Amazon Fire 7 (2022) review: Good enough for the basics

execs and cons

Execs

• Reasonably priced
• Doubles as Alexa good show
• Battery life
• USB-C

Cons

• Efficiency wants persistence
• Show is simply okay
• Cameras aren’t all that spectacular

extra shopping for decisions

The final time Amazon up to date the Fireplace 7 pill was in 2019, which is a lifetime on the subject of expertise. Then in Might, Amazon introduced an updated Fire 7, including a USB-C port, shifting the front-facing digital camera, and boosting battery life and efficiency. These modifications got here with a value enhance, with the bottom mannequin Fireplace 7 going from $49.99 to $59.99. 

Amazon began transport the Fireplace 7 on the finish of June, which is across the time Amazon despatched me a overview pattern to check. I have been utilizing it for some informal studying, enjoying a online game or two and watching movies. And, in that regard, it is accomplished a superb job. 

A contemporary, however primary pill

The Fireplace 7’s design is not going to garner a lot consideration while you’re utilizing it in public. It is a primary plastic housing with a slab of glass on prime that is designed to only get the job accomplished. It is available in three completely different colours — black, denim and rose. The front-facing digital camera has been moved to the center of the show when the Fireplace 7 is in panorama orientation, one thing that makes video calls from the small pill simpler. The entrance and rear cameras are every 2-megapixel sensors. Photos and movies look okay, however not nice. 

Practically the entire ports and buttons are on the proper fringe of the housing when the pill’s laying on its aspect. There is a energy button, quantity up/down buttons, a 3.5mm headphone jack and — my favourite half — a USB-C port for charging the pill. The transfer away from micro USB throughout Amazon gadgets has been one thing the corporate is engaged on, and the addition of USB-C on the $60 pill is value declaring. 

Additionally: Utilizing the mistaken USB-C cable can injury your tech. Learn how to keep away from that 

On the underside fringe of the Fireplace 7 is a microSD card slot that lets you enhance the storage from 16GB or 32GB to a 1TB. 

The show measures 7-inches, simply as its title implies, and has a decision of 1024 x 600. It isn’t the sharpest show, however that is to be anticipated at this value level. 

Probably the most notable factor concerning the Fireplace 7’s design is simply how small it’s. It is one thing you can simply carry round in a handbag or backpack with out noticing it is actually there. For the detail-oriented, the Fireplace 7 measures 7.11 x 4.63 x 0.38-inches and weighs 9.9 ounces. 

Improved efficiency that is simply ok

Amazon’s Fireplace 7 pill has all the time had efficiency that is simply ok to get by. With the 2022 model, that strategy stays intact. Amazon is utilizing a quad-core processor with 2GB of reminiscence within the Fireplace 7, which the corporate says provides a 30% enhance in efficiency in comparison with the 2019 mannequin. 

The 2GB of reminiscence alone is double what was within the earlier mannequin, and it is a noticeable addition, particularly when gaming. Nevertheless, total efficiency with the Fireplace 7 is one thing that can educate you to have persistence. 

When shifting between varied sections and elements of the interface, similar to opening the Kindle Retailer, Amazon Appstore after which viewing the Library tab, there are occasions when the pill is fast and responsive. However then you definately faucet on a search field, and there is a longer-than-expected delay for the Fireplace 7’s keyboard to indicate up. 

There is a devoted gaming mode constructed into the Fireplace 7’s working system that mechanically activates when it detects you have opened a sport (any sport you have put in from the Appstore will set off it). Recreation Mode optimizes the machine’s reminiscence, hides notifications and disables the Alexa function. Even with Recreation Mode, it might probably take a minute or two earlier than a sport turns into playable. 

From what I can inform, so long as an app stays in reminiscence, the efficiency enhance is noticeable. However when you, as an illustration, exit the Silk Browser after shopping the online for a couple of minutes, after which return to it an hour or two later after utilizing the Fireplace 7 for a distinct job, that subsequent launch of Silk takes a number of additional seconds to load. 

In different phrases, the Fireplace 7’s efficiency is sweet sufficient so long as you keep inside a single app and do not count on it to be a multitasking workhorse. 

Amazon touts 10-hour battery life for the Fireplace 7, one other improved stat over the 2019 mannequin. And, whereas I am unable to verify 10 hours of use is feasible, I can say that battery life is one space of the Fireplace 7 the place I haven’t got any complaints. I had loads of battery life left after streaming free dwell TV for a few hours within the Freevee app, shopping the online and trying to play Roblox. 

A phrase concerning the software program… and Alexa!

One of many loudest complaints about any Amazon machine is the dearth of Google apps and companies. The Fireplace 7 runs Amazon’s Fireplace OS, which is predicated on Android, however Amazon has deeply modified and customised the way it features. Due to that, it hasn’t gone via Google’s certification course of and due to this fact you will not discover apps like Google Maps, Gmail or YouTube preinstalled or accessible within the Amazon Appstore.

Regardless of the dearth of assist for Google’s apps, yow will discover many of the massive title apps within the Amazon Appstore — like Spotify, Disney+, Fb and Zoom. It isn’t ideally suited for somebody who has closely invested in apps from Google’s Play Retailer, or for somebody like myself that depends on a password supervisor that is not accessible within the Appstore. 

One of many advantages of customizing the working system on the Fireplace 7 is that Amazon is ready to construct Alexa immediately into the machine. Which means you should utilize the pill as a makeshift Echo Present machine. There is a toggle to show Alexa on or off within the fast settings panel. When it is turned on, you’ll be able to say “Alexa” adopted by a command or query the identical method you’ll when you had a devoted Echo good show or Echo speaker. 

Together with the flexibility to ask Alexa questions, you’ll be able to view and handle your Alexa-connected good residence gadgets like cameras, lights and retailers utilizing your voice or by tapping on the devoted Gadgets button within the backside navigation bar. 

Backside line

Amazon’s Fire 7 tabletis as soon as once more a well-rounded expertise so long as you are taking the fee under consideration when setting expectations. It isn’t the quickest machine you may use, and at occasions its velocity may be irritating. However, with persistence, it is a strong pill, colourful Kindle, devoted Alexa good show and good residence controller mixed.