Alcatel's 17-inch Xess tablet will be available online starting April 22 for $499

Alcatel's 17-inch Xess tablet will finally be available to purchase online starting April 22 for $499. The tablet is aimed at being a kitchen accessory, with partnerships that pre-load it with recipe apps, Nickelodeon content and more. Xess tablets that are sold in the U.S. will include a free IP camera that can be placed in a nursery or kids room so you can keep tabs on them while not in the same area of the house.

Some of the key features of the Xess tablet include:

  • Immersive 17.3-inch Full-HD display for a more brilliant viewing experience
  • Dual 3-watt speakers featuring JBL Audio® for a high-fidelity home audio experience
  • All-day battery life with a 9600mAh battery and magnetic quick release charger so you never have to worry about tripping over cords
  • Portable design and adjustable stand for use anywhere in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home
  • Powered by a 1.5 GHz MediaTek Octa-Core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (supports up to 64GB of additional MicroSD expandable storage)

You can find additional information about the partnerships and pre-loaded apps below.

Press release:

MEET THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF HOME SIMPLICITY: XESS

Designed to bring more engaging experiences to the home, the 17-inch Xess is the perfect kitchen accessory with pre-loaded recipe applications and other partner content

IRVINE, Calif. – April 7, 2016 – Alcatel - the number four mobile phone manufacturer in North America[i] - today announced a new device category in partnership with the TCL brand, with the North American launch of Xess. Initially unveiled at CES in January, Xess is purpose built to be the perfect 17-inch accessory for the kitchen, whether it's for discovering and creating new meals via the pre-loaded recipe applications, accessing Nickelodeon content, such as PAW Patrol for kids, or catching up on the latest news and entertainment. Xess will be available for early-access purchase beginning on April 22 for the online exclusive price of $499 USD.

"We've been committed as a company to expanding the reach of our consumer technology and how it can bring better experiences and value to the lives of our customers, and with Xess, we're delivering a meaningful connected kitchen hub that allows users to access more of the content they want and need, "said Steve Cistulli, President and General Manager for Alcatel, North America. "By bringing Xess to North America with the TCL brand, we leveraged their consumer electronics expertise with Alcatel's proven record of bringing the perfect amount of mobile technology to our customers at affordable prices. This also allows us the opportunity to work with new partners like Viacom, and others to bring valuable content to our customers."

"Through this partnership with Alcatel we are leveraging the power and reach of the Nickelodeon brand and our beloved IP, to connect kids and families with a seamless entertainment experience on the Xess that will greatly improve the time they spend together," said Pam Kaufman, Chief Marketing Officer and President of Consumer Products, Nickelodeon.

Every Xess sold in North America will also come with an in-box IP camera, perfect for keeping an eye on the nursery, playroom or living room. The Xess launcher also comes with a dedicated IP camera portal, so parents can be at ease and keep a lookout on their kids while working in the kitchen or another room in their home where they may have Xess setup. The real star of Xess though is the content you have access to from partners like Viacom and others to be named later.

Nickelodeon content just for kids at families' fingertips Xess truly is made for families, right down to providing easy access to content from Nickelodeon, a Viacom media network, that includes hit shows such as TV's number-one preschool series, PAW Patrol, and the award-winning Nick App, as well as the Noggin App. With this partnership, kids are able to have direct access to Nick branded content with ease, and thanks to Xess's Android software, parents are also able to download additional content for their kids, like educational games, directly from the Google Play Store.

Discover, plan and prepare great meals Planning meals is a whole lot easier with Xess thanks to pre-loaded recipe applications to find new recipes and cooking how-to videos for your favorite meals; making meal discovery and planning simple and something the whole family can take part in. Preparing those new meals is a breeze as well, with step-by-step how-to videos to help along the way and integrated shopping applications pre-loaded on Xess, allowing users to order groceries easily through these apps.

Xess Key Features Include:

  • Immersive 17.3-inch Full-HD display for a more brilliant viewing experience
  • Dual 3-watt speakers featuring JBL Audio® for a high-fidelity home audio experience
  • All-day battery life with a 9600mAh battery and magnetic quick release charger so you never have to worry about tripping over cords
  • Portable design and adjustable stand for use anywhere in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home
  • Powered by a 1.5 GHz MediaTek Octa-Core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (supports up to 64GB of additional MicroSD expandable storage)

For more information on Xess, please visit Alcatel's website.

Jared DiPane
Jared started off writing about mobile phones back when BlackBerry ruled the market, and Windows Mobile was kinda cool. Now, with a family, mortgage and other responsibilities he has no choice but to look for the best deals, and he's here to share them with you.