Amazon Fire (2017)
Packed with compromises, but still a terrific value tablet that you can safely hand over to the kids
We can talk processor speeds, resolutions and battery capacities all day long, but with Amazon’s new-and-improved 7in Fire tablet there’s only one number that matters: £50. While I have plenty of negative things to say about the Fire, bear in mind this is still a tablet with a quad-core processor, two cameras and Amazon’s slick, family-friendly software.
What’s more, the 2017 Fire has Alexa, better battery life and four new colours, should you want to get all jazzy. And you might be tempted. In black, this is as generic and featureless a 7in tablet as you can imagine. It’s over 1cm thick, crafted from cheapfeeling plastic, and with only the shiny silver power switch and volume rocker at the top to lend it the merest hint of design nous.
The thick frame even conspires to make the Fire’s 7in IPS display look smaller than it is. And, just when you thought 800 x 1,280 was becoming the entry-level standard for bargainbasement tablets, along comes Amazon with a 600 x 1,024 screen.
This is arguably the Fire’s biggest shortcoming. Any digital newspaper, magazine or graphic novel with small text is a pain to read. HD video you stream or purchase from Amazon will only play at SD resolution, adding to the Fire’s basic, dated feel.
Nor is it a particularly good 600 x 1,024 screen. It’s surprisingly bright – we measured it at 330cd/m2 – but colour accuracy is average to poor across the board. Colours look washed-out and there’s little punch when viewing photos or video.
Don’t expect blazing performance either. With a 1.3GHz MediaTek processor and 1GB of RAM, there are noticeable pauses when launching apps, checking your email or opening a new browser tab. These aren’t painful, but are a shock if you’re used to something snappy. At least 720p video plays without a stutter.
Gaming performance varies. 2D or basic 3D games, such as Rayman: Fiesta Run, will run perfectly smoothly, but Asphalt 8 or Dead Trigger 2? Get used to seriously reduced detail levels or frequent jerks. The graphics chip doesn’t even support the features required to run GFXBench’s Manhattan 3 tests.
We weren’t expecting much from the Fire’s battery, but it achieved 8hrs 30mins of 720p video playback at 170cd/m2 before the screen went blank; not bad for a (did I mention?) £50 tablet. Nor does it waste much charge when it’s put to sleep and woken up, losing 2% of its battery capacity when left overnight.
The Fire also wins for ease of use. Now that Amazon has made the switch to Android 5.1 Lollipop - with its own Fire OS overlay - the firm has settled on a much-needed middle ground between Android familiarity and its own, easy to use layout.
Gone is that carousel system, with an Android-like app grid in its place. This way, you can find third-party apps much more easily, and browse Amazon services such as Prime Video with just a few swipes.
There’s Amazon Alexa here too. Just hold down the home button to access Amazon’s own voice assistant, and speak away. if you don’t like it, just turn her off in the settings menu. As Jonathan Bray eulogises opposite, it’s a great inclusion.
Finally, the Fire for Kids feature makes it easy for parents to control and monitor how their offspring are using their
“Forget processor speeds, with Amazon’s new-andimproved 7in Fire tablet there’s just one number that matters: £50”
tablets, while the Fire for Kids Unlimited subscription (£1.99 per month) should keep the little darlings in apps, games, books and movies without costing a fortune.
Surprisingly, the Fire features two cameras, with a 2-megapixel camera at the rear and a VGA webcam on the front. Less surprising is that neither of these is any good. The rear snapper takes dull, fuzzy pictures without autofocus to help out. The front-facing camera is even worse.
Everywhere you look there are further compromises. The Fire has the bare minimum of sensors – an accelerometer and gyroscope, but no ambient light sensor or GPS. There’s only 8GB of storage with 5GB available for use, although a microSD card slot makes that less of an issue. The Wi-Fi is single-band 802.11n. Sound is mono, congested and tinny, meaning the Fire misses out in an area where Amazon has always been strong.
But then we come back to the price. For £50, Amazon delivers a usable tablet for email, browsing and entertainment, particularly if you’re prepared to tie yourself into Amazon’s content ecosystem and embrace an Amazon Prime subscription. If money is tight, and you can’t stretch to the Fire HD 8, Amazon’s new Fire tablet is the way to go. SPECIFICATIONS Quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek MT8127D processor 1GB RAM 7in IPS screen, 600 x 1,024 resolution 8GB storage microSD card slot 2MP/0.3MP rear/front camera 802.11n Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4 2,980mAh battery Amazon Fire OS 115 x 10.6 x 191mm (WDH) 313g 1yr warranty