If you need a pill only for looking the web, watching movies and enjoying video games, you received’t want something fancy. Amazon’s Fire tablets are precisely that. Most of them are below $200, and the Fire 7, which has been up to date for 2022, begins at simply $60 ($75 if you happen to don’t need adverts on the lock display). It presents upgraded internals, in addition to Amazon’s Fire OS 8, which provides minor enhancements like a darkish mode. Yet, it nonetheless suffers from lots of the similar limitations that plagued older fashions, like the dearth of Google apps.

Updated {hardware}

The 2022 Fire 7 pill has 2GB of RAM (double that of earlier technology) and is powered by the identical quad-core 2.0GHz processor because the Fire HD 8. Amazon additionally guarantees longer battery life and, importantly, now makes use of a USB-C port as a substitute of micro-USB. That alone makes this definitely worth the improve, since USB-C is quick turning into the brand new charging normal.

Pros

• USB-C charging
• Long battery life
• Hands-free Alexa
• Affordable

Cons

• Still no Google apps
• Poor show high quality
• Sluggish efficiency

Aside from that, the general feel and appear of the Fire 7 is unchanged. It’s made out of plastic, with thick bezels surrounding its 7-inch show. Yet, it does really feel sturdy. I additionally didn’t thoughts the bezels, as they gave me room to grip the pill with out unintentionally launching apps.

The display is among the larger disappointments with the Fire 7, although. Its 1,024 by 600 decision simply appears terribly uninteresting, with fuzzy pictures and muddy colours. Even for a funds pill – and granted, there aren’t that many on this worth vary – a show that’s lower than full HD these days appears outdated.

The remainder of the Fire 7’s {hardware} is identical as its predecessor. It has 2-megapixel cameras on the entrance and rear, 16 or 32GB of built-in storage (expandable as much as 1TB with microSD card) and a 3.5mm headphone jack. As anticipated, the digicam high quality isn’t spectacular, nevertheless it’ll work for a fast video chat. Just don’t count on to make use of it for precise images, except you’re actually into tremendous grainy, washed out pictures.

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Meh efficiency, however strong battery life

Though the brand new Fire 7 has extra RAM and a quad-core 2.0GHz processor, don’t count on lightning-fast efficiency. Navigating the Fire OS interface feels easy for probably the most half, nevertheless it’s nonetheless sluggish at instances. I skilled some lag when switching apps and scrolling via Instagram, for instance. It can deal with primary duties like checking e mail, however the Fire 7 received’t be as quick as trendy smartphones.

My favourite factor in regards to the new Fire 7 is its lengthy battery life. Amazon says it ought to last as long as 10 hours on a cost, however after all that is dependent upon how you employ it. In the same old battery take a look at we run for Android units (the place we play a domestically saved video on loop), the Fire 7 lasted for shut to fifteen hours. I largely used it to observe Prime movies, learn books on the Kindle app, examine Instagram and Twitter, and play a number of rounds of Candy Crush Saga. After a number of days of occasional use (an hour or so a day for every week), the Fire 7 nonetheless has round 48 % battery. I ought to be aware, nevertheless, that the Fire 7 doesn’t provide wi-fi or fast-charging. It comes with a 5W charger, which took round 4 hours to prime up the battery. 

New software program, however similar ol points

The Fire 7 comes with Fire OS 8, which adds Android 11 features like a system-wide darkish theme. Yet, the interface appears the identical. Like all different Fire tablets, it runs Amazon’s proprietary pores and skin that compelled me to make use of Amazon-approved apps relatively than ones from the Google Play Store. As somebody who depends rather a lot on Google apps, I used to be annoyed by this. Instead of the native model of Gmail or YouTube, for instance, I had to make use of inferior third-party apps that simply didn’t look or really feel as intuitive.

If you’re an Amazon die-hard, nevertheless, you’ll profit from Fire OS. As quickly as I logged in, all of my favourite Amazon content material confirmed up on the house display, like TV reveals on Prime Video, customized suggestions on Kindle Unlimited, steered Audible books based mostly on my purchases and extra.

Of course, the caveat is that you just received’t be capable to delete Amazon-related apps like Kindle, Goodreads and Prime Video. Plus, you received’t see suggestions for reveals and content material that’s not on Amazon – no Netflix solutions, for instance. It is sensible that Amazon would push its personal companies, nevertheless it’s nonetheless annoying.

Like different Amazon merchandise, the Fire 7 options hands-free Alexa, which makes controlling my sensible dwelling units simpler. It’s additionally useful for getting the climate forecast, the most recent sports activities scores or solutions to random trivia questions.

Amazon

Wrap-up

The factor you need to learn about Fire tablets is that they aren’t typical Android units – you’ll must sideload the Google Play Store, for instance, if you wish to use Google apps. Amazon’s proprietary interface prioritizes its personal apps like Prime Video and Kindle over others. But if you happen to already closely depend on Amazon companies, I can see how the Fire 7 could be tempting – it delivers an Amazon-curated expertise for affordable.

Unfortunately, if you need a pill within the $60 worth vary, you don’t have many non-Amazon choices. Two of the extra inexpensive non-Amazon tablets right now look like the Lenovo Tab M7 (beginning at $96) and the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (beginning at $100). We haven’t reviewed them simply but, however each at the least allow you to use Google apps with out resorting to third-party choices.

If you’re useless set on a funds Fire pill, I truly advocate the Fire HD 8 as a substitute. It has a superior HD show, longer battery life and wi-fi charging. It additionally helps Show Mode, which principally turns it into a transportable Echo Show. At $90 (with adverts), it’s $30 greater than the Fire 7, however I believe it’s nicely value the additional value.