Design: Withstands Little Hands
Case Design
The bumper also makes this a great option for rough and tumble little ones (just like my own). This tablet was dropped a few different times (okay, maybe more than a few) on both hard and soft surfaces. It came away unscathed every time.
Another cool feature of the case is the built-in handle and kickstand. Kids can stand the tablet up on any surface for hands-free watching and then fold the kickstand into a handle for easy grab and go.
Screen Size & Resolution
The screen on the Fire 7 Tablet Kids is relatively small at just 7in (177.8mm). And you shouldn’t expect high-resolution images with the 171 PPI (Pixels Per Inch). Unfortunately, the screen can also be a bit hard to see outdoors or in bright light.
For little eyes, resolution may not be a deal-breaker. However, if screen size and resolution matter to you, there are other tablet options that might be a better fit.
Use: Simple but Slow
Setup & Speed
First, setup was a breeze. It even included an intro video to show off some of the features of the tablet which I found super helpful. During setup, I was also able to set all of the parental controls (more on this later) and quickly connect to Wi-Fi.
Once I completed the setup, I handed the tablet over to my main product tester, my six-year-old son. As he can read basic words and short sentences, he was quickly able to navigate the tablet’s simple interface on his own. The tablet has specific sections for apps and games, recent downloads, and more. He was able to find his favorites, download them, and start playing without a hassle.
At this point, the Quad-core 2.0GHz CPU and 2GB of RAM came into play. My son is used to using a 10.2in (259.08mm) Apple iPad that features an A13 Bionic chip with 3GB of RAM. Based on our comparison alone, the iPad was faster when it came to tasks such as maneuvering the interface, switching apps, and playing games. If you’re interested in a performance boost over what the Fire 7 Kids offers, you may want to look into the other Fire tablet models.
It was a noticeable difference that resulted in a bit of frustration here and there for both of us. However, once he was in his game or video having a blast, all was quickly forgotten and forgiven.
Built-In Cameras
While not the highest quality, the 2MP cameras in the front and back were a nice addition. Regardless of the resulting images, my son enjoyed being able to use the simple photo editing tools to add stickers and text after taking pictures. Plus, the controls were super easy to use.
Parental Controls: Mama Approved
However, tech is still trying to catch up when it comes to being in control of what our kids see and listen to. This tablet delivered the security I’ve been looking for through a variety of controls.
Parent Dashboard
Using the Parent Dashboard, I was able to easily limit my son’s screen time. This included setting specific “off” and “on” times. Plus, I was able to set goals I wanted him to complete before accessing his games. For example, I could require 30 minutes of reading before the tablet unlocked his other apps.
Better yet, all of the parental controls are hidden behind a pin that I created during setup. This means my son was unable to go in and change the settings himself.
After setting up the tablet, I felt safe knowing inappropriate content would be nearly impossible to access—a huge relief for this mama.
Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours of Fun
The battery life held up great on our recent road trip to Disney (hours upon hours away). My son had plenty of battery to keep himself occupied nearly the whole trip down. A four-hour resort charge using the included cable meant he was ready for the trip back, too.
This tablet’s battery life is comparable to other tablets on the market. For example, the Apple iPad Air 10.9 inch 5th Generation features up to 10 hours of battery life as well.
Of course, you can complete more strenuous tasks on the iPad than you can on the Fire. However, do kiddos need the higher level of performance? If your kid is using their tablet for schoolwork or heavy gaming, maybe. However, if they’re using it to play simple games and watch videos, 10 hours on the Fire is more than enough.
However, this price comes with some tradeoffs. For example, the overall operation speed is slower than other options and the screen resolution isn’t quite up to par.
All of that being said, I think the price, safety, and durability of this tablet make it a worthwhile option for parents looking for a fun and durable option for their younger kids.
