More Kindle Fire 2 Details Emerge

Talk of a Kindle Fire update is picking up steam, with an NPD DisplaySearch analyst pointing to Amazon's supply chain as evidence of a possible refresh. According to CNET, which spoke to DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim, the Kindle Fire 2 will likely retain its 7-inch screen size - at least, for now. An 8.9-inch model is reportedly in the works, but the rumors of a 10.1-inch screen are fading fast in light of today's news.

While there's no word yet on what processor will power the Kindle Fire 2, it looks as though the Kindle Fire 2 may be available in three 7-inch models. One is expected to have a 1,280x600 display and lack a camera, while the other two models will have a 1,280x800 display and feature a camera. What sets those two models apart? One of them could have 4G connectivity.

Interestingly, Shim seems to expect the Kindle Fire 2's arrival in August, rather than late July, leading us to wonder if the tablet will launch on or near the 31st, with availability in August. And the 8.9-inch model (if one is actually planned) isn't expected until September-ish. That model's display is expected to be 1,900x1,200.

Joshua Gulick

Joshua Gulick

Josh cut his teeth (and hands) on his first PC upgrade in 2000 and was instantly hooked on all things tech. He took a degree in English and tech writing with him to Computer Power User Magazine and spent years reviewing high-end workstations and gaming systems, processors, motherboards, memory and video cards. His enthusiasm for PC hardware also made him a natural fit for covering the burgeoning modding community, and he wrote CPU’s “Mad Reader Mod” cover stories from the series’ inception until becoming the publication editor for Smart Computing Magazine.  A few years ago, he returned to his first love, reviewing smoking-hot PCs and components, for HotHardware. When he’s not agonizing over benchmark scores, Josh is either running (very slowly) or spending time with family.