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Kindle Fire HD review

7.6/10 AVG.
RATING
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Kindle Fire HD
Kindle Fire HD
Kindle Fire HD
Kindle Fire HD
Kindle Fire HD
Kindle Fire HD
Kindle Fire HD
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7.6/10
Informr score
The Kindle Fire HD currently has an Informr score of 7.6 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 32 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The Amazon Kindle Fire HD is a new and improved version of the original Kindle Fire, and as its name suggests, comes fitted with a high-definition screen. The display is 7 inches across with native 1280x800 resolution and is comfortably sized for navigating the menus and apps of its Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

Apart from its upgraded screen and software, there are a number of other improvements from its predecessor. Most notable perhaps a the built-in 1 megapixel camera on the front, which with a few minor tweaks, can be used to record videos. Other features include HDMI-out, Bluetooth, and of course Wi-Fi connectivity. Battery life is rated at 11 continuous hours of reading time per charge, enough for most people.

Its clear the Fire HD is not designed for high end device aficionados. Rather, it's a no-frills mobile computer that serves as a portal to Amazon's catalog of books, movies and music. We can't argue that its a great buy for those of you using Amazon's services extensively or for those wanting an affordable entertainment device. There are however more versatile tablets available in the same price range such as Google's Nexus 7.

Need to Know: Amazon Kindle Fire HD

1. High-resolution 1280x800 7-inch IPS touchscreen display helps make the most of default software. (The Good)

2. Default operating system is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. (The Good)

3. Users will not be able to upgrade to later versions of Android (i.e. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean). (The Bad)

4. Provides less value for money than other notable 7-inch Android tablets like the Google Nexus 7. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
7"
Yes
Camera
Camera
Yes
4400 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile

Overall, the Kindle Fire HD is a mixed bag of tricks. It looks great, is very cost-effective, and generally performs adequately at most tasks. For us though the UI was just too busy – it tries to do too much and doesn’t deliver a very coherent experience.It’s also far too focused on getting you to b...

- Richard Goodwin, Know Your Mobile
SlashGear
SlashGear

If you’re deeply invested in the Amazon universe for content, this device is the best content delivery system you’re going to be able to buy today. It’s the biggest tablet Amazon makes at the moment and gives you access to all of your Amazon-held content in high definition, top to...

- Chris Burns, SlashGear
What Hi-Fi
What Hi-Fi

The Kindle Fire HD definitely hits more than it misses. The tablet offers good value and a pleasing user experience so it’s definitely worth an audition, even with the iPad mini and Nexus 7 as serious rivals.

- What Hi-Fi team, What Hi-Fi
Android Central
Android Central

If you're after a 7in tablet that's very easy to use, you don't need GPS and don't want to stretch your budget to £200, the Kindle Fire HD is a good buy. However, although Google's Nexus 7 has half the storage for the same price, it's more versatile and has a better range of apps and games and...

- Jim Martin, Android Central
The Inquirer
The Inquirer

Amazon's tablet is a great buy for Kindle fans, has some handy features for business users and is certainly well-priced. But it's let down by sluggish performance and an unintuitive interface.

- Madeline Bennett, The Inquirer


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Quick view

Screen Size
7"

The Kindle Fire HD's screen size is 7 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

There is a Dual-core OMAP4460 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
Yes
There is a front-facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.
Storage
16/32 GB

Internal memory is 16/32 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
4400mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 4400 mAh battery. Amazon's performance ratings are 11 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Kindle Fire HD Specs

Overview
Release Date September 14, 2012
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System No

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Processor Dual-core OMAP4460 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included Data Cable, Manual
Cellular
Networks
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
No
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
Infrared No
Bluetooth Yes
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
No
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel density Unknown
Size 7 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive Touchscreen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 4400 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 4 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 11 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 19.3 x 13.7 x 1.0 cm (7.6 x 5.4 x 0.4 in)
Weight 395 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Unknown
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: No
TV Out Info: HDMI
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, MP4, AAC, AMR-WB, WAV, OGG
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Wi-fi Encryption: WEP/WPA/WPA2
Viewable document types: AZW, BMP, DOC, DOCX, GIF, JPG, PDF, TXT
Games: Yes
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock

Other Names (AKA): Kindle Fire HD 7"

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