Tablet shoppers now have a tough choice: A 16GB iPad Mini 2, or six of Amazon's new Fire tablets for $19 less. Seriously.
Amazon announced Tuesday it's launching a new line of Fire-branded products, including a tablet simply called Fire, which it's selling for $49.99 or in a six-pack for $249. The device is currently available for pre-order, with shipping beginning September 30.
While Apple is currently pushing its tablets towards productivity, Amazon's Fire line embraces entertainment. The Fire Tablet isn't a device you bring to work; it's a device you bring with you to the couch.
The tablet comes with Amazon's new Underground app, which gives users free access to paid games and in-app purchases, with ad support. Of course, access to Amazon's library of streaming TV, Movies and Music through a Prime subscription is a key selling point for the tablet as well.
At this price point, you'd be insane to expect a lot out of the Fire, but the specs aren't too bad given the cost. Inside lives a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 8GB of memory expandable to 128GB. The 7-inch screen with its 1,024 x 600 resolution, won't blow anyone's mind, but it'll get the job done.
The Fire will run Amazon's Fire OS 5, a modified version of Android Lollipop.
For a limited time, Amazon is offering a "buy five, get one free" deal on the Fire tablet for $249. This seems like mostly a gimmick to drum up publicity, but it might not be a bad deal for families. Or, it could be perfect for those who want to buy holiday gifts for their young nieces and nephews in one fell swoop.
This is a classic Amazon move: Selling a device at or below cost in an effort to bring more customers to Amazon. Those who buy this tablet will be more inclined to get a Prime subscription, which in turn, will lead them to spend more money at Amazon's store.
The Fire isn't a bad deal either, especially when you consider the Kindle e-reader. Currently, the basic Kindle starts at $79, but it's really only for books. The Fire can do the same thing and much more for less money.
Of course, they're very different devices given that one has a traditional screen and the other has E Ink, but the pricing puts the Fire in perspective.