1080p is old news. Ultrabook resolution is about to get crazy, and the first ultra-resolution-ultrabook to hit the market is this pint-sized powerhouse from Toshiba, which packs 2560 x 1440 pixels into a 13.3-inch screen, a first for a machine of this size.
Before you start sharpening your knives, let's acknowledge that, yes, Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display has even higher resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels. But the Mac isn't an ultrabook, weighing 3.6 pounds, versus just 2.8 pounds for the Toshiba KIRABook. While talk of a Retina-enabled MacBook Air has been rampant for months (and can't be far from coming to fruition), for now it's stuck far behind the pack with just 1440 x 900 pixels of resolution.
To be sure, the screen on the KIRABook is to-die-for gorgeous. And Toshiba is surely hoping you will slobber over the display and cause the price tag to smear in the process. The KIRABook – if you're ready for this one – starts at $1,600. Starts at. Fully equipped, as our review unit was, it hits $2,000. The $1,600 version doesn't even include a touchscreen.
Toshiba has spared no expense. Jamming a Core i7 CPU into an ultrabook is no easy feat, but Toshiba has accomplished this, packing in as well a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM. Connectivity covers the basics, with three USB ports (all 3.0, one chargeable), HDMI, and an SD card slot. Performance is top-notch, as expected, although the integrated graphics strictly limit any gaming you might be considering.
Design-wise, Toshiba has taken great pains to clean up its often clunky aesthetic with a streamlined, minimal-frills approach to the ultrabook. With rounded edges and brushed aluminum all around, it's even devoid of status lights save a glowing ring around the power button and a tiny LED indicating whether Wi-Fi is enabled. Keyboard backlighting is effective and minimally leaky, and Toshiba has even painted the interior of the USB 3.0 ports black. They're normally blue, but the company says the splash of color would clash with the design.
I only had a few complaints with the KIRA, the most notable being the fan, which emits an extremely grating, high-pitched whine when the machine is under load. That rarely happens, typically occuring only when you're trying to do anything graphical. Otherwise, the laptop tends to run quietly and smoothly.
The other issue, which is not overly easy to ignore, is the matter of the price tag. At two grand — yow — it's the most expensive ultrabook I've ever seen, by a considerable margin. And try as I might, I haven't been able to convince myself that it's worth it, despite the high-res screen and excellent performance. Maybe you've got a thicker wallet than I do, but I feel broke just reviewing it.
WIRED Best resolution screen available for an ultrabook, period. Lightweight yet powerful, with better-than-average battery life. Responsive touchscreen and trackpad. Handsome and sturdy, yet demure.
TIRED Touchscreen could be brighter. Fan could be quieter. Ultra-flat keys not overly friendly for touch typing. Ungodly costly.
