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Alcatel OneTouch Xess is one huge Android tablet

The 17.3-inch (!) device runs Android, comes with a stylus and supports hand-free gestures.

Xiomara Blanco Associate Editor / Reviews - Tablets and monitors
Xiomara Blanco is an associate editor for CNET Reviews. She's a Bay Area native with a knack for tech that makes life easier and more enjoyable. So, don't expect her to review printers anytime soon.
Xiomara Blanco
2 min read

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Alcatel

You could describe the Alcatel Xess as a hybrid between a tablet and an all-in-one desktop PC. Because it's gigantic: This 17.3-inch device is meant for home use, though its built-in handle might suggest otherwise.

On the back of the Xess is a built-in stand that lets it recline 30, 50 or 70 degrees, so whether you're watching a movie, playing a game or sending an email, you'll have a comfortable angle at your disposal. The stand also doubles as a handle, so if you're spending the weekend at grandma's house, you can easily take it with you. Well, more easily than an all-in-one, anyway.

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Alcatel

It includes a built-in stylus for easy navigating or drawing, using the pre-loaded SketchBook app, and it supports hands-free gesture control. Details are sparse on exactly what gestures it'll recognize, but Alcatel states they eliminate "the need for a touchpad, keyboard or mouse." Though that sounds cool, its lackluster internal specs paint a less impressive picture.

The Alcatel Xess has a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution, which, on a 17.3-inch screen, won't look incredibly sharp or detailed. It runs on Android 5.1 and inside is a 1.5GHz octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot that's expandable up to 64GB. It also has Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0 and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

The specs suggest it's not meant for heavy duty gaming or anything more serious than word processing, though it should be more than capable of playing casual games such as Candy Crush or stream endless YouTube videos. Alcatel has yet to announce pricing or availability for the Xess.