Barnes & Noble Launches Nook HD and Nook HD+ Android Tablets, Could Be Kindle Fire Killers
Ever since Amazon launched its Kindle Fire line, Barnes & Noble's Nook devices have been almost an afterthought, at least in terms of media coverage. Not anymore. Barnes & Noble today gave its Nook line a much needed update, and may have rendered the upcoming Kindle Fire HD obsolete in the process. Let's have a look.
The first of the two new tablets is the Nook HD, a 7-inch slate that, according to B&N, weighs less and sports a higher resolution than any other tablet of equal size. A dual-core 1.3.GHz processor teamed with 1GB of RAM combine to power the device and drive its 1440x900 resolution screen. How does that compare to the Kindle Fire HD?
About the only category the Kindle Fire wins is storage, but it's worth pointing out the Nook HD has a microHD card slot; the Kindle Fire HD does not.
On the larger end of the spectrum is the Nook HD+, a 9-inch tablet with a 1920x1280 display. It too is relatively light, checking in at 18.2 ounces (515 grams). B&N equipped its flagship slate with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, the same chip you'll find in the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" tablet. How do those compare in a head-to-head?
The first of the two new tablets is the Nook HD, a 7-inch slate that, according to B&N, weighs less and sports a higher resolution than any other tablet of equal size. A dual-core 1.3.GHz processor teamed with 1GB of RAM combine to power the device and drive its 1440x900 resolution screen. How does that compare to the Kindle Fire HD?
| Barnes & Noble Nook HD | Amazon Kindle Fire HD |
| 1.3GHz dual-core | 1GHz dual-core |
| 1GB RAM |
512MB RAM |
| 1440x900 resolution | 1280x800 resolution |
| 243 pixels per inch | 216 pixels per inch |
| 11.1 ounces (315 grams) | 13.9 ounces (395 grams) |
| $199 8GB; $229 16GB | $199 16GB; $249 32GB |
On the larger end of the spectrum is the Nook HD+, a 9-inch tablet with a 1920x1280 display. It too is relatively light, checking in at 18.2 ounces (515 grams). B&N equipped its flagship slate with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, the same chip you'll find in the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" tablet. How do those compare in a head-to-head?
| Barnes & Noble Nook HD+ | Amazon Kindle Fire HD8.9" |
| 1.5GHz dual-core | 1.5GHz dual-core |
| 1GB RAM |
1GB RAM |
| 1920x1280 resolution | 1920x1200 resolution |
| 256 pixels per inch | 254 pixels per inch |
| 18.2 ounces (515 grams) | 20 ounces (567 grams) |
| $269 16GB; $299 32GB | $299 16GB; $369 32GB $499 32GB LTE; $599 64GB LTE |
We're not sure if the resolution is a typo on B&N's part (it shows up repeatedly in marketing literature), but even if it's supposed to read 1920x1200 or 1920x1080, it compares favorably with the Kindle Fire HD 8.9". The Nook HD+ features more storage for $30 less on the 16GB model and $70 less on the 32GB SKU, plus it also has a microSD card slot. Finally, unlike the Kindle Fire models, there are "no annoying ads," B&N points out, referring to Amazon's Special Offers that are beamed to the Kindle Fire HD's lock screen.
What do you think about the Nook HD and HD+?
