The war for tablet supremacy is getting more crowded as companies are introducing tablets to try and capture the smaller, budget market. The initial success of the Amazon Kindle Fire led to the Google Nexus 7's introduction. The Nexus 7 is currently the most attractive $199 tablet and Amazon is fighting back with a new lineup of tablets that includes a 7-inch Kindle Fire HD.
While there are content features that the Kindle Fire HD has over the Google Nexus 7, in the end, some may find that the Nexus 7 offers a more well-rounded experience.
The Google Nexus 7 is already available for purchase online and in retail stores, while Amazon will start shipping the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD on November 14.
To begin with, the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD is priced at $199 as well. At this price range, neither tablet offers 3G or 4G support, although Amazon is offering a 4G 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD for $499. Both tablets run at a 1280X800 resolution.
Amazon also claims that its Kindle Fire HD is up to 54 percent faster on Wi-Fi thanks to its dual-band, dual-antennae set up.
The Nexus 7 is available in 8GB and 16GB models, while the 7-inch Amazon Kindle Fire HD is available in 16GB and 32GB models. Both tablets run Android operating system, but the Nexus 7 runs the latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean system versus what looks like Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on the Kindle Fire HD.
The Kindle Fire HD also lacks some sensors such as GPS, which the Nexus 7 has, and thus won't have an integrated maps system.
The biggest difference will probably lie in how much you value Amazon's content. If you are tied into an Amazon account, the Kindle Fire HD will allow you to utilize cloud storage to access all of your movies, books, and other content. Google's Play Store, however, has more apps available on it.
Both are solid tablets, and look like they will be the two top dogs in the $199 tablet range - that is until Apple's iPad Mini steals the show again.
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