Amazon Fire 7 Tablet Review
After three years, Amazon has refreshed the Fire 7, its most affordable tablet. The new model, which starts at $59.99, is slightly more expensive than its predecessor but offers a battery life comparable to the larger and far more expensive Fire HD 10’s. It also has more RAM. A more powerful processor, up to 32GB of built storage, and USB-C are also added.
That performance disparity is expected given that the Fire 7 Tablet 2022 is cheaper than most entry-level tablets. The more expensive and larger-screened Fire HD 8 ($89.99) and the less expensive Fire 7 Tablet are excellent places to start if you only want a low-cost entry point to Amazon’s content and services.
Features and Specifications of Amazon Fire 7 Tablet
A Tiny Low-Resolution Screen
The Fire 7 Tablet’s large bezels around the screen are the initial thing you notice about it. The tablet ignores the current trend of embracing an edge-to-edge display because it looks nearly identical to its dated predecessor. If you’re the sort who prefers a pristine smartphone, be prepared to wipe it down frequently because the plastic substance on the back attracts fingerprints.
Although the bulky design could be improved, it isn’t the worst we’ve seen. It is available in Rose, Denim, or Black. Despite measuring 7.11 by 4.63 by 0.38 inches (HWD) and weighing 9.9 ounces, Amazon’s new tablet is too wide to hold comfortably in one hand, especially if you have smaller hands. The 7-inch screen is inadequate. It only features a 1,024 by 600-pixel resolution, which is less than HD and translates to just 171 pixels per inch (PPI), making it the same size as the 2019 model.
- The tablet makes it simple to identify individual pixels as a result.
- Because of its 8-inch, 1,280 by 800-pixel screen, the Fire HD 8 is a little superior option if you frequently watch movies or enjoy other visual content (189ppi).
- The screen on the Fire 7 could be more brilliant, too; I found it difficult to see outside in the bright sun.
- The tablet’s top edge is home to the power button, the volume rocker, the USB-C port (a welcome upgrade from the micro USB port found on the 2019 model), and the 3.5mm headphone jack.
- The right edge conceals a microSD memory card slot that can accommodate cards up to 1TB, and the left edge holds a solitary speaker.
- The mono speaker has the terrible audio quality and cannot generate enough bass in the test track.
- For the tablet, Amazon sells a first-party case from an unidentified manufacturer for $29.99.
- You may prop the tablet using the diagonal fold on the case’s front. The case is kept open or shut by magnets. It exudes quality, Although it is less durable than the tablet case that comes with the Kid’s edition.
Ineffective Performance
The 2022 Fire 7 Tablet has better (albeit still extremely basic) internal hardware than its predecessor. A 2.0GHz Qualcomm MediaTek MT8168 processor and 2GB of RAM are included in the updated edition. While this is an upgrade from the 1.3GHz CPU & 1GB of RAM in the previous edition, the tablet still seems, at best, slow. Benchmark testing revealed terrible performance, some of which were completely inoperable on the gadget.
However, given that this is a cost-effective slate, it is safe to anticipate that most users will largely use it for routine, everyday work. Because of this, the PCMark Work 3.0 test is a reliable tool for evaluating performance.
- This test yielded a score of 4,409 for the Fire 7 Tablet, which is lower than any current smartphone but somewhat higher than the earlier Fire 8 HD (4,290).
- Think twice before using the Fire 7 Tablet to play games. Most current mobile games aren’t designed to function on such primitive hardware.
- Simple games like Color Switch operate smoothly but forget about anything with 3D graphics because frame rates plummet to unplayable levels. In other words, it works best for simple games.
Compatible Bluetooth
Since the tablet is Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, connecting your wireless headphones to it shouldn’t be a problem. The internet connection is handled via a dual-band, single-antenna Wi-Fi radio. According to my experience, the Wi-Fi performance is approximately what you would anticipate from a low-cost smartphone; you shouldn’t experience any problems with streaming, for example.
The tablet’s base model only has 16GB of storage, while the 32GB version we tested costs $79.99. Given the microSD card port, 16GB of internal memory should be adequate.
Increased Battery Life
Amazon upgraded the battery inside the Fire 7 Tablet, which now boasts a battery life of up to 10 hours. The tablet held out for 9 hours and 30 minutes on our battery drain test, which involved streaming a YouTube video over Wi-Fi with the screen at its brightest setting. That is a significant advancement over the old model.
We are pleased that the Fire 7 Tablet comes close to the manufacturer’s battery life estimate because companies frequently overstate their claims. The charging process is less than stellar. According to Amazon, the supplied 5W charger took 4 hours to charge the tablet fully. With this tablet, there is no such thing as rapid charging. Only 9% of the device’s battery remained after 15 minutes of charging.
You Can (But Probably Shouldn’t) Take Pictures. The tablet’s front- and back-facing 2MP cameras can capture 720p video. However, we only advise relying on the Fire 7 for capturing images if you can be somewhere without your smartphone.
You can take a serviceable photo if all the conditions are ideal and there is a reasonable quantity of daylight. But you probably will get a better picture in most other scenarios. For instance, photographs exhibit a high degree of noise in low-light conditions.
The cameras are useful for scanning documents or starting a quick video conversation, but that’s about it. Zoom video conferences had clear audio and visuals. We must emphasize that you should refrain from using the Fire 7 Tablet to take images of anything significant.
Upgrades to Android 11 for Fire OS
Most people disagree with Amazon’s Fire OS, a tablet feature. Although Amazon’s user interface differs greatly from what Android users use, the platform is built on Google’s Android. First, it switches to the far less popular Amazon Appstore from the abundant Google Play Store.
Because iPads and other Android tablets have access to much more apps through specific app stores, they are at a disadvantage. An example would be Fire 7’s inability to download even the most basic version of the YouTube app from Amazon Appstore.
Pros & Cons of Amazon Fire 7 Tablet
Pros
- Cheaper than the majority of tablets
- Greater specifications & battery life than the predecessor
- Support for hands-free Alexa
- Additional storage.
Cons
- Ineffective performance
- A meager variety of apps
- Monitor with a low resolution
- Shoddy cameras
- Ads are present on the lock screen in base models.
Last Thoughts
At under $60, the new Fire 7 Tablet is a good choice if you’re looking for a cheap tablet that highlights everything on Amazon. The battery life improvement and small performance enhancement justify its marginally greater price than the prior generation. It’s challenging to beat the price regardless of your selected storage or advertisement setup.
However, you must be aware going into the experience that an Amazon Prime Subscription must function at its optimum. Consider the 8-inch one if you want an Android tablet at a bargain price but aren’t invested in the Amazon ecosystem or want to avoid paying for a Prime subscription.
