We’ve seen a lot of new mobile hardware lately from major players like Apple and Samsung, and tonight Amazon joined the party with several new devices of its own.
Amazon today announced a refreshed Fire HDX 8.9, new Fire HD tablet in 6- and 7-inch screen sizes, Fire HD Kids Edition tablets in 6- and 7-inch screen sizes, a new version of its custom Fire OS and two Kindle e-readers. There’s a lot of new hardware to dive into, so let’s break it down in bullet point style:
- Fire HDX 8.9: 8.9-inch 2560x1600 display, 2.5GHz quad-core processor, Adreno 420 GPU, 2GB of RAM, 8-megapixel rear camera, front-facing shooter, Dolby Atmos sound for improved headphone audio, 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Optional accessories include Fire Keyboard with trackpad and Origami Cover that can stand the Fire HDX 8.9 in portrait and landscape modes. Now available for pre-order, starting at $379 for 16GB model. Versions with built-in AT&T or Verizon LTE are also available. Will begin shipping October 21.
- Fire HD: 6- or 7-inch 1280x800 displays, quad-core processor, 2-megapixel rear and VGA front-facing cameras, 8GB or 16GB of storage, Dolby Digital Plus audio. Pricing for the 6-inch model starts at $99, while the 7-inch version starts at $139. Both models will begin shipping on October 2 in black, white, magenta, citron and cobalt colors.
- Fire HD Kids Edition: 6- or 7-inch “HD” display, quad-core processor, front and rear cameras, Dolby Digital Audio. Both models are available in blue, green and pink. Pricing starts at $149 for the 6-inch unit and $189 for the 7 inches. Amazon also offers a 2-year worry-free guarantee that offers a free replacement if your kid breaks the tablet. Will ship October 21.
- Fire OS 4 “Sangria”: Includes updated user interface with a focus on content, Profiles for each user, settings for things like display brightness and deep integration with Amazon’s cloud. Fire OS 4 is based on Android 4.4 KitKat and will be made available on all 3rd and 4th generation Fire tablets. Amazon will update its Fire phone to Fire OS 4 by “early next year.”
- Kindle E-Readers:
- Kindle sports a 20 percent faster processor, double the storage and a touch screen, all with a price tag that starts at $79.
- Kindle Paperwhite has been updated with double the storage and starts at $119.
- Kindle Voyage has a new, thinner design, high-resolution 300ppi Paperwhite display, 39 percent brighter front light and PagePress, a new way to turn pages by lightly pressing on the bezel of the unit. Kindle Voyage starts at $199 for the Wi-Fi-only model and $269 for the Wi-Fi and free AT&T 3G model. Both will ship on October 21.
So there’s your rundown of Amazon’s new hardware. The new 6 and 7-inch Fire HD tablets are interesting for their small size — especially since we don’t see many 6-inch tablets — and their small price points. Meanwhile, the Fire HD Kids Edition sounds like a nice option for your children thanks to its 2-year replacement guarantee. Finally, the updates to the Kindle E-Reader line seem great for readers, especially the Kindle Voyage and its higher-res display.
Are you interested in any of Amazon’s new devices?
Via Amazon