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Amazon's two Bargain Fire Tablets – How good is the 7" model and how do they Compare? (And note sound quality limitations)
on June 9, 2017
Amazon has just updated their bargain priced Fire tablets. While these latest models are only slightly better than the preceding generation, I believe that they still represent the absolute best value tablet on the market. It’s still hard for me to adjust to the fact that a tablet device can now be purchased for just fifty bucks, and it’s such a good all-around performer (for the most part)!I purchased both the 7" and 8" Fire models because I wanted to see how they compared, and I was curious how they performed. They are both shown in the video attached to this review. I will focus here on the 7" model, to try to help the potential buyer decide whether or not the more expensive 8" Fire tablet is worth the extra money (and if the 7" model is worth purchasing on its own merits).
I've given this 7" model a 4-star rating after further consideration and largely because of the very mediocre quality sound output (see detailed comments below). It is still a terrific bargain at the price, but I do want to be clear that it is not ideal for all uses.
SUMMARY
- These new models represent minimal changes compared to the previous generation Fire tablets:
--- Same display specs as before (Amazon says the 7” model has an improved display), same processors (1.3 GHz quad-core but a newer model that is probably slightly faster in operation), same standard and available storage (7” 8 or 16 GB; 8” 16 or 32 GB)
--- New colors
--- the 8” model is $10 cheaper
--- the 7” model now has dual band wi-fi (previously single band wi-fi) for better connectivity
--- Kids edition now available for both models (previously only the 7” model). Note that the Kids edition is only sold with the higher storage (7” – 16 GB; 8” – 32 GB)
--- both models can use up to 256 GB microSDXC expansion storage (previously max 128 GB for 7”)
--- both models offer Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant at the touch of a button
--- both models are physically the same size as previously but slightly lighter – the 8” has lost 1 oz of weight, the 7” is 0.6 oz lighter
- BOTH 7” and 8” MODELS are suitable for:
--- web surfing using Amazon’s Silk browser
--- watching streaming movies or TV shows **
--- listening to music **
--- reading Kindle books (the 7” is roughly the same size as a Kindle)
--- playing games and other apps (within the limitation of Amazon's own ecosystem)
--- Kid use – both offer the ability to set up child accounts with restricted access
--- ** note comments below regarding sound quality and volume, particularly for the 7" model
- IN ADDITION, THE 8” FIRE HAS:
--- slightly larger and higher quality display (but I found both displays to be essentially equivalent in quality)
--- larger standard storage (16 GB vs 8 GB)
--- better sound – Dolby audio, stereo (7” has mono speaker) **
--- larger battery / longer life between charges (Amazon states up to 12 hours, vs up to 8 hrs for the 7”)
--- ** note comments below regarding sound quality and volume, particularly for the 7" model
- WHAT DON’T THEY DO AND WHAT ARE THEIR LIMITATIONS?
--- Neither model will display 1080p video
--- camera specs are poor compared to most current phone and higher priced tablets, so don’t expect high resolution photos
--- Sound quality and volume ability is a limitation - see next paragraph
--- With limited built in storage, they both rely upon the expansion slot to store larger amounts of photos, videos, or music. Responsiveness using memory from the expansion slot is not quite the same as with a tablet that has greater hard wired storage built-in
--- All Fire models are limited to using Amazon’s own Silk web browser, which is less flexible than the regular Chrome or Firefox browsers that can be used on regular Android or Apple tablets
- THE SOUND QUALITY AND MAXIMUM VOLUME CAPABILITY IS A WEAK POINT
--- Accepting the fact that these are very low cost tablets, they do offer the ability to listen to videos and music and so the built-in speakers will be relied upon by many users. In my opinion the most significant difference between these two Fire models, aside from the screen size, is the difference in sound quality. But I first want to say that neither model has the ability to provide much volume of sound, even at the very highest setting. This is a disappointment.
--- The 7" Fire has a single speaker located on the rear of the device, near the bottom. It is weak and produces a very low quality sound. Also, depending on how you are holding the tablet, or if you're using a case to hold it in landscape or portrait mode, the speaker could be covered and even further muffled.
--- The 8" HD Fire has better quality sound - two stereo speakers located on the side, positioned so that they will be at the top when the tablet is supported in landscape mode. It also has better sound processing ('Dolby Atmos'), and the sound quality is noticeably better than the 7". Still, the maximum volume capability is modest.
--- Bottom line - if you plan to use either model for listening to music or videos, then ear pods or headphones or an external speaker is probably going to be necessary in order to get satisfactory sound. Sound quality is not going to be something owners of these small Fire tablets will be bragging about.
- MY IMPRESSIONS OF BOTH MODELS AND HOW THEY COMPARE
I purchased both models and illustrate them side by side in my video. They’re obviously very similar in feel and appearance, and the quality is excellent. I also like the matching Amazon cases that protect the screen when not in use and prop the tablet in either landscape or portrait orientation to make it easy to set it on a table to read or watch videos. The cases work exactly the same for both sizes.
The display is the most obvious difference – not only size, but the slightly greater display content and resolution. At least that is what the Amazon specs suggest, but to my eyes they are both pretty much the same. I did find that the 7" model seemed to have a slightly brighter display, and the 'whiteness' of the display also seemed to be better.
The other difference I wanted to evaluate was the sound quality, since the 7" model has only a single speaker and the 8" model has two (stereo) speakers with Dolby sound processing. For anyone using this tablet for watching videos or listening to music, I thought that would be an important difference.
What I found, as also mentioned elsewhere in this review and with respect to the sound quality, was that the limited volume ability of the built-in speakers makes ear pods or headphones or the use of an external speaker almost mandatory. If those considerations are acceptable, then the higher price of the 8" model is probably well worthwhile for users who will use the table very much to listen to music or videos.
For reading Kindle books or those who prefer the smaller and lighter size, the 7” model is just great (either model is fine, really).
By comparison, the latest small iPad mini has a 7.0” display and is roughly between the 7” and 8” Fire tablets in size (width and height), quite a bit thinner, and about the same weight as the 7” Fire. It’s considerably more powerful and has 128 GB storage standard, but think about it – you can purchase eight 7” Fire tablets for the price of a single iPad mini today! That is really a striking difference.
FURTHER THOUGHTS
These two models are the 7th generation Amazon Fire tablet – the first generation was introduced in November, 2011 as the Kindle Fire, offering the same screen size and resolution but a considerably less powerful processor, and selling for $199. Along the way they’ve offered models of various sizes and specifications, and for a short time (generations 3 and 4) their Fire models included the more sophisticated (and expensive) Fire HDX model that may have been intended to be a more direct competitor to Apple’s iPad.
Then, in September 2015, Amazon introduced the $49.99 Fire 7, and since that time it seems that they’ve been happy to offer these bargain priced tablets that do everything that most people really need on a day-to-day basis. They make great Kids tablets, too, particularly the ‘Kids Edition’ models that come with the more protective case and 2-year replacement guarantee, just in case your kid drops it in the, ah, swimming pool or some such!
WARRANTY
The standard warranty for both Fire models is a short 90-days. Longer warranties - 1, 2 or 3 years - are available at extra cost ($10.99, $14.99, $16.99 respectively). Compared to most devices this is a very short standard warranty.
CAMERA QUALITY
Both Fire models have a 2 MP rear-facing 'HD' camera, and a 'VGA' front-facing 0.3 MP camera. These are very mediocre cameras compared to just about any smart phone or tablet currently available and anyone wanting to take photos or videos with their tablet is not going to be satisfied with the quality that can be obtained from these Fire models, but they do suffice if all you want is to take a photo to make a visual note of something for future reference.
INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
Both fire models include a 5W wall charger and a VERY SHORT USB cable (just over 3 ft long).
As with pretty much all Amazon Fire and Kindle models these days, you can purchase either of these tablets either with or without ‘special offers’. The $15 difference in price eliminates the ads that show when the screen is locked (but disappear when unlocked).
For anyone who wants a smaller and lighter weight tablet, these Fire models have become the logical choice. The prices are now so low that they can be a casual purchase for many people, not quite disposable but something easy to pass on when the next new model comes out.
I will continue to add more details here as I use these tablets more and have thoughts and comments to share.
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on July 6, 2017
I had to download the Users Guide to use, but as I am reading the Users Guide and learning one thing at a time, I really like it. My biggest concern is not knowing what has a cost and what is free to use. I wish there was an easier way of seeing if something costs to use it or if it is free with Amazon Prime. Even when I download an APP I am never quite sure if there is a charge. Maybe I am missing something and as I read the Users Guide I will find an easier way to differentiate whether it is free or not.
on July 8, 2017
so far I'm finding this very difficult to operate---the first Kindle was easy .to learn and navigate---I purchased this to use mainly as a library and trying to get to the books has been challenging. The camera part is always ready to take pictures of stuff that I don't want like the curtains or my foot, and I haven't been able to turn that off. Maybe practise makes perfect and I've just been at it for 3 days
HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE VOICEon July 13, 2017
In summary, for $59.99 you are getting a great deal on a medium-sized tablet computer with 16 GB of memory - especially if you compare it to the pricing of an HD10 and the $500 or more you can spend on a Wi-Fi base version of competitor products; if you can afford $20 more, I would recommend getting the 8” version as size matters with the screen. If you are a first-time tablet buyer, looking for a replacement tablet, or where price vs. value is a key consideration, as a heavy user of Fires for several years now I would recommend this one for an introductory version or for your children
Initial setup of this year's model was relatively straight forward once I hooked it up to WiFi. Plan on spending a couple of minutes for a software upgrade to download and install – I set it down once the download started, made a cup of coffee and, upon my return the update was completed.
For me, the neatest new feature (new to me at least) was the immediate integration of the Alexa app – just hold down the home screen icon and ask Alexa whatever you’d like. It works just like my Echo and Echo Dots at home with answering questions, adjusting the thermostat, playing music, etc. As I am starting to automate my home more and more this is really convenient vs. having to purchase an Echo or Echo Dot for each room of the house where I would like the functionality.
Screen Display / Video Playback:
If video is your thing, this version of the Fire is very good: I’ve been comparing various episodes of a TV show in my video library to the last two previous Fire models and I think the picture quality is better. That could be a function of it being a new device in addition to some of the newer technical display options – I don’t know which one it is, but it works well. I’m used to a larger screen, however, for watching videos on a tablet and this may take a bit of an adjustment for me.
As mentioned above, the device has the Alexa functionality built-in, and it was also able to easily replay my stored music as well as music I can access via my Prime membership.
Reading Books:
Turning pages is easy - just tap the side of the screen to go to the next page or back a page, or you can swipe your finger across the screen to do the same. The fonts are easy on the eyes, and if you don’t like the lighting auto adjustment you can make the screen brighter or darker to suit your fancy.
If you are new to the tablet world, I would say go ahead and get this one; if you're comparing a prior year's larger model to this version and it is operating fine, I'd say save your money and continue to get your money's worth out of the prior year's model. For me, rather than being my everyday “go to” tablet, I use this one in our bedroom room for general Internet surfing, Alexa inquiries / skills and home automation. For just $59.99, I consider this a viable Echo alternative.
Initial setup of this year's model was relatively straight forward once I hooked it up to WiFi. Plan on spending a couple of minutes for a software upgrade to download and install – I set it down once the download started, made a cup of coffee and, upon my return the update was completed.
For me, the neatest new feature (new to me at least) was the immediate integration of the Alexa app – just hold down the home screen icon and ask Alexa whatever you’d like. It works just like my Echo and Echo Dots at home with answering questions, adjusting the thermostat, playing music, etc. As I am starting to automate my home more and more this is really convenient vs. having to purchase an Echo or Echo Dot for each room of the house where I would like the functionality.
Screen Display / Video Playback:
If video is your thing, this version of the Fire is very good: I’ve been comparing various episodes of a TV show in my video library to the last two previous Fire models and I think the picture quality is better. That could be a function of it being a new device in addition to some of the newer technical display options – I don’t know which one it is, but it works well. I’m used to a larger screen, however, for watching videos on a tablet and this may take a bit of an adjustment for me.
As mentioned above, the device has the Alexa functionality built-in, and it was also able to easily replay my stored music as well as music I can access via my Prime membership.
Reading Books:
Turning pages is easy - just tap the side of the screen to go to the next page or back a page, or you can swipe your finger across the screen to do the same. The fonts are easy on the eyes, and if you don’t like the lighting auto adjustment you can make the screen brighter or darker to suit your fancy.
If you are new to the tablet world, I would say go ahead and get this one; if you're comparing a prior year's larger model to this version and it is operating fine, I'd say save your money and continue to get your money's worth out of the prior year's model. For me, rather than being my everyday “go to” tablet, I use this one in our bedroom room for general Internet surfing, Alexa inquiries / skills and home automation. For just $59.99, I consider this a viable Echo alternative.
on July 14, 2017
Value: 5 Stars
Durability: 4 Stars
Speed: 2 Stars
Apps: 2 Stars
E-reader capabilities: 4 stars
Ease of Use: 4 stars
Battery life: 3 Stars
Like many here- I purchased this on a Prime day deal for $29.99. For the price, you really can't beat it. I would not recommend this as a tablet though. I bought this because it has a bigger screen than my iPhone and for it's app capability. I subscribe to a e-book service called Scribd (which is awesome by the way). For $9 a month I get three book credits and one audiobook credit. Scribd has lots of best sellers to choose from and lots of big name authors like Stephen King and Bernard Cornwell and Leigh Bardugo. Every month there are new Scribd Selects, which do not require a book credit to read.
The downside to Scribd, is that you can not read them on a Kindle Paperwhite! You can read them on your computer, phone, iPad, or, you guessed it, Kindle Fire. Well I was sick of reading 400+ page books on my phone and saw this deal. It does exactly what I want it to. I can read my books on a book sized screen that is also highly portable. (Scribd is not available right from the app store for some strange reason, but you can download it from their website. It wasn't exactly easy, but it wasn't too difficult either.)
I've yet to notice the ads others are saying run so rampant. Just like my Kindle Paperwhite, they appear on the home screen and not anywhere else. The Kindle Fire 7 is admittedly slow. It takes about 10 seconds to open apps, link to a website, etc. But once you're in the book it doesn't matter so much.
The blue color is gorgeous. The device is heavy for being fairly small, but feels sturdy and well built. The screen does seem to smudge easily, but it could probably be fixed with a decent screen protector. It came pre-installed with GoodReads. I love GoodReads and I love the GoodReads app. HOWEVER: the kindle fire GR app is in serious need of some tweaking! I can't see my notifications, I can't update book progress, and I can't link to my groups! I love that I can see all the pretty pictures and gifs, (where I can't on my iPhone) but those other things are so much more important! Someone please, please, please fix this!
I can definitely see myself using this in the future for more tablet related purposes: browsing the kindle store, browsing websites, social media, etc. My preferred e-reader is still the Kindle Paperwhite, but the Kindle Fire is also good if you use other book related apps like OverDrive or Scribd.
Durability: 4 Stars
Speed: 2 Stars
Apps: 2 Stars
E-reader capabilities: 4 stars
Ease of Use: 4 stars
Battery life: 3 Stars
Like many here- I purchased this on a Prime day deal for $29.99. For the price, you really can't beat it. I would not recommend this as a tablet though. I bought this because it has a bigger screen than my iPhone and for it's app capability. I subscribe to a e-book service called Scribd (which is awesome by the way). For $9 a month I get three book credits and one audiobook credit. Scribd has lots of best sellers to choose from and lots of big name authors like Stephen King and Bernard Cornwell and Leigh Bardugo. Every month there are new Scribd Selects, which do not require a book credit to read.
The downside to Scribd, is that you can not read them on a Kindle Paperwhite! You can read them on your computer, phone, iPad, or, you guessed it, Kindle Fire. Well I was sick of reading 400+ page books on my phone and saw this deal. It does exactly what I want it to. I can read my books on a book sized screen that is also highly portable. (Scribd is not available right from the app store for some strange reason, but you can download it from their website. It wasn't exactly easy, but it wasn't too difficult either.)
I've yet to notice the ads others are saying run so rampant. Just like my Kindle Paperwhite, they appear on the home screen and not anywhere else. The Kindle Fire 7 is admittedly slow. It takes about 10 seconds to open apps, link to a website, etc. But once you're in the book it doesn't matter so much.
The blue color is gorgeous. The device is heavy for being fairly small, but feels sturdy and well built. The screen does seem to smudge easily, but it could probably be fixed with a decent screen protector. It came pre-installed with GoodReads. I love GoodReads and I love the GoodReads app. HOWEVER: the kindle fire GR app is in serious need of some tweaking! I can't see my notifications, I can't update book progress, and I can't link to my groups! I love that I can see all the pretty pictures and gifs, (where I can't on my iPhone) but those other things are so much more important! Someone please, please, please fix this!
I can definitely see myself using this in the future for more tablet related purposes: browsing the kindle store, browsing websites, social media, etc. My preferred e-reader is still the Kindle Paperwhite, but the Kindle Fire is also good if you use other book related apps like OverDrive or Scribd.
on July 14, 2017
This is great buy for the money in terms of design and functioning; I bought the 16 gb version on sale at Amazon for less than $70 including a case. but there are some deficiencies that for me put it in the 3-4 range. On the positive side it seems (after one day's use) to be well-built; the screen resolution is more than adequate for my purposes and and set up is relatively simple, including multiple email accounts. The ability to add storage through a microchip if you are used to dealing with the limitations of an iPad or iPhone in this respect is a welcome addition. The rear camera does not match the screen resolution of those in recent iPads and smartphones but the photos are adequate for most situations. The small size is very convenient for carrying the device around on a daily basis and it isn't a disaster if it gets lost or stolen. (You should however immediately go the security settings and set up a password; unlike the iPads this isn't automatic.) The most significant problem is the difficulty in finding many of the apps I use in Amazon's appstore, where the selection is greatly inferior to most Android devices let alone Apple's. For example, if I want to use Dropbox I have to do so through the browser; ditto the Fiancial Times and most of the apps that boaters commonly use such as Boat US. Most users will focus on movies and other media so this probably won't matter to them. And if you are used to multiple Google apps such as the google search engine or google news you won't find them at Amazon's Appstore although the Amazon search engine works well based on a handful of uses. The wifi connectivity is weaker than the systems on my iPad air 2 or Motorola Droid Maxx; there are a few rooms in my home where it fades out. When you are listening to music through earbuds I find the volume adequate at best and I have encountered minor static when listening on the Youtube app that I do not experience on my iPad. The advertising presented on startup is easy enough to swipe away without reading. If your major use of a tablet is web-browsing, movies and music you will likely be well-satisfied with the Fire 7. Others have adequately compared the Fire 7 and Fire HD8 so I won't go there. If you really need a smaller version of your iPad you can purchase an iPad Mini (for $250 more).
on July 13, 2017
After my initial review that said I love this tablet, I have to say now after two weeks that it's OK. It suddenly stopped working with my yahoo email, and keeps making me log in over and over and over, and won't load my mail. I'm extremely irritated about that! I open the email app, and I'm IN my mailbox, looking at my mail, but as soon as I try to touch anything, a box comes up saying "password incorrect" "Enter the password for the yahoo account" and then I can click cancel or OK. (Neither one worked to fix the problem) So when I log in, it brings me back to my mail again, and says"loading mail". Then it says "log in failed", and I get the Password incorrect message telling me to log in again. I KNOW the password isn't incorrect. It let me link the Email app to my Yahoo account, and I was logged in for almost two weeks, and I have not changed my password. I am able to log in on my laptop to my yahoo account just fine. So it's not a yahoo issue. I don't like checking my email from my laptop because it is miserably SLOW. I guess I'll be forced to now.
I've had other issues as well. Yesterday, I turned my fire on, and half my app icons were greyed out and I could not open them, so I had to shut it down and restart it. That worked, but it had better not happen again.
Also, when I type, sometimes letters come out as numbers. In particular, the lower case e comes out as a 5 sometimes. Makes NO sense.
Also, the unit makes noises all the time, and I have no idea what they mean. I check,and I have no messages, no responses from comments, no alarms are set. It's annoying.
Also, at times the touch-screen is completely unresponsive, particularly when I read magazines. It will jump me to the middle of the magazine and then not let me turn the page.
Just a lot of irritating glitches. The email one is the worst. The only other thing I can do is either change the password or delete the yahoo account from the app and reinstall it. Either way, a pain in the arse!
I've had other issues as well. Yesterday, I turned my fire on, and half my app icons were greyed out and I could not open them, so I had to shut it down and restart it. That worked, but it had better not happen again.
Also, when I type, sometimes letters come out as numbers. In particular, the lower case e comes out as a 5 sometimes. Makes NO sense.
Also, the unit makes noises all the time, and I have no idea what they mean. I check,and I have no messages, no responses from comments, no alarms are set. It's annoying.
Also, at times the touch-screen is completely unresponsive, particularly when I read magazines. It will jump me to the middle of the magazine and then not let me turn the page.
Just a lot of irritating glitches. The email one is the worst. The only other thing I can do is either change the password or delete the yahoo account from the app and reinstall it. Either way, a pain in the arse!
on July 14, 2017
I took advantage of the amazing price on Prime day. I really didn't need one but my Fire HD 8 makes my purse so heavy I figured $30 to spend on another Fire tablet would be worth it... and it is! I already love Amazon and how easy it is to maneuver, I am a Prime member which makes these devices worth buying. I personally don't like the interface of the Fire OS but it's child-friendly so as long as my kids can play with it, it makes my life easier. For those who still don't know, you can side-load Google services on to it, which I've done with ALL of the tablets which gives me more options than what Amazon offers. I don't use these tablets for much other than to read and do basic internet browsing/surfing and minor social media stuff. This is perfect for your essential needs, if you're looking for more hardware, better specs and a sleeker system, look elsewhere and pay more. This fits my needs :)
on July 21, 2017
2017 Kindle Fire compares to 2015 version, there is only 1 oz lighter difference in weight. Yet, the resolution (1024 × 600) and pixel density (171 ppi) are the same. Basically there is no any technology differences changed while the prices are the same.
My old 2015 Fire also has Alexa by amazon's automatically updated.
The brightness of the new one is able to adjust to lower and darker screen compare to the old one.
The keyboard is very awkward to use, very sensitive and almost making me typing the wrong words.
>>But the Chinese input keyboard improves better from the old kindle, finally end the unlimited associated words after typing Chinese.
Also they added the emojis, trust me, I would like to have the old simple keywords better, the old one has simple design keywords and faster performing.
The new kindle combined the languages and numbers switches in one button; which means if you unfortunately speak more than 2 languages, in an example you would like to type English and numbers this case, then you have to switch to number first, and switch another twice to go back to English. Sounds confused right? It is even more confused that they don't have a symbol to show what languages are you typing now, so help yourself.
Lastly, please buy the original black color, don't choose any pop color because the color on the picture is much more bright and pop compared to what I received.
My old 2015 Fire also has Alexa by amazon's automatically updated.
The brightness of the new one is able to adjust to lower and darker screen compare to the old one.
The keyboard is very awkward to use, very sensitive and almost making me typing the wrong words.
>>But the Chinese input keyboard improves better from the old kindle, finally end the unlimited associated words after typing Chinese.
Also they added the emojis, trust me, I would like to have the old simple keywords better, the old one has simple design keywords and faster performing.
The new kindle combined the languages and numbers switches in one button; which means if you unfortunately speak more than 2 languages, in an example you would like to type English and numbers this case, then you have to switch to number first, and switch another twice to go back to English. Sounds confused right? It is even more confused that they don't have a symbol to show what languages are you typing now, so help yourself.
Lastly, please buy the original black color, don't choose any pop color because the color on the picture is much more bright and pop compared to what I received.
on July 13, 2017
Well I couldn't resist, it was Prime Day, saved another $20 off an already inexpensive, very inexpensive tablet. Easy set up, solid build, fast and excellent screen.Biggest gripe is the sound. Its terrible. Without headphones it worse. For watching TV on-the-go, its good, better than my iPhone7. Its an amazing device for the price. And if you read a lot,I do, play games (I don't), watch Amazon Prime and Netflix, I do, it can be a good device for you, depending on your use. But if your ears are attached to anything older than a 50 year old head, enjoy the visuals. This was a test for me to see if saving $250 and not buying an iPad mini 4. Lesson learned. I will pass it along to grandchild....
