Best Amazon Fire Tablet (2023): Which Model Should You Buy? Leave a comment
Amazon’s Fireplace tablets are among the solely high-profile, ultra-affordable tablets round. The costs appear too good to be true—and in some methods, they’re—however Fireplace tablets are additionally fully useful, fairly succesful units. That will help you resolve if certainly one of these slates is best for you, we reviewed each mannequin. These are our unfiltered suggestions. We checklist Amazon’s base worth, however we recommend you spend the additional $15 to get an ad-free mannequin.
Make sure to examine our different buying guides, just like the Best Tablets, Best iPads, and Best Alexa Speakers.
Up to date June 2023: We have added our ideas on the brand new Fireplace Max 11.
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Finest Fireplace Pill
The Fireplace HD 10 stays our favourite of Amazon’s tablets. Amazon refreshed it in 2021 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) with a brighter display screen and three gigabytes of RAM. Alongside it, there is a Fire HD 10 Plus, which bumps the RAM to 4 GB and provides wi-fi charging, which is value the additional $30 for those who plan to do greater than watch films and browse the net. And Amazon is hoping you may do extra, as there is a “productivity bundle” that features a good keyboard (no trackpad although) and a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365. Engaged on the Fireplace HD 10 is not dangerous, as long as you do not want Google apps. None of Google’s workplace apps work on the Fireplace HD 10, not even within the browser. (There’s a workaround.)
The Fireplace HD 10 has a bigger display screen with extra pixels (1080p) than its siblings, making it higher for watching movies. And, as with the Fireplace HD 8, you possibly can shout instructions at Alexa from throughout the room. To make use of Alexa’s Present Mode, swipe down on the notification overlay and examine the Present Mode field. After that, you possibly can set your HD 10 on a stand (for those who go for the Plus mannequin, we just like the official wireless charging stand) and it basically turns into an Echo Present.
You’ll be able to select between 32-gigabyte or 64-gigabyte fashions (with a MicroSD slot on each so you possibly can add as much as 1 TB of storage down the highway for those who want more room). Whichever you select, Amazon will serve up ads on the lock display screen. To eliminate that, you may have to spend $15 extra for the model with out “particular presents.”
The Max Pill
Should you’re all in on all issues Amazon, the Fireplace Max 11 (5/10, WIRED Review) is the corporate’s strongest pill. It is also a lot pricier than the Fireplace 10. With a base worth of $230 you are solely $30 away from an iPad. And the checklist of issues an iPad can do this the Fireplace Max 11 cannot is longer than I’ve area for right here. That mentioned, if all you intend to do is devour Amazon content material, and the value would not hassle you, the Fireplace Max 11 is a pleasant method to do it. The display screen is vivid and sharp sufficient, the audio system aren’t dangerous, and the cameras are 1080p and far nicer than the cameras on the remainder of the Fireplace tablets.
Nonetheless, this premium-priced pill remains to be hamstrung by the identical Fireplace OS that powers the cheaper fashions. Whereas Fireplace OS appears okay once you pay $50 for it on sale, it feels much more limiting at $230. If you wish to do something greater than watch Prime video and browse the net, we recommend you spend the additional cash for an iPad, Pixel, Lenovo, or OnePlus pill. See our guide to the best tablets for extra mid-level pill choices that supply a greater worth than the Fireplace Max 11.
Finest-Worth Fireplace Pill
Amazon’s 2022 model of the Fireplace HD 8 (6/10 WIRED Review) encompasses a sooner processor and barely thinner design, but it surely’s very a lot an incremental replace. The processor improve is welcome and makes this extra travel-friendly-size pill very practically as quick as our high choose. The large distinction is the display screen, which is not practically as good because the Fireplace 10 HD display screen. On this smaller mannequin, pixels are sometimes nonetheless seen and films typically really feel flat.
Nonetheless, the HD 8 has a lot of the advantages of the HD 10, together with hands-free Alexa, stereo sound, USB-C, and practically 12 hours of battery life. I like to recommend selecting up Amazon’s magnetic stand-up case for those who plan on watching films or TV, or, for those who go for the Plus mannequin, the Wireless Charging Dock, which turns your pill into an Echo Present speaker.
Finest Fireplace Pill for Youngsters
Recognizing that “children” covers a variety of hand sizes and different elements, Amazon has two completely different Youngsters Version Fireplace tablets. There’s the common Youngsters Version and a “Professional” mannequin. The latter, aimed toward older children, has a streamlined case with rather less padding. We expect the 2022 Fire HD 8 Kids ($150) is the perfect gadget for youthful children, whereas the 2021 Fire HD 10 Kids Pro ($200), which is actually large in little-kid arms, is best for older youngsters. The Fire 7 Kids ($110) is a fair cheaper possibility for younger youngsters, although mine have all the time discovered the 7-inch display screen dimension more difficult to make use of.
The Youngsters Version variations are precisely the identical because the common Fireplace tablets, besides they arrive with a rugged case and a two-year worry-free assure, which suggests Amazon will exchange the pill at no cost in case your children break it. It additionally comes with one 12 months of Amazon Kids+, providing entry to kid-friendly films, books, video games, and apps. It prices $5 per 30 days after the primary 12 months (for Prime subscribers, $8 if you do not have Prime). Make sure to see our guide to managing Amazon Kids+ content.
Finest Price range Fireplace Pill
Final 12 months Amazon refreshed its smallest Fireplace pill, the 7-inch mannequin. The 2022 model encompasses a barely extra highly effective processor, double the RAM, and longer battery life. It additionally costs by way of USB-C. Sadly, the paltry 16 gigabytes of storage stays, although the supported SD card dimension has gone as much as 1 terabyte, so in order for you extra storage (and consider me, you do), you possibly can add it. Additionally up for this launch is the value, which jumps from $49 to $59.
Prior to now, we have really helpful avoiding this one as a result of it was underpowered and the small display screen makes it much less helpful. After a couple of months of testing, it is develop into obvious that the processor is definitely adequate—not quick, but it surely’s nice for internet shopping and watching video. The display screen, alternatively, stays small. We nonetheless assume you are higher off spending $40 extra for the Fireplace 8, but when that is out of your finances, the brand new Fireplace 7 will do.
Finest Fireplace Equipment
{Photograph}: Amazon
Get a Cowl
Fireplace tablets are sturdy sufficient, however I’ve discovered the screens do scratch fairly simply. It is value defending your funding with a canopy. Amazon’s covers are good–they are not too cumbersome and supply good safety–however they’re costly. At $30, Fintie’s Folio Instances aren’t less expensive, however they’re ceaselessly on sale for extra like $15 to $20; for those who can seize one at that worth they’re effectively value it.
Get a Keyboard for Work
I will not go as far as to counsel a Fireplace Pill can exchange your laptop computer, however I’ve discovered that I can get a very good bit of labor executed on my Fireplace HD 10 after I pair it with Finitie’s Bluetooth Keyboard ($50). This is similar keyboard Amazon sells as a part of its productivity bundle. It lacks a trackpad, and the keys are a bit of smaller, but it surely’s in any other case fairly good to kind on. Should you rating a Fireplace HD 10 for $55 throughout a sale, get the keyboard for $55 (it is typically on sale for much less) and use our guide to get the Google Play Store installed, and you will have very usable work gadget for round $100. That is powerful to beat.
I discover the Fireplace 10 with a keyboard higher worth than the Fireplace Max 11, which additionally has a productiveness bundle that features a keyboard. It is a nicer keyboard–although it’s not free standing, balancing it in your lap is awkward–and it does have a trackpad, however its greater than double the value of the Fireplace HD 10 keyboard combo and it simply is not value that a lot cash.
Amazon Sells Older Fireplace Tablets. Don’t Purchase Them
Solely purchase one of many eleventh or twelfth Era Fireplace tablets. We advise sticking to the fashions we speak about on this article (also listed here). Older-model Fireplace tablets will not get software program updates for so long as the present technology will. You will additionally miss out on the sooner processor and extra RAM within the newer fashions. A much better concept is to attend for Prime Day or one other sale when you will get the brand new fashions at 30 to 50 p.c off.
Should you will not be deterred from shopping for an older Fireplace pill proper now, you’ll want to cross-reference the most recent replace obtainable for the pill you’re going to purchase (find it on this sheet) with the latest version of Fire OS to see how up-to-date your software program might be. And keep in mind that Amazon does reduce off outdated units from accessing its content material.
What’s WIRED About All Fireplace Tablets
A faucet for Amazon content material: Should you subscribe to Amazon’s Prime service, you possibly can devour all of the included films, music, TV, and books, store for all of the objects you will get with its free two-day transport, and browse your free Amazon photograph storage. You are able to do a lot of the identical issues from an Android pill or iPad, however the Fireplace OS interface is crafted particularly to ship Amazon items, with swipeable pages for every kind of media Amazon sells.
Constructed “adequate”: Bodily, Amazon’s Fireplace tablets are product of cheap-ish plastic, however they’re designed with sufficient care that the construct high quality received’t hassle you an excessive amount of. The Youngsters Editions are additionally among the best-quality tablets for teenagers, encased in a rugged bumper, and all have MicroSD slots so you possibly can add additional storage. (We advocate this 128-GB MicroSD card for $17.)
You can also make them much more succesful by following our information to installing the Google Play Store on your Fire device. That provides you with entry to the complete vary of Android apps. (Word that some apps will not work, however 99 p.c of the apps on the market for Android will run simply nice.)
