Amazon Kindle Fire tablets go on sale in the UK this October

The first Amazon Kindle Fire tablets will go on sale in the UK at the end of October a year after the US launch.

The cheapest model, the Kindle Fire will cost £129 and the higher specification Kindle Fire HD has a 7in (17.8cm) screen and will cost £159. A larger screened HD version is available but only for sale in the US for the time being. All are powered by a Texas Instrument processor.

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The Kindles have a laminated touchscreen that helps to reduce glare when being read in sunlight. The HD models have two wifi antennas and multiple-input and multiple-output (Mimo) radio wave technology which is designed to improve internet connection. They also feature an HDMI port for easy connection to a TV set and stereo speakers.

The larger 8.9 in screen model will also be offered with 4G connectivity. The release of the Kindle Fires means that Amazon will now go head to head with rivals Apple and the new iPad, Samsung and the new Windows 8 tablets that are due for release around the same time.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon's chief executive, said: "We haven't built the best tablet at a certain price. We have built the best tablet at any price."

Both Kindle Fire devices for the UK market will be available for delivery from 25 October.

Amazon also announced a new e-reader, the Paperwhite, which has a higher resolution black and white display and is claimed to be "thinner than a magazine" has also been announced.

It will be shipped in the US at the beginning of October with a $119, and model with 3G for $179 and is expected to sell soon after in the UK, but exact dates and prices have yet to be announced.