Amazon launched a bevy of new tablets and eReaders late last month. An updated Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 will be available October 21st and replaces last year’s model as the flagship Kindle tablet.
Measuring 8.9” and weighing 13.2 ounces (13.7oz for the 4G model), the upcoming HDX 8.9” tablet retains the same form factor as its predecessor. The mobile device does pack in internal hardware improvements, updated software features, and an optional bluetooth Fire Keyboard accessory. The tablet features an 8.9” 2560×1600 (339 PPI) display, Dobly Atmos audio, an 8MP rear camera, and a 720p front-facing webcam. Amazon is using what it calls “Dynamic Light Control” which alters the display’s color temperature to match ambient light along with a dynamic backlighting.
With that said, the major changes between the previous model and the new Fire HDX 8.9 lie in updated internal hardware and Amazon’s latest operating system and UI features. Specifically, Amazon has upgraded to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 SoC and a faster (802.11ac) Wi-Fi radio. Last year’s tablet used the Snapdragon 800 clocked at 2.2GHz with an Adreno 330 GPU. The new HDX 8.9’s Snapdragon 805 is clocked at 2.5GHz and features an Adreno 420 GPU. Both tablets feature 2GB RAM and 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB internal storage options. Amazon claims up to 12 hours of battery life when reading, browsing the web, and watching videos.
The new tablet with ship with Amazon’s latest Fire OS operating system known as Fire OS 4.0 “Sangria.” Sangria is a custom fork of Android 4.4 KitKat that features Amazon’s custom user interface in addition to ASAP predictive pre-loading, Smart Suspend technology, Family Library media sharing, device profiles, and Mayday help/support.
The Fire Keyboard is a 7oz, 4.8mm thin Bluetooth keyboard that can attach magnetically to the optional Origami tablet case. The keyboard features 74 keys (including shortcut and search keys), a small trackpad, Bluetooth 3.0, and a lithium ion battery that has a claimed battery life of two months of active usage. It has an MSRP of $59.99 and will begin shipping October 21.The Origami case is another optional accessory that can hold and protect both the keyboard and tablet. It will be available in black, blue, and red leather for $69.99 from Amazon.
The new Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 is up for pre-order now but will officially be available on October 21st. Pricing and SKU data is listed in the table below. Needless to say, this is an overall minor upgrade over last year's model and it is not something existing HDX 8.9" users are likely excited about. However, on its own, the new model has decent specifications and if you are looking into a new Kindle Fire tablet, it is worth considering, especially if you plan to take advantage of the faster processor for activities such as gaming in addition to reading books and watching movies.
Pricing Information for Amazon's New Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" Tablet
Will you be picking up the latest Fire OS flagship?
For now I will continue
For now I will continue rocking the original Kindle Fire, but I do have to admit the new model is much sleeker and the keyboard support is a welcome addition! 🙂
Avoid anything from amazon
Avoid anything from amazon they started locking down devices when they released the first HDX.
Great hardware with so much potential but locked bootloader and forced to use lack luster amazon app store over google play.
And whats this BS you have to
And whats this BS you have to pay more to “turn off ads”
The ads enable Amazon to
The ads enable Amazon to provide the hardware at a lower, upfront cost to the consumer much like carrier contracts lower the cost of a phone in exchange for agreeing to stay with a particular provider for a period of time.
Yeaaaa… I get it, a
Yeaaaa… I get it, a simple concept but..
No. That is the dumbest idea ever. Never-mind bloatware..
If I seen a McDonalds logo pop up I would insta-smash the crap out of said device. Any note on if the ads will ear-rape you?
When do they pop up? How intrusive?.. So odd.
I really don’t see myself ever, ever suggesting a device with built in.. Ads. To anyone, ever. Even if it saves you a few bucks..
Extra bandwith always being wasted, annoyance, opening vulnerabilities. Hogging system resources. Just no.
I can see a lot of people who think it might not bug them but..
We’ll see..
There needs to be some brand
There needs to be some brand of tablet device that is made by a non ad/closed app ecosystem manufacturer. What would the PC market have been like if every device was locked down and only able to be used with one OS, and one ecosystem! To be forever indentured to a device’s OEM, or OS maker’s ecosystem, should be limited to only a certain amount of time, after which the BIOS should be unlocked and the user free to load whatever OS is desired, and use whatever app store/ecosystem the owner of the hardware desires. Amazon, and others should be limited to, at most, 2 years, before the device/s must be unlocked. There needs to be a requirement that tablets/PC/phones/whatever that have any general purpose computing ability must be made to allow alternative OSs/app stores/Ecosystems, as otherwise only a few big ad/closed ecosystem driven companies will create little device fiefdoms, and we’ll all become the surfs. Do you see any Tablets, reviewed or advertised on this or any other website, that comes with, out of the BOX, a full Linux distro, unbound to any OEM/Ad/App store ecosystem.
The tablet form factor computing devices market is not very open, as the big ad/app store/internet store interests have turned tablet computing into little more than the new Boobtube, and Point of sale device, bring a store’s cash register with you everywhere closed/locked device good for only consumption from one ecosystem.
Hopefully an open Steam OS based tablet is in the works, to help with Tablets, because Tablets are so completely locked down that they need it even more than PCs. There is a reason for me not owning a tablet, the lack of a tablet that comes with a factory installed full Linux distro, and not having to enter and special development mode to load an OS. Enjoy the chains that bind, my old laptops will just have to last me, until.
I’m kinda confused how the
I’m kinda confused how the kindle got to this place. The original kindle tablet (not the e-readers) were meant to be low price media consumption/ebook devices locked into a single marketplace with some limited tablet functionality thrown in. Sell it as cheap as possible to lock people in to spending more in our store. NOW Amazon is playing like it’s a major player in the tablet market (calling an android mod “FIRE OS” custom peripherals ect) and making flagship products. Do they even make mention of reading on it? I mean let’s face it, a $479 9″ 64gb tablet with a proprietary modded OS that feeds you ads AND limits the apps you can choose from….. that’s not even close to being a low cost media consumption device.
Well said.
The idea is pure
Well said.
The idea is pure stupidity for so many reasons.
They’re ruining the -small- but consistent market they had here.
It’s not a true tablet, it’s supposed to be a fancy e-book reader..
Theres about 43834094380943 better and cheaper tablet options already….
No idea who they’re fooling other than themselves.