Amazon Fire
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“The Fire Phone is good-looking and fun. But technology needs to solve a problem. And while the Fire Phone certainly solves a problem for Amazon, I don't see how it solves one for you.”
“Amazon is doing some interesting stuff with the Fire Phone, both in hardware and in software. Dynamic Perspective, while not of a whole lot of practical use, is the kind of showroom feature a brand new phone like this needs to stand out. Firefly is just as impressive, and it's much more useful. FireOS is incorporating motion controls in interesting ways, and it does a better job than any other smartphone of actually showing you how to use it. The camera and battery life are both pretty good, and Amazon's Prime and Cloud services are decent add-ons.The Fire Phone will benefit from prominent placement on Amazon's homepage, which is one of the biggest billboards on the entire Internet. It may merit a second look from people who are generally satisfied with their Kindle Fires. But the Fire Phone's ecosystem isn't as large or as healthy as iOS' or Android's, and we hesitate to recommend new platforms like this to anyone before they've had time to prove their worth and staying power.”
“All things considered, you get a lot of average performances and the Fire Phone only has a few real positive aspects. It might be worth a look if you are a big Amazon fan or if you just want a fast smartphone for a small price and can live with the software. All others should better wait for the successor.”
“If you have never played with an Amazon device before, the Fire Phone will take you a while to master. It's an average looking phone with a couple nifty tricks either meant to sell you things or dazzle your eyes, but other than that, it's nothing worth bragging about.Keep in mind Amazon has an agenda: it wants to sell more goods and push Prime. And the Fire Phone is the company's latest way of achieving that goal. Despite a gazillion sensors and Dynamic Display to get you all excited about the idea of using the Fire Phone as your everyday device, Amazon only really cares about whether you use the Firefly app to buy stuff on Amazon.com.And if you don't shop through Amazon or subscribe to Prime, the Fire Phone is just another typical mid-tier phone with a high-end price tag, only one that could give you motion sickness and simultaneously drive you crazy as you try to find apps and navigate the interface.For its $199 asking price on a two-year-contract, the Fire Phone will be right for US customers who love Amazon's ecosystem and don't mind paying a premium price for access to that ecosystem. Plus, it comes with a free year of Amazon Prime, which is nice.We can't imagine Android or iOS fans jumping ship for the Fire Phone, but if they ever do, it's probably because they love online shopping. That's the main thing we've taken away from this Amazon experience.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
With a face-tracking camera array, 24/7 live support and access to a bounty of Amazon services, the Amazon Fire is turning heads in the smartphone market. How does Amazon’s first venture into smartphones stack up against the competition? Let’s take a look!
Outside of the Amazon-exclusive features, the hardware used in the Fire is firmly in the mid-tier. A 4.7-inch 720p display provides crisp visuals and plenty of screen real estate while a quad-core processor ensures smooth phone operation. With 2GB of RAM, the device should multitask with ease. It runs Amazon’s FireOS, an offshoot of Android’s Jelly Bean OS. This means it lacks support for wearables and some of the newer accessories gaining popularity as well.
One of the most talked about features of the device is the Dynamic Perspective display. Using five cameras, the device tracks your face to create a pseudo-3D element to supporting apps and allows for a wide range of gesture-based controls. Reviews for Dynamic Perspective were scattered from glitchy to great. Engadget warns, “Users with motion sickness will not like the Dynamic Perspective option. Fortunately, Amazon will let you turn this feature off.”
Wired UK had issues with face tracking when more than one person was looking at the phone. CNet says that it is “a lot like having a Kinect stuck on the front of your phone, even though it isn’t particularly useful.” In many ways, the biggest concern will be support for the feature. If app developers embrace the technology, reviews might improve.
Integration with Amazon Prime and the Amazon store is where the device truly appears to shine. This brings us to another highly touted feature of the device–Amazon Firefly. Simply launch the app and use the camera to highlight any object around you and Firefly scours Amazon and other supported services, including iHeart Radio for music, to find purchasing or streaming options. Reviews for the feature are quite high. Combined with the free year of Amazon Prime that comes with the purchase of the phone and it offers an easy-to-use portal into everything that Amazon has to offer. The Verge notes, “There simply has never been a better device to help you indulge in impulse purchases.”
Overall, reviews note that the phone, much like its hardware, is simply okay. Engadget says, “Spec-wise, it isn’t the most impressive phone. But it’s not horrible either – it’s simply what you’d expect from an average phone.” It appears the big question for most potential buyers is if you want to buy into the Amazon ecosystem. Coupled with an Amazon account, the phone offers convenience and a novel take on the smartphone.
If you’re not a fan of Amazon’s services, you might find more compelling options elsewhere. Android Central summed up the device well, stating, “Amazon created a mobile device that speaks to its customer base perfectly, and the end result is the Fire Phone.”
What people actually want to know
When was the Amazon Fire released?
The Amazon Fire was released on July 26, 2014.
How long does the battery last on the Amazon Fire?
The Amazon Fire has a 2,400 mAh battery.
Does the Amazon Fire have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Amazon Fire has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Amazon Fire have NFC?
Yes, the Amazon Fire has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I download the Amazon Fire manual?
You can view and download the Amazon Fire manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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If you're a big Amazon Prime user maybe. We've got a Fire review summary here. If you’re not a fan of Amazon’s services, you might find more compelling options elsewhere. Android Central summed up the device well, stating, “Amazon created a mobile device that speaks to its customer base perfectly, and the end result is the Fire Phone.