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Kindle Fire HD 8.9" review

7.7/10 AVG.
RATING
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Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
Kindle Fire HD 8.9"
...


7.7/10
Informr score
The Kindle Fire HD 8.9" currently has an Informr score of 7.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 23 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

At the last Amazon press event, a lot of people expected Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to unveil a 10-inch Android tablet. However, instead of a 10-incher, Bezos unveiled the Fire HD 8.9": a Kindle equipped with a 9-inch high-definition screen and 1920x1200 pixel resolution.

Based on early reviews, this Kindle appears to run a lot faster than the original. This is due in part to its 1.5GHz dual-core TI OMAP4470 processor and 1GB of onboard RAM. Internal storage starts at 16GB and can go up to 32GB, plus users can use Amazon cloud storage to back up and download all kinds of data. This particular tablet is one of the most well-equipped mobile computing devices ever announced with Android. Which by the way, is version 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.

Most reviewers agree that those looking for tight integration with Amazon's catalog of movies, music, games and books would be well served by this tablet. If you're one whose been pining for a slightly larger version of the original Fire, you'll probably love the HD 8.9”.

Need to Know: Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9”

1. 9-inch capacitive touchscreen display features native resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. (The Good)

2. Designed to work well with Amazon’s various online services. (The Good)

3. Default software is an older version of the Android operating system. (The Bad)

4. Lacks Google Play for Android applications. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.5 GHz
8.9"
Screen Size
Screen Size
8.9"
Yes
Camera
Camera
Yes
6000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


148Apps
148Apps

Though Terrortown is a good-looking and clever title that offers tons of achievements, it’s a pretty short game overall. Only perfectionists are going to want to comb through every single scoring option, whereas everyone else will probably sate themselves with a couple of playthroughs.But spen...

- Nadia Oxford, 148Apps
The Verge
The Verge

The Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 is a solid device and an improvement over last year’s model. It's fast, light, and has a great display, but it doesn't really measure up to an iPad Air or even a modern 10-inch Android tablet when it comes to actual functionality. Watching video on the high-res display...

- Dan Seifert, The Verge
The Inquirer
The Inquirer

The Kindle Fire HD has improved on its smaller sibling with a larger and higher quality display, and the carousel has certainly grown on us since first use with the 7in model, but the issues around performance and usability remain. The tablet is a good buy for anyone already tied into the Amazon eco...

- Madeline Bennett, The Inquirer
Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

If you prefer to take your content from a wider range of sources though, like to play all the latest games, have access to a wider range of apps and have the freedom to choose your own browser and email client, then the Google Nexus 10 is a better buy for £90 more. That said, if you're on a ti...

- Seth Barton, Expert Reviews
PC Pro
PC Pro

If you’re looking for a general-purpose Android tablet, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9in does a more equivocal job. In terms of processing power it’s fine, but nothing to write home about: the dual-core 1.5GHz TI design is a step up from the 1.2GHz CPU used by the 7in model, but a SunSpider score of 1,438ms...

- Darien Graham-Smith, PC Pro


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Quick view

Screen Size
8.9"

The Kindle Fire HD 8.9"'s screen size is 8.9 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.5 GHz

There is a Dual-core OMAP4470 1.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
Yes
There is a 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 10 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Kindle Fire HD 8.9" Specs

Overview
Release Date September 20, 2012
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Dual-core OMAP4470 1.5 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32/64 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included Data Cable, Manual
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
Infrared No
Bluetooth Yes
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Memory Expansion Slot No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
No
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
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 Unknown
Size 8.9 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive Touchscreen
Power & Battery
Type Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)
Battery Capacity 6000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging
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 Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 24.0 x 16.5 x 0.9 cm (9.5 x 6.5 x 0.4 in)
Weight 567 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 No
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader No
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Unknown
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: No
TV Out Info: HDMI
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, MP4, AAC, AMR-WB, WAV, OGG
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Wi-fi Encryption: WEP/WPA/WPA2
Viewable document types: AZW, BMP, DOC, DOCX, GIF, JPG, PDF, TXT
Games: Yes
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -


Other Names (AKA):

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