Written by Amazon has announced its first tablet – Kindle Fire after their success in the e-book readers. The new tablet by Amazon is the biggest threat to the Apple’s iPad which has dominated the tablet market. To make the tablet competitive, Amazon has priced it very low cutting out features like camera and Bluetooth. Samsung’s Galaxy tab has so far become the closest competitor to iPad.
Amazon’s Kindle Fire has upper-hand over Samsung Galaxy tab and even the iPad in different categories. The price which is less that half of the cheapest iPad / Galaxy tab is the biggest advantage. Kindle fire is 7 inch tablet, is stripped down and lacks camera, microphone, 3G making it unable to have access to video chats and other features.
Kindle Fire is based on Android 2.3 but Amazon has tweaked the OS a lot. Another disadvantage for Kindle fire user can be the access to limited apps. Unlike other Android tablets, it will not have access to Android market. But you can expect some top apps to be replicated on the Amazon App Store soon. We cannot fully decide which is the best tablet by just looking at the specs. Kindle Fire will be available after November 15 and the best one can be decided then.
Here’s is a comparison of the features of the three tablets:
| Amazon Kindle Fire | Apple iPad 2 | Samsung Galaxy 10.1 | |
| Size | 7.5″ x 4.7″ x 0.45″ | 9.5″x7.3″x0.34 | 10.09″ x 6.81″ x0.34″ |
| Weight | 413 grams | 601 to 613 gram | 565 gram |
| Display / Resolution | 7 in display with 1024×600 resolution | 9.7 in with 1024 x 768 resolution | 10.1 inches display with 1280×800 resolution |
| Processor | Dual-core processor (not specified clearly yet) | Apple A5 1.0 GHz dual core processor | 1.0 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor |
| OS | Android 2.3 (tweaked by Amazon) | iOS 4.x | Android 3.0 Honeycomb |
| Apps | Amazon Appstore (No access to Android market) | Apple itunes | Android Market / Amazon Appstore / Non-market apps |
| Storage | 8GB internal (free cloud storage) | 16/32/ 64 GB internal storage | 16/32 GB internal storage |
| RAM | Not specified | 512 MB | 1 GB |
| Connectivity | Wifi | Wifi, Bluetooth | Wifi, Bluetooth |
| Camera | NONE | 0.3 MP(front) 0.7 MP (back) |
3.0 MP AF camera with LED flash, 2.0 MP front facing |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Light sensor | 3-axis Gryo, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor | 3-axis Gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Compass |
| Battery | Claimed battery life of Up to 8 hours of continuous reading or 7.5 hours of video playback, with wireless off |
|
Built-in-7000mAH battery with claimed battery life of 9hours video playback and 72hours music playback |
| Price | US $199 | US $499 to $829 | US$ 499 to 599 |
| Avaliablility | From November 15 2011 | Yes | Yes |