An iPad is still the better overall package, but in its 2022 update to the Fire 7 tablet, Amazon made the device slightly more compelling for anyone looking for a simple tablet.
As tablets have gotten wider, the natural orientation to hold and use them has changed from vertical to horizontal.
Apple has so far refused to adapt with its iPad and because the Fire 7 tablet only has a 7-inch screen, I can’t claim it needed this new webcam placement, but I’m glad it happened anyway.
Apple has avoided putting a USB-C port on its entry-level $329 iPad, giving Amazon a small advantage to go with its smaller Fire 7.
Along with the improvements to charging, battery life has been upgraded to last up to 10 hours, according to Amazon. In my tests, the Fire 7 easily hit that mark on a Saturday of casual reading and streaming.
The final notable change Amazon made to the Fire 7 was swapping in slightly more powerful internals.
Performance was serviceable while I was using the Fire 7, but if you’re used to any modern smartphone, I think you’ll feel disappointed by the Fire 7’s slightly longer load times and occasional stutters.
But the Fire 7 is still a budget tablet, and with Amazon, what that entails has changed, but still needs to be considered. As long as you’re comfortable simplifying your tablet habits to just watching and reading, the $59.99 Fire 7 is an even better deal.
For anything else, look elsewhere.
Amazon's Fire 7 tablet (2022) is $60. That's 1/5th the cost of Apple's entry-level iPad.