The new Kindle tablets have been announced (kinda weird to have a night announcement). There are 3 new tablets, a budget version and two high end versions.
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/25/47...ablets-preview
Kindle Fire HDX 7 and 8.9
7 inch 1920x1200 323 DPI display
8.9 inch 2560x1600 339 DPI display
2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 quad core processor
2GB of RAM
16, 32, or 64GB storage options
8MP rear camera on 8.9 inch model only
front camera on both models
LTE models available for $100 more
7 inch 303 gram, 8.9 inch 374 grams
Fire HDX 7 starts at $230 (+$40 for each storage bump)
Fire HDX 8.9 starts at $380 (+$50 for each storage bump)
The last generation Kindle Fire HD tablets has good looking displays, great speakers and wifi. But the CPU was pretty low end and made the tablet kinda sluggish. Though I still used a Kindle Fire HD for over half a year instead of the Nexus 7 because overall I liked it more. This new Fire really improves big time on that weak link with a major CPU upgrade. They say this CPU will be 3 times faster than the TI OMAP 4, I'm sure that's easily accurate if not being modest.
Amazon didn't jump on the super slim portrait bezel bandwagon that Apple and Google are riding. The Fire HDX has equal sized bezels all around, but the bezels are a bit smaller. I prefer the Nexus 7/iPad mini bezel design myself, but some people prefer equal sized bezels. I like the super slim portrait bezels because it makes wrapping your hand around the tablet while reading in portrait mode more comfortable. And kinda surprised Amazon hasn't gone this way yet.
The Fire HDX also lost weight, it's down to 303 grams. Still a little heavier than the Nexus 7 2013, but now it's only a 13 gram difference (used to be a more noticeable 55 gram difference).
This time around the 7 and 8.9 inch models are very similar in specs. During the previous generation the 7 inch used a slightly slower TI OMAP than the 8.9 inch, I could tell the difference. Now they are both using the same Snapdragon 800 at 2.2GHz. The differences this time besides screen size is the 8.9 inch model gets an 8MP camera and the 7 inch model doesn't. I think it seems weird the larger bulkier tablet gets the camera and the smaller more portable tablet doesn't.
There is also a $150 price difference between the two size models for just a larger screen and camera. That seems a bit extreme. Last year there was only a $100 price difference and the 7 inch model was using a lower end CPU. So I'm a little disappointed with the 8.9 inch pricing. Also the 8.9 inch model costs $50 for each storage bump ($50 more for 32GB, $100 more for 64GB), while the 7 inch model, using the very same memory costs $40 for each storage bump. So a 7 inch 64GB model costs $310 while an 8.9 inch 64GB model costs $480 or a $170 price difference. I guess Amazon isn't getting as good of a price on the 8.9 inch 2560x1600 displays or something, not sure if anyone else is making a tablet with this display, so that might be the case.
I have a Nexus 7 2013, so I kinda wanted the 8.9 inch model, but it seems a bit overpriced compared to the 7 inch model (I don't need a camera on a tablet). So I pre-ordered a 32GB 7 inch HDX.
Almost forgot the budget tablet.
"New" Kindle Fire HD
7 inch 1280x800 216 DPI
1.5GHz dual core (I'm guessing it's the same TI OMAP 4 in the old Fire HD)
RAM not mentioned, but guessing 1GB
8GB or 16GB storage
345 grams
Starting at $139
Not sure if the "New" Kindle Fire HD is any better than the current Kindle Fire HD. That decreased the storage options to be able to sell it cheaper. Looks like the wifi got a downgrade as well (MIMO is gone). It's also a bit lighter at 345 grams vs 395 grams of the original Fire HD.
http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/25/47...ablets-preview
Kindle Fire HDX 7 and 8.9
7 inch 1920x1200 323 DPI display
8.9 inch 2560x1600 339 DPI display
2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 quad core processor
2GB of RAM
16, 32, or 64GB storage options
8MP rear camera on 8.9 inch model only
front camera on both models
LTE models available for $100 more
7 inch 303 gram, 8.9 inch 374 grams
Fire HDX 7 starts at $230 (+$40 for each storage bump)
Fire HDX 8.9 starts at $380 (+$50 for each storage bump)
The last generation Kindle Fire HD tablets has good looking displays, great speakers and wifi. But the CPU was pretty low end and made the tablet kinda sluggish. Though I still used a Kindle Fire HD for over half a year instead of the Nexus 7 because overall I liked it more. This new Fire really improves big time on that weak link with a major CPU upgrade. They say this CPU will be 3 times faster than the TI OMAP 4, I'm sure that's easily accurate if not being modest.
Amazon didn't jump on the super slim portrait bezel bandwagon that Apple and Google are riding. The Fire HDX has equal sized bezels all around, but the bezels are a bit smaller. I prefer the Nexus 7/iPad mini bezel design myself, but some people prefer equal sized bezels. I like the super slim portrait bezels because it makes wrapping your hand around the tablet while reading in portrait mode more comfortable. And kinda surprised Amazon hasn't gone this way yet.
The Fire HDX also lost weight, it's down to 303 grams. Still a little heavier than the Nexus 7 2013, but now it's only a 13 gram difference (used to be a more noticeable 55 gram difference).
This time around the 7 and 8.9 inch models are very similar in specs. During the previous generation the 7 inch used a slightly slower TI OMAP than the 8.9 inch, I could tell the difference. Now they are both using the same Snapdragon 800 at 2.2GHz. The differences this time besides screen size is the 8.9 inch model gets an 8MP camera and the 7 inch model doesn't. I think it seems weird the larger bulkier tablet gets the camera and the smaller more portable tablet doesn't.
There is also a $150 price difference between the two size models for just a larger screen and camera. That seems a bit extreme. Last year there was only a $100 price difference and the 7 inch model was using a lower end CPU. So I'm a little disappointed with the 8.9 inch pricing. Also the 8.9 inch model costs $50 for each storage bump ($50 more for 32GB, $100 more for 64GB), while the 7 inch model, using the very same memory costs $40 for each storage bump. So a 7 inch 64GB model costs $310 while an 8.9 inch 64GB model costs $480 or a $170 price difference. I guess Amazon isn't getting as good of a price on the 8.9 inch 2560x1600 displays or something, not sure if anyone else is making a tablet with this display, so that might be the case.
I have a Nexus 7 2013, so I kinda wanted the 8.9 inch model, but it seems a bit overpriced compared to the 7 inch model (I don't need a camera on a tablet). So I pre-ordered a 32GB 7 inch HDX.
Almost forgot the budget tablet.
"New" Kindle Fire HD
7 inch 1280x800 216 DPI
1.5GHz dual core (I'm guessing it's the same TI OMAP 4 in the old Fire HD)
RAM not mentioned, but guessing 1GB
8GB or 16GB storage
345 grams
Starting at $139
Not sure if the "New" Kindle Fire HD is any better than the current Kindle Fire HD. That decreased the storage options to be able to sell it cheaper. Looks like the wifi got a downgrade as well (MIMO is gone). It's also a bit lighter at 345 grams vs 395 grams of the original Fire HD.