unique to this device. I'1000 non a huge user of HDMI, but when I tried plugging it into my Samsung Tv, everything went to hell. In short, the display rotated on the Encore to a vertical orientation and my TV said it did not support that resolution. Locking the display into mural on the Encore did non amend this issue and at to the lowest degree for at present, HDMI on my TV is a no go. Why? I accept no idea, but plugging in my Surface 2 or laptops to my TV has never been an consequence.

Update: I forgot to mention that like the Miix2, the Encore has built in GPS (GNSS), which for some is a useful characteristic (see above).

Allow's also go this out of the way: the Encore is a thick, heavy device. Relatively, at to the lowest degree. It's non prohibitively large and due to its rounded corners and edges, it'south really nice to concord. Just it is much thicker than the Dell and at 1.1 pounds, it'southward not light (the iPad Air, a full tablet, is just 1 pound). I emphasize "relative" because on its own, I don't think many will listen the size, just every bit presently equally you lot put it up confronting the Dell, Lenvo or iPad Mini, it looks huge.

In terms of blueprint, the Encore is really nice looking and probably my favorite and so far. The chrome edge effectually the black bezel is really elegant. The device does creek very slightly but you have to actually force it. Where the display meets the body of the device, there are slight hairline gaps. The back is textured and absurd to the touch. With the rounded edges and corners, the Encore is easy to hold. Finally, Toshiba kept the stickers to a minimum and the dorsum is very make clean.

Rear camera sample - Not bad

The cameras are actually decent, in fact I'd say on first blush they're the best I've used for this range. The 2MP forepart facing photographic camera picks upwards ambient calorie-free very well. Granted, the epitome was super noisy only if it'southward betwixt an image that you can't come across anything (e.g. Dell) or, one where you can (but noisy) in a low-low-cal situation, I'll take the latter. However, my 8 MP rear camera crashes on occasion—launching completely blackness and fifty-fifty causing the organization to restart once. Clearly, there are some driver issues that need to be worked out.

The IPS display is really adept. Whites were white and the viewing angle was IPS-worthy. The auto-adapt for effulgence was more aggressive—in a adept mode—compared to other tablets. Brightness is adequate merely the Dell has more juice here.

Buttons are much better than on Lenovo merely non as good every bit the Dell. They clicked, which is keen, but the contour is a footling low. Withal, I can't complain too much. The Encore too has a front-capacitive push for the Windows key. It works, though sometimes I felt I had to press more firmly to get it to register. That may be a practiced thing though, every bit many of you are worried about adventitious firings of that button.

The Encore besides features dual microphones and dual speakers. The speakers are 'ok'. They're loud enough but they lack bass. I haven't tried the microphones but even so and will follow up on that in the shootout side by side week.

The Encore comes preloaded with just a few Toshiba apps, though information technology does have Norton Anti-Virus on board (shudder). Luckily, you lot tin uninstall information technology. It too comes with a free Part 2022 key, like all other Windows eight.ane devices.

Initial Conclusion

Despite the HDMI not working out for me and the rear photographic camera occasionally not launching, both driver problems that presumably could be fixed, the Encore is an interesting device. In theory, I shouldn't similar information technology—it'southward much thicker than the Dell and even heavier. But the rounded edges and chrome accents brand it a looker. Performance is on par with the other tablets, though I'll need to practise some benchmarks for the nitty gritty.

For $329 is it a deal over the Dell? I tin can't see a unmarried reason why information technology would exist. My gut is telling me that the Dell Venue viii Pro will beat the Toshiba in almost every area: price, size, performance and even display. The Dell too support a (mediocre) pen and has an optional page cover. Having said that, I can't say I dislike the Toshiba either. It's a adept device, but there'due south naught amazing nearly information technology either.