Amazon Kindle Fire HD vs Google Nexus 7: Need to Know

Amazon will finally bring its Kindle Fire tablets to the UK, after the first generation became a bestseller in the US.

With access to a wealth of multimedia content, a competitive price and familiar Kindle branding, the flagship Kindle Fire HD is likely to be a major hit in the UK.

Although not a necessity for business users, the Kindle HD has the makings of being an ideal companion device, like its direct rival - the Google Nexus 7. Both tablets can be used to watch movies, TV shows, view e-books, use apps and browse the internet.

As the Kindle Fire HD is the same size and price as the Google branded device, we tell you all you need to know about the Android tablets.

Display

When it comes to form factor there is little to distinguish between the devices. Both incorporate a 7in display made from Corning's Gorilla Glass and pack a 1,280 x 800 resolution. However, Amazon has managed to squeeze in a few more pixels, with a density of 254ppi, compared to 216ppi for the Nexus 7.

Amazon Kindle Fire HD - Display

Amazon Kindle Fire HD - Display

The Nexus 7 (left) does have a back-lit screen, and Amazon touts an anti-glare coating, so it will be interesting to see which screen is brighter and performs better outside.

Content

A large part of the success of the original Kindle Fire in the US has been the access to content. The Amazon and Google ecosystems are growing all the time, but here is a quick breakdown of what they offer in the UK at this time:

Amazon Kindle Fire HD vs Google Nexus - Content

Amazon Kindle Fire HD vs Google Nexus - Content

At present, Amazon has the edge when it comes to songs, magazines and movies/TV shows. However, the Nexus is still the tablet of choice when it comes to e-books and apps. Google does plan to roll out the missing services, but has not confirmed when this will happen.

Khidr Suleman is the Technical Editor at IT Pro, a role he has fulfilled since March 2012. He is responsible for the reviews section on the site  - so get in touch if you have a product you think might be of interest to the business world. He also covers the hardware and operating systems beats. Prior to joining IT Pro, Khidr worked as a reporter at Incisive Media. He studied law at the University of Reading and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism and Online Writing at PMA Training.