It's now been over a year since Amazon first introduced us to its Kindle Fire HD tablets, and if the online retailer is anything like the just about every other company in the mobile space, that means that a Kindle Fire refresh is imminent. That's precisely what BGR claims to have for us today, as the site has gotten hold of what it says are photos of Amazon's new 7-inch Kindle Fire HD tablet.
The black slab shown in these leaked images features a design that's fairly different from the existing Kindle Fire HD. While the current model has a rounded design, flat backside and small Amazon and Kindle logos, this new device has a much more angular rear. Each of the three angles on the tablet's rear is home to a different feature or button, with the top portion housing the speakers while the sides include the volume controls and power button. We can also barely make out a large Amazon tattoo on the back, though much of the slate's rear has been blacked out to protect the source of the images.
As far as specs go, the new 7-inch Kindle Fire HD is said to include a 1920x1080 display, quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB/32GB/64GB storage and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, presumably running beneath Amazon's custom Kindle Fire UI. The refreshed 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD will reportedly feature a design and spec list that's largely similar to this 7-inch model, though the bigger model is expected to sport an upgraded 2560x1600 display and an 8-megapixel rear camera.
The new look of this purported Kindle Fire HD is definitely an interesting departure from the curves found on the current unit. The placement of the speakers at the top of the tablet's rear could be an improvement over the lower side-mounted speakers on the current Kindle Fire HD, though, and the volume and power buttons seem like they'd be pretty easy for the user to access while the device is in use.
Amazon hasn't made any announcements regarding new Kindle Fire HD tablets or sent out any invitations for an event at which new models could be unveiled. However, now that we're officially past the Kindle Fire HD's first birthday, it seems likely that the new models will appear in a more official capacity soon. Stay tuned and I'll give you a shout once more details surface.
Via BGR
