The estimated reading time for this post is 8 minutes
With all the new tablets on the market this fall, you may be wondering which best suits your needs. If you’re an avid reader, a parent or an Amazon Prime member, you should take a look at the Kindle Fire HD, Amazon’s best selling product.
The Kindle Fire HD is a 7″ tablet recently launched by Amazon as one of its second generation line of tablets. The first generation Kindle Fire was a lone device, but this generation has no fewer than four devices in the Kindle line up.
Amazon provided me with a Kindle Fire HD for review. As the owner of a Kindle Fire first generation tablet, I found the upgrades to this generation impressive.
Pros
Price
The Kindle Fire HD retains the $199 price of the previous generation Kindle Fire, even though the storage capacity of the device doubled from 8 GB to 16 GB. If you think you’ll be consuming copious quantities of content, you can upgrade to the 32 GB model for $249. Choose your storage space carefully because the space is not expandable with a memory card.
The Fire HD includes ads, called “Special Offers” by Amazon. You can pay $15 extra if you want your Kindle Fire HD to be ad-free.
- $199 – 16 GB with ads
- $214 – 16 GB without ads
- $249 – 32 GB with ads
- $264 – 32 GB without ads
Hardware
In spite of its bargain price, the Kindle Fire HD has impressive hardware. IHS Supply disassembled the Fire HD and determined that Amazon is losing money on each one it sells. In other words, when you get a Kindle Fire HD you’re getting more bang for your buck than you’re paying for. Chances are pretty good though that you will be loading your Fire HD with Amazon content, making Amazon seem more savvy than foolhardy with its pricing model.
Screen
The screen on the Kindle Fire HD, the most expensive component of the tablet according to the IHS report, is significantly improved over the screen on the first generation Fire. When the Fire HD and the first generation Fire are viewed side-by-side, the Fire HD screen has much sharper images and brighter colors than its predecessor. The Fire HD screen is packed with pixels, nearly a third more pixels per inch than the iPad Mini. The Fire HD screen displays HD movies with remarkable clarity.
The screen also has an anti-glare feature, which makes reading and watching videos more enjoyable, and is made of Gorilla glass for durability.
Sound
The Kindle Fire HD has Dolby Digital Plus stereo, which works both when listening to the speakers or through headphones. You won’t mistake this for surround sound, but the quality of sound enhances rather than distracts from the audio experience.
In response to complaints about the first generation Fire, Amazon has added a physical volume button so you can more easily adjust the sound level on the Fire HD.
Camera
The Kindle Fire HD has a front-facing camera you can use with Skype for video chats, though you can’t actually take pictures with it.
Speed
If you have a need for speed with your tablet, the Kindle Fire HD should please you. The tablet boasts internal hardware to stream video, browse the web, switch between apps, and function generally as smooth as, well, silk. The Wi-Fi antennas in the device make downloading content extremely fast, 40% faster than the iPad 3, according to Amazon.
Battery Life
Battery life for gadgets falls into two categories:
surprised that you still have battery
vs.
surprised that you ran out of battery.
The Fire HD landed firmly in my “surprised that I still had battery” category.
Amazon states that the Kindle Fire HD has over 11 hours of battery life, which should be plenty to get you through all but the longest plane flight.
Software
FreeTime
You’re proud that you enhanced your child’s education with digital technology. You look over and see your child doing his homework on his tablet as you go into another room to make dinner, fold laundry, practice your taekwondo, and/or enjoy your favorite book. Suddenly you hear him cry, “Take that, you pig!” Doubtful that Wilbur can elicit such antagonism in Charlotte’s Web, you rush into his room only to discover that your son has just unlocked a new level in Angry Birds Outer Space. Before he proudly posts his accomplishment on his Facebook Timeline, you urge your child to get back to his reading.
Kindle FreeTime lets you restrict use of a Kindle Fire to limited time and/or apps, video and books. You can set daily time limits such as:
- Reading Books: Unlimited
- Using Apps: 30 minutes
- Watching Videos: 1 hour
You can set a user profile for each of your children and adjust the time limits for each child. The settings are password-protected so you child can’t override the settings you choose. You can set up multiple child profiles in the FreeTime app with individual time limits for each child for approved books, apps and videos.
FreeTime gives you control over your children’s use of the tablet, or yourself, in case you’re prone to distractions. If you need to set limits, FreeTime may be the killer feature of this tablet for you.
Immersion Reading
The Kindle Fire HD has Immersion Reading, which highlights words as they’re read in an accompanying audiobook. This feature can help readers focus, improve reading skills and improve pronunciation. See my full review of Immersion Reading: Immersion Reading on Kindle – When You Need Some Extra Focus.
Immersion Reading is only available on the latest generation Kindle Fire tablets.
Whispersync
Kindle’s Whispersync feature, that lets you pick up reading a Kindle book where you left off reading it on another device, has been greatly expanded. In addition to the original Whispersync for Books, Kindle now has:
- Whispersync for Voice, which lets you switch back and forth between Kindle books and Audible audiobooks without losing your place,
- Whispersync for Movies, so you can start watching a movie on your Fire and finish watching it on your TV, and
- Whispersync for Games, so you can put down Angry Birds on one device and pick up where you left off on another device, or delete the game and re-install it with your level saved.
Note that Whispersync for Games only works on the latest model Kindle Fire tablets.
See my full review of Whispersync for Voice: Whispersync for Voice: The Marriage of Kindle and Audible.
X-Ray
The Kindle Fire HD also comes with X-Ray, the ability to find out background information as you read a book or watch a movie. If you’re the type of person who likes to find out where you’ve seen an actor before when you watch a movie, you’ll be a big fan of X-Ray for Movies. This feature lets you access IMDB (Internet Movie Database) information without having to leave the movie or jump between movies in which an actor stars.
X-Ray for Books lets you find other mentions of characters and search terms within a Kindle book. You can jump to other sections of the book or see a list of excerpts where a character appears in the book. You can also access Wikipedia information directly from the book.
Content
Apps
Apps for the Kindle Fire HD are available from the Amazon Appstore, which has both free and paid apps available. Each day, Amazon offers a free app of the day. The Appstore has most of the major apps, such as Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, Trip Advisor, Bad Piggies, Plants vs. Zombies, Spotify, Pandora, Netflix and Hulu+.
Amazon Prime
If you get a Kindle Fire HD, you may want to consider getting an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Prime gives you access to 25,000 free Amazon Instant videos, as well as 180,000 free books from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. You also get free two-day shipping on eligible items without a minimum purchase requirement.
One month of Amazon Prime is free with the purchase of the Kindle Fire HD, after that the cost is $79.
Cons
The cons of the Kindle Fire HD mostly come down to what it doesn’t have. To stick with the $199 price, Amazon had to make some sacrifices, so you have to decide if what you’re getting for the price is more important than what you’re not getting.
Camera
If you’re looking to take pictures on your tablet, then you’ll find the Fire HD lacking. The front-facing camera doesn’t actually take pictures, it only functions with the Skype app for video chats.
GPS
The Fire HD is Wi-Fi only (a cellular data model of the larger Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ tablet is due out later this month), so GPS functions are limited away from Wi-Fi access. Lack of a GPS feature means that you won’t be able to use an app to find your device should your Fire HD become lost or stolen.
Apps
The Kindle Fire HD is limited to the apps in the Amazon Appstore. While most of the major apps are currently available from Amazon, the offerings are nowhere near the number in the iTunes App Store (250,000 iPad apps, 600,000 iPhone apps) or Google Play (500,000).
Bottom Line
The Kindle Fire HD gives you a lot of tablet for the money. You probably will get most of your content from Amazon, but with the enhanced features for reading books and watching movies, you may not feel limited at all.
Does the Kindle Fire appeal to you? Do you like the added features such as FreeTime, Immersion Reading and X-Ray? Let us know in the Comments section below!
Agree.
Unremovable ads on the tablet make it portable TV set.
User becomes product of the tablet maker, which is sold to advertisers.
This is evil. The dark side.
And I hope, I will never see iPad with such an approach.
For Amazon offering lower price for Kindle Fire HD is the matter of grabbing subscriber base.
So as for Google is offering Android for free to HW manufacturers.
This is why they are still able to compete with Apple.
Finally, this is user’s choice, but personally I do not want any ads on my mobile device.
Hi Nikol, Yes, you can pay to remove the ads from a Kindle, if you don’t want to see them. So people who want to see the ads or want to save money can do so, but people who don’t like the ads and are willing to pay to get rid of it can do so as well. You don’t have to choose when you buy the device, you can change your mind later after you use the device.
Hi Carolyn,
I like these and might buy one, eventually. I might need a serious anaesthetic to part with the money! 😉 I went shopping yesterday and my car is in for a service today. Maybe after christmas is out of the way, I’ll think about buying myself a birthday pressie! Incidentally, IMDb is the Internet Movie Database http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Movie_Database IM
I’m really turning into an editor, I can spot a mistake at 50 paces now… 😉
Hi Mike, I knew that! Thanks for catching my slip up.
Happy birthday, Mike. I hope you enjoy your Kindle Fire HD!
Hi Carolyn,
Is there a way to back up the files on your Kindle to your computer? I would guess that there is, but since I have access to an expert I figured I would ask. 😉
Hi Josh, Great question. My answer is two-fold. First, you don’t need to back it up as your content will be from Amazon and everything is backed up at Amazon automatically. Your books, videos and apps will be available from Amazon and your place in the books, videos and apps will be saved as well.
Second, yes, you can back up the content onto your computer. Here is an article with an accompanying video showing you how to back up a Kindle Fire to your computer: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/02/13/how-to-backup-and-erase-your-kindle-fire/
Hi carolyn,
Terrific review, as always 🙂
Looks like a tablet built for pure entertainment!
The only trouble for me is that i need to live in Amazon country to access all the lovely services the tablet offers..sigh..
Hi Adeline, Thank you kindly for your words of praise.
I am sorry that Amazon content isn’t available in your home country. I wish there were a global clearing house for digital rights, but so far that hasn’t happened yet.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Adeline!
I am still tablet-less. I’ve started reading books on my iPhone 5 and I am absolutely in love with Siri. And I use a MacBook Pro…so I don’t really see the need for a tablet device in my life.
My husband, on the other hand, has already signed up for his iPad mini. Perhaps I’ll get his hand-me-down regular-sized iPad.
Hi Ruth, Interesting that you don’t need a tablet. I agree, probably very few people actually need one but you might find yourself hooked after you try one.
I’m so glad to hear you read books on your iPhone 5. I have read books on my iPhone and people think I’m nuts, but it’s easier than it seems. And you always have your phone with you, which is handy. Do you read iBooks, Kindle books or some other type of ebook?
I use iBooks. I love it, for exactly the reason you noted. I always have my phone with me, so if I’m waiting for my meeting to start, if I want to take a quick 15 minute break from work, if I am waiting for my kids to finish lessons somewhere…it’s a pleasure!
Yeah, Ruth. I like iBooks but I tend to get Kindle books so I can have them on all of my devices, including my Kindles. It’s so great to be able to get a few minutes of reading in when you’re stuck waiting somewhere.
Kindle is nice but I am waiting for Nexus to come in the market & see how it is playing the role! 🙂
Hi Zainil, Yes, Nexus tablets are great too. What I like about the Kindle Fire is all of the extra features that you can only get on the Fire tablets, such as FreeTime, Immersion Reading and X-Ray. But you are giving up the freedom of getting apps from Google Play.
My sister has this and she loves this. Sadly, Amazon doesn’t have many facilities this end so I don’t indulge in this. But sounds like an amazing thing to own!
Hi Hajra, I’m so glad to hear that your sister loves her Kindle Fire HD. You’re right, it’s important to have access to a lot of Amazon content to enjoy this tablet fully!
I’ve been lusting after the Kindle Fire for a while, but for now it isn’t in the budget. I didn’t know it did Skype video chatting, which is pretty cool. I love my iPad II and don’t really need a Kindle Fire, but not needing a bit of tech has never been to not buying it.
Hi Brian, Excellent point. All of this tech involves luxuries, not necessities. But that’s true of much of life.
Yes, the front-facing camera is a new feature of this tablet and I predict it will come in very handy for many people. This tablet is small enough to take with you wherever you go so you can use Skype on it wherever you have Wi-Fi access. But that is true for your iPad 2 as well.
Hi Carolyn,
Nice review..!!!
You have clearly explained the pros and cons after reading your review one can easily decide whether to or not buy the tablet.
In my country it is still not available..!!:(
Hi Sneha, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thank you for your kind words. I hope that the Kindle Fire becomes available in your country soon. 🙂
Camerraaaa!! Omigosh, that’s definitely what I need on my Kindle Fire, although what a bummer that it only works with Skype. That seems so weird to me. If there’s a camera, there must be an app we can download that can take advantage of it for picture-taking.
I’ve got the first generation Kindle Fire, so the comparisons were super interesting to me! The coolest feature is the X-Ray software you mentioned. I often exit my book to look up information on the Internet, which can be annoying. =P
Super post, friend! =)
Hi Samantha, Yes, the Kindle Fire HD has a camera and though you can’t take pictures with it, I do believe that having the camera for Skype is a very cool feature. Perhaps next year’s version will have a camera that you can use to shoot photos.
I think the difficulty is that once you add a camera to a device, people want the camera to be, well, good. People don’t care too much about the quality of front-facing cameras, but rear facing ones matter more with their quality. The better the camera is, the more you will have to charge for the device. Amazon has done a good job of keeping the price low.
Once I got this Fire HD, my daughters wanted nothing to do with their first generation Fire. The differences were that significant. The Fire HD is much faster with a better screen. The added features are fantastic as well.
This model is a very tempting upgrade from last year’s model.
Ooh! That’s true about keeping the price down! And knowing that your daughters are all over the Kindle Fire HD has me tempted to upgrade for sure! =)
Quite a good bargain as long as you’re not looking to take pictures or have GPS capabilities. It sounds like Amazon has come up with some pretty attractive apps – like the XRay feature. Thanks for the thorough review!
Hi Elena Anne, Yes, you’re right. This is a lot of tablet for the money. It doesn’t have everything, but it has more than the price should get you.
I think this tablet is especially compelling as a gift for kids. The price is right, the parental controls are advanced, and the focus can be on reading, with apps and video as a bonus.
I had no idea that the Kindle Fire had so many options. I’m so behind the times with things but I’m so glad you keep me informed Carolyn. I would sound like such a dummy if it weren’t for you.
Always on top of things. Yay!!!
~Adrienne
Hi Carolyn,
What an awesome review! A Kindle has been on my “Wishlist” for quite some time but I wasn’t sure which one to get. I kind of liked the original Kindle with the gray background because I thought it was easier on the eyes when you’re reading. But then, I like to watch movies too so I thought a Kindle Fire was nice, but it has that white background and I’m not sure if that wouldn’t be hard on your eyes.
Oh, and how about Netflix? Can you watch Netflix movies on a Kindle? I’m not crazy about spending $79 a months on Amazon Prime to watch movies 😉
Thanks for this awesome review I sure learned a lot!
Ilka
Hi Ilka, I’m so glad you like the review. Yes, you have excellent points. If you’re only going to use your Kindle as a reading device, then an eInk device is the way to go. If you want a more fully-functioning tablet, then the Fire is the way to go. The Fire doesn’t have an eInk screen but you can dim the screen to reduce eye strain.
Good news, the Amazon Appstore has a Netflix app. You don’t get the X-Ray features with Netflix videos though.
Thanks for stopping by today and sharing your thoughts, Ilka!
Carolyn – You have done complete justice for having written such a detailed review of this awesome gadget. As always!!!!!
I am not sure I would want customers to pay for NOT seeing ads, it should have been more of a feature which i can turn on / off as needed.
Amazon prime membership is of course beneficial, and am using it from a few years now. Mainly saving on shipping and time of course.
Hi Praveen, Good point, but I think that Amazon was looking for ways to make their tablet as affordable as possible. Using ads lowers the price which is fine by me. The ads don’t bother me in the least. I actually like them, but I’m a shopper and I enjoy finding out about deals.
Yes, I think Amazon Prime is a super deal. I’ve been a Prime member since I moved back from England. Amazon has never raised the price from $79 in the years since it’s been introduced. I actually joined just for the shipping bargain so getting the videos and the free Kindle books has been a bonus.
Thanks for sharing your insights with us, Praveen!
I do already have the original Kindle Fire but am now finding myself longing for the HD. I wasn’t aware that it had a camera available for Skype conversations which would come in very handy. I find that with my Kindle I do read/purchase books from Amazon much more, which I’m sure fits in nicely with their master plan 😉
Thanks for the review!
Hi Jenks, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I am glad you’re a satisfied Kindle Fire owner, but I can also see how you would want the HD.
I like buying Kindle books because I can read them anywhere. Amazon has done a good job of making the Kindle app available on pretty much any device so you know that you will be able to read your books wherever you are.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Jenks!
This is an awesome review Carolyn. I would probably have bought the Kindle Fire HD if I didn’t already own an iPad.
On the other hand, now, since I’ve bought the 13″ rMBP, I have hardly used the iPad 🙂
Thanks, Jens. I’m glad you enjoyed this review. Yes, this tablet is very impressive. Those who want the apps of the iTunes App Store will enjoy the iPad. But for those who want Amazon content, low price, parental controls and/or enhanced reading features, the Kindle Fire HD is a fantastic choice.
That’s interesting that you are using your rMBP exclusively, Jens. That laptop has been an excellent choice for you! I was at an Apple Store this morning and I saw one and thought of you. I’m glad you’re so pleased with your purchase.
I have yet to see any information that the Fire HD supports GMAIL, Google Calendar, or Google Drive. Those are critical features for me on any device and would be a no-sale if they were not included on the Fire HD
Hi Phillip, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! The Kindle Fire HD supports Gmail and Google calendar through its native apps. Google Drive is unavailable for now.
The Fire is definitely limited with apps, though, so it may not be a good fit for you.
You have written about all, just want to reiterate: love few things about the Kindle Fire. Price, the value Amazon provides (to its Prime members) and the free-time feature.
The device by itself comes nowhere close to an iPad. Neither in sleekness nor in hardware/software. App Strength is limited too.
But got to admire the pricing strategy of Amazon. They reportedly make a loss everytime they sell a Kindle Fire. But its like giving a free shopping cart to people. Because they sell everything under the sun. And via Kindle Fire, they make it one-button-clickable, easily accessible. Hence overall a brilliant strategy to suck people more into the Amazon whirlpool. I won’t be surprised by an Amazon smartphone in near future.
(Besides, we are on Amazon too, and our users love us on Kindle Fire, and we were once “The App Of the Day” on Amazon appstore)
Hi iRewardChart, You make great points. I love your analogy to the Kindle Fire being an Amazon shopping cart. Luckily, Amazon has a lot of inventory so you don’t feel very limited by your shopping cart only working in one store.
It’s great that The Best App Ever! is in the Amazon Appstore. With the innovative parenting features available on the Fire tablets, their customers will be able to make good use of your awesome app!