Amazon has refreshed its popular budget Fire 7 tablet for 2022. The affordable 7-inch tablet gets some welcome upgrades like USB-C charging, quad-core performance, and enhanced battery life. But the new model also comes with a slightly higher $59.99 starting price tag.
Shift to USB-C Charging
Gone is the old micro USB port, with the latest Fire 7 now featuring a USB-C port for charging. This allows faster charging speeds compared to micro USB. The industry-standard USB-C connector also enables plugging into more widespread chargers and cables. For an entry-level tablet in 2022, the move to USB-C was much needed.
Faster Quad-Core Processor
The Fire 7 gets a bump up to a quad-core 2.0 GHz processor (Mediatek MT8168). The extra two cores boost responsiveness when navigating apps and web browsing. Amazon promises the 2022 tablet is 30% quicker than the previous generation. The extra power makes the Fire 7 feel more agile.
Battery Life Up to 10 Hours
According to Amazon, the 2022 Fire 7 lasts up to 10 hours of web browsing, watching videos, or listening to music per charge. That’s an improvement over the 2019 variant’s 7 to 8 hours battery life. More endurance for reading ebooks, streaming shows, and web activities means less time tethered to the charger.
Modest Price Increase
The base model with 16GB storage now costs $59.99, up from $49.99 for the 2019 Fire 7. There is also a 32GB model for $79.99, and a 64GB version for $109.99. So you’ll pay $10 more for the entry-level 2022 variant. Given the upgrades like USB-C and improved performance, the slightly higher pricing seems reasonable.
Same 7-Inch Display
The 2022 Fire 7 retains the same 7-inch IPS display as previous versions. Resolution remains 1024 x 600 pixels. It’s not the sharpest panel by today’s standards but passable for the price bracket. At this small size, the 172 ppi density is adequate for casual use. Expect familiar mediocre viewing angles and brightness.
Still Runs Fire OS
Amazon’s Android-based Fire OS comes loaded on the 2022 Fire 7. The interface centers around content consumption and integration with Amazon’s ecosystem. It lacks Google’s apps and services. The OS feels dated next to pure Android and iPadOS but gets the job done for Amazon Prime subscribers.
Release Date and Colors
The refreshed Fire 7 is available to pre-order starting May 18, 2022. It comes in Black, Denim, and Rose colors. Actual shipping date is June 8. Existing Fire 7 stock will see discounts as the updated 2022 model rolls out.
Hands-Free Alexa
Amazon promotes hands-free Alexa integration on the new Fire 7. The tablet leverages far-field microphones so you can summon Alexa without touching the device. However, Alexa is far less handy on Fire tablets than Echo smart displays.
Who It’s For
With the $59.99 starting price, compact form, and Amazon services focus, the Fire 7 caters to Prime members wanting an affordable, casual entertainment tablet for web browsing and videos on the go. For this purpose, the 2022 enhancements keep it competitive. Just don’t expect much beyond basic functionality.
In summary, the latest Amazon Fire 7 brings welcomed improvements like USB-C charging, better performance, and longer battery life. The small price bump seems reasonable given the upgrades. It remains a solid budget tablet option for Prime subscribers.
