New Kindle Fire HDs might house Snapdragon 800, chew up current models

Kindle Fire HD
Get ready for a refresh

Word broke earlier this month that Amazon was preparing a new Kindle Fire trio for release later this year, and today more fuel has been thrown on that rumor's embers.

BGR, which initially reported the refresh, has additional spec info for the HD versions. There's little on new data for the next entry-level Kindle Fire, which was previously reported as jumping in screen res to 1280 x 800.

We did learn today that it will reportedly come in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB flavors.

As for the high-def crowd, the Kindle Fire HD 7" replacement is said to come with a 1920 x 1200 screen and sport a new design (we already knew that), but now we're also hearing that it will feature a quad-core Snapdragon 800 SoC, complete with four Krait 400 CPUs and Adreno 330 graphics.

Prototypes of the upcoming 7-inch HD are apparently hitting around 2GHz. For those keeping score at home, the new Nexus 7 runs a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro SoC, comprised of a quad-core Krait CPU and solo core Adreno 320 GPU.

Scorching

RAM is said to see a boost to 2GB (up from 1GB), and it will supposedly ship in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants.

Current tester models of the new 7-inch HD are running an old OS - Android 4.2.2 - but with heavy Amazon touches. Wi-Fi, a front-facing camera and cellular connection capacity round out the tab's potential specs.

The 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD, meanwhile, might come with a resolution-busting 2560 x 1600 display. It too will house a Snapdragon 800 and 2GB of RAM.

While Wi-Fi, optional cellular data support and multiple internal storage options are part of its package; the larger HD will also apparently receive a rear-facing 8MP snapper.

According to BGR's sources, the new HDs are vast improvements over on-the-market models, with the slates slipping into a more comfortable and lighter mold. Benchmarks have the HDs running three times better than current offerings, according to the report.

Amazon is said to be aiming for a fall launch for all three tablets, and may even go for a late September unveiling. Though the online retailer is apparently looking to keep pricing close to current levels, there will be variation since different storage options will be available.

  • If true, we're a few months away from these new Kindle Fires. Until then, read up on the new Nexus 7.
Michelle Fitzsimmons

Michelle was previously a news editor at TechRadar, leading consumer tech news and reviews. Michelle is now a Content Strategist at Facebook.  A versatile, highly effective content writer and skilled editor with a keen eye for detail, Michelle is a collaborative problem solver and covered everything from smartwatches and microprocessors to VR and self-driving cars.

Latest in eReaders
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2024 from the front
Hurry, Kindle owners! Today is your last chance to download backups of your ebooks – here's how to do it
A person holding the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) with the Home screen displayed
Amazon just killed a useful Kindle USB feature – leaving me stuck with less flexibility for ebook downloads and backups
A stylus selecting the AI Summary option on a Notebook of the Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024)
Your Kindle Scribe just became a better note-taking ereader with promised AI features rolling out widely now
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Missed it on Black Friday? The Kindle Paperwhite is back on sale again at Amazon
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft on an orange background
Amazon's brand-new Kindle Colorsoft just got its first discount – but there's a catch
A powered-down Onyx Boox Go 6 on a table with books, headphones and spectacles
Onyx Boox Go 6 review: bugs and performance woes undermine a promising entry-level ereader
Latest in News
Vision Pro Metallica
Apple Vision Pro goes off to never never land with Metallica concert footage
Mufasa is joined by another lion, a monkey and a bird in this promotional image
Mufasa: The Lion King prowls onto Disney+ as it finally gets a streaming release date
An American flag flying outside the US Capitol building against a blue sky
Sean Plankey selected as CISA director by President Trump
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 on a table with its retail packaging
Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU spotted in Acer gaming PC, suggesting rumors of imminent launch are correct – and that it’ll run with only 8GB of video RAM
Indiana Jones talking to a friend in a university setting with a jaunty smile on his face
New leak claims Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PS5 release will come in April
A close up of the limited edition vinyl turntable wrist watch from AndoAndoAndo
This limited-edition timepiece turns the iconic Technics SL-1200 turntable into a watch, and I want one