Amazon tablet rumor: 7-inch due October, 10-inch in 2012

By Andrew Couts August 31, 2011

amazon tablet android samsung — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Expected to have the best chance at beating back the domination of Apple’s iPad line, the rumored Amazon tablets will reportedly begin to arrive in October of this year, with another, larger tablet due early 2012.

According to Taiwan-based DigiTimes, Amazon plans to release a 7-inch tablet sometime in October. Mass production of a 10.1-inch Amazon tablet will begin in the first quarter of next year.

Market estimates suggest Amazon could sell between 3 million and 5 million tablets during the fourth quarter of 2011, if the device carries a competitive price, and the timing of the release is right.

Unfortunately for Amazon, some analysts believe that, in order to make gains on the iPad, the company will have to price their tablet so low that they sell it at a loss. In doing so, Amazon will have the ability to build up a user base for their device, which could help with future sales.

Of course, this could work, if Amazon’s willing to do it. We recently saw the consumer fervor over the HP TouchPad, which went on sale at the blow-out price of $99, and sold out everywhere. In fact, the liquidation was such a success that HP announced Tuesday that they may produce another round of TouchPads before canceling production of the device for good.

Before we get too deep into sales tactics, we must remember that Amazon’s tablet plans remain entirely unconfirmed. The closest thing we have to a confirmation that Amazon is even planning to build a tablet at all is two words from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos: “Stay tuned,” he said, after a Consumer Reports reporter asked him about his company’s tablet intentions.

With Amazon’s success and superiority in the e-Reader department, however, common sense tells us that Amazon should make its own tablet. The company has become trusted for its Kindle products, and jumping to tablets isn’t much of a leap. Whether or not Amazon has the legs for it, well, we’ll just have to sit tight and wait.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…

Mobile

The 6 best tablets for watching movies in 2024

Two iPad Pro tablets next to each other against a black background. Both have Apple's Magic Keyboard case.

Tablets are incredibly versatile devices, allowing you to surf the web, check your emails, or play games without the need for a larger (and clunkier) laptop. But one of the most popular ways to use a tablet is as a screen for your favorite movies and TV shows. Since they're slim enough to pack into a backpack and light enough to prop up while laying in bed or on the couch, tablets are a great way to catch up on your favorite shows.

However, not all tablets are great for watching movies and TV shows. Some are built with lackluster displays that can't capture the nuances of important scenes, while others are cheap and unreliable – making them a poor long-term investment. That can make it difficult to shop for the best tablets for watching movies, as there are hundreds of products vying for your attention. But if you know where to look, it's easy to find a premium tablet that'll serve you well for years.

Mobile

Save 53% on the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus tablet today

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus tablet, with apps on the screen.

Even with discounts, tablet deals can get pretty expensive. If you need a new tablet but you're on a tight budget, you should take a look at this offer from Amazon's Woot for the 2021 release of the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus. The 32GB model is already relatively affordable at its original price of $150, but a 53% discount brings it down to a very cheap $70. The $80 in savings will only be available for a limited time, which will probably be shorter as we expect a lot of demand for this device. If you don't want to miss out, buy this tablet now.

Why you should buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus is a tablet that's powered by the Fire OS platform, which is Amazon's customized version of Android. You'll be able to use voice commands with Amazon's Alexa through the device, and Amazon Prime members will be able to easily access all of the media that comes with their subscription. The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus features a 10.1-inch Full HD touchscreen, a 12-hour battery life, a microSD card slot that you can use to expand its storage by up to 1TB.

Mobile

I’m worried about Apple’s new iPads

The back of the iPad Air 5.

Apple typically releases a new version of its products every year, but 2023 was different. That was the first year Apple did not release any new updates across the entire iPad lineup.

We’re now a couple of months into 2024, and it’s rumored that Apple could be dropping new iPad models this month — as early as this coming Monday or Tuesday. After all, a new M3 MacBook Air just came out, so naturally, we should expect new iPads after not having any update last year.