Industry analysts agree that the entrance of Amazon’s Kindle Fire into the tablet PC fray has forever changed the game. Since it first hit the (virtual) shelves last November 15, the Kindle has been put to the test and has starred in several tablet PC comparison duels against other slates. This time, we’re having it sit next to another 7-inch, Android-based tablet PC, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus.

7-inch wars

In a head to head tablet PC comparison, the Samsung Plus comes in strong in terms of specs. Compared to the Kindle Fire, it has a better display, a WSVGA (1024 x 600) Plane-to-Line Switching LCD. The said PLS LCD outputs crisper video compared to the Fire’s IPS (In-Plane Switching) screen. Samsung’s slate is a small dynamo with a 1.2 GHz chip, though the Fire has a dual-core 1 GHz processor. The Plus also trounces the Fire in terms of internal storage, offering 16 GB – twice as much as the Fire’s 8 GB. The Plus is lighter too, as it only weighs 12.2 ounces to the Fire’s 14.6 ounces.

Both devices are Android-based, though the Kindle Fire comes with a customized Android 2.3 while the Plus sticks with a 3.2 Honeycomb. Another similarity the two share is intended usage. Both the Kindle Fire and Samsung Plus are intended for multimedia consumption, though the Fire is more of a device made precisely to enjoy Amazon’s wide library of downloadable content and diverse e-commerce ecosystem. In this tablet PC comparison, the Plus is more of a typical Android slate and features content from Google’s app store.

In conclusion

Given its superior hardware, the Samsung Plus costs twice the price of a Fire, retailing for US$ 399. Amazon retails its newest slate at a slight loss, thus making it more affordable at US$ 199. According to most industry analysts, Amazon’s marketing move will be worth it, as the Kindle Fire is forecasted to sell around 5 million units just this holiday season. In the end, the Kindle Fire may emerge as the winner because its lower price point may just lure consumers into the purchasing the device.