Which Amazon Fire Tablet Is Best for You?
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Amazon’s Fire tablets are some of the only high-profile, ultra-affordable tablets around. The prices seem too good to be true—and in some ways, they are—but Fire tablets are also completely functional, reasonably capable devices. They’re not the best androids tablets by any means, but if you want a way to consume Prime content without spending a bundle, these fit the bill.
Should You Buy an Amazon Fire Tablet?
The most important question that you need to ask yourself if you're shopping for an Amazon Fire Tablet is: Is it Prime Day? If so, then yes, it's a good time to buy. If not, then no.
Seriously, Fire Tablets are loss leaders for Amazon Prime. Unless you reeeeally need it right now, there's no reason to pay full price. Fire HD tablets go on sale multiple times a year for at least 30 percent off, and they are 50 percent off during Prime Day sales (which, remember, isn't a single day anymore). Do the math here and you're basically never more than two months from getting one for at least 30 percent off. Do yourself a favor and wait for the sale. It'll make your Fire HD tablet that much better.
What's WIRED and TIRED About Fire Tablets
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A faucet for Amazon content: If you subscribe to Amazon’s Prime service, you can consume all the included movies, music, TV, and books, shop for all the items you can get with its free two-day shipping, and browse your free Amazon photo storage. You can do most of the same things from an androids tablet or ipads, but the Fire OS interface is crafted specifically to deliver Amazon goods, with swipeable pages for each type of media Amazon sells.
Built “good enough”: Physically, Amazon’s Fire tablets are made of cheap-ish plastic, but they’re designed with enough care that the build quality won’t bother you too much. Wifi reception is excellent, and the front facing cameras have improved considerably in the last couple releases. The Kids Editions are also some of the best-quality tablets for kids, encased in a rugged bumper, and all have microSD slots so you can add extra storage. (We recommend this 128-GB microSD card for $17.) You can make them even more capable by following our guide to installing the Google Play Store on your Fire device. That will give you access to the full range of androids apps. (Note that some apps won't work, but 99 percent of the apps out there for androids will run just fine.)
Cheap: Did we mention the price? They all cost $200 or less, save the new Max 11. If you stick to the cheaper models though, they're a great value. You can also get them with Amazon lock-screen ads, which will lower your price by $15.
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Non-Amazon content is lacking: The greatest strength of these tablets is also their greatest weakness. If you aren’t an Amazon Prime subscriber and don't plan to get your video, audio, or books from Amazon, the Fire tablet line is far less compelling. They do have Alexa, so that could be a plus, but again, that’s tied deeply into Amazon’s content library. You can download third-party apps like Netflix on Amazon’s Appstore, but the selection is far more limited than what's available on Apple's ipads or the Google Play Store on standard androids tablets. To help you get around this limitation, we put together a guide to installing the Google Play Store on your Fire device. Installing the Google Play Store gives you access to the full range of androids apps. In the end, you get a $60 tablet that's capable of 95 percent of what a $330 ipads can do.
Old tech: The tech inside these tablets is old. The processors aren't the fastest, and you'll likely notice small fits of lag and a general lack of power compared to more expensive androids tablets. The touchscreens aren't a responsive or sensitive as more expensive tablets. Since many of the apps for Fire OS are built with weak processing power in mind, you don’t notice it too much. The operating system is also dated (depending on which Fire tablet you're buying), which could hide some of the weaknesses. Amazon’s latest Fire OS is a modified version of androids 11, which came out in 2020. Amazon keeps updating its tablets to some degree, but not nearly as often as it should.
Short warranties: Only the Fire HD 10 comes with a full one-year warranty. Oddly, the smaller devices come with 90-day warranties.
Special offers: Over time Amazon's Special Offers ads have gotten more overt and annoying. We recommend you pay the extra $15 to buy a Fire tablet without them.
We reviewed every model to help you decide whether one of these slates is right for you. We list Amazon’s base price, but we suggest you spend the extra $15 to get an ad-free model.
Check our related guides for more, like the Best Tablets, Best ipadss, and Best Alexa Speakers.
Updated October 2024: We've added some notes on the just-released Fire HD 8 and Fire OS's new AI features, some more notes on trying to install the Google Play store on the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, and updated links and prices.
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- Photograph: Best Buy
Best Fire Tablet
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)The Fire HD 10 remains our favorite of Amazon’s tablets. Amazon refreshed it in late 2023 with a slightly faster octa-core processor. The company claims a 25 percent speed increase, but in my testing I did not see a huge speed difference in everyday tasks like web browsing and watching movies. It's marginally faster, but nowhere near competing tablets like the Samsung Tab or OnePlus Pad 2 (which, to be fair, cost at least three times as much). The nice things about the Fire HD 10 compared to other Fire tablets are the larger screen, which actually hits full HD (1080p), making it better for watching videos, and the 3 gigabytes of RAM, which helps in browsing the web with many tabs.
As with any Alexa device, you can shout commands from across the room using Show Mode. To turn it on, just swipe down on the notification overlay and check the Show Mode box. After that, you can set your HD 10 on a stand to essentially turn it into an Echo Show. You can choose between 32-GB or 64-GB models, with a microSD slot on both so you can add up to 1 TB of storage if you need more space. Whichever you choose, Amazon will serve up advertisements on the lock screen. To get rid of that, you'll need to spend $15 more for the version without “special offers.”
There's a keyboard option as part of the Keyboard Case Bundle ($190) if you want to do more than consume Prime content. Working on the Fire HD 10 isn't as terrible as you might think, as long as you don't need Google apps. None of Google's office apps work on the Fire HD 10, not even in the browser. (There is a workaround, but I have yet to be able to get the Google Play store installed on the 2023 model.) This latest Fire HD 10—and Max 11 below—support the Made for Amazon Stylus Pen ($35).
- Photograph: Amazon
The Max Tablet
Amazon Fire Max 11If you're all in on all things Amazon, the Fire Max 11 (5/10, WIRED Review) is the company's most powerful tablet. It's also much pricier than the Fire 10. With a base price of $230, you're actually paying more than you would for a 9th-gen ipads ($225). The list of things even an older ipads can do that the Fire Max 11 can't is longer than I have space for here. That said, if all you plan to do is consume Amazon content, and the price doesn't bother you, the Fire Max 11 is a good way to do it. The screen is bright and sharp enough, the speakers aren't bad, and the cameras are 1080p and nicer than the cameras on the rest of the Fire tablets.
However, this premium-priced tablet is still hamstrung by the same Fire OS that powers the cheaper models. While Fire OS seems okay when you pay $75 for it on sale during Prime Day, it feels a lot more limiting at $230 (and even at $120 during sales). If you want to do anything more than watch Prime video and browse the web, we suggest you spend the extra money on an ipads, Pixel Tablet, or OnePlus Pad. See our Best Tablets guide for more mid-level tablet options that offer a better value than the Fire Max 11.
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Best-Value Fire Tablet
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024)Amazon's brand-new-for-2024 Fire HD 8 is most notable for bumping the RAM capacity to 3 GB (up from 2GB). There's also a better rear camera (5 MP, compared to the previous model's 2 MP). Otherwise the HD 8 isn't much different than the last. It retains the same form factor, battery life is still rated at 13 hours (though we rarely got over 11 in our testing), and the storage options remain 32 GB or 64 GB (which can be expanded up to 1-TB with a microSD card).
The increase in RAM size might have something to do with the new AI features Amazon announced alongside the Fire HD 8 (see below for more on that). We haven't had a chance to test the latest model yet, but it's on sale right now for $54 during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days so there's really no good reason to go with the previous model. This more travel-friendly-sized tablet is very nearly as fast as our top pick. The big difference compared to the HD is the screen, which isn't nearly as nice as the Fire 10 HD screen. On this smaller model, pixels are often still visible and movies often feel flat.
Still, the HD 8 has most of the benefits of the HD 10, including all the new AI features, hands-free Alexa, stereo sound, USB-C, and nearly 12 hours of battery life. I recommend picking up Amazon’s magnetic stand-up case if you plan on watching movies or TV, or, if you opt for the Plus model, the Wireless Charging Dock, which turns your tablet into an Echo Show speaker.
- Photograph: Amazon
Best Fire Tablet for Kids
Fire HD 8 Kids Edition (2024)Recognizing that “kids” covers a wide range of hand sizes and other factors, Amazon has two different Kids Edition Fire tablets. There's the regular Kids Edition and a “Pro” model. The latter, aimed at older kids, has a streamlined case with a little less padding.
We think the 2024 Fire HD 8 Kids ($150) is the best kids tablet for younger children, while the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro ($200), which is really big in little-kid hands, is better for older children. The latter was refreshed in October 2023 and includes some new features like Music Maker, a kid-friendly music editing app (think GarageBand, but simpler).
The Fire 7 Kids ($110) is an even cheaper option for young children, though mine have always found the 7-inch screen size more challenging to use.
The Kids Edition versions are exactly the same as the regular Fire tablets, except they come with a rugged case and a two-year worry-free guarantee, which means Amazon will replace the tablet for free if your kids break it. It also comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, offering access to kid-friendly movies, books, games, and apps. It costs $6 per month after the first year (for Prime subscribers, $9 if you don't have Prime). The parental controls aren't the most robust though so be sure to see our guide to managing Amazon Kids+ content.
- Photograph: Amazon
Best Budget Fire Tablet
Amazon Fire 7 (2022)Amazon refreshed its smallest Fire tablet in 2022. The 7-inch model features a slightly more powerful processor, double the RAM, and longer battery life. It also charges via USB-C. Unfortunately, the paltry 16 GB of storage remains, though the supported SD card size has gone up to 1 terabyte, so if you want more storage (and believe me, you do), you can add it. Also up for this release is the price, which jumps from $49 to $59.
In the past, we've recommended avoiding this one because it was underpowered and the small screen makes it less useful. After a few months of testing, it's become apparent that the processor is actually good enough these days—not fast, but it's fine for web browsing and watching videos. The screen, on the other hand, remains small. We still think you're better off spending $40 more for the Fire 8, but if that's out of your budget, the new Fire 7 will do.
Photograph: AmazonBest Fire Accessories
Cases and AccessoriesGet a cover. Fire tablets are sturdy enough, but I've found the screens do crack quite easily. It's worth protecting your investment with a cover. Amazon's covers are nice–they're not too bulky and provide good protection–but they are expensive. At $30, Fintie's Folio Cases aren't much cheaper, but they are frequently on sale for more like $15 to $20; if you can grab one at that price they're well worth it.
Get a keyboard for work. I won't go so far as to suggest a Fire Tablet can replace your laptop, but I have found that I can get a good bit of work done on my 2021 Fire HD 10 when I pair it with Finitie's Bluetooth Keyboard ($30). It lacks a trackpad, and the keys are a little smaller, but it's otherwise quite nice to type on. I have not tested the new version of the keyboard, but the specs are very similar. If you score a Fire HD 10 for $55 during a sale, get the keyboard for $55 (it's often on sale for less), use our guide to get the Google Play Store installed, and you'll have a very usable work device for around $100. That's hard to beat.
I find the Fire 10 with a keyboard better value than the Fire Max 11, which also comes in a productivity bundle that includes a keyboard with a trackpad. But the keyboard stand is not free-standing, so it's awkward to hold in your lap and it's more than double the price of the Fire HD 10 keyboard combo. It just isn't worth that much money.
Get a stylus. Both the Fire 10 and the Fire 11 support the Made for Amazon stylus pen. If your job involves a lot of document review or graphics, this might be a good accessory for you.
Photograph: AmazonAmazon Sells Older Fire Tablets. Don’t Buy Them
Be WaryOnly buy one of the 12th or 13th Generation Fire tablets. We suggest sticking to the models we talk about in this article (also listed here). Older-model Fire tablets won't get software updates for as long as the current generation will. You'll also miss out on the faster processor and more RAM in the newer models. A far better idea is to wait for Prime Day or another sale when you can get the new models at 30 to 50 percent off.
If you won't be deterred from buying an older Fire tablet right now, be sure to cross-reference the latest update available for the tablet you’re going to buy (find it on this sheet) with the latest version of Fire OS to see how up-to-date your software will be. And bear in mind that Amazon does cut off old devices from accessing its content.
Photograph: AmazonAmazon Improves Fire OS
AI in Fire OSAmazon has added three new generative AI features to Fire OS. The features launched with the 2024 Fire HD 8, but will be coming to other tablets as well.
Fire OS now has two AI assistants, Writing Assist and Wallpaper Creator. The first is designed to help with sending messages, emails, and other text content. It consists of automated spelling correction, grammar fixes, and more predictive features like an option to make your message more “casual”, which appears to consist in adding words like “stoked” to your messages. Wallpaper creator lets you generate images based on your prompts. These features are available in the 2024 Fire HD 8, and will be coming to the Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 as well.
The third bit of AI-ish tech is a webpage summary tool. This one will be coming to the Fire Max 11, Fire HD 10 (all the way back to the 2019), and the Fire HD 8 all the way back to the 2018 model.
