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Apple’s iPad Mini is hot. Some consumers are calling the device, which was offered up for preorder Oct. 26, the best small tablet on the market. But it’s unclear whether that admiration comes from the quality of the product or the fact that it’s an Apple product.
As nice as the iPad Mini is, after all, it’s facing stiff competition. And to simply cast aside those competitors for a product that Apple hasn’t shipped yet seems rather premature.
Furthermore, the love for the iPad Mini seems to ignore that the device comes with its fair share of issues. At a starting price of $329, the iPad Mini is expensive compared with other similar tablets on the market. And although its screen is slightly larger than those from competitors, devices like the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire come with their own advantages.
The Kindle Fire, especially, might appeal to quite a few customers. Amazon’s tablet is well-designed, it has some neat features and it’s affordable. Simply put, it’s a winner and it might just be better than Apple’s iPad Mini.
Read on to find out why customers should choose the Kindle Fire HD over the iPad Mini.
1. Options, options
Apple’s iPad Mini comes in 12 versions. However, the only difference between the devices is storage, wireless connectivity and color. The Kindle Fire is available in several versions, depending on what customers want. There’s a Kindle Fire HD with WiFi, a low-end Kindle Fire for those on a budget, an 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD and that same model with the addition of Long Term Evolution (LTE) service. The options are sure to appeal to wide array of customers.
2. A bigger screen
Although Apple has staked claim to the low-end display turf by pointing out that its 7.9-inch iPad Mini has a larger screen than the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire, the company has forgotten about the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD. That device nearly matches Apple’s top-of-the-line iPad and does so at a price customers will like—$499 with LTE.
3. Pricing
Speaking of pricing, it’s hard not to choose Amazon’s tablets over Apple’s. The cheapest Kindle Fire is available for just $159. Those who want a better display can get the Kindle Fire HD for $199. The 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD starts at $299 for WiFi and $499 for LTE service. Apple’s iPad Mini starts at $329 for WiFi and 16GB of storage. Yikes.
4. A better display
The iPad Mini’s biggest issue might be its display. The device has a 1,024 x 768 screen that has 163 pixels per inch. The 7-inch Kindle Fire HD has a 1,280 x 800 HD resolution and 216 pixels per inch. In other words, customers will get a far better visual experience on Amazon’s tablet.
Kindle Fire vs. iPad Mini: 10 Reasons to Choose the Amazon Tablet
5. Easy availability
Apple’s iPad Mini is popular. In fact, customers looking to buy the WiFi-only model now will need to wait an additional two weeks after its Nov. 2 launch date. The Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD, however, are already available. So, customers looking to get a slate now won’t need to wait for Amazon’s option.
6. It’s not your standard Android
If the Kindle Fire were running a standard version of Android, it would be easy to go to the iPad. However, it’s running an extremely modified version that’s unique to Amazon products. And by all measures, that operating system version is really good.
7. Apple doesn’t have an easy win on design
It’s hard to say that Amazon’s Kindle Fire wins out over the iPad Mini on design. However, the gap between the products isn’t necessarily all that great. Amazon’s tablet comes with sleek lines, a nice plastic finish and is aesthetically pleasing. In other words, it gets the design job done.
8. There’s no LTE advantage
Apple was quick to point out at its iPad Mini event that its tablet holds the high ground on 4G LTE service. However, the company failed to mention that Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD comes with 4G LTE service. That tablet isn’t available just yet; it’s expected to launch on Nov. 20. But when it does hit the Web, it will come with the same LTE service customers find in Apple’s product. Even better, by paying a one-time fee of $50, Kindle Fire HD owners can have 250MB of 4G data for a period of 12 months. That also includes 20GB of Amazon Cloud Drive storage.
9. Amazon’s integrated services are top-notch
Amazon has decided to integrate its many services, including Cloud Drive, Amazon Instant Video and its MP3 store into the Kindle Fire tablets. That’s great news for customers who want to be able to enjoy multimedia on the tablet. Apple’s offering comes with iTunes. Although that’s a fine store in its own right, Amazon’s tablets are bundled with more options.
10. Amazon customers have no other choice
Amazon customers really have no other choice but to buy a new Kindle Fire. After all, if they’re heavily invested in the e-retail giant’s products, why shouldn’t they try to take advantage of a device that caters to that? Those who like Amazon products have no reason to go elsewhere.