Amazon Fire Tablets Comparison: Which one is the best for you?

Amazon Fire Tablets are cheap and come loaded with a lot of free content and Amazon’s Fire OS. Despite this, many tablet users are still not sure whether these tablets are any good when comparing them with industry-standard devices like iPads or Samsung tablets.

To help you decide whether they are any good for you, we will compare the Fire 7, Fire HD 8, and Fire HD 10. Fire Tablets offer an option for those who need a good tablet for streaming videos, browsing the internet, and digital reading, without having to spend too much.

Their main advantage is the low price, simple interface, and simple and straightforward compatibility with Amazon products like Prime Video, Alexa Voice Assistant, Kindle, and Audible. Additionally they Parental Controls are easyto follow and apply for your child.

The low price range is good, but it definitely comes with some trade-offs. Simply put, these tablets are not as good as iPads or Android tablets like Samsung.

The 7 Best Amazon Fire Tablets

1. Fire 7: Small Amazon Fire Tablet
2. Fire HD 8: Best budget
3. Fire HD 8 Plus
4. Fire HD 10: Best Overall
5. Fire HD 10 Plus
6. Fire Max 11: Newest Model

Amazon Fire OS vs. Android OS

Fire tablets run on the Fire Operating System. It is a unique OS made based on the Android operating system. Fire OS is designed to limit compatibility with other applications but is optimized for Amazon content and ecosystems like Prime Video, Kindle books, and Alexa Voice.

Whereas this is good when you can find all you need on Amazon, you will be limited in case you want to add some unique Google Play apps. You can still sideload and use Google Services, but this is not packed straight forward on purchase. Most users choose to stick to Amazon content to avoid too many adjustments.

Fire Tablets Comparison: Pricing

Before looking into the specifications, the first main factor that influences most users on whether to choose an Amazon tablet is the price. So how do the Fire 7, HD 8, and HD 10 prices compare?

1. Fire 7 Tablet: Starts at $50
2. Fire HD 8 Tablet: Starts at $90
3. Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet: Starts at $110
4. Fire HD 10 Tablet: Starts at $150

You will notice the Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet that was added later by Amazon. It is priced at $20 more than the Fire HD 8, which is very similar. The only difference is just the extra RAM slot, faster charger, and wireless charging support. You do not have to upgrade because the regular HD 8 is ok for most tasks.

Amazon has two versions of each tablet, the ad-supported version and the ad-free version. If you do not mind an ad as you use your device, we recommend the ad-supported version. If you opt for the ad-free version, you will enjoy the tablet without ads for an extra $15. It is entirely up to you.

If you want to buy cheap, then upgrade your storage; we found using a micro SD card to be more economical than a memory upgrade. For example, a 128 GB microSD card will only cost $15, while upgrading from 16 GB to 32 GB will cost $20 on the Fire 7. Similarly, doubling the Fire HD 8 and HD 10 from 32 GB to 64 GB will cost around $40.

Therefore, external storage upgrades using a MicroSD card will offer more value than internal memory upgrades.

Performance Comparison

Considering their low price, these tablets are fast enough. However, most users find them quite slow. The Fire 7 is the slowest. It is built for simple tasks like reading books, streaming, and browsing simple web pages. If you use it for complex tasks, you will notice a system lag.

The slightly more expensive Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus offer better processing power and a larger RAM for multitasking. You can browse complex sites and basic video platforms and run multiple applications with ease. You will seamlessly move between applications like YouTube, Chrome, or Kindle without lags.

If you need more power and performance, we recommend the Fire HD 10, which is faster than both the Fire HD 8 and the Fire 7. You will run many applications at the same time with minimal lags and even surf complex sites with many tabs open simultaneously.

Battery Life Comparison

Battery life is decent and close on the Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 8 at 12 and 10 hours, respectively. This is good enough because it covers a whole 8-hour working day. The Fire 7 has the poorest battery life with 4 to 5 hours of continuous streaming use from our tests. However, on its package, Amazon has advertised it to reach a maximum of 7 hours, which is still low. For the best experience, we recommend either the Fire HD 10 or Fire HD 8.

Screen Size and Resolution Quality

Whether you need a tablet for streaming, simple gaming, or reading the screen or display is one of the most important considerations. A bigger screen is good but not always the best if you prefer better portability.

For professional devices, you need to check the color accuracy and brightness levels on the screen. Fire tablets are basic streaming devices, so you can ignore these aspects. To choose the best screen, you need to check the size and resolution.

The Fire HD 10 has the best screen of the 3. It features a large 10.1-inch display with Full HD 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution. It displays crisp and rich colors for the best user experience as you stream or play games on it.

The 8-inch Fire HD 8 is the second best with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. Its HD display is not as good as Full HD. It will not appear pixelated but is not the best. You can use the Fire HD 8 for light browsing, reading, gaming, or streaming light videos.

The Fire 7 has the lowest pixel density on its screen. It will even appear slightly pixelated in some instances. It has a small 7-inch display with 1024 x 600 pixel resolution. You can use it for light browsing, reading, and similar simple tasks.

Amazon Fire 7: Best Small Size

1. Screen size: 7 inches
2. Resolution: 1024×600 pixels
3. Processor: MediaTek MT8168
4. RAM: 2 GB
5. Battery Life: 10 Hours
6. OS: FireOS
7. Storage Space: 16 or 32 GB
8. Camera: 2 MP + 2 MP
9. Port: USB-C

The Amazon Fire 7 is the smallest tablet you can buy under the Amazon Fire line of tablets. It comes with a small 7-inch screen with only a 1024×600 pixel resolution.

It is the cheapest of all Amazon tablets but features the weakest specifications. It can be considered a good tablet for entry-level users or beginners.

The 2 GB of RAM and MediaTek MT8168 will not be good enough for any complex tasks, but they will work perfectly for simple gaming and video streaming.

Despite its low price range, it matches the iPad Pro in terms of battery life, with up to 10 hours of continuous usage. This, together with its small size, makes it easy to carry and use away from a consistent power source. The camera and speaker quality are low, with only 2 MP front and rear camera resolution, just like the Fire HD 8 Plus.

Amazon Fire Max 11: newest version

• Screen size: 11 inches
• Resolution: 2000 x 1200 resolution
• Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
• Processor: Mediatek MT8188J
• Storage Space: 64 or 128 GB (expandable by up to 1 TB)
• Cameras: 8 MP front and rear cameras with 1080p HD video recording
• Battery Life: Up to 14 hours
• RAM: 4 GB
• Operating System: Fire OS
• Weight: 490g

We have previously reviewed the Amazon Fire Max 11. Just to recap, it is the best Fire tablet that you can buy. It comes with a large 11-inch screen with a 2000 x 1200 resolution.

The screen refresh rate is half that on an iPad Pro, which is a little low at 60 Hz. 120 Hz is the best for running complex games.

The Mediatek MT8188J 8-core processor and 4 GB of RAM will allow smooth multitasking and can run some complex games and applications.

The RAM is, however, low and will lag if you intend to use the tablet for video editing or complex gaming. One thing that stands out on this tablet is the battery life. It comes with a long-lasting battery with up to 14 hours of continuous use without having to recharge. 

This is longer than all the other Fire Tablets in this review. For video recording and conferencing, you will have 8 MP front and rear cameras with 1080p HD video recording capability. These cameras are perfect for online content creation and video conferencing.

To capture good sound quality, you will have two built-in microphones on either side of the tablet. Unfortunately, you will not have an audio jack to input headphones to record or listen to music.

The Amazon Fire Max 11 is easily compatible with a stylus pen and keyboard. However, you must buy the accessories separately, which adds to the overall price.

The Fire OS operating system is also limited by poor Google Play compatibility. It, however, works with Amazon applications like Alexa.

Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021): Best Runner-Up

1. Screen Size: 10.1 inches
2. Resolution: 1920×1200 pixels
3. Processor: Quad-core 2.0 GHz
4. RAM: 4 GB RAM
5. Storage: 32 GB or 64 GB of expandable storage
6. Cameras: 2 MP front-facing and 5 MP rear-facing
7. Battery: Up to 12 hours
8. Dimensions: 9.73 x 6.53 x 0.36 inches
9. Colors: Slate

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021) comes in second on the basis of specifications and features. It features a slightly smaller 10.1-inch screen with a Full HD 1920×1200 pixels resolution.

Just like the Fire Max 11, you will have 4 GB of RAM that allows easy multitasking. Unfortunately, this is still not good enough for complex tasks. Additionally, the quad-core 2.0 GHz processor is not as powerful as its predecessor.

The storage space is low at 32 GB or 64 GB options. Fortunately, it is expandable using an external MicroSD storage slot up to 1 TB.

It features a fast wireless or USB-C charging battery that takes only 3.5 hours to fully charge. The fully charged battery will then last for up to 12 hours, only 2 hours shorter than the Fire Max 11.

It features a weaker camera compared to the Fire Max 11, although it is still better than most Fire Tablets. It comes with a 2 MP front-facing and 5 MP rear-facing camera but cannot shoot in 1080p resolution.

Check out our comparison between the Fire HD 10 Tablet (2023) and the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021).

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus

1. Screen Size: 8-inch
2. Resolution: 880 x 1280 pixels
3. Storage Space: 32 GB or 64 GB
4. Processor: hexa-core 2.0 GHz
5. RAM: 3 GB
6. Cameras: 2 MP (wide) Rear camera 
7. Front camera: 2MP
8. Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
9. Operating System: Fire OS
10. Weight: 355 g

If you are on a budget, we recommend the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus. It comes in a very affordable price range and will give good value for money, especially if you are looking for a compact portable tablet.

The Fire HD 8 Plus is a small 8-inch tablet with 880 x 1280 pixels. This size and resolution are quite low compared to the last two tablets in this review. For its price range, however, these specs are just perfect.

From the onset, you will notice that it is not a premium-level tablet. However, its light weight of 355 grams and long 12-hour battery life make it easy to carry around from place to place.

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is still slightly heavier compared to the cheaper Amazon Fire HD 8. For processing power, it comes with a hexa-core 2.0 GHz processor and 3 GB of RAM, which are good enough for many tasks. The Fire OS will pose the same challenge as the more expensive options, with difficult compatibility with Google Play applications.

You will have to get used to Alexa and other Amazon Store applications instead. Cameras are so poor that you will prefer using your smartphone instead, which has only 2 MP front and 2 MP rear cameras. 

You can choose wireless charging or the USB-C option to charge your tablet. If you prefer wireless charging, you must buy the charging dock separately, adding to the price range.

Which is the Best Amazon Fire Tablet?

The new Amazon Fire HD 10 is the best overall option that you can buy.

Frequently asked Questions