Toshiba has just taken the wraps off of its Android Honeycomb tablet, the Thrive. There will be three versions of the tablet when it debuts in July, starting at $429.
We first saw this tablet back at CES earlier this year and we walked away very impressed. Featuring pretty much any spec you’d expect for a 10.1 inch Honeycomb tablet, the Thrive is a powerful device that may be one of the cheapest Android 3.x tablet available.
One of the most unique features of the Thrive is that it has a replaceable backing so you can change the look and swap out the battery. You’ll be able to purchase these extra backings for $20, and they come in a handful of colors.Other than that, it’s your standard affair, which isn’t a bad thing. The Thrive will give you a 10.1 inch display (1280 x 800), 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, full-sized USB and HDMI ports, SD card slot, and Android 3.1.
The Thrive will be offered in 3 versions, 8GB ($429), 16GB ($479), and 32GB ($579). The tablet may not be as thin or light as the upcoming Galaxy Tab 10.1, but it’s cheaper, has many more ports, and a replaceable battery, so you’ll have to see which is more important to you.
If you like the Toshiba’s offering but wish it was a little smaller, then you may want to keep your eyes peeled for Toshiba’s next tablet that will be out before year’s end. Details are scarce, but we could see a 7 inch or 8.9 inch version of the Thrive that packs a similar punch as its big brother.
Android tablet competition is heating up and as it stands today, Toshiba is in a great place to grab a good amount of users with the Thrive. With a great mix of features and pricing, the Thrive should do well. You can pre-order the tablet at Best Buy starting on June 13th, and is expected to ship in Early July.
[Via: ThisIsMyNext]