Amazon Fire HD 10 updated with improved battery life and performance

What you need to know

  • Amazon has released a new version of its Fire HD 10 tablet.
  • The Kindle Kids Edition is a new Kindle device built specifically for kids.
  • Both devices are available for pre-order right now.

Amazon held a massive hardware event late last month to unveil a slew of new Echo products, and on October 7, the company unveiled even more goodies in the form of an updated Fire HD 10 tablet and a new Kindle that's designed just for kids.

Starting first with the new Fire HD 10, this is replacing the existing model and retains the same 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 HD display. The tablet looks the same from a design point of view (save for some new colors), but Amazon's made sizable upgrades internally.

There's a new octa-core processor clocked at 2GHz, along with 2GB of RAM. Amazon's also touting improved battery life at 12 hours of use on one charge compared to the old model's 10-hour rating.

Perhaps the most exciting change for some users, the new Fire HD 10 finally adopts a USB-C charging port. Not only will this allow the Fire HD 10 to refuel faster than before, but it also means it'll fit in better with your other USB-C-touting devices.

The Fire HD 10 still costs $150 and is available for pre-order now with shipments going out on October 30. It's joined by the new Fire HD 10 Kids Edition as well, with that model coming with a free year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, a kid-proof case with a built-in stand, and a two-year "worry-free guarantee." The Kids Edition costs slightly more at $200.

Along with the new tablet, Amazon also unveiled its first Kindle made just with kids in mind. It's aptly named the Amazon Kindle Kids Edition, and overall, it's a fairly basic e-reader with some nice software bonuses for younger users.

The Kindle Kids Edition has a 6-inch e-ink display with a 167ppi rating. There's an adjustable front-light for easy reading in darker environments, along with a battery that "lasts weeks, not days."

A free year of FreeTime Unlimited is included with the Kindle Kids Edition, in addition to other features that encourage kids to keep reading — such as achievement badges for completing books, easy access to definitions for difficult words, a built-in dictionary, and a vocabulary builder.

The Kindle Kids Edition is available for pre-order starting today, shipping is expected to begin on October 30, and the price is set at $110.

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Joe Maring

Joe Maring was a Senior Editor for Android Central between 2017 and 2021. You can reach him on Twitter at @JoeMaring1.