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The Kindle Fire HDX is the smallest, thinnest, lightest Kindle Fire yet (pictures)

The new 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX is an impressive upgrade with a spiffy redesign and cool features.

Xiomara Blanco
Xiomara Blanco is an associate editor for CNET Reviews. She's a Bay Area native with a knack for tech that makes life easier and more enjoyable. So, don't expect her to review printers anytime soon.
Xiomara Blanco
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1 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Smaller, thinner, and lighter

The new 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX features an updated ultracompact design and some spiffy new features.
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2 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Soft, matte back

The Kindle Fire HDX 7's back features a soft, grippy texture and matte finish that doesn't attract too many fingerprints.
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3 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Angular edges

Due to its angular edges, the Kindle Fire HDX 7 looks thick, but in person the device is trim and slim.
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4 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

New buttons

The Kindle Fire tablets have never excelled in button placement, but the HDX 7's redesign places the buttons in easier, more intuitive locations. The power button now sits on the top-left edge.
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5 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Re-designed volume rocker

The original Kindle Fire didn't include volume buttons in its design, but we're glad Amazon wised up in later iterations of the tablet. The volume buttons on the new HDX 7 are located on the top-right edge.
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6 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Dolby Digital boasting speakers

Despite its small size, the Kindle Fire HDX 7 impresses with big sound; it features Dolby Digital audio enhancement that results in some impressive audio quality -- for a tablet.
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7 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Vibrant screen

The 7-inch tablet rocks a higher 1,920x1,200-pixel-resolution screen -- an upgrade from the Kindle Fire HD's 1,280x800-pixel resolution.
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8 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Sharp text

Bookworms interested in using the HDX 7 as an e-reader can revel in the sharp and crisp text, thanks to the upgraded resolution.
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9 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Origami cover

There is a protective origami cover available for the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 that is still relatively slim and light, despite its rugged good looks.
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10 of 10 Josh Miller/CNET

Cover and stand combo

The origami cover also works as a stand for optimal movie watching or game playing.

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