Amazon has made a name for itself in the tablet world, continually pushing the envelope when it comes to full-featured, bargain-priced devices. Its devices might cater to the more casual crowd, but the internal guts have always turned heads in the tech world as well.
This year’s new Kindle Fire devices are no different, combining bleeding edge components with low prices and consumer focused services. The Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″ carries the torch at the high-end and will inevitably compared to the latest Apple iPad. So how do these two powerhouses compare? Read on to find out.
Apple’s iPad hasn’t changed its design since the iPad 2. That’s not a bad thing, as the aluminum design is as iconic as ever. But the slim and light-weight iPad mini, as well as its competitors, have been getting thinner and lighter. The Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″ is remarkably light for a large-screen tablet, weighing only 13.2 ounces. To put that in perspective, the original Kindle Fire, with its 7-inch screen, weighed 14.6 ounces. The full-sized iPad tips the scales at 1.44 pounds (23.04 ounces).
| Name | Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″ | Apple iPad (Fourth generation, Wi-Fi) |
|  | |
| Editor Rating | ||
| Lowest Price | %displayPrice% %seller% $ 379.00 MSRP | %displayPrice% %seller% $ 499.00 MSRP |
| Dimensions | 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.31 inches | 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.37 inches |
| Weight | 13.5 oz | 1.44 lb |
| Operating System | Google Android 4.2.2 | Apple iOS |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Quad-Core | Apple A6X |
| Processor Speed | 2.2 GHz | 1.4 GHz |
| Screen Size | 8.9 inches | 9.7 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 2560 x 1600 pixels | 2048 x 1536 pixels |
| Screen Pixels Per Inch | 339 ppi | 264 ppi |
| Storage Capacity (as Tested) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Camera Resolution | 8-megapixel Rear-Facing; 720p Front-Facing | 5-megapixel Rear; 1.2-megapixel Front |
| Video Camera Resolution | 1080p Rear; 720p Front | 1080p Rear; 720p Front |
| Cellular Technology | GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSPA+, LTE | EDGE, UMTS, HSPA+, LTE, EV-DO Rev A, GSM |
| Wi-Fi (802.11x) Compatibility | 2.4GHZ/5GHz | 2.4GHZ/5GHz |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Read the Review | Read the Review |
The Fire HDX 8.9″ will likely be among the most powerful tablets available, rocking a quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM. It’s Qualcomm’s fastest chip yet and can be found in smartphone barn burners like the LG G2. The Apple iPad uses a custom A6X chip that provides plenty of power, but based on recent benchmarks, it’s starting to look a bit dated compared with chips like the Snapdragon 800. The HDX 8.9″ will also benefit from the Adreno 330 GPU, which benchmarked a bit better than Apple’s quad-core GPU that’s paired with the A6X. Of course, benchmarks don’t tell the whole story and performance isn’t solely dependent on pure processing power.
Hands On With the New Kindle Fires
Amazon bumped up the pixel count on the HDX, from 1,920-by-1,200 pixels to 2,560-by-1,600 pixels. That raises the pixel density to a tack sharp 339 pixels per inch. The iPad’s display comes in at 2,046-by-1,536 pixels, which is comparable, but not quite as sharp at 264ppi thanks to the larger 9.7-inch screen. Will you be able to tell the difference? Maybe if you have perfect vision and look extra close, but there’s more to display quality than pixel count.
Then there’s the ever-important operating system. Amazon’s finally put a name to its user friendly Android skin, dubbed Fire OS 3.0 “Mojito,” which runs over Android 4.2.2. Amazon takes user friendly design one step further with its new Mayday feature. Tap the Mayday button and you’ll be able to chat with a real live Amazon expert who can help you with all your tablet issues. Apple’s always had its retail stores and in-person support, but getting some of those benefits right from the comfort of your own home could be a big selling point for the tech-averse. Check it out in action in the video below.
The iPad and Fire HDX also offer dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and 4G LTE connectivity. The big difference? Price. Apple’s LTE-enabled 16GB iPad costs $ 629. The LTE-enabled 16GB Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″ costs just $ 479. That’s a sizeable difference, even if you factor in Amazon’s “special offers” $ 15 discount.
The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″ looks like it’ll be a tablet to reckon with, but keep in mind that the new iPads are expected right around the corner. The HDX 8.9″ is available for pre-order now with an expected shipping date of Dec. 10. So which tablet do you think comes out on top? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for a full review. Until then, check out
ipad – Google News
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