Amazon Unveils The New Kindle Fire HD and Paperwhite Models, Will Release Over The Next Few Months

by Briley 1

Amazon’s Kindle line is back with three new models, and although we don’t agree with everyone else saying they’re “game changers,” we will admit they are all quite attractive.

Kindle embraced the tablet world with their previous Kindle Fire tablet. Mostly due to the success of its predecessor the original Kindle Fire, consumers immediately fell in love with the tablet version. They obviously weren’t aware of the far superior Barnes & Noble Nook tablet. Hopefully, with all the other options on the market now like the Google Nexus 7, no one will make a speedy and impulsive decision here.

Nonetheless, the new line of Kindle products clearly have their charming specs and features. The three new Kindle models are as follows: the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ 4G, the Kindle Fire HD, and the Kindle Paperwhite.

The New Amazon Kindle Family

Two of the three Kindle models are predecessors to the Kindle Fire Tablet, while the third is simply a more advanced eReader.

The All New Kindle Fire HD Family

The Amazon Kindle Fire HD Models

Kindle Fire 8.9 HD 4G

Kindle Fire HD 8.9 4GAt the forefront, we have the large (compared to previous Kindle iterations) Kindle Fire HD 8.9 tablet with 4G LTE functionality. Needless to say, this baby includes a 1920×1200 HD display that has essentially earned it the HD moniker.

The Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz OMAP4470 processor and 1GB of installed RAM. The Fire HD also includes a PowerVR 3D graphics core for enhanced GPU support with graphic intensive 3D games and HD quality content.

New to all the Kindle Fire HD models, is a front facing camera for video chat, but there is no comment on the resolution. In addition, the Kindle Fire HD includes dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi support for faster and more powerful Wi-Fi signals.

The Kindle Fire 8.9 HD 4G will be available in two models, one with 32GB of internal storage for $499 and the other with 64GB of internal storage for $599.

Kindle Fire HD

Kindle Fire HD

Now the midgrade model in the tablet family, the Kindle Fire HD is more closely compared to the previous Kindle Fire Tablet. It features almost all the same specs as the premiere model (8.9 HD) with exception to a slower processor, less internal storage and a smaller overall size.

The Kindle Fire HD is equipped with a 7″ HD display that supports a maximum 1280×800 resolution. Like the Kindle Fire 8.9, the Fire HD sports a dual-core OMAP Processor and PowerVR 3D graphics core, except the 7″ Kindle Fire has a 1.2GHz processor. Of course, all three of the newer models include 1GB of installed RAM so nothing has changed there.

The Kindle Fire HD also includes a USB 2.0 port, micro-HDMI output, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Just like the Fire 8.9, the Kindle Fire HD includes a front facing camera for video chat and dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi support.

Amazon estimates you’ll get around 11 hours of battery life under continuous use while doing things like reading, surfing the web, listening to music and watching videos.

The Kindle Fire HD will be available in two different models, a 16GB model for $199 and a 32GB model for $249.

Kindle Paperwhite

The Kindle Paperwhite is what Amazon claims to be “the world’s most advanced eReader.” It includes a 6″ display with support for 16 level grey scale images in the standard E Ink technology. A patented light based system allows Kindle users to read the device at night, similar to what can be found in the Barnes and Noble SimpleTouch and Kobo’s Glo ComfortLight.

Kindle Paperwhite

Integrated Wi-Fi ensures that you can always connect to the internet and download new content to the device. While a USB 2.0 port and charging cable let you connect your device to a computer and transfer content from your home library. The beauty of the Kindle Paperweight is that, thanks to the integrated Wi-Fi, a home computer is not necessary to obtain new content.

The Kindle Paperwhite includes 2GB of internal storage, which Amazon claims will contain approximately 1,100 books before you need to make some more room. With an Amazon account, you also get free cloud storage for all of your Amazon based content, which means you don’t even have to use the internal storage.

Amazon says that a single 4 hour charge will last up to eight weeks if you read for a half an hour per day with the Wi-Fi disabled. Of course, if you read in longer increments and use the Wi-Fi the battery won’t last nearly that long.

The Kindle Paperwhite is conveniently priced at $139, but can also be purchased for $119 if you take advantage of additional special offers.

The Kindle Fire HD Tablets & Paperwhite Release Date

Amazon is allowing consumers to pre-order all three tablet versions at this time. If you do decide to preorder you will be added to a queue of individuals who will receive their device right at launch. The Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is set to ship on November 20th, 2012 preceded by the Kindle Paperwhite on October 1, 2012 and then the Kindle Fire HD on September 14, 2012.

We don’t have long to wait for the release of any of the new Kindle models, so make sure to get your preorders in right away.

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