Rumor: Kindle Fire already has over 250,000 preorders and counting

October 4, 2011 By Mike Dunn

According to a leaked Amazon document there are currently over 250,000 Kindle Fire preorders, and if this pace continues it could sell as many as 2.5 million units by the time it is released on November 15.

We don’t think that the new Amazon Kindle Fire will be an iPad killer, but it might just outsell the Apple tablet. The folks over at Cult Of Android got some leaked preorder numbers from Amazon, and the numbers look amazing. After only five days the Kindle Fire has amassed 254,074 preorders, which almost matches the original iPads first day sales.

The original iPad sold 300,000 units on its first day of availability, and took a month to reach one million unit sales. The iPad 2 sold 2.6 million units in its first month, which is by far the tablet record to beat. If we dig into the numbers a little more we see that it is possible that the Kindle Fire might come close to those numbers. The 257,074 preorder number was after five days which means an average of 50,000 orders a day. If that rate of orders remains steady then the Kindle Fire will reach 2.5 million preorders by its November 15 release date.

It is highly unlikely that people will keep preordering at the same rate for the entire time, but it is very likely that the Kindle Fire could sell a million units on its launch date. We already think that the Fire will dominate, and having such amazing order numbers has to be a good sign.

Just to be mean let’s compare these numbers to other tablets recently released. The Motorola Xoom sold only 100,000 units in its first month and a half, RIM sold an estimated 250,000 units in its first month. The Kindle Fire has a long way to go to pass the iPad, but it seems like a given that it will pass all other Android tablets in sales.

Showing 18 comments

John Go at 9:34pm 5th October 2011 Kindle Fire doesn't have microSD slot that Nook Color has thus it is stuck with 6 GB usable internal storage unlike Nook Color that can get up to 32 GB card in. Kindles are made to be almost like a "dumb terminal" of the past to make sure you're tied up to Amazon's storage on the web (for which you need Wi-Fi connection to get to.) and you can only store content you get from Amazon there, not other files and they can spy on your web activities through the new cloud-integrated web browser. Also, VERY IMPORTANT – lack of microSD slot means that if you decide to root your Kindle Fire, you’ll have to root the actual device thus there will be no coming back. On Nook, you can make it boot from a “rooted” microSD card and if you want to get back to the original Nook you can just take out the card and reboot. Nook Color still has the best on the market anti-glare coated screen that is better for eading/viewing outside. B&N is rumored to be coming out with Nook Color 2 shortly that will sure to have Netflix app among others (you won’t find it on Kindle). Nook Touch is still better designed than even the new Kindle Touch with battery lasting two months with ONE hour reading a day with Wi-Fi off thus it's still twice as long as new Kindle's two months with HALF and hour a day with Wi-Fi off. It looks like Kindle didn't get any battery improvement in the new model, they only changed the test condition. More, Kindle Touch still flashes black on each page turn while Nook Touch reduces the flashing by 80%.
Judy Ahrend at 12:55pm 5th October 2011 Time. What's the fighting all about? If you are a fan if apple, great. I am. I just hated using a PC. I take my iPad to bed with me. I use it for so many things, including keeping a list for shopping. I never lose my list any more. I love the Art apps. The Garage Band, Smule, Talking Thomas, I have read more books, etc. Just love love love it.
Judy Ahrend at 12:48pm 5th October 2011 Have an ipad2. Take it everywhere use it allthe
Jason Zenso at 6:02am 5th October 2011 meh nook color cyanogen mod...
Ron Coley at 4:47am 5th October 2011 @James: Same here. I've only had 1 Mac in the past 5 years and it still boots up faster than my PC ever did. This Amazon tablet is a threat to the iPad. It's very cheap. People will lopnbb
1. garylapointe at 6:59pm 7th October 2011 I don't think it'll be competition to the iPad - it's not even close to being able to stand up and compare features one-to-one.BUT, I think some people will get it and it'll be "enough" for them to get by (and NOT purchase an iPad).The iPad is a luxury item, but it's an affordable one; giving up a few small things could get you into this "luxury vehicle"; unlike a luxury car, you'd have to give up a house to get some of those. But you'd give up barely anything and you could afford a Kindle Fire.
Megan Chandler at 4:46am 5th October 2011 If I had a left nut I would gladly give it for one of those.
James M. Tecco at 3:47am 5th October 2011 @dean, how many windows-based computers have you owned in the last 5 years? I would guess 2 to 3. I've owned 1 Mac over that period and it's still better than the top windows-based computer. Just an FYI, Apple makes a PC also and right now they are the number 1 PC on the market.
Greg Clauson at 3:32am 5th October 2011 So if you disagree with Dean and like apple, you are "braindead". Hmm, great mature comment...
Lorne Hammond at 3:32am 5th October 2011 Can i load pdf's, cbr's, avi's, mkvs and epubs on this thing? or is it trapped / locked into the amazon stores
Trip Affleck at 3:16am 5th October 2011 [and Tonio, it is NOT just an eReader. at least read the article before you share your 'educated' opinion]
Trip Affleck at 3:13am 5th October 2011 for $200, why not? http://www.mikeomearashow.com/dap/a/?a=1453&p=http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-Color/dp/B0051VVOB2/ref=amb_link_357575542_7?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=0T2GK41EXHBTTKVV6X7E&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1321696362&pf_rd_i=507846
Robert Thorn at 3:05am 5th October 2011 what are the specs and price point?
Tonio Johnson at 2:52am 5th October 2011 It's a e-reader, not a tablet. It's not competing with anything other than other e-readers, basically the nook lineup from barnes and nobel since borders is dead now.
1. garylapointe at 6:53pm 7th October 2011 It's not trying JUST to be an eReader. It's got media players and will have some other Android apps too.
Rudy Magaña at 2:48am 5th October 2011 It's not trying to "beat the ipad." It'll do just fine on its own.
Gabe Ramirez Bokma at 2:44am 5th October 2011 keep dreaming. lol not going to beat the iPad
Dial Prasad at 7:03pm 4th October 2011 A new cash cow just born for Microsoft-