Amazon Fire HD 6

Amazon’s Fire tablet line offers a popular balance of cultivated content, affordable prices and reliable quality. With the, the Amazon Fire HD 6, they hope to prove that budget tablets can still offer an enjoyable experience that isn’t all about lackluster screens and flimsy designs. Does the tablet achieve this goal? Let’s check out some reviews!

With the sleek look of the HDX series and even the Fire Phone, you might be surprised at how basic the HD 6 looks. Trusted reviews even stated that it “feels like a bit of a prototype.” With a boxy design and matte plastic shell, its obvious that the tablet is aiming to cut prices wherever possible. Unfortunately, many reviewers took issue with this. Phone Arena called the tablet “cheapish” while CNet pointed out that “For a smaller-than-average slate, it’s not very slim, and at 0.63 pounds (0.29 kg), it’s not the lightest either.”

In the center of the plastic chassis sits a 6-inch 800-by-1280 IPS LCD. Reviews noted plenty of brightness for daytime usage and the viewing angles you’d expect from an IPS display. A lack of ambient light sensor posed a problem for some reviewers transitioning from daytime use to bedtime reading. However, reviews are largely positive, with Engadget claiming, “you’re going to be hard-pressed to find another tablet in this price range that matches the HD 6 in sharpness”

Push the display is a 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM. While this is far from flagship specs, the processor appears up to handling most tasks and has the added benefit of offering exceptional battery life. Many reviews found a single charge could net as much as 11 hours of battery life before needing to find a power outlet. While there was the occasional lag mentioned in reviews, most were suprised just how capable the tablet was with Phone Arena calling the HD 6 “sufficient for all the fun stuff.

Unfortunately, there are a few weak areas that reviews were quick to point out. With only 8 or 16GB of storage, and no options for expansion, you might find yourself deleting apps and movies pretty quickly. Performance of the tablet also drops quickly when storage space is low. However, if you’re a Prime subscriber, or primarily stream content, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Another area of disapproval is the tablet’s 2MP rear camera. While tablet cameras are not known for their quality, none of the reviews had anything positive to say about the camera. Trusted Reviews came the closest to a compliment, stating, “If you have a phone released in the last few years, its camera will probably be better than this one.”

Finally, like other Amazon tablets, the HD 6 is ultimately a gateway to all things Amazon and not much else. With no access to Google Play, your app choices are slightly limited. Lack of storage makes storing content on your device difficult. This wouldn’t be a problem if not for a lack of cellular data options. If you plan to travel with your new tablet, be sure to know where to find a good Wi-Fi connection.

Overall, reviews of the HD 6 are positive. CNet declared that “Though it’s on the low end of the spectrum, the feature-filled 6-incher raises the bar.” PC Magazine gave it a thumbs up, saying, “If you’re interested in easily streaming Amazon content, and you’re almost always in places with Wi-Fi, you’ll have a good time here.”