Toshiba announces new range of Kira Ultrabooks

Toshiba has announced a new range of its Kira Ultrabooks, marking the first time the company’s flagship ultraportable has been available in Europe with multiple specifications. The 13.3in laptop retains its predecessor’s sleek, metallic design, but will be available with a variety of different processors, including all the way up to Intel’s new 5th generation of Core i7 Broadwell processors. This should not only give the laptop more power, but also a longer lasting battery, with Toshiba claiming the new Kira will be able to last up to 13 hours of continuous use if you opt for the Full HD model.

For those that an even higher resolution, the Kira will also be available with a ‘PixelPure’ 2,560×1,440 resolution display which uses an IGZO panel. These panels traditionally produce much more accurate colours than rival IPS screens, and Toshiba says that all Kira models will be calibrated by Chrome True, which comes pre-installed on the laptop, and certified by Technicolour for truly accurate, as intended colour reproduction. 

The ‘PixelPure’ model also comes with Corning Concore glass for extra protection from scratches and has full ten-point touch support. While Toshiba says its IGZO panel will help contribute toward the laptop’s overall battery life, its estimates are a little lower than the Full HD version, clocking in at a claimed 10.45 hours. We’ll have to wait and see whether these figures hold true once we’ve put it through our own battery benchmarks, but even if these figures are a little generous, it should hopefully last longer than the original Kira, which only managed just under 7 hours in our battery life benchmarks. 

The Full HD version, meanwhile, has a non-glare finish and a claimed brightness of 300nit, making it better for working on outdoors or under bright overhead lighting. This model will also benefit from the ChromaTrue software, as this comes built-in on all Kira models. 

Elsewhere, the new Kira will have Harmon Kardon speakers with DTS Studio Sound processing technology, three USB3 ports, an HDMI output that can output in Ultra HD, an SD card reader and a combined headphone and microphone jack. Graphics will be provided by Intel’s HD Graphics 5500 and the laptop will have 8GB of RAM. Storage-wise, you’ll be able to choose from a range of specifications up to a 256GB SSD. The Full HD model will weigh 1.1kg and measure 316 x 207 x 7.6-17.9mm, while the ‘PixelPure’ verison will weigh 1.32kg and measure 316 x 207 x 9.5-19.8mm. 

The new Toshiba Kira range will be available in the UK shortly, with the ‘PixelPure’ model hitting shop shelves first in the first quarter of 2015, and the Full HD version following shortly after in the second quarter of 2015. We’ll bring you our final verdict as soon as we get our hands on a review sample.