By We’d heard Amazon would be looking to update the Kindle Fire line with some new tablets, and the news has finally been made official. Amazon is announcing the new Kindle Fire HD, and a new class of Fire — dubbed the Kindle Fire HDX.
Kindle Fire HD
The former is the base model that Amazon will be pushing to those who want an affordable device that can access all of Amazon’s various services (such as video, Kindle eBooks, shopping, music, and more).
For just $139 (8GB model with offers), you’ll get the following specs:
- 7-inch 1280×800 display
- Dual-core 1.5GHz processor (60% faster than the original)
- 8GB or 16GB of internal storage
- Dual stereo speakers
- Dual-band WiFi
- 10 hours of battery life (mixed use)
- Fire OS 3.0 “Mojito” (based on Android)
“Two years ago, we revolutionized the tablet industry with the breakthrough $199 price point for tablets—now we’re doing it again with the$139 price point,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. This puts it right up against Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite in the pricing arena, an e-ink reader that doesn’t do nearly as much as the Fire line has been able to do.
Pricing here is a little less confusing to swallow, with only a few options to consider. Alongside the aforementioned baseline price of $139, you can get the 16GB model with offers for $169, the 8GB model without offers for $154, and the 16GB model without offers for $184.
Kindle Fire HDX 7″ and 8.9″
Since the HD line has now become standard for the baseline Kindle Fire models, Amazon had to find a new name for the tablets they’re bringing to the high-end of the spectrum. It’s the Kindle Fire HDX, and it comes in both 7-inch and 8.9-inch flavors.
Both models are nearly the same, though the 1920 x 1200 resolution on the 7-inch model is bested by the 2560 x 1600 on the 8.9-inch. Beyond that, both share a lot of the same characteristics:
- Quad-Core 2.2 GHz processor
- Dual Stereo Speakers
- Dual-band, dual antenna MIMO WiFi
- Optional 4G LTE with AT&T or Verizon
- 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage
However, there are some other differences. The 7-inch model only has a front-facing camera, while the 8.9-inch’s model’s front camera is joined by an 8 megapixel rear camera. The battery life is also a bit different, with Amazon promising 11 hours of mixed usage on the 7-inch model and 12 hours of use on the 8.9-inch (17 hours and 18 hours when reading, respectively).
HDX Pricing
The HDX starts at $230, though that’s for the ad-supported 7-inch 16GB WiFi-only version Amazon likes to sell to keep costs down. There are a lot of different price points to take heed to, though, so let’s jump right into them:
7-inch HDX WiFi-only
- With offers – 16GB for $229, 32GB for $269, 64GB for $309
- Without offers – 16GB for $244, 32GB for $284, 64GB for $324
7-inch HDX WiFi + 4G
- With offers – 16GB for $329, 32GB for $369, 64GB for $409
- Without offers – 16GB for $344, 32GB for 384, 64GB for $424
8.9-inch HDX WiFi-only
- With offers – 16GB for $379, 32GB for $429, 64GB for $479
- Without offers – 16GB for $394, 32GB for $444, 64GB for $494
8.9-inch HDX WiFi + 4G
- With offers – 16GB for $479, 32GB for $529, 64GB for $579
- Without offers – 16GB for $494, 32GB for $544, 64GB for $594
Availability / Pre-order
Whew, that was a lot. There’s something here for everyone, so be sure to think long and hard about which one fits your needs and head to Amazon to place your order. They’re currently up for pre-order, with the Kindle Fire HD said to be launching October 2nd.
As for the the HDX 7-inch‘s earliest known date of availability, it’s October 18th for WiFi and November 14th for 4G. The HDX 8.9 is listed for November 7th with WiFi and December 10th with 4G LTE. Be sure to click the respective links above to be taken to their product pages, where you can then select which exact version you’re opting for. In for one?
No pictures?
There are pictures in the post.
I mean like different angle shots, similar to hands-on I guess.
Until Amazon gets them in journalists’ hands, it will be difficult for them to take hands-on pictures of them.
Holy Bezels, Batman!
No different than the Nexus 7 & 10 bezels.
I know. More people bitched about those than this atrocity because this has an s800. No thank you.
Call me crazy, but I kinda like them. Maybe it the symmetry that gets me.
So, you want your fingers to cover the screen while you watch/read?
The extra area means more space for the internals and a less dense, heavy feeling overall.
Perhaps you intend to never hold the device while using it.
I was mocking the people who mocked the Nexus 7 :
Hmm my Nook Tablet is starting to feel dated after 2 years and on top of that I need something that will support streaming 1080p 5.1 surround sound 10+gb mkv movie files over DLNA which the nook chokes on badly it can barely handle 720p. Its fine if the tablet downmixes to stereo tho so that is no problem since I would probably be using headphones. On top of that the 7inch screen is a tad small for me so I am looking at the 8.9inch tablets which in this case is the Kindle Fire HDX sence the hd doesn’t come in the 8.9inch size. Wondering if the 16gb 8.9 inch with wifi only would be able to handle my needs. I also use the nook for reading which not not a big deal for these things.
What is w/o offers mean? no advertising?
Thanks!
You are correct.
Hmm.. Looks pretty tasty. Makes the new Nexus look slow with this things Quad core CPU but there is no mention as to WHO’s quad core and is there a Video out?
I know that sounds old fashion but I have been in hotels where having an HDMI out that is a great feature to have with 57 channels and nothing on. I am solving the limited space problem with my own device..
since amazon purchased texas instruments i would assume they would continue to use the ti omap in some variation
I read on Engadget that its the Snapdragon 800. If it is I am in. It will lack that HDMI out that much I have confirmed from reading different sites.
TI is NOT owned by Amazon. Never has been. Probably never will be.
October 2012 amazon was in talks to purchase the arm based chip division of texas instruments, I thought the deal went through. I might be wrong about that. Never will be is a strong wording.
I really want an 8-9″ tablet with a Qualcomm S800 like this but I need an unlockable bootloader. =( Surely, a more developer friendly OEM will come out with one soon.
This thing will have Kitkat on it in no time :)
I don’t buy locked devices. I’d rather vote with my money.
I’ll buy anything I can unlock :P
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