iPad Mini vs Kindle Fire HD full comparison
Since the iPad Mini has just been released and since the Kindle Fire has been making rounds lately in the press, we thought of comparing the two tablets to see what pros and cons they bring and how they are each behaving when it comes to customers. To see how the Kindle Fire HD compares to the new iPad Mini keep reading. If you like Google Nexus 7 also and can not decide what to buy, read our iPad mini vs Google nexus 7 article.
The screen
The iPad Mini has a screen size of 7.9 inches and a display that brings a resolution of 1024 x 768 (the same resolution we can find in the iPad 2). This means that it will be able to run all the apps currently in the App Store. Just like in the case of the iPad, the Kindle Fire series has different screen sizes, with a 7 inch screen and a 8.9 inch screen to choose from. We will take the 7 inch one in regards to the Apple Mini to keep things fair.
The latest Kindle Fire HD had a 7 inch screen that supports a resolution of 1280 x 800 and the screen is pretty nice if you ask us. You can watch HD movies on it and the touchscreen works beautifully. It surpasses the iPad mini when talking about pixel density.
Other specifications
If you take Apple’s word for it, the iPad Mini is just like a regular iPad just a little bit smaller. It has an A5 dual-core processor, GPS, WiFi capabilities and 4G LTE. While the CPU inside is not one of the most powerful ones that Apple uses in their devices, you will be more than able to browse the web, read books, play games and chat with your friends.
When speaking about the Amazon Kindle Fire HD you have to know it has a 1.2 GHz processor, the TI OMAP 4470. It also has not one but two WiFi antennas which in turn give you better connectivity. It also has a front-facing camera, weaker in quality than the one found in the iPad mini. And speaking about cameras, the iPad Mini has two: a front-facing one and one in the back.
The software
The fourth generation iPad launched with the new iOS 6 and this version of the operating system is the best one Apple has yet released. It follows the lead of previous versions when it comes to intuitiveness and ease of use. Simplicity does not necessarily mean the OS is not also configurable and powerful. There’s Facebook and Twitter built right in the operating system, you can share images and movies through these two social networks with the push of a Share button. You can browse, email, take photos and to pretty much whatever you want in iOS 6.
There are more than 700000 apps in the App Store now, so you are sure to find what you’re looking for. Whatever function or feature you’d miss in iOS 6 there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be able to fill the gap with a third party app. There’s also the possibility that a new wave of apps will soon start to follow the smaller screen of this new mode of iPad but until then you’ll have to do with what’s currently in the App Store.
Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD runs the Android Ice Cream Sandwich but it runs a customized version of it. This means you won’t have access to Google Play and the looks of the OS are modified to fit Amazon’s needs and idea of a tablet mainly used for reading. The user interface of the Kindle Fire HD is easy to use, clean, fast, has a certain logic to it, so you’ll be rapidly adapting to it if you’re coming from a pure Android environment.
There are Amazon apps on the device and FreeTime is one of them. It lets you decide how much time your children will be able to enjoy certain applications. The Amazon App Store is not as full of applications as the official Google Play App Store and in comparison to Apple’s App Store it really looks kind of bare. The good news is that there are tweaks you can do to install and enjoy Google Play on the Kindle Fire HD. Other than that, there are free premium app every day if you decide to stick to the official Amazon App Store for Android.
The Ecosystem of it all
In terms of ecosystem Apple is doing a way better job than Amazon, but the Kindle Fire isn’t so far behind with their own ecosystem. The iPad Mini can make use of the iTunes to download songs, movies, trailers, TV shows and applications. There are also online services to take into consideration, services like iCloud that keep you content synced constantly. This is also very good for backing things up through WiFi without the need of a cable.
In terms of accessories Apple is still in the lead. The only problem is that the new Lightning cable they introduced recently is still proprietary technology and you won’t find many accessories to go with it. Amazon made some cases for their Kindle Fire HD and when it comes to direct connectivity the Kindle Fire uses a standard microUSB cable.
One area where Amazon might be in the lead is their Amazon Store. It’s filled with music, movies, TV shows and there’s more than plenty to choose from. There are even free shows and movies you can download. Their Cloud Player is great because you can play said movies, TV shows and music directly through WiFi, without the need to download them first to your device and fiddle with lack of space.
The cost
The cost for an iPad Mini starts at $329 for the 16GB model. You can also pay an additional $100 to get more storage or data for 4G. The Kindle Fire HD costs $199 for the 16GB version and $249 for the 32GB version. These come with a special offer ad group that you can get rid of for about $20.
Conclusion
The iPad Mini is well-built and enjoys a great ecosystem. It follows the same line that all Apple products have followed and it behaves great. The price is the weak point of the device and the fact that the accessories are customized must not be disregarded.
The Amazon Kindle Fire HD is for people who don’t want to spend that much money on a device but still be able to enjoy a tablet that is fully functional and offers a lot of improvements. There’s a lot of content for the device and the accessories are standardized, so you can buy them not only from Amazon but from various resellers. So in this domain you might actually end up spending less. The ecosystem is not so well formed as that of the Apple Mini but it’s more than manageable and there are ways to get around it.
