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Amazon Fire HDX 8.9
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9
Amazon Fire HDX 8.9
...


8/10
Informr score
The Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 currently has an Informr score of 8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 10 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Beautiful display
  • Multiple user profiles
  • Parental controls
  • Mayday customer service
  • Silky smooth performance
  • Dolby Atmos audio
  • Amazon Firefly

What's bad

  • No microSD support
  • Lack of customization options
  • Amazon App Store only

Amazon’s Fire tablets have become fan favorites with their combination of price and easy access to the bounty of Amazon content available. The newest version, the Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 (2014) aims to continue this trend and introduce a few new twists to the classic Fire tablet. Is the tablet worthy of the title or just another model soon to be forgotten? Let’s see what the reviews have to say!

Combining a 8.9-inch display at 2560-by-1600 pixels and a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, the tablet is definitely a powerhouse on paper. Fortunately, reviews indicate that this also translate to real life performance as well. Wired calls it “fast and fluid.” Across many reviews, none noted any hesitance or instability to be found, even under high-definition gaming or heavy multitasking.

Whether you’re planning to enjoy the wealth of movies on Amazon or keep tabs on your social media accounts, the screen is sure to impress. Reviews all touted the screen for sharpness, brightness and color reproduction. CNet called the display “the best of the bunch” while Wired proclaimed it “the brightest, sharpest, and most-vivid in the tablet realm” even when compared to flagships from other manufacturers.

Couple this with rear-facing stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos audio processing and the reviews for the tablet as a media playback device are outstanding. PC Magazine called the speakers “the loudest, clearest built-in speakers of any tablet I've seen recently.” Reviewers also noted that the Atmos sound processing worked surprisingly well, even on small ear buds. However, the video must support Atmos for you to enjoy the effect, limiting its usefulness for some.

Other noted features included Amazon’s support service, Mayday, Amazon’s object discovery service, Firefly, and their in-depth parental controls and user profile support.

Unfortunately, there are some potential weak points to the new HDX as well depending on your preferences. The most obvious is lack of MicroSD card support. If you’re someone who prefers to store your movie and music on your tablet instead of stream them, you’ll definitely want to consider one of the larger storage options. With models ranging from 16GB to 64GB of storage, there is something available to suit most needs.

Another issue many reviews noted was the accessories offered for the tablet. While the Origamic Case works well to prop up the device, CNet found that the magnetic attachment was weak. Multiple sites also had issues with lag and delay on the Bluetooth keyboard.

One final concern listed by all reviews was that the Fire HDX locks you into Amazon services. Unlike many Android devices, there is no access to the default Google Apps or the Google Play store. If you’re a Prime subscriber or don’t mind investing in Amazon’s content and services, this is largely a non-issue, however, as Android Police points out “if you can't embrace the Amazon world, the Fire HDX is kind of a lump.”
Overall, reviews of the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 (2014) are overwhelmingly positive. From build quality and battery life to the display and performance, there was little that reviews found lacking. Wired summed up many reviews best, stating, “The HDX 8.9 looks great, feels great, sounds great, and performs great, even if it won’t bowl you over with bold new flavors.”


Fire OS
Operating system
Operating system
Fire OS
2.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.5 GHz
8.9"
Screen Size
Screen Size
8.9"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
6000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Digital Versus
Digital Versus

The 2014 version of the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 is a top-rate product. The display quality is irrefutable, as is the tablet's sheer power. All the same, Amazon will really come into its own when it manages to revamp Fire OS, which, at present, is too Appstore-centric.

- RĂ©mi Jacquet, Digital Versus
TabletPCReview
TabletPCReview

Thanks to its outstanding hardware, the 2014 version of the Fire HDX 8.9 is one of the very best mid-size tablets on the market.

- Ed Hardy, TabletPCReview
GottaBeMobile
GottaBeMobile

Users who want a great entertainment tablet should certainly consider the Amazon Fire HDX 8.9. The tablet offers access to all the movies, TV shows, audio books and ebooks that I need and is highly connected to the Amazon experience.As a gift to a first time tablet user, the Mayday feature completes...

- Josh Smith, GottaBeMobile
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

Where Amazon failed miserably in making a dent in the smartphone market, they’re able to continue having a strong presence in the tablet space – thanks in part to the well-rounded performance of this year’s high-end model, the Amazon Fire HDX 8.9. No doubt, it’s vying for not...

- John V., PhoneArena
TechRadar
TechRadar

If you're looking for a family tablet that everyone can share, and you're happy to dive into the Amazon ecosystem and sign up for Amazon Prime, maybe even pick up a Fire TV as well, then the Fire HDX 8.9 is probably the best tablet for you.It handles movies and TV shows beautifully. It's a lovely de...

- Simon Hill, TechRadar


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Quick view

Screen Size
8.9"

The Amazon Fire HDX 8.9's screen size is 8.9 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
2.5 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Quad core 2.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
8+ MP
You can take photos or capture video with the tablet's onboard 8+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.
Storage
16/32/64 GB

Internal memory is 16/32/64 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
6000mAh

The tablet is powered by a Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol), 6000 mAh battery. Amazon's performance ratings are 14 days standby time, 10 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Fire HDX 8.9 Specs

Overview
Release Date October 21, 2014
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Fire OS Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Quad core 2.5 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32/64 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Data Cable, Manual, USB Power Adapter
Cellular
Networks
No
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
No
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth Yes
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Effects, Image stabilization, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel density 339 pixels
Size 8.9 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 6000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 5 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 10 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Up to 14 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.7 x 23.1 x 0.8 cm (6.2 x 9.1 x 0.3 in)
Weight 375 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Stereo
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

GPS and Mobile Hotspot only available on 4G version.
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