Amazon Kindle Fire 2 tablet set for July release?

The Gadget Show  Thursday 05 July 2012

As rumours of an iPad Mini surface, so too do rumours of a new Amazon Kindle Fire 2. The new Kindle Fire is tipped to be a 7-inch model to go toe-to-to with the likes of the new Google Nexus 7 tablet, and hit the shops as early as this month. It follows past rumours of a larger 10-inch Kindle Fire, also tipped for release this year.

This year looks like being another big year for tablets. We’ve seen Google release its Google Nexus 7 tablet, Microsoft unveil the new Microsoft Surface, and as a result, more rumours about how others will try to compete in a growing market still dominated by Apple’s iPad.

Microsoft Surface tablet unveiled, iPad has a serious new rival

The latest development in the market looks like being smaller tablets, what with increasing rumours of a smaller iPad, and Google having releases a 7-inch Nexus 7 tablet. Now its Amazon’s turn to be on the end of the small tablet rumours with a 7-inch Amazon Kindle.

That is, according to China Times. The publication says it could ship as early as July or August, in shipments totalling around 200 million units.

At this stage any details will need to be taken with a salty pinch, but it is claimed that the plastic casing could be replaced by a metal chassis, have better gaming capabilities to compete with the iPad, and a souped-up camera lens.

Again details are scarce, so don’t plan that pre-order just yet, especially since the existing Kindle Fire has still to reach the UK. Would you buy one if it got released in the UK?

Amazon Kindle Fire 10.1-inch tablet on the way