Amazon recently released the Amazon Fire 7 tablet that we reviewed a few weeks back but did you know they also released a kid’s version as well?
First Impressions
In this review with the help of some little kids that are in the family, we tested out the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition which is aimed at children aged 3-7 years old. It comes in two different options 16GB or 32GB and Amazon provide the tablet is a protective case that comes in the following colours:
- Red
- Blue
- Purple
The Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet is available from £109 for the 16GB option or £119 for the 32GB option in addition to this you can also purchase the Fire HD 7 kids tablet and Fire HD 7 Kids Pro but for this review we are going to focus on the red 32GB option that has kindly been sent to us for this review.
Now the tablet itself is simply the adult version in terms of build. The key differences are the cost with the kid’s option costing double what the adult version cost. The kid’s version also comes with a protective foam case that has a handle that can also be used as a kickstand. The Amazon Fire 7 Kids also comes with Amazon Kids + (More on that later).
What you will find with this tablet is Amazon has improved the battery from previous tablets they have released. The Amazon Fire 7 Kids also comes with parental control so you can set what they can do depending on their age you can also set how long they are allowed to use the tablet.
Overall on first impressions, this device ticks a lot of boxes in terms of introducing your child to kid-friendly content ideal to help them develop their education or just give you some time to eat when at a restaurant.
Design
As mentioned this is basically just a normal Amazon Fire 7 tablet take it out of the case and next to a regular version they are identical. The Fire 7 Kids tablet is tucked into that protective foam case as a fact it’s designed for 3-7-year-olds the probability this will be dropped is very high.
Fully Recyclable packaging and Amazon keeping things simple in accessories just a USB-C cable & Plug and a simple instruction Manuel.
The Protective case has to be one of the key selling points the foam shell is sturdier than your average tablet case and can handle drop after drop. The tablet sits reasonably deep inside the case so if dropped the screen won’t make contact and will be protected. The handle can be used as a kickstand which is a really good design consideration.
When we tested the Fire 7 Kids tablet by letting 3 little kids test it out within seconds a fight broke out and the tablet, as a result, was dropped several times on a reasonably hard surface and not a single bit of damage. As long as you keep the case on the tablet it will survive the majority every day falls when being used by the kids.
Amazon Fire 7 Review- Click Here
What’s inside?
The tablet uses a 2GHz MediaTek MT8168 chip that is paired with 2GB of RAM and in this device, we are testing 32GB of storage but they also offer a 16GB option with a slight financial saving.
The screen is 7 inches just like the adult option and the display is 1,024 x600 pixels just like the adult version it can be tricky to see a bright light on this display. The tablet also comes with a 2MP camera on both the front and back and the picture quality is ok it won’t release the next David Bayley but it’s decent for taking silly pictures or if you use the video call option.
What Amazon has done and this is the same as our review of the adult version is to increase the battery life you get 9 hours and 30 minutes of playtime if used constantly which is an improvement on all previous Amazon tablets that have come before.
Excellent quality when watching a children’s TV Show
The Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet with that increased battery life is perfect for when your child is having fun using the table for fun games, entertaining apps, and videos all available via the Amazon Appstore providing plenty of opportunities for the kids to be entertained. What you will notice is Amazon Appstore compared to the likes of Apple or Google play stores has a smaller selection of apps which for kids could be seen as a benefit.
Amazon Kids+ app
What makes the Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet stand out is the Kids+ subscription in which you get your first year free. The app allows your child to access suitable content including apps, games, books, videos and access to the likes of CBeebies, Nickelodeon and Disney. The subscription also unlocks radio stations and playlists with kid-friendly music so your child can learn the latest dance moves to that song that drives you nuts.
The content library is split into two:
- Content for 3 to 8 years old
- Content for 9 to 12 years old
So for the younger audience, they can watch the likes of Bob the Builder, and Pepper Pig and then for the older kids can view youtube videos hand-picked for their age group. There is also a wide range of games to pick from brands such as Seasame Street for young kids to Disney for the older child user.
The Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet comes with Amazon Kids+ free for the first year. Once you have used that free year prime members can either pay a monthly fee of £3.99 per month or £14.99 for the first year then £38 a year after as long as you are a prime member. If you are not a prime member it is rather more expensive.
The tablet can be used without the Kids+ subscription but this will mean your child will not get the curated content Amazon provides. Instead, you will only be limited to the regular apps via the Amazon app store which is not the most stacked of app marketplaces.
Parental Controls
Providing a young child with a tablet for the first time can be scary for a parent. Amazon has provided you with parental control to lock the tablet down and restricts the content your child is able to see. As a parent, you can also set usage limits, filter age-appropriate content, manage web browsing, and define educational goals.
You can control everything via the Amazon parent dashboard which allows you to view the user session in terms of what apps have been used, content downloaded and how long the tablet has been in use. You can even add new content to the tablet remotely using the Amazon parent dashboard.
Image Credit: Amazon
Verdict
The Amazon Fire 7 kids tablet is not the quickest tablet on the market but considering the age group, it’s aimed for that won’t matter. The display could do with some improvement but it won’t affect the overall user experience.
Our Little helper learning to play the piano via the Amazon Fire 7 Kids
Amazon also provides a 2-year warranty so if somehow the kids damaged the tablet you could return it which is a bonus as there is no indication of an IP rating this concerns me with kids about if you were on holiday there is a risk this could get very close to the pool. So it’s nice to know the 2-year warranty will provide you with peace of mind. Cost wise it is double the cost of the adult Fire 7 tablet but the introduction of Amazon Kids + and that protective case makes it a well-worth purchase.
Product Rating:
Design: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Display: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Performance: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Features: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars – 4 Stars
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