New Kindle Fires can be ad-free for a one-time $15 fee

By Jerry Hildenbrand
last updated

The Internet has been in a tizzy since we heard that Amazon would not be allowing the removal of the "special offers" package from the new Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD units. If you weren't aware how all this works, previous Kindle readers were available at a little bit lower price, but included ads to help support them. For a small fee, you could have these removed.

We first heard that Amazon would be including this on all the new Kindle Fire devices, and apparently that they would not be offering an ad-free experience. Ars Technica has received word from Amazon that they will be allowing users to go ad-free for a one-time payment of $15.00 This hasn't yet been updated on the Amazon special offers website (opens in new tab), but we're inclined to believe the fine folks at Ars Technica. 

Short version -- if you were worried about having non-removable ads on your new Kindle Fire or Kindle Fire HD, there's nothing to fear. They can be removed if you pay Amazon a $15 fee. 

Source: Ars Technica

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Jerry Hildenbrand
Jerry Hildenbrand
Senior Editor — Google Ecosystem

Jerry is an amateur woodworker and struggling shade tree mechanic. There's nothing he can't take apart, but many things he can't reassemble. You'll find him writing and speaking his loud opinion on Android Central and occasionally on Twitter.

25 Comments
  • All the damn complaining....good grief.
  • I feel the same way. The ads are so out of the way I can't stand all this damn complaiing. Ads on my Kindle Touch home screen doesn't bother me at all.. I always look forward to what new DEAL i can get.... It's where I got my free Zappos VIP membership.... People just like to complain and they need to shut up about it or pay the fee.
  • Why do I have to pay a fee for something that should be free in the first place? Well not like I'm buying one lol.
  • Come on, it's only a 2.5 to 7.5% additional fee. Even with the 15$ fee, it's still a very attractive price! Costs are partly financed by the advertisement, this is quite common. The free Android apps that display ads are another good example. No, the problem here is the eco-system Amazon develops, which looks as closed a system as the one Apple imposes on their customers. We can't compare that to an Android tablet because the freedom that comes with it is not the same. You get additional services and are denied others, and you don't get the same level of openness. Also, will you get Android updates, for example JB? I'll stick with the original E Ink Kindles, they make sense to read electronic books. The Fire products... I don't see any added value, I don't want my movies or my music to be only available on a tablet. Some services like the X-ray gizmo or immersive reading could be fun, but not worth reading on an IPS. Hardware-wise, they're apparently good but lack GPS and Bluetooth, and they would have to be rooted.
  • Google makes their majority of their money from ads and didn't have to stoop so low as to put ads on the N7.
  • It's more subtle than that, they make the Android OS ;) And this OS integrates everything Google needs to get profitable info from a huge base of users, and yes, they do push ads through free apps (though that's up to the developer). If that isn't obvious enough, the last introduction of Google Now should be, I was really impressed when they came up with that. Both so convenient for the user and for Google. Not that it's a bad thing... but nothing is for free!
  • Actually, the ads are everywhere. You just don't realize it because you think it's a service. Fired up Maps lately? How about Search? Browser?
  • If having ads meant that the Nexus 7 would actually pass a basic QC check, I'd be okay with that. The FKHD's extra storage space would be kinda groovy on the N7 too.
  • Nexus 7 FTW!
  • you get a promise of jelly bean and beyond with that?
  • Jelly bean? . . . this is a forked version of Android... Jelly Bean doesn't have any relevance here.
  • Personally, I love the ads because there are often Amazon coupons for things I was going to buy anyway, like movies, albums, or books. But even given that, I didn't like the idea that you HAD to have the ads, so I hope Amazon does allow this $15 "upgrade" feature (although really, using some of the ads will actually SAVE you money, so I think they are worth having).
  • fools buy fire.
  • There you have it, folks; a generalized statement from someone who wouldn't buy a Kindle Fire in the first place.
  • And Bing as a default search engine? Still a dealbreaker Amazon.
  • Or you could remove them for free after rooting.
  • Well, you always have to be cautious about Amazon's statements when they are not official. This is what I'm told by Amazon, basically Fire HD is *not* available outside the USA, nor are the related services: "I'm sorry, currently Amazon Kindle Fire or Kindle Fire HD is only available for purchase by customers located in the United States (specifically, the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia) from Amazon.com. Warranty service for Kindle Fire can only be provided by us within the United States purchased from Amazon.com. If a replacement is required under the terms of our one-year limited warranty, it will only be delivered to an address within the U.S. This is based on warranty issues and Federal law, and as such, cannot be amended at the discretion of our Customer Service department. Also, Kindle Fire and its related services were designed to be used within the U.S. only. Due to import/export laws and other restrictions, we are only able to offer Amazon Instant Videos, MP3 Music Downloads, Amazon Appstore for Android associated apps, and other downloadable products to customers connecting to the Internet in the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia at this time. I'm sorry for any disappointment this may cause." Now obviously this isn't correct, they are available since the small format is on amazon.fr, amazon.co.uk and so on (why the 8.9" format is not available in Europe is beyond me).
  • I hope so, some people really don't want that. I would not choose the Amazon ecosystem, but at least we have that option.
  • Can you disable the lock screen altogether? I have no need for a lock screen when the tablet just sits on the kitchen counter. -Suntan
  • Haha, Amazon has find a way to earn more adn also tell the others company how to do it.
    http://technologyfeed.net
  • What a rip off!!!!...I could careless if these ads would or would not save me money. I like to pay the price for a device I buy without any restrication. This is like a supermarket selling the milk but charging for the jug or container...Obsured..Only fools allow companies do such a thing so that they can save a buck or two here and there...It is the matter of principle. It's all about money.
  • Wouldn't using a different launcher and something like widget locker for the lock screen effectively rid you of these ads?
  • I wonder if it will apply to an Amazon account or if its just for one specific device, or one specific installation, as in would it reappear after a factory rest? I once paid $7.99 to get rid of ads from the app Talkatone and after reflashing it the app failed to recognize my Google account, and emailed them to no avail. At least Amazon is charging to no ads, Penny Arcade has a Kickstarter that is begging money in promise of removing ads partially from their site and got half million from suckers.
  • the only way i could believe that this was a good move for amazon is if in some internal memo or document it showed that kindle was being sold for $15 less then the overall manufacturing cost. In that such case its understandable. Otherwise.... Amazon is making money off of google.. I simply fear that you know with companies like amazon adding out the android os.. replacing google search with bing.. and using other map apps other the google maps.. google will take an unnecessary hit and well.. Possibly Cut off the world and start charging per license...
  • Too late for Amazon to get my tablet dollars. I was in the market for a tablet and considered a new Fire HD, but purchased a Nexus 7 after reading that the new Fires were not offered with ad removal. There were obviously other considerations, but for me it was a close decision and the non-removable ads tipped the scale. I'm glad that Amazon has seen reason on this, but they should have had the foresight to see the backlash against the ads. I have no regrets getting the Nexus 7.