Amazon's naming scheme for its various consumer electronics is confusing at best. Kindle this, Kindle that. Shoot this, shoot that. Echo, Dot, Tap. If everything makes your head spin, don't worry. You're not alone.
However, once you break through Amazon's lazy naming scheme, you'll see that there's a kind of logic to it. You may also find a couple of devices you had no idea about, some of which may have a place waiting for you in your own home.
So with all of that in mind, here's a quick overview of Amazon's consumer electronics, what they do, and why you might (or might not) want one.
Not only was it Kindle Amazon's flagship device, but to this day it's still Amazon's most popular device by a huge margin - people, even those who prefer physical books, why should you buy a Kindle, even if you love the actual books? Why you should buy a Kindle, even if you love real books In just one week I was convinced that the Kindle is the future of reading. The Kindle offers everything you love about books, but with a few extra goodies that are worth all the expense. Read More
The most important feature is the E-Ink screen display technology. What is E-Ink? How does it work and why does every ebook fan need it? What is E-Ink? How It Works And Why Every E-Book Fan Needs It If you read eBooks and haven't switched to E-Ink yet, then you're missing out. Here's everything you need to know about why E-Ink is great for eBook lovers. Read more , which emulates the appearance of ink on paper. For this reason alone, Kindles are infinitely better than tablets when it comes to long reading sessions. If you buy a Kindle, your eyes will thank you.
Kindle Paperwhite E-reader (Previous Generation - 7th) - Black, 6" Hi-Res Display (300 ppi) with built-in light, Wi-Fi - Includes special offers Kindle Paperwhite E-reader (Previous Generation - 7th) - Black, 6" (300 ppi) High Resolution Display with Built-in Light, Wi-Fi - Includes Special Offers Buy Now On Amazon $119.99
As of this writing, there are four Kindle models:
Which one is better for you? Check out our guide to the different Kindle models. Which Kindle Device Should You Buy? A Comparison Guide Which Kindle Device Should You Buy? Comparison Guide There are four different Kindle readers available to purchase for different types of users. But which Kindle device is right for you? Read More And if you think the Oasis is a waste of money, think again. It only has a few unique benefits, but its ergonomics alone are worth buying 3 Compelling Reasons to Buy an Amazon Kindle Oasis 3 Compelling Reasons to Buy an Amazon Kindle Oasis offers a lot of bang for your buck.Here are three reasons to consider buying one.Read More.
Kindle Oasis E-reader with Leather Charging Cover - Black, 6" Hi-Res Display (300 ppi), Wi-Fi + Free Cellular Connectivity, Built-in Audible - Includes Special Offers (Previous Generation - 8a) Kindle Oasis E- reader with leather cover - Black, 6" High Resolution Display (300 ppi), Wi-Fi + Free Cellular Connectivity, Built-in Audible - Includes Special Offers (Previous Generation - 8th) Buy Now On Amazon $359.99
Everyone should have a Kindle, even if it's just the Basic version. Kindles can stimulate you to read more How to use your Kindle to read more Books How to use your Kindle to read more Books Many of us have the desire to read more books, but it's hard to find the time and inclination to do so. Your Kindle can help you achieve this goal. Here's how... Read More maximum These magnificent devices. There are several ways to get the most out of your Kindle, and here are just seven... Read More .
The Amazon Fire Tablet was first introduced in 2011 as “Light the Fire” Your unofficial Amazon Fire Tablet. Manual your unofficial Amazon Fire tablet. The Amazon Fire tablet is a great alternative to the basic E-Ink Kindle e-readers, while offering more attractive new tablet-like features. Its small size and flexibility make it the best option. Read More They're both tablet-shaped, so maybe "light the fire" was meant to mean "like Kindle but better." What's the difference between E-Readers and tablets? What is the difference between E-Readers and tablets? E-readers and tablets are not the same thing. Here's what you need to know about their differences. Read more.
In 2014, Amazon dropped the “Ignite” aspect of the naming scheme, meaning there is no longer such a thing as a Kindle Fire. Instead, the proper name is one of the following:Amazon Fire, Amazon Fire Tablet, or Fire Tablet.
Fire Tablet with Alexa, 7" Display, 8GB, Black - with Special Offers (Previous Gen - 5a) Fire Tablet with Alexa, 7" Display, 8GB, Black - With Special Offers (Previous Gen - 5a) Shop Now on Amazon
As of this writing, there is only one product in this specific line:the Amazon Fire 7 Tablet (UK). , which happens to be Amazon's cheapest tablet ever released to date.
Comes with 8GB or 16GB of storage How to Get the Most Out of Your Kindle Fire's 8GB Storage How to Get the Most Out of Your Kindle Fire's 8GB Storage I almost ran out of space on my Kindle Fire last week. Unfortunately, I was away from my computer, which meant I couldn't just move the data off the device; would have to remove... Read More Amazon Appstore:Which is better? Google Play vs. Amazon Appstore:Which is better? The Google Play Store isn't your only option when it comes to downloading apps. Should I try the Amazon Appstore? Read More All of which makes it a solid choice for anyone in need of a cheap tablet.
Note that you can get Play Store on Fire Tablet Remove Ads and Install Google Play on Kindle Fire Without Root Remove Ads and Install Google Play on Kindle Fire Without Root No root needed for these settings. Do you want to get rid of lock screen ads and install Google Play Store on your Amazon Kindle Fire tablet? We show you how to do that! Read More
Following the success of the original Fire, Amazon went ahead and expanded its tablet lineup with the Fire HD (in 2012) and Fire HDX (in 2013). These two, respectively, are bigger, faster and more versatile than the original.
At the time of this writing, there are three versions of Fire HD currently available:
All three have the same screen resolution (1280p x 800p), but the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 have better cameras, better video recording resolutions, and better Wi-Fi standards than the Fire HD 6.
As for the Fire HDX, there is only one version currently available:
Why get an HDX over an HD? It has a larger screen resolution (2560p x 1600p), faster processing speed, longer battery life, better cameras, and 4G capabilities.
Fire TV has nothing to do with the Fire line of tablets; rather, it's Amazon's answer to the growing popularity of digital media players like Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Roku, and it's actually not that bad. It was first released in 2014..
With Amazon Fire TV (UK), you can stream all kinds of content from Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and more. Just connect it to your TV (using an HDMI cable) and your router (using Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and you're good to go.
And when used in tandem with Ultra HD-compatible TVs, Fire TV can stream video in 4K quality. What's the difference between 4K and Ultra HD? What is the difference between 4K and Ultra HD? Thinking of buying a new TV or monitor but feeling lost with all the terminology like 4K and Ultra HD? Here's everything you need to know about it. Read more.
Fire TV - Previous Generation Fire TV - Previous Generation Buy Now on Amazon
The weird thing about Fire TV is that it's also kind of like a miniature game console, except you can only play games on the Amazon Underground app store. However, the game's performance is subpar, so you'll probably never use this feature.
Overall, the Fire TV isn't a bad device. It has many of the same features as the other streaming devices. The 8 best devices to stream movies to your TV. The 8 best devices to stream movies to your TV. There are several ways to stream media to your TV and decide which way. is right for you can be overwhelming. Let us help you explore what is currently available. Read More We recommend something more streamlined like the Fire TV Stick.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick (UK) it's more or less what it sounds like:a little "stick." The Fire TV version focuses entirely on the streaming media aspect and avoids the unnecessary gaming aspect.
Amazon Fire TV Stick (Previous Generation) Amazon Fire TV Stick (Previous Generation) Buy Now on Amazon
It's like a USB drive that plugs directly into your TV's HDMI port. With it, you get access to all the same streaming services and channels that you get with the original Fire TV.
One thing to note is that there is a slightly more expensive version of the Fire TV Stick that comes with a voice remote (instead of the regular one). "dumb" remote) that can interact with Amazon's Alexa assistant. It's worth the price if you like Alexa!
When the Amazon Echo (UK) debuted in 2015, a lot of people scoffed at the idea of it, some because it seemed like too much of a hack, others for privacy and security reasons. But perceptions of this product have changed considerably since then.
The great thing about Echo is that it can enhance your home. How the Amazon Echo can make your home a smart home. How the Amazon Echo can make your home a smart home. Smart home technology is still in its infancy, but a new product from Amazon called the "Echo" may help bring it into the mainstream. Read more , which basically means you can control different devices around your house using nothing more than Alexa voice commands. 7 Ways to Control Your Home Using Voice Commands 7 Ways to Control Your Home Using Voice Commands One of the greatest advances in home automation is the increasing integration of voice control. With all kinds of smart devices. Read more . Or you can use it in isolation as a dedicated music player, speaker, and/or voice assistant.
Amazon Echo - Black (1st Generation) Amazon Echo - Black (1st Generation) Buy now on Amazon
There is also something called Amazon Echo Dot (UK) which is a cheaper version with low quality standard speakers. Echo Dot is for anyone who wants to connect their own high-quality speaker system, or anyone who wants one in multiple rooms.
Normally, you must have an Echo to order an Echo Dot, but here's a possible solution you can use How to order an Echo Dot without an Amazon Echo How to order an Echo Dot without an Amazon Echo Amazon's new Echo Dot is pretty impressive . but you can only order it if you already have an Echo...unless you use this workaround. Read more.
Either way, connect it with plenty of other Alexa-enabled smart devices. 5 Easy-to-Setup Smart Home Gadgets for First Timers 5 Easy-to-Setup Smart Home Gadgets for First Timers Smart home automation sounds amazing in theory, but many people are hesitant to try it because the learning curve seems steep. If that describes you:it's easier than you think! Read More to truly live in luxury at home. Turns out there are a lot of cool things you can do with Echo 7 Creative Uses for Amazon Echo and Alexa 7 Creative Uses for Amazon Echo and Alexa. You've seen the ads starring Alec Baldwin, but you're still not sure. What does the Amazon Echo do or if you need one in your home. We're about to find out. Read more.
the Amazon Tap is the company's latest consumer device offering, having debuted in 2016. It's related to the Echo and Echo Dot, but different enough in function that we think it deserves its own section.
The first noticeable difference is that the Tap is much smaller than the Echo and Echo Dot, making it the ideal choice if you prefer to have a device that you can move from room to room.
Amazon Tap Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker. Amazon Tap Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker. Buy now on Amazon
The biggest difference is that the Tap lacks always-on voice activation. Instead, you press a button before issuing a voice command. This is because the tap is battery powered (echo and echo dot are wired), which saves power and increases battery life.
For all the nitty-gritty details that separate the Echo, Echo Point, and Tap, check out our overview and comparison of the three Amazon Echo devices vs. Dot vs. Tap:What are the key differences? Amazon Echo vs. Dot vs. Tap:What are the key differences? A common complaint against the Amazon Echo was that it had too many features and cost too much. Amazon's response to that? Launching two variations with smaller price tags:the Tap and the Echo Dot. Read more.
Amazon's offerings are all over the place, but the only thread running through them is the idea of home entertainment. E-readers, tablets, streaming devices and voice assistants:where will Amazon go next?
It's exciting to see how far Amazon has come in terms of consumer electronics in less than a decade, and even more exciting to imagine what other gadgets it will release in the years to come.
Do you consider any of these devices to be an absolute must? Or do you think they are useless waste of money? If you own any of the above, please let us know what you think of them, and if you would recommend them to other readers.
Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
