Amazon.com unveiled the latest version of its Kindle Fire HD tablets Wednesday morning, and they are lighter, faster and have higher-resolution displays than before. They also now have an X in their name.
The new 7-inch and 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX tablets feature better screens than last year's models. The 7-inch model now features a full 1080p HD display, and the 8.9-inch model's screen has been beefed up to a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel resolution with a 339-pixel density.
Both tablets are also faster, thanks to their 2.2GHz quad-core processors. And the 8.9-inch model is 34% lighter than its predecessor.
The Kindle Fire HDX tablets also feature a "Mayday Button," designed to make it easy for users to learn and understand any feature on the gadgets. It should be a useful tool for first-time tablet owners.
Amazon said customers can order now online. The 7-inch model starts at $229 will begin shipping Oct. 18. The $329 4G LTE version will ship on Nov. 14. The $379 8.9-inch model will ship Nov. 7 and the $479 4G LTE version will ship Dec. 10. The retailer also announced that it will sell 4G LTE models compatible with AT&T and now Verizon.
Customers looking to save money can check out the Kindle Fire HD models. They don't feature the high-resolution displays or powerful processors that the HDX models do, but they are available for less money and sooner.
Users can get the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD tablet starting at $139; the 8.9-inch model starts at $269. The company said the tablets can also be ordered now. The 7-inch model will ship on Oct. 2 and the 8.9-inch model will ship Thursday.
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