Priced at $199 and coming with a 7-inch display, the Kindle Fire HD tablet makes the list of budget tablets on the market today. Most would see this device as a remodeled Fire given the creeping rivalry within the budget tablet space. From the features included, it is clear that Amazon is simply upgrading in order to ward off the stiffening competition that comes from Google Nexus and Apple iPad tablets.
Features and Performance
The Kindle Fire HD 7” tablet has an underlying Android 4.0 operating system on which users can side-load Android apps provided they have the appropriate tools. The device is Amazon’s first to have WWAN and GPS connectivity. Thanks to its MIMO hardware, the device is one of the few that have the fastest WLAN speeds in the market today. When it comes to connectivity, this tablet has a micro HDMI output as well as a micro-USB port which is considered to be a standard feature for any tablet.
The resolution of the tab is fairly good for a tablet priced at $200. With 1280×800 pixels, reading and watching media on this device becomes comfortable and enjoyable. In addition to this improvement, software performance has also been tweaked on the Kindle Fire HD 7” Tablet so that scrolling and animations are smoother and much quicker compared to the original Kindle Fire.
Pros
With the Kindle Fire HD 7” Tablet, you will find it easy buying media and using it in a presentable and uncomplicated way.
It has an excellent display of 1280×800 pixels, which is a good ability to display beautiful colors with little glare and a remarkably wide viewing angle.
For the first time, the Amazon Kindle is not just focusing on downloading and reading many electronic books. This device acts as a window onto wider multimedia content such as games, music, apps and films.
Cons
It is not as physically appealing as some of the rival tablets are (namely, Apple). The cheap rubberized back plate and the thick bezels make it look like a bit generic. Unlike the Kindle Paperwhite, the Kindle Fire HD 7” does not really blend into the background while in use. It is a bit uncomfortable to hold in one hand especially when you are using it for long periods. We also didn’t like the plethora of advertisements given to the user. We were given the option of a (paid) opt-out, but we’re not sure paying to opt OUT of advertisements is the best customer service on Amazon’s part.
Conclusion
The Kindle Fire HD 7” is certainly competitive because it offers a good price and specifications that are great for tablets of its kind. For people who already familiar with other brands of tablets, they may find adjusting to the Kindle Fire HD 7” relatively easy, given the standard functions. However, those used to the “Home” button on Apple products may require a bit of a learning curve. If you can get past all of the advertisements, this is a great little device (at less than 1/2 the price of some competitors).
