Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Customers like the quality, sound quality, and speed of the Kindle Fire HD. They mention that it's a very nice device, movies play very well, and has excellent wifi. They also like the value, graphics, and color. However, some customers disagree on connectivity, and ease of use.
Customers like the quality of the Kindle Fire HD. They mention that the library system is really good, it's a very nice device if your main use will be web, and the earbuds are pretty good. They also mention that movies play very well on the e-reader, and Skype is brilliant. The audio quality is also really impressive, and it works great for this.
"...I was extremely impressed with both the quality and volume capacity, which was an unexpected bonus...." Read more
"...I've watched many streaming movies on Prime and I am so impressed with both the quality and the "loudness" of the speakers...." Read more
"...use Bluetooth--for playing music to speakers for instance--have worked flawlessly, better than iOS 6 at being reliable...." Read more
"...I'm doing or something with the Kindle Fire, but Facebook doesn't always work properly -- I'll click on an update and it takes me to a completely..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the Amazon tablet. Some mention that it's very intuitive to use, while others say that it is difficult to find quickly. The selection menus are not obvious, and the user manual is useless.
"...Also with the Kindle Fire HD, I am able to upload my draft novels and read them for edits, but! even better, I was able to listen to my book!..." Read more
"...system, I've become extremely fond of the simplicity in navigating across media selections, web browsing, storage, and settings...." Read more
"...1. Power button is invisible/impossible to find - I *really* don't get this one...." Read more
"...Startup cannot be easier, no hook up to PC needed, just turn it on and everything shows up on the devise since it is automatically linked to your..." Read more
3,538 customers mention3,357 positive181 negative
Customers like the graphics of the tablet. For example, they mention the display is very crisp, the picture quality is great, and the resolution is higher. That said, some say the screen is no issue whatsoever, and reading books is a joy, as it doesn't strain their eyes.
"...The sound quality is also better than I would have imagined, nice and clear and enough volume...." Read more
"...a movie / tech buff, and was the first to comment on how clear the quality of video was, even when streaming from Amazon's Cloud or Netflix...." Read more
"...It's thinner and lighter and the display is very crisp. More importantly, the processor is noticeably faster and so is the wifi connection...." Read more
"...The resolution is higher and the screen looks far sharper and clearer, delivering a much more pleasant quality across the board, whether it be..." Read more
2,820 customers mention2,418 positive402 negative
Customers generally like the value of the tablet. They say that it's a relatively cheap device to watch movies, listen to music, and browse magazines. For current Fire owners, the upgrade is well worth the money as the Fire HD just delivers, and the layout is very neat with a lot of good offers.
"...For current Fire owners, the upgrade is well worth the money as the Fire HD just delivers a more complete and pleasant experience because of the..." Read more
"...I chose this tablet for the following reasons: Price point, HDMI output, Amazon "love", and existing Kindle book selection...." Read more
"...This thing is definitely worth the money that I paid, and considering how functional it is I believe I made the right decision for me...." Read more
"...My first choice was Kindle Paperwhite. Fairly inexpensive and it seemed to have all the features that I was looking for in good e-book reader...." Read more
2,491 customers mention2,331 positive160 negative
Customers are satisfied with the color of the tablet. They mention that it has a beautiful screen, nice speakers, and a nice finish on the back. The screen has brilliant color resolution, and the black levels are also fairly impressive. Overall, customers are happy with the intuitive design and the ease of use.
"...my Facebook experience is a little frustrating - though the graphics are so beautiful, I love looking at photos there...." Read more
"...and the screen looks far sharper and clearer, delivering a much more pleasant quality across the board, whether it be reading books or watching HD..." Read more
"...It feels more rugged than I expected. Has a nice finish on the back. Not too hard, not too soft...." Read more
2,360 customers mention2,074 positive286 negative
Customers like the sound quality of the tablet. They say that the sound is very good, with both the quality and volume capacity, which was an unexpected bonus. They also mention that there's nothing that moves or makes noise, and the dual stereo speakers and Dolby digital processing works.
"...was obviously a computer voice; however, I was quite surprised at how "normal" she sounded, enough that I could listen to my entire novel while..." Read more
"...I was extremely impressed with both the quality and volume capacity, which was an unexpected bonus...." Read more
"...With the Kindle HD, no need. Sounds great standalone (I think there are 2 speakers in the back)!..." Read more
"...The sound output has significantly been upgraded, so that finally there's a portable device that can put out sound that everyone in the room can..." Read more
2,216 customers mention1,559 positive657 negative
Customers like the speed of the Kindle Fire HD. They say that it connects faster and stays connected much more, while the WiFi is quick and stable during downloads. The photos look great on it, and the response is very snappy most of the time. The page turns are quick, and although they lack the book like charm of the, they have an intuitive interface and fast navigation. The Mini has a nicer, smoother browser, and has plenty of processing power. However, some customers can spend multiple seconds (5+) waiting for the tablet to load.
"...It's way faster than I imagined, and in fact, I haven't had any delays or dragging at all...." Read more
"...incredible job at keeping its tablet simple with a high quality, no-lag interface...." Read more
"...You can choose to encrypt your data, but it slows things down when you browse...." Read more
"...The streaming is also super fast and I have Amazon Prime, so tons of free movies to choose from and I find Amazon's movie recommendation algorithm..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the connectivity of the tablet. Some mention that the built-in shopping app for Amazon is pretty slick, while others say that the App Store is pretty pitiful and lacks all the Google Play apps available on the Kindle. They also mention that there is an integrated calendar app that syncs with their gmail.
"...I was able to find ALL of the apps that I'd ever want for it, and didn't have any problems with the "ads", which are mostly thoughtful suggestions..." Read more
"...So my Facebook experience is a little frustrating - though the graphics are so beautiful, I love looking at photos there...." Read more
"...Startup cannot be easier, no hook up to PC needed, just turn it on and everything shows up on the devise since it is automatically linked to your..." Read more
"...Another thing people are complaining about is the lack of GPS. Am I missing something?? This is a wifi device not a 3G/4G tablet...." Read more
This is a rewrite of my original review, the one that garnered all the helpful votes you see, now that this particular Kindle has been replaced with a new and improved replacement, it's time for retrospective reviews for a device few should buy given better valued alternatives.My original review warned that Amazon had a history of not providing updated operating systems to their legacy devices. And that has again proven true. The current Fire HD, the one released in 2013, is running a new operating system called Fire OS 3.0, which is based upon Android 4.2.2 (this is according to Wikipedia) whereas this device is stuck on a fork of Android 4.0.3; I've called Kindle support and the nice lady tells me that this is the situation and she has no information about it changing. By comparison, I purchased an iPad Mini a few months after my Kindle Fire HD, and it has since been upgraded to from iOS 6 to 7, and then 8 and since Apple still sells it will almost assuredly get iOS 9. This Kindle is not a device with a software future.So, I've had both this device and an iPad Mini in my house for well over a year, and my children and I have both hugely favored the Mini in terms of every use case except the easy consumption of books. The Mini has a nicer, smoother browser which combined with its larger screen make it a far superior web experience, an easier to navigate operating system: the standard carousel view of the Kindle gets old very fast as you want to navigate to another app. And iOS has the best selection of optimized tablet apps of any mobile device. The Kindle has proven a nice way for my son to spontaneously find something to read; as long as I can stomach the occasional $6 charge for a cheap book. And it's been convenient sometimes to drop the kids into the Freetime mode of curated all-you-can-eat children's content. But in general, we get more use out of the Mini; to the point I lost the Kindle somewhere in the house for a couple months and nobody complained or even asked where it might be (it was under a stack of books).The hardware has been solid if not a technological feast. Whereas I've twice had to go and get my iPad Mini replaced via AppleCare due to a drop, the Fire HD is completely unscathed and looks as new as the day it came out of the box. Most of this is use, but still, it's solidly built. However, I'm constantly reminded by the huge difference in screen size between a widescreen 7 inch tablet like this device and a 4:3 nearly 8 inch tablet like the Mini; there's just so much more content visible on the Mini and common activities like web browsing seem so less confined. The Kindle does have a lovely high resolution screen and text looks great on it. Speedwise, the Kindle chugs along; it's not ridiculously underpowered like the original Kindle Fire, but you wouldn't call it snappy. My original review said the design of the device was something "...future Kindles can build upon and refine..." well that turned out to be wrong, not that the new design is bad.Connectivity has been fine. I've never had any problems with WiFi, and the times I've needed to use Bluetooth--for playing music to speakers for instance--have worked flawlessly, better than iOS 6 at being reliable. I wish that the charging port didn't look so much like the adjacent mini-HDMI port as finding which to plug into is a pain. The worst thing about the construction are the buttons which are hard to locate, and cheap feeling. The microphone/headphone jack has been a bit unreliable when it comes to using headphone controls, sometimes a click is missed.The ecosystem has been mediocre. I don't have much experience with Google's Play Store, but certainly as an iOS user I have a better App store and a wider collection of accessories, peripherals and built in services. For instance, I'd never lose my iPad in my house as long as it had charge enough for me to make it beep with the Find My Phone app. Many people have commented in this review that I should point out the alternative of buying a Nexus 7 from Google, and while I can't recommend what I haven't used, it seems likely shoppers should give that a glance.Anyway, I'm glad to have provided a critical review which has helped so many shoppers. I'd say that no one should buy this product as it is now priced--I'm sure Amazon expects you might want one of their newer offering--and I wish you luck with your buying decision.
I already owned the "regular Kindle" that I used to read books, and to upload my own novel drafts onto to read for editing, which by the way, for you authors/writers out there, is a wonderful way to edit your draft works. I didn't want to spend the money on an iPad, and really, thought the iPad would be more than I needed. The Kindle Fire HD 7" seemed the perfect choice for me and I haven't been disappointed.
The graphics are beautiful, more than I thought they'd be, and I can't wait to upload photos to it. I've yet to explore all the things my Kindle Fire can do, so I'm excited to see what else I'll discover.
The sound quality is also better than I would have imagined, nice and clear and enough volume.
It's way faster than I imagined, and in fact, I haven't had any delays or dragging at all. Maybe as I upload things it'll slow up, but for now, it's quite fast.
I uploaded my first and only game (I'm not a gamer), Solitaire, and of course it was lighting fast to order and upload -- and the game worked perfectly.
As with my former "regular kindle" I am able to comfortably read books - I didn't think I'd like the "glossy" screen when reading as much as I LOVE the "regular screen on the regular kindle" but I still am able to get into the novels/short story collections I read, though, in some ways I still like the "book look" of the "regular kindle;" yet, still, an enjoyable read.
Also with the Kindle Fire HD, I am able to upload my draft novels and read them for edits, but! even better, I was able to listen to my book! The computer voice was obviously a computer voice; however, I was quite surprised at how "normal" she sounded, enough that I could listen to my entire novel while taking notes on rough patches and mistakes -- just one more layer of editing for my drafts. I even came to be fond of that voice, laughing! As well, I am going to record myself reading and upload that to my kindle (or maybe I can record right on the Kindle - I'll explore that capability).
I like how the KF alerts me when I have a notification.
This device will be perfect for traveling, which I do fairly often. I can use Kindle Fire to check email, social networking, play some solitaire, I could watch a movie, read books, and, I can listen or read my novel drafts--so there is no reason to take a computer when I travel, especially by airplane, as I can easily slip my Kindle Fire into my purse or bag and away I go!
It was super easy to set up.
As an author and a reader, the idea of ebooks was scary at first, but now I can't imagine my reading or my "author world" without them! I can upload books in mere seconds onto my Kindle and Kindle Fire, and my own books can be enjoyed by people from just about anywhere! How cool is that? Amazon has saved many an author from oblivion as we try to be noticed in a big ole sea of authors wanting space in bookstores. When I do upload a book, I can retrieve it on either Kindle I own, which is a plus, as well.
For the price, I am very pleased and would recommend this product to anyone, and I have.
There is one wrinkle I am having and that is with Facebook -- I can't figure out if it's something I'm doing or something with the Kindle Fire, but Facebook doesn't always work properly -- I'll click on an update and it takes me to a completely different screen--the same incorrect screen over and over. The screen will jump to somewhere completely different from where I clicked. So my Facebook experience is a little frustrating - though the graphics are so beautiful, I love looking at photos there. If I figure out it is something I'm doing, I'll report back (I will look at reviews and see if anyone else is having this problem).
This is a wonderful little device and a great alternative to someone who does not want to own an iPad, for whatever reason, but still wants the experience of a tablet.
So like many of you, I spent hours researching the best tablet for my dollar. After reading multiple reviews and comparison charts, in my mind I had viewed the Kindle as my least favorite. I had read the CONS associated with the Kindle (the lack of apps, the "ads", a front facing camera only, lack of maps/GPS apps, and a slightly inferior processing speed), and was instantly turned away from the idea of Kindle... until I tested it out firsthand.
I went to a couple different electronic shops and started with the Google Nexus 7, which was my first choice based on what I'd read. Although the GPS features and processing power might've been "better", I found the interface to be completely confusing and counter-intuitive. I quite frankly didn't like the feel of it, and the screen seemed smaller and cramped.
Despite being an Apple user, I just didn't like the iPad mini either, especially for the price.
Finally, I decided to go ahead and check out the Kindle. I loved it right off the bat! Just as many of the user reports have said, if you're looking for a tablet for videos, reading, and general web surfing, this is the tablet for you! I was able to find ALL of the apps that I'd ever want for it, and didn't have any problems with the "ads", which are mostly thoughtful suggestions about other apps, books, and videos that may interest me based off my collections. The processing speed is incredibly fast, and the book and video quality is crisp. You can tell that Kindle focused on keeping the viewers & readers happy, and it most definitely paid off.
In addition, I genuinely enjoy the Amazon ecosystem. I can access all my books, movies, and songs from any device, be it my phone, tablet, or computer, and love the added bonuses of Amazon Prime's free videos and book borrowing. I was pleasantly surprised to see the few forgotten amazon songs that I'd purchased on my phone months ago appear instantly on my Kindle Fire HD. Free Cloud support is as good as it gets!
On top of that, I had an initial issue with my Kindle synching to my German Amazon account (instead of my American account). Within 2 minutes, I was on the phone with a Kindle Support Technician who walked me through the process of resolving the issue. I couldn't have been more impressed.
All in all- make sure to personally test and play around with all the tablets. Despite specs and reviews, you have your own unique needs and preferences, so make sure to invest the time to take a look for yourself. I'm extremely glad that I did!
---
GENERAL NOTES:
APPS: I've become more and more impressed with the availability of apps on the Kindle. Maybe my expectations were low to begin with, but since opening it from the box (Feb 2013), I've had access to everything I'd wanted, including- Twitter, Skype, EverNote, Flixster, Netflix, Bodybuilding.com, MyFitnessPal, Spotify, Pandora, and all the latest popular games like Ruzzle, Temple Run 2, and Minecraft.
SCREEN: My husband is a movie / tech buff, and was the first to comment on how clear the quality of video was, even when streaming from Amazon's Cloud or Netflix. I personally found the size and quality superior to the Google Nexus 7, which was slightly cramped, especially when viewing videos from the internet browser.
SPEAKERS: I'm an apple fan, but I'm constantly complaining about the speakers on Apple products, even on my Macbook Pro. The Kindle Fire HD speakers are located on either side of the tablet (when horizontal), and will knock your socks off! I was extremely impressed with both the quality and volume capacity, which was an unexpected bonus.
"ADVERTISEMENTS": There has been a lot of debate regarding the ads on the kindle, but to be honest, I've found some great apps, books, and movies as a result. To me, it's seemed no different than Netflix recommending other movies based on your interests, and I've grown to like and appreciate the ads as a result. Funny though, because I initially thought this would be a show stopper for me, since I'm extremely anti-advertisements.
USER INTERFACE: Although initially I felt the interface to be lacking that "open" feel of an operating system, I've become extremely fond of the simplicity in navigating across media selections, web browsing, storage, and settings. The carousel customizing is as effortless and as intuitive as an Apple product, and is always a welcomed sight upon logging in. This was probably one of the biggest deterrents for choosing the Google Nexus 7, which confused me to no end, despite having owned an Android phone in the past. Amazon has done an incredible job at keeping its tablet simple with a high quality, no-lag interface.
PROCESSING: I'm notorious for opening multiple tabs and multi-tasking across games and videos (yeah I know- ADD much?), and have been EXTREMELY impressed with the Kindle's ability to not only keep up, but perform without lag. Of course it's still early on in my ownership, but I'll re-visit this review after I've had a chance to load it up with additional apps and media.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Amazon is second to none. They put their customers first, and I've read about it time and time again. When I first registered my Kindle, I had mistakenly registered it with my German Amazon account. When I logged in, my entire Kindle was in German. Within two minutes, I was on the phone with a technician who was able to resolve the problem. There was no wait, and they even followed up to make sure my issue was resolved. I couldn't have been happier, and have nothing but confidence in their priorities towards me as the customer.
OVERALL: Phenomenal tablet, especially for the price, and truly unbeatable customer service!