Mobile Technology

2013 Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire HD

2013 Nexus 7 vs. Kindle Fire HD
Gizmag compares the specs and features of the 2013 Nexus 7 and the 2012 Kindle Fire HD (spoiler: this one ain't pretty)
Gizmag compares the specs and features of the 2013 Nexus 7 and the 2012 Kindle Fire HD (spoiler: this one ain't pretty)
View 15 Images
Both tablets have black matte plastic finishes
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Both tablets have black matte plastic finishes
The Fire HD holds a bit more juice, and battery life is probably one of its few advantages here (though not by a wide margin)
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The Fire HD holds a bit more juice, and battery life is probably one of its few advantages here (though not by a wide margin)
The Fire HD doesn't have a rear-facing camera
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The Fire HD doesn't have a rear-facing camera
The Nexus 7's performance is a huge advantage
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The Nexus 7's performance is a huge advantage
The Nexus 7 is a little taller, and much narrower and thinner
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The Nexus 7 is a little taller, and much narrower and thinner
Display sizes are identical, but the Nexus 7's screen is much sharper
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Display sizes are identical, but the Nexus 7's screen is much sharper
Gizmag compares the specs and features of the 2013 Nexus 7 and the 2012 Kindle Fire HD (spoiler: this one ain't pretty)
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Gizmag compares the specs and features of the 2013 Nexus 7 and the 2012 Kindle Fire HD (spoiler: this one ain't pretty)
The Nexus 7 has an NFC chip, to help you transfer local files by bumping another NFC-equipped Android device
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The Nexus 7 has an NFC chip, to help you transfer local files by bumping another NFC-equipped Android device
The Nexus 7 costs a little more, but it's well worth that extra US$30 (at least until the 2013 Kindle Fires are released)
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The Nexus 7 costs a little more, but it's well worth that extra US$30 (at least until the 2013 Kindle Fires are released)
The Nexus 7 is just taking off, while last year's Fire HD is ready to check in to the old folks' home
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The Nexus 7 is just taking off, while last year's Fire HD is ready to check in to the old folks' home
Software is another huge advantage for the Nexus 7, with a newer version of Android and the Google Play store
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Software is another huge advantage for the Nexus 7, with a newer version of Android and the Google Play store
Both tablets have 16 GB and 32 GB storage options
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Both tablets have 16 GB and 32 GB storage options
The Nexus 7 is 26 percent lighter
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The Nexus 7 is 26 percent lighter
Neither tablet, at the moment, is sold in a mobile data-enabled model
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Neither tablet, at the moment, is sold in a mobile data-enabled model
The Nexus 7 also doubles the Kindle Fire HD's RAM
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The Nexus 7 also doubles the Kindle Fire HD's RAM
View gallery - 15 images

Though the budget seven-inch tablet may have been pioneered by Barnes & Noble, there's no question that the two dominant players in that field today are the Kindle Fire and Nexus 7. The 2013 version of the Nexus 7 is still hot off the press, while Amazon's 2012 Kindle Fire HD is nearing the end of its initial run. While the two are still going head-to-head, why not see how their specs and features compare?

Size

The Nexus 7 is a little taller, and much narrower and thinner
The Nexus 7 is a little taller, and much narrower and thinner

The Nexus 7 is the taller, thinner tablet, while the Kindle Fire HD is the short stout one. Google's slate is about four percent taller, while the Fire is 20 percent wider and 17 percent thicker.

Though the Nexus 7's narrow bezels give it a smaller overall footprint, those wider bezels on the Fire make it a bit easier to grasp on its side with one hand.

Build

Both tablets have black matte plastic finishes
Both tablets have black matte plastic finishes

Both tablets' backsides are made of a matte plastic. We don't have huge complaints about either, but we do find that the Nexus 7 has a bit more of a solid, premium feel.

Weight

The Nexus 7 is 26 percent lighter
The Nexus 7 is 26 percent lighter

This is a big advantage for the new Nexus 7, as it's 26 percent lighter than the 2012 Fire HD.

Display

Display sizes are identical, but the Nexus 7's screen is much sharper
Display sizes are identical, but the Nexus 7's screen is much sharper

Another round won by the Nexus 7. Screen sizes won't influence your decision, as both are seven inches on the diagonal with 16:10 aspect ratios. The advantage comes in the Nexus 7's resolution: it gives you 125 percent more pixels than the Kindle Fire HD does, making for crisper text and images.

Processor

The Nexus 7's performance is a huge advantage
The Nexus 7's performance is a huge advantage

This is what happens when you compare last year's model with this year's. The Nexus 7 also has a far superior processor, with its zippy Qualcomm S4 Pro. There's no contest between it and the Texas Instruments OMAP 4460 in the Fire.

RAM

The Nexus 7 also doubles the Kindle Fire HD's RAM
The Nexus 7 also doubles the Kindle Fire HD's RAM

The Nexus 7 also doubles the Kindle Fire's RAM, with 2 GB.

Storage

Both tablets have 16 GB and 32 GB storage options
Both tablets have 16 GB and 32 GB storage options

Storage is even, as each tablet is sold in 16 GB and 32 GB models. Neither has a microSD card slot.

Wireless

Neither tablet, at the moment, is sold in a mobile data-enabled model
Neither tablet, at the moment, is sold in a mobile data-enabled model

Both tablets are also Wi-Fi only ... at least for now. If you want a mobile data-enabled Kindle Fire, you can buy the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 in an LTE model. There's no LTE version of the Nexus 7 quite yet, but a 32 GB LTE version will be here "in the coming weeks."

Battery

The Fire HD holds a bit more juice, and battery life is probably one of its few advantages here (though not by a wide margin)
The Fire HD holds a bit more juice, and battery life is probably one of its few advantages here (though not by a wide margin)

The Fire HD holds more juice, and will also probably deliver a bit more battery life. That high-res display in the Nexus 7 left battery life as one of the few areas where the Google/Asus tablet isn't at the head of its class. With that said, we wouldn't consider it a major concern either.

Cameras

The Fire HD doesn't have a rear-facing camera
The Fire HD doesn't have a rear-facing camera

The Kindle Fire HD doesn't have a rear camera. The Nexus 7 gives you a solid-enough 5-megapixel rear shooter. Both devices have serviceable front-facing cameras for video chat.

NFC

The Nexus 7 has an NFC chip, to help you transfer local files by bumping another NFC-equipped Android device
The Nexus 7 has an NFC chip, to help you transfer local files by bumping another NFC-equipped Android device

The Nexus 7 has a near-field communication (NFC) chip, in case you like sharing local files with a bump.

Software

Software is another huge advantage for the Nexus 7, with a newer version of Android and the Google Play store
Software is another huge advantage for the Nexus 7, with a newer version of Android and the Google Play store

There's usually some subjectivity when talking about software, but it's hard to argue that the Kindle isn't at a huge disadvantage here. It basically runs a virtual Amazon shopping mall, built on top of a nearly two-year old version of Android (Ice Cream Sandwich). The Amazon Appstore has a solid enough app selection, but Google Play it is not.

The Nexus 7 not only gives you the latest version of Android (4.3 Jelly Bean), but it's also "Pure Google" Android. The Fire doesn't officially support any Google services; the Nexus 7 supports them all. You get a much larger app selection, a more mature operating system, and the far superior software, period.

Release cycle

The Nexus 7 is just taking off, while last year's Fire HD is ready to check in to the old folks' home
The Nexus 7 is just taking off, while last year's Fire HD is ready to check in to the old folks' home

Just to hammer this point home, this isn't a level playing field. We're comparing Amazon's 2012 tablet to Google's 2013 tablet. We expect to hear about this year's crop of Kindle Fires within the next month or two.

Starting prices

The Nexus 7 costs a little more, but it's well worth that extra US$30 (at least until the 2013 Kindle Fires are released)
The Nexus 7 costs a little more, but it's well worth that extra US$30 (at least until the 2013 Kindle Fires are released)

The Fire HD is technically a little cheaper, but never mind that, as this isn't a good time to buy it. It's already overshadowed by the Nexus 7, and will soon be overshadowed by its own successor. It's also possible that the Fire HD will stick around and see a price drop (maybe by around US$40) after the new models launch.

Wrap-up

So there you have it. If you want a Kindle Fire, a short wait will likely net you a lot more bang for your buck. Otherwise the new Nexus 7 gives you a much sharper screen, far superior performance, and much more versatile software. We'd recommend snagging the Nexus 7 now, or waiting to see what the new Kindle Fires look like later. Splurge on last year's Fire HD now, and you're practically throwing away money.If you're ready to throw down for a new Nexus 7, why not check out our review, just to make sure?

View gallery - 15 images
4 comments
4 comments
Wayne Anderson
Are you kidding me? Wait, this is supposed to be gadget news or some kind of value-add to tell me that a product released this year with a new generation of technology is significantly better in almost every way than a generation-old product that will be replaced next month?
A product whose replacement parts are already leaking into benchmark results elsewhere?
It must be a REALLY slow day in the gizmag news room...
The Skud
I agree with Wayne - All this article needed was the few lines saying something: "At present, the Nexus is way better than the (older, soon to be updated) Kindle. We will compare them properly when the new version of the Kindle is released. Buy the Nexus now or wait."
Stradric
I would argue that even if the Kindle beat out the Nexus slightly in the hardware department, it's still not worth it. Amazon may provide some niceties like the Lending Library and Prime integration, but the complete lack of any Google apps makes any Kindle rather handicapped in comparison to a Nexus.
Also, the new "Restricted Profiles" feature in Android 4.3 negate some of the parental controls you get with a Kindle.
Tropi
No mention of the one factor that is over-ridingly important to me . . .
Fire HD has HDMI out, so is connectable to a plasma screen for a PROPER movie experience. Nexus does not have HDMI and, for me, that's a killer blow - simply no contest. A terrible omission.