Hot on the heels of Google’s Nexus 7 debut are the next-gen Kindle Fire HD’s leaked specs and release date. With all of the limelight being shone directly on Google, Amazon’s flagship tablet has flown inconspicuously under the radar as of late; which is probably fine with them as they don’t have to worry about each and every leaked iota of a detail scrutinized by tech junkies everywhere.
With Barnes & Noble no longer a Kindle Fire HD opponent in the e-reader game, Amazon can now focus its sights on Google’s Nexus 7 and Apple’s iPad. Tech blog BGR was able to get its hands on early leaked specs courtesy of “trusted sources” and it looks like the Kindle Fire HD easily matches, if not surpasses, the technological capabilities of its chief rivals.
The Kindle Fire HD will look to keep its signature 7-inch display but clarify the resolution from the current-gen model’s 1,280 x 800 to an outstanding 1,920 x 1,200. The flagship is thought to run on a 2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974) processor, which includes four Krait 400 CPUs and Adreno 330 graphics for gaming and streaming capabilities as well as seamless multitasking.
Other technical goodies are thought to include 2GB of RAM, a front-facing camera though no word on megapixels, Wi-Fi, and available LTE connectivity. It will probably ship with either 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of internal storage variants.
BGR notes further that test units have been operating on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean but with the recent release of Android 4.3, it’s more likely to carry the next-gen mobile operating system instead of the 4.2.2 version.
As with the current Kindle Fire HD, an 8.9-inch model is probable. Aside from a larger display with higher resolution, there won’t be much of a difference between the two sizes, save for the possibility of an 8MP rear-facing camera.
There’s been no word yet for a release date or consumer launch, though it will likely be sometime this fall as that’s when it’s predecessor debuted. The 8.9-inch model wasn’t unveiled until earlier this year so the next-gen version may not be released until Spring 2014 as well.
As for the imperative price tag, Amazon’s tablets have been the biggest bang-for-your-buck slate on the market. Always costing less than rival manufacturers, the current Fire HD with 16GB of storage costs an affordable and budget-friendly $199. Compare that to the Nexus 7’s $229 and the iPad’s $499 costs and you’ll see that based on price alone, the Kindle Fire HD is well worth it.
