Chances are at some point you‘ve owned one of Amazon‘s ultra-affordable Fire tablets. With frequent new model releases and pricing starting around $50, Fire tablets have found their way into millions of consumers‘ hands over the last decade.
But through upgrades, platform switches or accumulated wear and tear, many Fire tablet owners end up with an older model collecting dust in a drawer. Before you write one of those off for dead, I‘m here to present some clever ways to reconnect with old Fire tablets and unlock their lingering utility.
The Evolution of Amazon Fire Tablets
Let‘s start with a quick refresher course on the history of Amazon‘s category-defining Fire tablet lineup. Understanding their capabilities evolution helps match reuse ideas with the specific model you may have laying around.
The first model launched in 2011 as the Kindle Fire. Initially just known as the Fire, this 7" tablet established Alexa‘s company as a formidable competitor attacking the lower cost end of the tablet spectrum. Early iterations focused on content consumption like books, movies and music.
Several distinct product lines have since emerged:
- Fire – The budget series prioritizing price over performance
- Fire HD – Mid-range models with HD displays
- Fire HDX – Former high-end line featuring premium materials and specs
- Fire Kids Edition – Durable and kid-friendly parental-controlled versions
This table summarizes some key specs across generations:
| Model | Release Year | Display | Resolution | Storage | MicroSD | Cameras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire 7 | 2011 | 7" IPS | 1024 x 600 | 8/16GB | Yes | Front |
| Fire HD 8 | 2015 | 8" IPS | 1280 x 800 | 16/32GB | Yes | Front |
| Fire HD 10 | 2015 | 10.1" IPS | 1920 x 1200 | 32/64GB | Yes | Front |
| Fire HDX 8.9 | 2013 | 8.9” IPS | 2560×1600 | 16/32GB | No | Front + Rear |
| Fire Kids Edition | 2019 | 7/8/10.1” IPS | 1280×800 | 32GB | Yes | Front + Rear |
Now let‘s explore some clever ways to reconnect with your unused old Fire tablet and unlock lingering utility lying dormant!
Why You May Have an Extra Fire Tablet
If you are an active technology consumer, chances are reasonably high that you have an older Amazon Fire tablet relegated to a drawer or closet.
The useful working lifespan of these affordable tablets generally ranges from 2 to 4 years before slowing down or succumbing to physical wear and tear. Upgrading to maintain decent performance is common.
According to industry analysis firm IDC, Amazon ships over 15 million Fire tablets globally per year. Consumer upgrade cycles of 2-3 years means there are tens of millions of still-functional older Fire tablets ripe for reuse.
Common reasons you may have an retired Fire slate include:
- Purchased a newer generation Fire tablet
- Switched to an iPad or premium Android tablet
- Tablet slowed down over time from app/memory clog
- Cracked screen or battery no longer holds sufficient charge
Rather than letting those older tablets fade into landfills, let‘s breathe new life into them!
Refresh Your Old Fire Tablet
Before repurposing your older Fire tablet for duty, take time to refresh it. This will ensure the best second life experience:
- Reset to factory settings – Clear any lingering personal data and give yourself a fresh start. From quick settings, choose "Reset to Factory Defaults".
- Remove unnecessary apps – Declutter the interface and regain storage capacity. Stick with essential apps for the reuse case.
- Rejuvenate the battery – Confirm it still charges and holds a usable capacity. Fully recharging periodically preserves battery health.
- Connect wireless – Verify it recognizes saved WiFi networks or Bluetooth devices. These provide expanded capabilities versus offline-only use.
- Inspect physically – Check for any needed repairs like cracked screens or worn charging ports. Components like displays may have spare life remaining even if the battery is shot.
Taking those steps lets you assess remaining utility and start with a clean slate. Now let‘s explore some clever ways to reopen your older Fire tablets beyond the junk drawer!
Clever Fire Tablet Reuse Ideas
Even Fire tablets 6+ years old can prove surprisingly handy given thoughtful repurposing. Their built-in displays, cameras, speakers and wireless connectivity offer options for creative reuse scenarios around your home.
Here are 7 clever ways to reconnect those older Amazon Fire tablets with modern functionality:
1. Digital Photo Frame
One of the easiest repurposing projects for Fire tablets is converting them into digital photo frames. Thanks to their vibrant IPS displays perfect for images and videos, Fire tablets look fantastic showcasing your favorite photos and artwork.
To configure yours into a wall-mounted smart picture frame:
- Find a way to mount or stand it – buy a specialized wall mount, standalone frame, or leaning stand
- Download a photo viewing app like Slideshow App, Photoframe, Dayframe, or Google Photos
- Adjust settings so the screen never sleeps during slideshows
- Set up playlists and captions to share memories with visitors
With some thoughtful positioning and optional framing, you can set up handsome digital picture frames anywhere in your home. I set one up in a floor stand in my hallway which cycles through family photos and makes a wonderful statement piece greeting guests at my front door.
Display quality, particularly brightness and viewing angles, can fade over time. But even 5+ year old Fire tablets work wonderfully for casual home display purposes like this.
Photo storage capacity depends on whether your Fire tablet model supports MicroSD cards. If not, you‘ll need to store images in cloud services like Amazon Photos rather than onboard.
2. Dedicated Music Player
While only mono speakers, recent Fire tablets can pump out decent audio. Combine them with streaming apps like Spotify or Amazon Music, and your old Fire makes a capable compact music player.
To configure it:
- Connect external Bluetooth speakers for amplification
- Download your preferred streaming apps – I use Amazon Music to access my Prime subscriptions
- Mount or place the tablet in a stand near your listening area
- Disable auto-screen lock and sleep while playing music
- Start streaming playlists!
I have an old 7" Fire from 2015 mounted to my kitchen wall paired wirelessly to an Anker Soundcore speaker. It provides full ambient sound when cooking without having to risk my phone near splatter!
Streaming capabilities rely on remaining WiFi reception quality which tends to degrade over time from antenna wear. But even if WiFi is shot, you can still use Bluetooth audio pairing. Just load MP3s or playlists directly onto the device as fallback.
3. Mobile Media Player
The displays on Fire tablet have steadily improved over the years. Combined with microSD expansion slots supported on some models, older HD versions Fire tablets are well-suited for offline media playback.
More specifically – as ultra portable movie players!
To set one up:
- Insert a sizable microSD card up to 512GB (if your model supports external memory)
- Transfer your personal video collection to the card
- Download VLC Media Player or MX Player for local playback
- Get a case allowing different stand/viewing angles like this one ->
MicroSD card capacity will likely be your limitation depending on Fire tablet generation. But even a 64GB card holds hours of movies – plenty for long trips.
I prefer the Fire HD 8 size for media playback – the ~1280×800 IPS screens still look great and the 8" form factor easily fits in bags. The HDX 8.9 remains one of the best options though thanks to its stunning 2560×1600 panel and dual Dolby Atmos speakers.
4. Smart Home Remote
As online connectivity and automation invade our homes, keeping track of various smart controls spread across phones, voice assistants and dedicated remote controls becomes increasingly difficult.
This complexity provides the perfect opportunity for your old Fire tablets to make managing your smart household radically simplified. All critical controls consolidated to a mounted, centrally-located dashboard powered by a former tablet.
I converted an old Fire HD 8 (2015) into my universal smart home remote mounted in my living room here‘s how:
- Downloaded the apps for my smart home platforms: Philips Hue, TP-Link Kasa, Ring security
- Purchased a wall mount with adjustable arm for flexibility
- Enabled hands-free Alexa access to control lights, thermostat and other devices by voice
- Configured auto-wake and max screen brightness for convenience
Now I have one-tap access to door locks, lighting scenes, security cameras feeds. No more playing the "which app controls this device again?" guessing game or memorizing voice command syntax.
Fire tablets make remarkably affordable and consolidated smart home controllers. Especially helpful for other members of your household less versed in the nuances of modern gadgetry.
5. Alexa-Enabled Security Cam
Short on security cameras covering all the weak points around your property? Your unused Fire tablets packed with front and sometimes rear cameras can help fill blindspots!
Using free Fire OS apps like AtHome Camera and Alfred Camera, you can repurpose old Fire tablet into DIY cams.
The steps are simple:
- Download either app listed above
- Position tablet plugged into power near coverage area
- Adjust viewing angle appropriately
- Review features like motion detection alerts
While admittedly only 480p – 720p video quality, the footage can still prove useful capturing porch activity and more. Saved clips integrate well for reviewing footage quickly after notifications.
I suggest placing your DIY Fire tablet security cam pointed outside a window if network reception quality permits. Enabling motion-activated recording minimizes footage review later.
While no substitute for advanced outdoor security camera systems, reusing old electronics for property monitoring is an ingenious zero-cost security upgrade.
6. Kitchen Companion
The kitchen contains some of the most frequent opportunities to leverage technology in our homes. While recipes, cooking timers and music may have migrated to smartphones, consolidating these functions into a dedicated kitchen Fire tablet proves handy.
Here is my recommended setup to configure the ultimate kitchen companion:
- Purchase an adjustable tablet wall mount or cabinet stand
- Download Spotify for streaming tunes while cooking
- Install AllRecipes or Epicurious for foolproof recipe guidance
- Enable Alexa hands-free for easy voice commands
I have an old Fire HD 10 (2017) model mounted to my kitchen wall paired with an Echo Dot. This allows me to start timers, learn cooking techniques, play radio stations, add items to my shopping list, all without touching anything.
The mobility and flexibility of Fire tablets fitted to your cooking environment streamlines following recipes and learning new culinary skills!
7. Bedside Smart Clock
A final way to effectively reuse retired Fire tablets is as smart alarm clocks on your nightstand. Their vibrant and colorful touch displays show time, weather, calendar notifications and more in a far more practical form factor than phones.
To create the ultimate bedside Fire tablet companion:
- Download alarm clock apps like Timely or Alarm Clock Plus
- Enable auto-wake and permanent charging
- Adjust display settings like minimum brightness
- Pair Bluetooth speaker for waking music
- Mount securely using gooseneck tablet holder
I rely daily on a 2014 Fire HD 6 displaying my upcoming schedule when I wakeup. The Always On Display mode ensures time visibility overnight. Hands-free Alexa integration lets me snooze alarms with my voice!
Rotating ownership of your newest tablet model to primary duty while passing older ones down for secondary tasks like this helps maximize these investments.
Breathe New Life Into Old Devices
I hope these 7 Fire tablet reuse ideas sparked inspiration on ways to reconnect old but still functioning devices to helpful utility.
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Between upgrades, platform switches, and good old wear & tear, many consumers end up with drawers full of tech that still retain usefulness if repurposed mindfully.
Amazon tablets represent especially compelling candidates for clever redeployment around your living environment as digital photo frames to smart home controllers thanks to affordable pricing and Alexa integration present even in early models.
I‘ve personally enjoyed reconnecting older Fire tablets to my smart home ecosystem. They reduce complexity consolidating multiple apps for monitoring and control into dedicated wall-mounted devices throughout my house.
What leftover gadgets have you found handy secondary uses for? What other ways have you reused older tablets or eReaders? I‘d love to hear your experiences revitalizing electronics headed to landfills!
