Last Updated on March 29, 2020
Design
A small tablet with a 7-inch display, The Amazon Fire 7, is the ideal device for users who like to read or want to be able to carry a tablet in their bag daily, without too much effort. Also, such a device is great for children or the elderly, as it is fairly easy to use, intuitive and durable. This is the smallest version of the Amazon Fire series. By comparison to the HD 8 and 10 models, this is part of a newer generation. Design-wise, it is a fairly chunky tablet that is covered in plastic and has a nice, matte finish. The frame is curved and a bit slippery. It features a 2-megapixel camera lens at the top left, a flap for the MicroSD card on the right and dual speakers on the left. On the top you’ll find volume controls, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Micro USB port, and power button.
This product feels solid to touch and it looks like it has a quality build. is good and it feels solid. The Amazon Fire 7 is the perfect size for portability. It’s comfortable to hold with one hand and easy to stow in a bag. It comes in several color options, so that you can choose whichever suits your best. Apart from the controls and connectivity ports, you will also notice thick bezels surrounding the 7-inch IPS LCD screen. They are a bit too thick for the modern user, but giving the price, one can ignore this aspect easily.
Display and Audio
The new Fire 7 has a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1,024 x 600 pixels. It has dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support and contrary to the expectations, they really deliver good sounds. The screen is bright and reflective, which makes it hard to read outdoors, especially during a sunny day. Playing games was especially frustrating, with long loading times and a lot of lag, but this isn’t a flaw o the display. It is rather a matter of processing power. Watching videos isn’t a great experience due to the lackluster screen either.
Speaking of sound, Amazon’s Alexa brings a bit of diversity into the landscape. Due to the fact that you can use the virtual assistant on your Fire 7 and operate it hands-free without any special installation, it will already feel part of your home or office. Alexa can assist you to do a lot of things, such as text your contacts, open apps, or tell you information like the weather.
Performance and battery life
This version of the Amazon Fire is equipped with the same processor as the HD 8, but it has a RAM bumped up to 1.5GB. Paradoxically, this small device is faster and a bit more capable than its bigger counterpart. The newer, faster core in its 1.3GHz quad-core processor surely plays an important role in setting this difference. Even so, the tablet’s performance isn’t the best, which is why it is recommended to be used for simple tasks. To give you a clearer idea on what that means, you should know that launching apps often takes several seconds and there are frequently screen jitters when swiping through the menu.
Amazon does not mention any battery capacity, but the tablet usually lasts for about 7 hours of light and mixed use. If used heavily, it drops quickly and the tablet will be up for no longer than 4 hours and 25 minutes. This is only a little less than what the iPad Mini has to offer, so, Amazon Fire users, don’t get too frustrated.
Should you buy the Amazon All-New Fire 7?
Compared to the other high-end tablets on the market, this version of the Amazon Fire truly looks weak. If you look at it from a cost perspective, you might change your mind. Look everywhere, online or offline, you will not find another tablet at this price. The only competition comes from Amazon itself and is represented by its Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition.
If you are looking for top-notch tablet models, you should redirect your attention towards Apple’s iPads. These are the best tablets you can buy, but you have to be ready to expand your budget. If you what you want is a tablet for your kid, for the grandparents or simply for reading, this one will do the job it was created for. All you need to do is to set your expectations lower, as this device will not give you access to the Play Store out of the box, like other low-cost tablets available on the market.
What is great about this option is that it is a truly sturdy device that will not break at the first shock, which is why it is a great small tablet for kids.