Internet
The Nexus ships with the Chrome browser as standard this is one of the best all-round mobile browsers we have tested. Of course you are also free to download other browsers including Firefox, Opera, Maxathon and Dolphin if you wish.
The Nexus ships with the Chrome browser, whereas Amazon packages its own Silk browser with the Fire HD
Meanwhile, Amazon has developed its own browser, which it dubbed as Silk'. This doesn't work like conventional browsers, instead Silk routes information through Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, which it claims helps to render pages faster. We didn't find this to be the case, though. We also couldn't find any alternative browsers in the Amazon App Store, which didn't help matters.
Sunspider measures the JavaScript performance of the browsers and although the results suggest there isn't much difference in speed, in reality we found that the Kindle Fire HD typically took double the time to load webpages over the same Wi-Fi connection.
With Adobe Flash support no longer being included on mobile devices, compatibility with the HTML5 standard is becoming increasingly important too. To test compatibility, we used HTML5.com. This showed that the Chrome browser on the Nexus has the advantage at this time and is likely to hold this lead over Amazon's Silk browser.
Winner - Nexus 7
The Chrome browser is one of the best mobile browsers around in terms of speed, features and HTML5 compatibility. It is also possible to install Adobe Flash on the Nexus device, if you absolutely require it.
Connectivity
The Amazon Kindle Fire has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. There is no 3G available at this time.
In terms of ports, the Fire HD includes native micro USB and micro HDMI connections. This helps it to serve as a multimedia device at home as well as on the move. You can plug the device into a HDTV and stream content directly from LoveFilm when you get home, for example.
The Kindle Fire HD is better equipped when it comes to sharing content with other HD devices.
In comparison, the Nexus 7 is available with Wi-Fi or 3G. It also boasts Bluetooth and NFC connectivity, but we have yet to find a use for the latter. The only physical port on the Nexus is the micro USB connector.
Winner Kindle Fire HD
The lack of 3G isn't a big miss as you can always tether the device to your smartphone. The native inclusion of a HDMI port allows the Amazon tablet to win this round.
Pricing
Winner - Nexus 7
Pound-for-pound, the Nexus offers better functionality. With Carphone Warehouse now offering the 32GB Wi-Fi Nexus for 179, this makes it cheaper than the equivalent Fire HD as well.
UPDATE: 14/03/2013- Amazon has now made an 8.9in version of the Kindle Fire HD available in the UK, giving users more choice in terms of size. The device packs a 1920 x 1200 resolution display and a pixel density of 254 ppi. Pricing for the Kindle Fire HD 8.9in is 229.
Verdict
If you've been keeping score, the winner is not a surprise. The Nexus wins at a canter 8-1. The all-round Android tablet boast excellent performance and provides access to the majority of the Amazon ecosystem as well as the Google Play Store. The smaller dimensions allow it to be carried around in pockets and the screen delivers a crisp text. The Kindle Fire HD is a little bit too restrictive for our liking. The only advantages it has over the Nexus is the fact that has a build-in HDMI port and the ability to viewing content from LoveFilm. With a starting price of £159, both devices are great value for money, but the Nexus is the better pound-for-pound device.
Google Nexus 7 OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Processor: NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.3GHz Storage: 1GB RAM; 16/32GB Screen: 7in (1280 x 800) IPS colour touchscreen LCD Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, micro USB, 3.5mm headphone socket Other: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, GPS, NFC Camera: 1.2MP front Size: 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm Weight: 340g Amazon Kindle Fire HD OS: Android customised Processor: T1 1.2GHz dual-core Storage: 1GB RAM; 16/32GB Screen: 7in (1280 x 800) IPS colour touchscreen LCD Connectivity: MIMI 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, micro USB, micro HDMI 3.5mm headphone socket Other: Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope Camera: HD camera Size: 193 mm x 137 mm x 10.3 mm Weight: 395g
-
ITPro is 20!We take a look back on the past two decades since ITPro launched...
-
Cyber experts issue alert after two ransomware groups team up on ‘unprecedented’ threat campaignNews The tie-up includes a new model of industrialized ransomware deployment that significantly lowers the barrier to entry for cyber crime
-
AWS CEO Matt Garman is bullish on the future of SaaS — Amazon Quick shows there’s a ‘great business opportunity’ with AI-powered softwareNews Matt Garman said fears over the ‘SaaSpocalypse’ were overblown in February, now AWS is making big moves in the SaaS space
-
CMA launches Microsoft probe amid software licensing concernsNews The regulator hopes to “ensure a level playing field” when it comes to competition in the business software market
-
AWS expands language support for Amazon Q DeveloperNews AWS has expanded support for languages in Amazon Q Developer, making it easier for developers to code in their first language.
-
Redis insists license changes were the “only way to compete with Amazon and Google” — now it could face a user exodusNews Redis sparked controversy when it announced licensing changes in March this year – but the company believes the move was warranted
-
Everything you need to know about Amazon Q, including features, pricing, and business tiersExplainer Amazon Q can help developers write code faster and help workers with no coding experience build their own generative AI apps
-
Amazon to become Microsoft 365 customer in landmark $1 billion dealNews The Microsoft 365 deal marks a major pivot for Amazon, which has traditionally avoided using rival cloud products
-
Tech giants lobby US to fund chip productionNews Industry heavyweights ask Congress for $50 billion in chip manufacturing subsidies
-
Microsoft has an edge on AWS, according to IT executivesNews Goldman Sachs survey suggests IT executives see Microsoft winning the cloud wars over the next three years
