According to various news reports, Amazon is now working on a new Amazon Kindle Fire tablet aptly called Amazon Kindle Fire 2. This new tablet from Amazon would supposedly rivals Google's new 7-inch tablet called Google Nexus 7.

The launch of these new 7-inch tablets in the market makes users question as to whether they should upgrade their Amazon Kindle Fire to Amazon Kindle Fire 2 or if they should choose the latest tablet offering from Google which is Google Nexus 7. Here is a brief comparison of specifications and features for each tablet options:

Amazon Kindle Fire

Amazon Kindle Fire is the first tablet offering from Amazon. It was an unexpected hit in the market due to its low selling price and wide variety of options. The Amazon Kindle Fire is a 7-inch tablet and its primary function is being an e-reader but with added features. Specifications of Kindle Fire include 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, Wi-Fi capability, and USB 2.0. It has 8GB storage capacity (6GB for user content) and Android 2.3 Gingerbread for its OS. Amazon recently announced new software updates that users would really appreciate. Kindle Fire also has a free storage and access feature for a wide range of Amazon contents like music, books, videos, TV shows, and more. It also has a low selling price of US$199 which makes it attractive to customers who are looking for a cheaper yet effective tablet in the market.

Amazon Kindle Fire 2

There are rumors that Amazon Kindle Fire 2 will be launched by August, 2012 and it will have more improved specifications and features as compared to its former model. According to news reports, the Amazon Kindle Fire 2 will have a 1280 x 800 resolution display, thinner body, and a built-in camera. It is expected that the Amazon Kindle Fire 2 will be launched globally which means a possible official launch of Amazon Kindle Fire 2 in Australian shores. If Amazon would be able to stick to its original selling price of US$200 then this would be a very viable option for people who are looking for a cheaper tablet alternative.

Google Nexus 7

The Google Nexus 7 is the first tablet offering from Google. It has a 7-inch display with 1280 x 800 pixels and would weigh around 340g. It has a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM memory and has a storage option of 8GB and 16GB. It also has a back camera with 1.2MP, WiFi (802.11 b/g/n), microUSB, 4324MAh battery, and the latest Android OS which is Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The selling price for Galaxy Nexus 7 is AU$249 and AU$299 which is already out in the market for this month.

The Verdict

Based on the tablets that are already launched in the market, the Google Nexus 7 seems to be the best option as of the moment because of its features and specifications. In terms of specifications and features, the Google Nexus 7 still has the advantage over the first Amazon Kindle Fire. Despite that, Amazon can still emerge on top once it has launched its new Amazon Kindle Fire 2 with the same competitive price. Amazon offers much more content in their Amazon store which would give users much more option.