Kindle Fire vs. iPad 2: How The Tablets Compare

A look at some of the major differences between Amazon.com Inc.'s tablet computer, the Kindle Fire, and Apple Inc.'s popular iPad:

Price: The Kindle Fire, which connects to the Internet over Wi-Fi networks, costs $199. The iPad costs $499 to $829, depending on storage capacity and its wireless capabilities. Some iPad models can access cellular networks besides Wi-Fi.

Screen size: The Kindle Fire's display measures 7 inches diagonally, while the iPad has a 9.7-inch display. That makes the Fire's screen a bit less than half the size of the iPad's.

Software: The Kindle Fire runs Google Inc.'s Android software. The iPad uses Apple's own iOS software.

Storage: The Kindle Fire includes 8 gigabytes of internal storage and free Web-based storage for any digital content you get from Amazon, such as Kindle e-books, movies or music. The iPad includes 16 GB to 64 GB of storage space, depending on price.

Thickness: The Kindle Fire is 0.45 inches thick; the iPad is 0.34 inches thick.

Weight: The Kindle Fire tips the scales at 14.6 ounces – slightly less than a pound – while the iPad weighs about 1.3 pounds.

Apps: Kindle Fire users have built-in access to the Amazon Appstore, which includes thousands of free and paid games and apps. By contrast, the iPad has a selection of apps that is about 50 times greater. Apple's online App Store has more than 100,000 apps tailored specifically for the iPad – including apps for Amazon.com and the Kindle.

Camera: While the iPad has front and rear cameras for taking photos and video chatting, the Kindle Fire does not include a camera.

Comments

[Xiaojie Wang]

03:05 AM on 11/27/2011

Kindle has fewer features, but it’s specifically designed for reading. From this perspective, it’s lighter, and perfors better in sunlight, longer battery life than the iPad.

Many users, including me, think the iPad is a good eBook reader, and it is in color and has touch screen, these are features the Kindle does not have. I also like the point is that the gap in reading, I can use many applications on the same machine. But surely you’re not the only one who has found that for a long time reading, it sunks. So I guess, for reading, you will like Kindle better. According to the budgetary situation, you may wish to have both of them, especially because Kindle now starts at only $ 139.
from：http://myultrabook.info/?p=309

[Yank in France]

10:06 AM on 11/21/2011

It is amazing to me but even the most diehard Apple haters are buying iPads, including my main client, a nice guy, whose opinion I respect. But not when it comes to Apple or its products. Still, my client/friend had an iPad in his house and his wife, a real fangirl, commented the other night over dinner that the iPad is the one Apple product he will buy.

As for me, I have never been all that convinced. I have an iMac for all my translation work and a MacBook Air for when I'm on the road. I have my iPhone3G and just don't have the cash to buy the newest model.

So when the newest Kindle came out, I thought it sounded good, at less than half the price of the cheapest iPad. But before buying, I noticed that the problems were accumulating.
I don't like their abandonment of their e-ink screen, which made for greater reading in all lighting conditions.
I don't like being hooked into amazon.com's store, which is nothing compared to Apple's app range!

But now it appears that the new Kindle has major security problems and glitches. Here is how one sector specialist put it:

"
s users start getting their Kindles, a lot of further flaws are cropping up. The most serious one turns out to be that the Kindle is activated to allow for 1-Click shopping through the account connected to the device, and such behavior cannot be turned off. Additionally the device asks for no confirmation password before validating the purchase, which means that if anyone gets hold of the device, he can purchase things at will, potentially bankrupting the owner.
Other less serious flaws have been reported as well,..."

For rest of article, see: http://seekingalpha.com/article/309130-amazon-serious-security-flaw-in-the-kindle-fire?ifp=0&source=email_the_daily_dispatch

[The Mikester]

08:38 PM on 11/19/2011

This is a very limited and lame review- not helpful!

[Tyrone Luckett]

03:59 AM on 11/19/2011

More information next time. You didn't change my mind, I will keep my IPAD and go buy one for my son.

[Sorin Marghitoiu]

01:49 PM on 11/16/2011

Already rooted, one day since they started shipping. Tutorial below: http://reviewhorizon.com/2011/11/how-to-root-jailbreak-kindle-fire-using-one-click-solution-superoneclick-also-enable-sideloading-apps/

[nickelsandim]

10:13 PM on 11/15/2011

The new Kindle Fire is more of an iPad light version. Of course it doesnt have all the bells and whistles that the iPad 2 has but it is a great alternative for those want a tablet that will allow them to browser the internet, watch movies/tv, play games, mess wit apps and such. For alot of people, the price tag of a iPad just isnt affordable, but the the Fire is. Alot of people think that if its not an apple product then its just not worth it and thats just non-sense. If you are interested in a side by side comparison (with hands on videos) and a kindle fire vs ipad 2 review going over the different details of both - visit http://kfirereview.com

[Onutz]

03:01 AM on 11/19/2011

((Alot of people think that if its not an apple product then its just not worth it and thats just non-sense))

You'd love to think it's that simple but it's not just the brand name-it's what comes with it.
Once you've experienced "Pages", "GarageBand", "Infinity Blade" or "FlipBoard", the thought of living without those killer-apps seem harsh.

[nickelsandim]

03:59 AM on 11/19/2011

You are right...its not just the namebrand..but in my experience..ipad/ipod owners seem to think that way...Its all about what it has to offer and also.... im sorry to break it down to you....but there alot of people that dont use nor need those apps/games. Theres alot more reasons to own a tablet/ereader other than those 4 apps. And yes, I have experienced a couple of those and believe me...They are not a deal breaker.

[oldgeek1]

06:48 PM on 11/15/2011

It's like comparing a Ford Focus to a Mercedes

[chairman1969]

05:58 PM on 11/15/2011

these two tablets target completely different tablet segments. Tech writer fail! #slownewsday #gottawriteaboutsomething

[alwaysconfused]

03:31 PM on 11/15/2011

"The Kindle Fire's display measures 7 inches diagonally, while the iPad has a 9.7-inch display. That makes the Fire's screen a bit less than half the size of the iPad's"

So 7 is < (1/2)*9.7?
or
7< 4.85?
Did I read that wrong?

[patcheau]

12:55 AM on 11/22/2011

Just in case you're not aware, and I believe you're not, screen sizes are measured on the diagonal and are LENGTH measures. Therefore, a 9.7'' screen corresponds roughly to a 40.2 SQUARE inches surface area. On the other hand, Kindle Fire´s 7'' screen has a 20.9 SQUARE inches surface area.

[spigzone]

10:11 AM on 11/15/2011

1. Probably 90%+ of the iPad demographic have an Amazon account and a goodly proportion of those have a Prime account. It's a natural fit.
2. Amazon has a 10" FIre in the works with updated interface and expanded capabilities that will likely be in the $350 range and provide a much more direct competitor for the iPad ... at a killer price.
3. The second generation Fires can be expected to have an essentially flawless interface and an expanded everything content wise.
4. How long before an Amazon Phone is introduced into their ecosystem?

Apple's got a real fight on it's hands.

[ThriftyTable]

07:47 AM on 11/15/2011

I get the comparison, but this article has no real information. It doesn't talk about web-browsing or movie streaming. I am comparing the two myself and in the end, I am trying t figure out what I really want to get out of my experience with either of these items. I would have liked to see a bit more of an indepth look at the pros and cons of both.

I really want to be able to use it when traveling, so for watching movies and reading. Both are good for that. I also wouldn't mind being able to browse the internet with the tablet. Check, both would allow me to do that.

So then it comes down to the apps. I like playing games, but it isn't something that would make or break anything. The camera, I just can't imagine using it, so again, not a deal breaker. I do like that I could do some work on projects with word processing on the ipad, and that the screen is bigger, the question then is, is that ability and that screen size worth an additional 200$+?

I haven't decided yet!

[JasonMcl]

12:05 PM on 11/15/2011

This is a much more in-depth review that will cover a lot more ground.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/amazon-kindle-fire-review/

These are the Apps / Games it has available: http://www.amazon.com/mobile-apps/b?ie=UTF8&node=2350149011

Most of the apps are within the 1-3 dollar range but Amazon also offers them free on a daily basis. Today's free app is a fun and well-built little JRPG. Though you will find Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Plants vs Zombies and other popular apps.

Something you should note. This device has no bluetooth, camera or microphone so you cannot use it to make any sort of Skype or other internet calls.

Also without bluetooth you cannot hook up any kind of external keyboard to it, so you would be relegated to using the on-device keyboard for word processing.

The Kindle fire is simple and inexpensive, those are the main two things going for it.

[KenGirard]

01:22 PM on 11/15/2011

USB keyboard. Same for cameras/mic. I don't picture trying to walk away from my tablet while using either so a cord is not going to kill this option for me.

[br0thaf0sh0]

03:12 AM on 11/15/2011

Why would I want or need this tablet? Ok, most folks have a Droid, Ipad, and or Iphone. These items do the same thing....

[builderman55]

01:53 AM on 11/15/2011

Yet again the world tries and fails to catch up to Apple. The spirit of Jobs lives on!

[mediamarv]

12:05 AM on 11/15/2011

They don't. Anything other than an iPad is an iPad wannabe.

End of story.

[KenGirard]

01:25 PM on 11/15/2011

Anything other then a top of the line computer is just a wantabe.
Some of us get that paying 1/2 as much will not give us the same experience, and or ok with that.

[KPinSEA]

11:08 PM on 11/14/2011

I'll stick with my ASUS running Android ... runs the current version of Android, not a 2-generations old rebranding like Kindle, and doesn't lock me into the closed system of the Appleverse.

The premise of the article is that Kindle Fire is even attempting to be in competition directly with iPad or genuine Android tablets. It's not. It's a nice delivery system for Amazon media content, and it will do a great job of that. For a versatile tablet that integrates with office and personal e-mail systems and applications requiring the latest operating system and processing power, it's not even in the same ballpark.

It's good for what it does... it's shoddy journalism to confuse it with products that do something entirely different.

[KenGirard]

01:27 PM on 11/15/2011

The average Joe compares a tablet to a tablet. They don't get that they come in different types like cars do....yet.

[KPinSEA]

12:45 AM on 11/17/2011

Then maybe they shouldn't have 'average Joes' write the tech articles and perpetuate the confusion.