On the one hand, I had an easy time viewing the screen while reading, checking email, surfing the web and updating Facebook - basically, anything that required me to be holding the device in two hands, not far from my face. Unfortunately, though, the viewing angles are mixed, and that's despite the fact that this makes use of an IPS panel. That makes a difference in just about every area that matters: watching movies, browsing photos, playing games and reading books. More importantly, you're going to be hard-pressed to find another tablet in this price range that matches the HD 6 in sharpness most of the other cheapies top out at 1,024 x 600. That's actually the same resolution as Amazon's 7-inch tablet, except there, the pixel density drops to 216 ppi - something to consider if you're deciding between the two. Speaking of the screen, Amazon sets itself apart with a 6-inch, 1,280 x 800 panel, which equates to a respectable pixel density of 252 ppi. I confess I haven't tried the sunscreen test myself, but I did frequently put the tablet inside a backpack alongside other gadgets, and to this day it doesn't have any scuffs on either the front or back side. Amazon also ran its new tablet through a gamut of torture tests, ranging from sunscreen to salt water to a machine that simulates items being tossed around inside a bag. Up front, the 1,280 x 800 screen is coated in Gorilla Glass, making it less vulnerable to scratches. That said, what the Fire HD 6 lacks in charm, it makes up for in durability. This is a $99 tablet, and it looks the part. In any case, prepare yourself for a good deal of corner-cutting here.
#KINDLE FIRE HD 6 REVIEWS 1080P#
There's also a 2-megapixel camera around back, capable of shooting 1080p video, along with an even lower-res VGA camera up front for the occasional selfie. Around the edges, you'll find a volume rocker and power key, but sadly no microSD slot - a shame since there's only 8GB or 16GB of built-in storage. Aside from its boxy shape and chamfered edges, the HD 6 has a plain shell fashioned out of smooth plastic (my unit came in white, but you can also get it in black, magenta, cobalt blue or "citron," a loud yellow). To put that in perspective, the Nexus 6 weighs just 6.49 ounces, or 0.4 pound, though it's about as thick as Amazon's tablet.
The HD 6 is a chunky and surprisingly heavy little thing, measuring 0.4 inch thick and coming in at 10.1 ounces, or 0.63 pound. But an attractive design isn't one of them. There are lots of reasons you might buy the HD 6: screen quality, interesting software, long battery life.
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