Fast-forward to a year later. Amazon has unleashed a whole line of new tablets, from a $ 159 2012 version of the basic 16GB Kindle Fire (much the same as the original, with a few internal tweaks and feature additions) to the Kindle Fire HD 8.9", a bigger-screen Kindle that ranges from $ 299 for a 16GB Wi-Fi version up to $ 599 for a deluxe 64GB, LTE-packing one. And it plunked down an intriguing new 7-inch model on the same $ 199 price point of the original Kindle Fire: the Kindle Fire HD (7-Inch), the model we’re reviewing here. Versus the original Kindle Fire, it adds a front-facing camera, Bluetooth connectivity, a higher-resolution screen (though not true "HD" resolution), and stunningly loud and clear stereo speakers. Also, the body is more comfortable to hold for long periods, and in our tests, we noted generally peppier performance.
As you can see, that’s a lot new in the Kindle Fire HD, but, like Amazon’s tablet line as a whole, the rest of the tablet field has evolved wildly over these last 12 months. Here in late 2012, Amazon not only has pricier big-screen tablets to compete with (such as the fourth-generation 2012 iPad and Google’s Nexus 10), but models closer to $ 200, notably Barnes & Noble’s new iterations of its Nook tablets (the Nook HD and Nook HD+).
That said, the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD’s chief competitor this holiday season (and for a while beyond) is likely to be Google’s own Nexus 7. That ultra-popular tablet recently received a storage boost, so $ 199 now gets you the Nexus 7′s 16GB Wi-Fi version. That’s the same price as the base-model Kindle Fire HD we tested. And the Nexus 7 is a compelling competitor: It sports similar specs, a faster processor, and the full Android OS, crucially including access to Google Play’s far-superior app selection.