Low-cost Amazon Kindle Fire adds three new colors and 16GB storage option

Although finding super cheap (sub-$100) tablets has been possible for at least a couple of years now, finding super cheap tablets that are actually worth the money has been a much more difficult feat. Back in September of last year, Amazon finally gave us such an option with its entry level Kindle Fire — priced at just $50. Now they are sweetening things up a bit with a minor refresh in the form of new colors and a new storage option.

Amazon is now adding blue, magenta, and tangerine colors to the mix, as well as a new 16GB storage option. The new storage option will cost $69.99, so a premium of $20 over the base model. The 8GB model will continue to be offered for the same $49.99, though now with the addition of the extra color choices. There’s also a new 16GB version of the “Kids Edition” Fire tablet which comes in a green case and will be priced at $119.99.

Aside from the ability to choice a larger storage option, all the specs remain the same here. As a refresher, that means you get a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, a 7-inch 1024×600 resolution display, a 2MP rear cam, VGA front cam, 1GB RAM, and 8 or 16GB storage. There’s also microSD expansion on both storage variants.

So at $50 or even $70, is the Kindle Fire still worth it? Depends on what you’re looking for.

While far from the most powerful thing on the planet, the Kindle Fire is a great option for those looking for a basic device for reading, web browsing, and light gaming. Sure, there’s no Google Play store by default (though it’s easy enough to sideload for those into that kind of thing), but at such a low price, it’s perfect for tossing in a bag, taking on a trip, or using it in situations where you wouldn’t want to risk damaging a more expensive tab. This goes doubly for using it as a kid’s tablet.

What do you think, is the Kindle Fire worth picking up at this price, even now that’s a half year old? Share your thoughts in the comments.