Amazon is updating its Fire tablets range, adding a new USD 50 model, as well as introducing new high-end and kids models. The new Fire tablet for USD 49.99 will go on sale at the end of September, including an offer of buy five, get one free. The low-cost tablet offers a 7-inch IPS display, quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, front- and rear-facing cameras and up to 128GB of expandable storage via microSD.
It comes with the latest version of the Fire OS, named 'Bellini', which Amazon said updates the user interface to replicate the look and feel of a magazine when browsing apps and content. The latest OS introduces the new features OnDeck, which keeps track of downloaded content for offline viewing and automatically adjusts storage as needed, and the Activity Center for parents to see how kids are using the tablet. Both these features will roll out in a free over-the-air upgrade of the OS in the coming months. The new tablet also coincides with the launch of Amazon Underground, the online retailer's new storefront for apps and games.
Amazon also announced the new Fire HD tablet, in 8- and 10-inch versions from respectively USD 149.99 and USD 229.99. These will also run the 'Bellini' OS and go on sale from 30 September. The Fire HD is Amazon's thinnest tablet yet, at 7.7mm, and and features two stereo speakers and an HD display with over 1 million pixels and 16:10 widescreen aspect ratio. It runs a MediaTek 1.5 GHz quad-core processor and supports up to 128 GB storage with a microSD card. The Fire HD 8 is available for pre-order now with 8GB or 16GB of memory and a choice of black, magenta, blue and tangerine colours. The Fire HD 10 comes with 16 or 32 GB internal storage and a choice of black or white colours.
Finally, Amazon announced a new Fire Kids Edition tablet. Launched a year ago at USD 149.99, the new version costs USD 99.99 and comes with the updated tablet, a kid-proof case, one year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, 20,000 age-appropriate websites and YouTube videos, and a two-year guarantee.
