Amazon Fire HD 7 (2014) Tablet Review

It’s hard to ignore the value proposition Amazon gives us when it comes to affordable tablets. Its Fire HD series has some notable caveats, but its hardware is often good for the price. And, for those invested in Amazon’s ecosystem, there’s no better fine-tuned option. With that, let’s check out what the latest $140 Fire HD 7 offers.

There’s no shortage of affordable tablets on the market, but Amazon’s tend to stand out from the crowd more than most others for a couple of reasons. A big one is the fact that Fire tablets are in-tune with the Amazon ecosystem like no other – anyone actively engaged in it would feel right at home. Then there’s the fact that the blend of pricing and hardware is often attractive.

That’s all true with the Fire HD 7, a $139.99 tablet that targets those who don’t want a tablet too small, or too large. It’s interesting, though, that Amazon allows customers to scale down just a bit if desired – the Fire HD also comes in a 6-inch version. That model costs $40 less ($99.99), but offers the exact same internal specs – save for the lack of dual speakers.

On the topic of specs, the Fire HD 7 features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 1GB of memory. Both the HD 6 and 7 offer the same 1280×800 resolution, but the ppi of the 7 is of course a bit lower, at 216 (versus 252).

One of the biggest differences between the 2013 model Fire HD 7 and the new one is the addition of two cameras: a 2.0 megapixel at the back, and a 0.3 megapixel one up front. Other key specs include 8GB of internal storage (about 4.5GB free), 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and a weight of 337 grams. Notable features missing include GPS and NFC.

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