Is the Fire HD Kids Edition Worth the Extra $50?

Fire HD Kids Edition

Amazon recently introduced five new editions to their e-reader and tablet lines. Yesterday, I was able to learn more about the new products. The one that stood out to me most was the Fire HD Kids Edition. My 7 year-old son Sean LOVES the Kindle Fire that Amazon sent us last year. It is his favorite tech device in our home. “Can I play on the Kindle?” is the main thing that I hear from him when it’s his tech time. The question that I wanted the answer to was, “Is it worth paying $50 more than for the Fire HD Kids Edition in order to get the kid edition?”  I’ll let you see what I learned before telling you what I think regarding the answer:

In sum:

Biggest Pros:
-2-year worry-free guarantee (You can just send it back for a free replacement in that time frame.)
-Protective case (green, pink and blue)
-Amazon FreeTime Unlimited for one year is included (This is an up to $120 value.)

Biggest Cons:
-$50 more for the same technology (6″ for $149 and 7″ for $189)
-Certain Fire HD features (i.e. web access) are locked

Overall, I think that it is worth the extra $50. The Fire HD Kids Edition is a great option in kids’ tablets. The worry-free guarantee isn’t what convinced me. My kids are pretty good with taking care of their electronic items, so they haven’t needed  electronic product replacements. (Knock on wood. I’m the one who usually drops them!) Rather, it’s the year of included Amazon FreeTime Unlimited. At $120 – $50, parents will still get a $70 savings PLUS the protective case.  While I would have liked the option of turning web access on or off in the parental controls, that is not a deal breaker. As Sean explained, “I don’t even use the web on my Kindle anyway.”