Amazon Fire HD 7 Tablet (2014) Review

As it does every so often, Amazon recently updated and revamped its line of Fire tablets to include upgraded models and a somewhat simplified naming scheme. The new models abandon the "Kindle" branding and are now simply known as Fire HDX 8.9, Fire HD 7, and Fire HD 6. To flesh out the lineup, Amazon still sells a Fire HDX and a Fire HD Kids Edition, which is really a Fire HD 7 or 6 with a protective case, accidental damage protection, and a collection of pre-loaded apps targeted at a younger audience.

It's admittedly a bit confusing at first, but assuming Amazon sticks with its new branding, it will make sense in the long run. Simply put, the number in the model designates the screen size, while the HD and HDX tags hint at the display resolution -- HD means at least a high definition panel, and HDX indicates at least a Full HD 1080p screen. Amazon could make things a bit easier by consolidating its lineup to two or three tablets, but has instead chosen to offer a comprehensive line of products at different price points starting at $99.

The model we're looking at here is the Fire HD 7 starting at $139. Technically it's a new addition to Amazon's tablet family, though that's by name only -- it replaces the 2013 Kindle Fire HD and is a fourth generation product. Previously this tablet would have went up against Google's Nexus 7, however, Google did a bit of revamping of its own and no longer offers a 7-inch tablet. Other companies still play in the 7-inch space, though none offer a product as popular as either the now defunct Nexus 7 or Amazon's thriving Fire HD line.

As with Amazon's previous tablets, the Fire HD 7 is a gateway into the company's content consumption ecosystem. It runs Fire OS 4 "Sangria," a heavily modified version of Android 4.4 KitKat that hardly resembles its roots. That's by design -- whether it's reading e-books or watching videos, everything you do is hooked into Amazon in some way. If you're already a user of Amazon's various web services, you'll feel right at home on the Fire HD 7, though there are some drawbacks. Are they enough to dissuade us from recommending Amazon's newest tablet? Keep reading to find out.