Amazon will likely launch new Kindle Fire tablets this fall: the company tends to release new eReader and tablet hardware every year. But while Amazon isn’t exactly saying what new features its next-gen tablets will have, the folks at BGR seem to think they have a good idea.
Sources tell them that Amazon will launch three new tablets this year, each with a higher-resolution display than the model it replaces.
Kindle FireÂ
Right now Amazon sells an entry-level Kindle Fire with a 7 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display and a $159 price tag. According to BGR, next year the base model will have a 1280 x 800 pixel screen, and hopefully a similar price tag.
Kindle Fire HD 7
So if the entry-level model has an HD display, how will Amazon differentiate the more expensive model? With a full HD display.
The $199 model will go from a 1280 x 800 pixel screen to a 1920 x 1200 pixel display.
Kindle Fire HD 8.9
Finally, Amazon’s expected to replace the 1920 x 1200 pixel screen in its 8.9 inch tablet with a higher-resolution 2560 x 1600 pixel display, giving it one of the highest pixel densities of any tablet around.
The current Kindle Fire HD 8.9 sells for about $269, and the goal is to offer the new model for around that price.
According to BGR, the tablets will also feature a new design that’s a bit more angular and less round, the devices weigh less than their predecessors, and the power and volume buttons have moved from the side to the back.
As with any rumors, it’s best to take these with a grain of salt — but increasing the display resolution while maintaining the price seems like a safe bet for Amazon. The tablet market seems to be moving toward high-resolution screens in general, and if Amazon wants to continue to be a major player in the digital boot, magazine, and movie space, it makes sense for the company to follow that trend, if not lead it.
Unfortunately there’s still no word on what processors the next-generation Kindle Fire tablets will use when they hit the streets this fall.
Up until now, all of Amazon’s tablets have shipped with Texas Instruments OMAP processors. But TI has largely stopped developing new chips for consumer devices like the Kindle Fire tablets, instead focusing on the enterprise and automotive spaces.
“three new models. ”
They ought to release a 5, 7 and 8.9 inch models in my opinion. But then again, most people use smartphones, so maybe there is not a big market for 5 inch wifi only tablets.
Yes, the below 5″ range is dominated by phones…
While Super Phones/Phablets fall into the 5″ to 7″ range… Limiting the market appeal of devices that don’t offer the full range of all in one functionality at those sizes…
While tablets start at 7″ to 10.1″ range before entering the non-mobile range for 11.6″ and larger screens… as screens too small for easy multiple touch, with at least a minimum level of accuracy, is considered too small to be considered for regular tablet usage… along with those smaller devices also being used more often for other things like camera and phone usage.
Not to mention how 7″ and larger has the opposite effect of being considered too big to be used for phone usage, etc.
While most e-ink readers were in the 6″ and larger size range… and people generally consider smaller that that not as comfortable for reading for long periods…