These are the Amazon Fire tablets you should buy
I review tablets for a living, and if you’re okay with Amazon’s FireOS I think the the best Amazon Fire tablets are just as good as any iPad or Android slate.
I know because my team and I review all the iPads that come out every year alongside a slew of Android slates from the likes of Google, Samsung and OnePlus. We also test and review every major Amazon tablet, and I use all that data to compile this regularly-updated list of the best Amazon Fire tablets on the market.
For my money theAmazon Fire HD 10is the best Amazon Fire slate for most of us because it offers you good performance, great battery life and a nice screen for significantly less than your average iPad.
If you can afford to splurge and crave something fancier than the HD 10, I recommend you upgrade to theAmazon Fire Max 11because it sports a bigger, brighter display, more power and more storage than the Fire HD 10 for roughly a hundred bucks more.
But if you’re on a really tight budget and just need a cheap tablet to browse the web, I think you can get by with theAmazon Fire 8. It’s a small, cheap slate with sub-1080p resolution, so it’s not great for enjoying your favorite movies—but it’s one of the best tablets you can get for $100.
I’ve got a lot more advice and recommendations to share below, so scroll down for more help finding the best Amazon Fire tablet for you!
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Best overall
1. Amazon Fire HD 10
The best Amazon Fire tablet for most people
Specifications
CPU:2GHz octa-core
Camera Resolution:5MP front/back
Display:10.1-inch 1920×1200 LCD Touch
Storage:32GB, 64GB
Memory :3GB RAM
Ports:1x USB-C, headphone jack, microSD
Dimensions:9.69 x 6.49 x 0.34 inches
Weight:15.29 ounces
Reasons to buy
+Good value for the price
+Sharp, bright screen
+Excellent battery life
+Expandable storage
Reasons to avoid
-Amazon’s poor app selection
-Middling performance
-Lock screen ads
The Amazon Fire HD 10 is a great all-around tablet, which is why I generally recommend it as the best Amazon Fire tablet for most people.
While it’s not the fastest or most beautiful tablet on the market, or even the most premium Amazon tablet (that honor belongs to the Fire Max 11), the Fire HD 10 hits a great sweet spot in terms of performance and price.
I say that because (according to our testing) you get great battery life, good performance, and a nice screen for a starting price of $150, making this a more affordable way to enjoy the benefits of having a tablet around without having to pay Apple or Samsung prices.
Its biggest flaws, though, are those endemic to the Amazon Fire tablets in general. Most notably, Amazon’s Fire OS is still app-challenged, missing the Google Play app store — which means you can’t get the full YouTube experience, for example, and you’ll miss out on a lot of great apps not available on Amazon’s app store.
But as long as you’re happy to content yourself with the apps available to you in the Amazon App Store, you can have a lot of fun with the Fire HD 10. It definitely helps to be deeply invested in Amazon’s ecosystem, as these slates are great for streaming videos, reading ebooks and browsing the web.
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Best budget option
2. Amazon Fire 8
The best Amazon Fire tablet for those on a budget
Specifications
CPU:2GHz hexa-core
Camera Resolution:2MP (rear), 2MP (front)
Display:8-inch 1280×800 LCD Touch
Storage:32GB, 64GB
Memory:2GB
Ports:1 USB-C, 1 microSD slot, 1 Headphone port
Dimensions:7.94 x 5.4 x 0.37 inches
Weight:11.88 ounces
Reasons to buy
+Bright screen
+Excellent battery life
+Fantastic value
+Strong speakers
Reasons to avoid
-Performance limitations
-Rough cameras
-Amazon’s ecosystem
The Amazon Fire HD 8 is a cheap tablet, and for some that’s the main selling point.
I recommend this slate to Fire shoppers on a budget because its slightly nicer than the bottom of the barrel Fire 7, yet still affordable at $99. And while the 8-inch touchscreen isn’t sharp enough to support 1080p content, it’s more than fine for browsing the web and reading books.
This is a great utility tablet because you get good battery life (nearly 14 hours in our testing) and decent speakers, as well as easy access to Amazon’s various content streaming apps and strong parental controls. Of course, the front and rear cameras are pretty bad, but who uses their tablet to take photos anyway?
And since this tablet isn’t powerful enough to run many demanding apps very well anyway, you won’t miss the full panoply of apps available on Android nearly as much.
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Best upgrade option
3. Amazon Fire Max 11
The top-tier Amazon Fire tablet
Specifications
CPU:2.2Ghz octa-core Mediatek MT8188J
Camera Resolution:8MP front/back; 1080p video recording
Display:11-inch 2K (2,000 x 1,200 pixels)
Storage:64-128 GB
Memory:4GB RAM
Ports:1x USB-C, headphone jack, microSD
Dimensions:10.2 x 6.4 x 0.29 inches
Weight:1.08 pounds
Reasons to buy
+Bright, colorful screen
+Good battery life
+Premium build quality
Reasons to avoid
-Awkward button/port placement
-Tinny speakers
-Limited by FireOS
The Amazon Fire Max 11 is the biggest Fire tablet you can buy right now, and it’s the only one with a 2K (2,000 x 1,200 pixels) display. So if pixels count, this is the Fire tablet you want to buy for streaming shows on the biggest, most vibrant screen possible.
You pay extra for the privilege, of course, as this is not only the biggest but also the most expensive Fire tablet with a starting price of just over $200. But in return you get a speedy 2.2Ghz Mediatek chip that runs games and apps well, 4GB of RAM for speedy multitasking and a pair of decent cameras on the front and back.
Of course, even this beefy Fire tablet is handicapped by shipping limited to Amazon’s App Store. While you can sideload apps outside the Amazon App Store with enough know-how, it’s a hassle and a lot of effort to go through so you can access Google apps like Gmail and YouTube.
But if you don’t need to use YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs and other Google apps, the Fire Max 11 gives you a pretty premium-feeling slate for over a $100 less than the base iPad. It’s the best Fire tablet to upgrade to if you need more screen and power than the Fire Max 10 can deliver!
Best for older kids
4. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro
The best Amazon Fire tablet for tweens
Specifications
CPU:2.0GHz octa-core CPU
Camera Resolution:5 MP (rear) 2 MP (front)
Display:10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel
Storage:32GB
Ports:1x USB-C, headphone jack, microSD
Dimensions:9.7 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
Weight:17.8 ounces/1.1 pounds
Reasons to buy
+Vibrant screen makes cartoons pop
+Tenacious battery outlasts the competition
+Comprehensive 2-year warranty
Reasons to avoid
-No native Google apps
-Dull audio compared to the competitors
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is basically the same, hardware-wise, as the excellent Amazon Fire HD 10. It’s got the same octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and vivacious 1,900 x 1,200 display. The big difference is that it’s designed specifically for use by older kids ages 6-12, so it comes with a one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription, a colorful kickstand case, and a comprehensive, no-questions-asked 2-year warranty that covers accidental damage.
If you’re in the market for a kid-friendly tablet, few competitors can match what the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro offers for $199, particularly with that generous extended warranty. Sure, it has all the same weaknesses as every Fire tablet — most notably, no easy access to the Google Play Store — but if you’re planning to give this to a kid anyway, that’s less of an issue.
Best for younger kids
5. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids
The best Amazon Fire tablet for young children
Specifications
CPU:2.0GHz octa-core CPU
Camera Resolution:5 MP (rear) 2 MP (front)
Display:10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel
Storage:32GB
Ports:1x USB-C, headphone jack, microSD
Dimensions:9.7 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
Weight:17.8 ounces/1.1 pounds
Reasons to buy
+Durable build
+Great parental controls
+Bright and sharp display
Reasons to avoid
-Lack of Google Play Store apps
-Poor sound quality
-Underwhelming performance
The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids, like the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro listed above, is effectively a version of the Fire HD 10 that’s tailored for kid-friendly use. It costs as much as the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro ($199) and offers basically the same features, but aimed at children ages three to seven rather than older kids.
Like its siblings the Fire HD 10 Kids sports a bright display, a durable kid-friendly design, and excellent battery life. Plus, the detailed built-in parental controls give you a lot of control over what a child does on the device, with little risk of them going astray. Sure, the lack of Google Play Store apps limits what you can do with this tablet, but that’s hardly a problem if you’re planning to give it to your 5-year-old so they can have something to watch videos on. If you want a durable, long-lasting tablet tailored to young children, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids is a great choice.
How to choose the right Amazon Fire tablet for you
Still not sure which Amazon Fire tablet is right for you? Here are some important things to consider.
Screen size:The Amazon Fire tablets come in a variety of screen sizes ranging from 7 to 10 inches. If you expect to be watching a lot of videos, you’ll want the biggest, nicest screen possible, so consider the Fire HD 10 or the Fire Max 11. But if you just want a tablet to browse the web and read ebooks, a smaller display, like those on the Fire 7 or Fire HD 8, will be more than enough for your needs.
Budget:While all of the Amazon Fire tablets are more affordable than anything Apple makes, there’s still a wide price range of $50-$200, or more if you splurge on extras. If you can afford the higher end of that spectrum, the $150 Fire HD 10 is probably the best choice for you. But if you’d rather spend $100, or $50, the Fire HD 8 or Fire 7 (respectively) are decent tablets that should meet your needs. If money is no object, you may as well get the Fire Max 11.
Age:How old is the person you’re buying this tablet for? Obviously if it’s for you, buy whatever you like, but if you’re getting a cheap Amazon Fire tablet for a younger person, there are a variety of kid-friendly options depending on their age. For those ages 3-7, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids offers decent performance, great parental controls, and a colorful drop-resistant case. The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro offers effectively the same benefits for the same price, but it’s aimed at older kids in the 6-12 range. And if the person you’re buying for is older than that, they should be well-served by the standard Amazon Fire HD 10.
Battery life compared
Battery life is one of the key things to consider when buying a tablet, and even though Amazon’s slates are pretty long-lived you can’t blindly trust the manufacturer’s claims about exactly how long they’ll last.
That’s why we put every tablet we test and review through a series of battery tests, then average the results and compare them against the competition. I’ve assembled the tested battery life of every tablet on this page here in one handy chart, to help you make a more informed buying decision.
Battery test results
| Time (min:secs) | |
|---|---|
| Amazon Fire Max 11 | 13:45 |
| Amazon Fire HD 10 | 12:39 |
| Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro | 14:12 |
| Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids | 14:32 |
| Amazon Fire HD 8 | 13:42 |
| Amazon Fire 7 | 6:56 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What apps can I run on an Amazon Fire tablet?
I’m so glad you asked! One of the biggest weaknesses of the Amazon Fire tablets is that they run on Amazon’s FireOS, which is a modified version of Android. But while these are technically Android slates, you can’t just buy one and start putting your favorite Google apps on it because the Google Play Store is not accessible on an Amazon Fire tablet.
That means that unless you want to futz around with sideloading apps, you can’t easily install a significant number of Android apps that other Android tablets have access to. Basic Google apps like Gmail, Google Docs and YouTube are not easily available on a Fire tablet. You can still access those services by opening a web browser and using the web versions, but you should know this key limitation of Fire tablets before you buy one.
How do I get rid of lockscreen ads?
Good question! Like Amazon Kindles, Fire tablets can be ordered with or without lockscreen ads. It costs $15 more to buy one without lockscreen ads, but that means you won’t have to stare at promos for products when your tablet is locked.
Luckily, if you decide to get rid of ads later (or you get an ad-supported Fire as a gift and want to banish the advertising) you can. Just head to Amazon’s website, log into your account and navigate to the “Manage Your Devices” page.
From your Devices page, click on the Fire tablet you wish to remove ads on and select the “Special offers” section, then navigate to the “Remove offers” option. Click it, pay a $15 fee and voila—no more ads!
Should I get a Fire tablet or a Kindle?
This is a question I sometimes get from readers, and it has a simple answer.
If all you want your tablet for is to read books, documents and magazines or take notes, get a Kindle. Specifically, check our guide to thebest e-readersand choose which Kindle or Kindle competitor is best for your needs and budget.
But if you want to do anything else with your tablet, like browse the web, watch movies, play games or send emails, you should buy an Amazon Fire tablet. While they’re limited by what apps you can install in FireOS, even the cheapest Amazon Fire tablet is a lot more capable than any Kindle because once you connect it to the Internet you can load the Fire tablet up with all sorts of apps and files.