Skip to main content

Kindle Fire HDX dominates iPad Mini in this spec showdown

kindle hdx vs ipad mini ipadminikindlehdx
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Amazon Kindle Fire never lit the world on fire with any of its offerings. It has always been considered to a pretty solid device but hasn’t gotten the traction. The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX might be the one that really gets the fire stoked, though. Announced today, the newest tablet from Amazon comes with some impressive internals that should bring equally impressive performance to users. This could be Amazon’s best chance to bite into some of the market share of the big names, and there’s perhaps no name bigger in mobile devices than Apple. Does the Kindle Fire HDX have enough to knock off the iPad Mini this holiday season? We put the two side-by-side for a spec showdown to find out.

 

iPad Mini

iPadMini

Amazon Kindle Fire HDX

KindleHDX
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.3 (in) 7.32 x 5.04 x 0.35 (in)
Weight 11 oz 10.97 oz
Screen 7.9-inch LCD 7-inch LCD 
Resolution 1024 x 768 pixels 1920 x 1200 pixels
OS iOS 6 Android 4.2 with Fire OS 3.0 UI
Storage 16GB 16/32/64GB
SD Card Slot No No
Processor Dual-core A5 2.2GHz Quad-cord Snapdragon 800
RAM 512MB 2GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, 4G LTE
Camera Front 1.2MP, Rear 5MP Front Camera with 720p recording
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0
Battery 4,440mAh (10 hours of use) 11 hours of use
Charger Lightning connector Micro USB
Marketplace Apple App Store Amazon Appstore
Price $330+ $230+
Availability Verizon, AT&T, Sprint October 18, 2013
Recommended Videos

The iPad Mini comes from a more impressive legacy than the Amazon Kindle HDX thanks to the successes of Apple tablets that came before it. But looking at the specs, the Amazon Kindle HDX looks like the more impressive device. The iPad Mini has always felt a little underwhelming, lacking the Retina display present on later models of the larger iPads, and was a very safe entry into the 7-inch tablet category for Apple. Amazon has been in that market for a while and the Kindle HDX looks like it’s the company’s best chance so far to have a hit. It has a powerful chipset and 2GB of RAM acting as its driving force and has what appears will be a gorgeous display. It does seem to be missing a rear camera and could suffer some loss of love from Android fans because of the Fire OS user interface and lack of access to the Google Play Store for apps, but it’s still packing an impressive punch for $230, or $100 less than Apple’s iPad Mini, though the Apple ecosystem and its huge collection of apps might justify the difference for some.

An interesting showdown between these devices that won’t take place in the specs is the customer support. Apple has long been considered one of the better companies when it comes to helping their customers and its in part thanks to their Genius Bar, the collection of people behind the desk at the Apple Store that will walk you through any issue you might be having. Amazon Kindle HDX has that service built right into the device with a 24/7 help menu called Mayday. It could make the Kindle HDX the go-to option for the less tech-savvy, a market that its price point also helps reach.

How well the Mayday feature truly works, we’ll have to wait and see. But starting October 18, 2013, it looks as though Amazon will be giving Apple and all other tablet makers a run for their money.

AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
Does the iPad mini (2024) work with the Apple Pencil?
The Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro).

Apple unveiled the new iPad mini (2024), bringing Apple Intelligence along with the A17 Pro chip, among other upgrades, to the tablet. For artists and content creators, those upgrades will enhance their creative process during projects, whether it's making digital art or creating an icon, banner, or social media posts for their platforms. Of course, that requires using the Apple Pencil, which helps ensure all their creations come out picture-perfect.

If you're a creative who uses the iPad for their work, you might wonder if the Apple Pencil is compatible with the iPad mini (2024). Fear not, for we crafted this guide to tell you whether the writing tool works for the seventh-gen model iPad mini.
Does the iPad mini (2024) work with the Apple Pencil?

Read more
Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad mini (2021): a difficult upgrade
iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad mini (2021).

The iPad mini has always been a pocket-sized powerhouse, offering an Apple tablet experience in a compact form. Initially, it catered to the same audience as the larger iPads. Apple later positioned the iPad mini to better match the specs of the iPad Air. After a three-year wait, Apple has finally unveiled the new iPad mini (2024). Has Apple given the iPad mini the attention it deserves? Is now the time to upgrade?

Join us as we explore the changes and similarities between the iPad mini (2021) and the iPad mini (2024) and discuss whether the new one is worth an upgrade, or if you should wait and see what Apple puts out in the future.
iPad mini (2024) vs iPad mini (2021): specs

Read more
Benchmark tests show just how fast the new iPad mini really is
Front view of 2024 iPad mini.

Apple quietly announced the iPad mini (2024) earlier this week. And right on schedule, Geekbench is out with the first benchmarks for the tablet, which officially arrives on October 23. The results could be described as a mixed bag.

First, the good news. The benchmarks indicate that the new iPad mini (2024) significantly outperforms its predecessor, the iPad mini (2021). According to Geekbench, the single-core performance of the new iPad mini ranges from 2,710 to 2,840, while the multi-core performance falls between 6,274 and 6,982. In comparison, the iPad mini (2021) achieved average scores of 2,121 for single-core and 5,367 for multi-core performance.

Read more