70
Engadget
Score
A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition.
70

A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition.

How we score

The Engadget Score is a unique ranking of products based on extensive independent research and analysis by our expert editorial and research teams. The Global Score is arrived at only after curating hundreds, sometimes thousands of weighted data points (such as critic and user reviews).

Engadget Review

Amazon Fire phone review: a unique device, but you're better off waiting for the sequel

Amazon's debut phone isn't bad, per se, but there's little incentive for anyone to switch carriers or platforms to buy it. Its unique features don't provide enough utility, and come at the expense of both battery life and performance.

Pros
  • Mayday provides quick access to tech support
  • Comes with free year of Prime membership
  • Good call quality
Cons
  • Exclusive to AT&T, no global options
  • 3D effects can cause motion sickness
  • Limited ecosystem
  • Dynamic Perspective and Firefly need some work
  • Unique features hamper battery life and performance
Read Full Review
See all scores

Scores

Engadget

70
 

User Reviews

80
ScottMcElroy
Having used a lot of Samsung and Apple smartphones, I wasn't expecting much...read more
80
JoxGO
There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - Engadget
80
BONZIE97
PROSDisplay is amazingGood battery lifeBuilt to lastUniquePowerful processorCONSAmazon...read more
Write a Review
Model
32GB

Key Specs

Type
Smartphone (Android)
Camera
yes
Internal memory
32 GB
Screen size
4.7 inches

General

Type
Smartphone (Android)
Style
Bar
Antenna
Internal

Input

Input type
Touchscreen (Capacitive [finger])

Power

Standby time (max)
285 hours
Battery type
Li-ion (2400 capacity mAh)

Camera

Camera
yes (13 megapixels) (f/2) (Records video, Auto focus, Digital zoom, Flash, Contact pictures) (yes)

Location

Location support
yes (GPS, Cellular location, WiFi location, Compass)

Storage

Internal memory
32 GB

Connectivity

WiFi
yes (802.11ac, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n) (WEP, WPA, WPA2)
Bluetooth
Yes (unspecified version) (HSP [headset], HFP [hands-free], A2DP [stereo audio], AVRCP [media control], DUN [network sharing])

Media

Media playback
yes (AAC, MP3, OGG) (h.264 / AVC, MPEG-4) (Streaming / internet) (BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG)

Messaging

SMS
yes
MMS
yes

Browser and email

Browser
HTML
Email
yes

Sync

Sync PIM data
yes (OTA sync)

Carriers

Regions offered
North America (US)

Radio type

Comm standard
GSM, LTE (GSM, GPRS, EDGE) (UMTS / WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA) (1 [2100]MHz, 3 [1800]MHz, 4 [1700 / 2100]MHz, 5 [850]MHz, 7 [2600]MHz, 17 [700]MHz, 20 [800]MHz)
Subscriber identity
nano-SIM card

Display

Screen size
4.7 inches
Screen resolution
1280 x 720
Pixel density
315 PPI
Screen type
LCD (Active) (Color) (Backlit)

Alternate display

Secondary screen
no

Audio and voice

Audio / headset jack
3.5mm
Speakers
Stereo (yes)

Hardware

Processor make
Qualcomm (Snapdragon 800)
CPU
2.2 GHz
CPU cores
Quad-core
RAM
2 GB
USB
2.0 (Micro-USB port) (USB charging)

Other features

NFC or RFID payment
yes
Model
64GB

Key Specs

Type
Smartphone (Android)
Camera
yes
Internal memory
64 GB
Screen size
4.7 inches

General

Type
Smartphone (Android)
Style
Bar
Antenna
Internal

Input

Input type
Touchscreen (Capacitive [finger])

Power

Standby time (max)
285 hours
Battery type
Li-ion (2400 capacity mAh)

Camera

Camera
yes (13 megapixels) (f/2) (Records video, Auto focus, Digital zoom, Flash, Contact pictures) (yes)

Location

Location support
yes (GPS, Cellular location, WiFi location, Compass)

Storage

Internal memory
64 GB

Connectivity

WiFi
yes (802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n) (WEP, WPA, WPA2)
Bluetooth
Yes (unspecified version) (HSP [headset], HFP [hands-free], A2DP [stereo audio], AVRCP [media control], DUN [network sharing])

Media

Media playback
yes (AAC, MP3, OGG) (AVI, h.264 / AVC, MPEG-4) (Streaming / internet) (BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG)

Messaging

SMS
yes
MMS
yes

Browser and email

Browser
HTML
Email
yes

Sync

Sync PIM data
yes (OTA sync)

Carriers

Regions offered
North America (US)

Radio type

Comm standard
GSM, LTE (GSM, GPRS, EDGE) (UMTS / WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA) (1 [2100]MHz, 3 [1800]MHz, 4 [1700 / 2100]MHz, 5 [850]MHz, 7 [2600]MHz, 17 [700]MHz, 20 [800]MHz)
Subscriber identity
nano-SIM card

Display

Screen size
4.7 inches
Screen resolution
1920 x 1080
Pixel density
468 PPI
Screen type
LCD (Active) (Color) (Backlit)

Alternate display

Secondary screen
no

Audio and voice

Audio / headset jack
3.5mm
Speakers
Stereo (yes)

Hardware

Processor make
Other
CPU
2.2 GHz
CPU cores
Quad-core
RAM
2 GB
USB
2.0 (Micro-USB port) (USB charging)

Other features

NFC or RFID payment
yes
Model
AT&T 32GB

Key Specs

Type
Smartphone (Android)
Camera
yes
Internal memory
32 GB
Screen size
4.7 inches

General

Type
Smartphone (Android)
Style
Bar
Antenna
Internal

Input

Input type
Touchscreen (Capacitive [finger])

Power

Standby time (max)
285 hours
Battery type
Li-ion (2400 capacity mAh)

Camera

Camera
yes (13 megapixels) (f/2) (Records video, Auto focus, Digital zoom, Flash, Contact pictures) (yes)

Location

Location support
yes (GPS, Cellular location, WiFi location, Compass)

Storage

Internal memory
32 GB

Connectivity

WiFi
yes (802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n) (WEP, WPA, WPA2)
Bluetooth
Yes (unspecified version) (HSP [headset], HFP [hands-free], A2DP [stereo audio], AVRCP [media control], DUN [network sharing])

Media

Media playback
yes (AAC, MP3, OGG) (AVI, h.264 / AVC, MPEG-4) (Streaming / internet) (BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG)

Messaging

SMS
yes
MMS
yes

Browser and email

Browser
HTML
Email
yes

Sync

Sync PIM data
yes (OTA sync)

Carriers

Regions offered
North America (US)

Radio type

Comm standard
GSM, LTE (GSM, GPRS, EDGE) (UMTS / WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA) (1 [2100]MHz, 3 [1800]MHz, 4 [1700 / 2100]MHz, 5 [850]MHz, 7 [2600]MHz, 17 [700]MHz, 20 [800]MHz)
Subscriber identity
nano-SIM card

Display

Screen size
4.7 inches
Screen resolution
1920 x 1080
Pixel density
468 PPI
Screen type
LCD (Active) (Color) (Backlit)

Alternate display

Secondary screen
no

Audio and voice

Audio / headset jack
3.5mm
Speakers
Stereo (yes)

Hardware

Processor make
Other
CPU
2.2 GHz
CPU cores
Quad-core
RAM
2 GB
USB
2.0 (Micro-USB port) (USB charging)

Other features

NFC or RFID payment
yes
Model
AT&T 64GB

Key Specs

Type
Smartphone (Android)
Camera
yes
Internal memory
64 GB
Screen size
4.7 inches

General

Type
Smartphone (Android)
Style
Bar
Antenna
Internal

Input

Input type
Touchscreen (Capacitive [finger])

Power

Standby time (max)
285 hours
Battery type
Li-ion (2400 capacity mAh)

Camera

Camera
yes (13 megapixels) (f/2) (Records video, Auto focus, Digital zoom, Flash, Contact pictures) (yes)

Location

Location support
yes (GPS, Cellular location, WiFi location, Compass)

Storage

Internal memory
64 GB

Connectivity

WiFi
yes (802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n) (WEP, WPA, WPA2)
Bluetooth
Yes (unspecified version) (HSP [headset], HFP [hands-free], A2DP [stereo audio], AVRCP [media control], DUN [network sharing])

Media

Media playback
yes (AAC, MP3, OGG) (AVI, h.264 / AVC, MPEG-4) (Streaming / internet) (BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG)

Messaging

SMS
yes
MMS
yes

Browser and email

Browser
HTML
Email
yes

Sync

Sync PIM data
yes (OTA sync)

Carriers

Regions offered
North America (US)

Radio type

Comm standard
GSM, LTE (GSM, GPRS, EDGE) (UMTS / WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA) (1 [2100]MHz, 3 [1800]MHz, 4 [1700 / 2100]MHz, 5 [850]MHz, 7 [2600]MHz, 17 [700]MHz, 20 [800]MHz)
Subscriber identity
nano-SIM card

Display

Screen size
4.7 inches
Screen resolution
1920 x 1080
Pixel density
468 PPI
Screen type
LCD (Active) (Color) (Backlit)

Alternate display

Secondary screen
no

Audio and voice

Audio / headset jack
3.5mm
Speakers
Stereo (yes)

Hardware

Processor make
Other
CPU
2.2 GHz
CPU cores
Quad-core
RAM
2 GB
USB
2.0 (Micro-USB port) (USB charging)

Other features

NFC or RFID payment
yes