Amazon launches kid-proof tablets with 2-year warranties & revamps Fire HDX

Kids and tablets are a great combination — until the tablets inevitably gets destroyed. But Amazon aims to fix that problem with its first tablets aimed at children.

Amazon’s new Fire HD Kids Edition tablets are basically ruggedized versions of its newly announced Fire HD tablets — with one big difference: A no-questions-asked warranty good for two years.

The tablets start at $149 for the 6-inch version and $189 for the 7-inch, so they’re not nearly as cheap as the $99 Fire HD. But their warranty may make them a worthwhile purchase for parents who’ve had to replace countless broken tablets.

Both tablets also include Amazon’s FreeTime feature, which gives parents control over what their kids can access, as well as a year of FreeTime Unlimited, a new subscription plan that includes kid-friendly content across books, movies, TV shows, apps, and more.

Above: Amazon’s new Fire HDX tablet

And even though Amazon seems mostly focused on cheap tablets these days, it hasn’t forgotten about its high-end Fire HDX tablet. The new 8.9-inch Fire HDX ($379) includes a 2.5 gigahertz CPU and graphics that are 70 percent faster than last year’s model. It’s also the first tablet to run Dolby’s new Atmos surround sound virtualization, which is even more immersive than its predecessor, Dolby Digital Plus.

The new Fire HDX also runs version 4 of Amazon’s Fire OS, dubbed “Sangria,” which features a revamped interface and the speedy video streaming technology first seen in the Fire TV. That update will also be made available for last year’s Fire HD and HDX tablets.

Amazon also unveiled its first tablet keyboard today, the aptly-named Fire Keyboard ($60). It’s a wireless keyboard that weighs just 7-ounces, which should make it ideal for carrying around with your tablet. It also connects to Amazon’s new $55 Origami cover.

All of Amazon’s new tablets are available for pre-order today and will ship in October. There’s also a 4G version of the Fire HDX for $479, and last year’s 7-inch Fire HDX 7 is still available for $199.