If you would like a pill, it’s laborious to beat an iPad. However even the most cost effective iPad is pricey and so for anybody on a restricted finances the apparent various is to have a look at Amazon’s Fireplace tablets.
It’s a standard false impression that Fireplace tablets are Android tablets: they’re not. They don’t have any Google apps akin to Gmail, Google Maps, the Chrome net browser and YouTube. There’s no Google Play Retailer both. As an alternative, there’s Amazon’s Appstore which doesn’t have the breadth of selection of Google Play.
Right here we’ll clarify every part it is advisable to find out about Amazon Fireplace tablets and the way the varied fashions examine so that you’re ready to resolve which – if any – is the correct one to purchase.
Fireplace tablets are good worth, however provided that you possibly can reside with their limitations. It’s a good suggestion to test whether or not the apps you wish to use can be found before you purchase. You are able to do this by looking on Amazon’s web site and searching within the outcomes to see if a Fireplace pill app is listed. If not, it’s not obtainable.
You need to use most Google apps – together with YouTube – by way of the online browser constructed into Fireplace tablets. For some folks that might be an appropriate workaround however, for others, it’s a deal-breaker.
Fireplace tablets have their very own apps for e mail, photographs, net shopping and naturally its personal video service, Prime Video and music streaming from Amazon Music.
Finally, Amazon desires you to make use of these providers as an alternative of Apple or Google’s, purchase apps from its Appstore, obtain books from its Kindle retailer and purchase bodily merchandise from its procuring part. Fireplace tablets are successfully an Amazon store window, however that’s largely what Apple does with its iPads, too, so it’s not as dangerous as it’d sound, as long as you employ numerous Amazon providers.
Nonetheless, do word that except you pay $15/£10 to improve to the ‘with out advertisements’ mannequin once you purchase a Fireplace pill, the lock display will show adverts, which may be annoying.
So far as apps go, you’ll discover Netflix, Disney+, TikTok, Spotify, Fb, Messenger, Zoom and different standard ones within the Appstore together with catch-up TV providers plus numerous free video games and different apps that are most of the time Android variations, as a result of beneath that different-looking interface, all Amazon Fireplace tablets are based mostly on the Android working system. Should you’re completely satisfied to leap via a number of hoops it’s potential to put in the Google Play Retailer on a Fireplace pill, supplying you with entry to these apps which the Appstore doesn’t have.
Fireplace tablets are nice for teenagers particularly, and Amazon sells children variations of all three fashions. These price extra however include a protecting case, an incredible two-year guarantee that covers unintentional injury and a 12-month subscription to its children content material, Amazon Youngsters+, which incorporates movies, video games, apps and books.
For some fashions there’s additionally the choice of a Fireplace Youngsters Professional. These price the identical because the non-Professional variations however have a extra grown-up case and a much less cartoon-y interface that’s higher suited to older children from round 7-12.
So the query is, which mannequin do you have to purchase? Right here’s what we suggest.
1. Amazon Fireplace Max 11
Execs
- Good display
- Good efficiency
- Non-obligatory keyboard and stylus
Cons
- Restricted number of apps
- No Google
- Solely 64GB base storage
Value When Reviewed:
From $229.99
The Fireplace Max 11 is a surprisingly good finances pill that’s – as with all Fireplace tablets – let down by an absence of selection on the subject of which apps you possibly can set up. Nonetheless, if the apps you need are within the Appstore or you’re prepared to make use of net apps, it’s the only option from Amazon’s vary regardless of being the costliest.
It actually appears like an iPad 10.2 and is the one Fireplace pill to have a metallic physique, one thing that makes it really feel extra premium. The 11 inch display is nice – particularly for watching video – and the audio system aren’t dangerous both. Cameras are good as nicely, one thing you possibly can’t say about different Fireplace tablets.
With respectable efficiency on prime, solely the comparatively sluggish charging may be criticised.
Not included within the worth however good equipment if you’d like them are a keyboard case and stylus, each of which can be found individually.
Learn our full
Amazon Fireplace Max 11 evaluation
2. Amazon Fireplace 7
Execs
- Amazingly low cost
- Good battery life
Cons
- Small, low-resolution display
- Poor efficiency and cameras
Value When Reviewed:
$59.99
The Fireplace 7 is the smallest within the vary with, as you’d guess, a 7in display. It’s nice worth, regardless of the worth enhance for this new mannequin because it has higher battery life (10 hours) and a extra handy USB-C charging port.
The explanation you might wish to steer clear is as a result of saying that it isn’t massively highly effective is an understatement. Clearly, you shouldn’t count on a lightning-fast pill for this worth and also you’ll should put up with ready slightly longer for apps to load than you’d count on. Principally, it’s the most suitable choice for teenagers as a result of they’re unlikely to complain about it… except you’re shopping for it to switch a damaged iPad, which received’t go down nicely.
The display has good colors and good-enough viewing angles, however the low decision of 1024×600 means it’s not as sharp because the HD 8. Once more, this received’t hassle children.
The Fireplace 7 has hands-free Alexa like its dearer siblings, which is good, and this new mannequin has a USB-C charging port that’s a lot simpler to make use of than the annoying previous microUSB. And there’s nonetheless a headphone jack.
Keep in mind that you don’t essentially have to purchase the Fireplace 7 Youngsters Version. Even the $59/£59 model comes with the Amazon Youngsters app that gives nice parental controls and there are dozens of free video games obtainable within the Appstore that children will love.
The cameras are poor, however that could be a trait of all Amazon Fireplace tablets, sadly.
Learn our full
Amazon Fireplace 7 (2022) evaluation
3. Amazon Fireplace HD 8
Execs
- USB-C charging
- Stereo audio system
Value When Reviewed:
From $99.99. Mannequin reviewed $129.99
The Fireplace HD 8 is now on its twelfth technology. Its display could also be just one inch bigger than the Fireplace 7, nevertheless it makes fairly the distinction. It has the next decision of 1280×800, however we want the display had been upgraded for this new mannequin – it’s not even full HD.
Cameras are the identical on each tablets, however processing energy is slightly higher which suggests it’s not fairly a sluggish. There’s additionally extra RAM (much more within the Plus mannequin), extra storage and you’ll broaden that by as much as 1TB utilizing a microSD card.
It nonetheless isn’t significantly responsive and, in fact, every part in regards to the interface and obtainable apps and providers is identical.
The HD 8 has Alexa built-in and the assistant will reply even when the pill is in standby with the display off, a bit like certainly one of Amazon’s Echo audio system.
The Plus mannequin prices $20/£20 further and has wi-fi charging and works with the elective wi-fi charging dock to show the pill right into a kind of Echo Present. That is helpful for video calls, music movies and watching Amazon Prime movies. However word that the usual mannequin additionally has Present Mode, so that you solely want one thing to prop it up, and perhaps to plug it in to the mains to get the identical impact.
As with all three Amazon tablets, there’s a Youngsters Version of the Fireplace HD 8. It comes with a bumper case, yr’s subscription to Youngsters+ and a two-year guarantee.
Learn our full
Amazon Fireplace HD 8 (2022) evaluation
4. Amazon Fireplace HD 10
Execs
- Large display
- Strongest processor within the vary
Cons
- Comparatively costly
- Can get Android tablets for comparable cash
Value When Reviewed:
From $149.99
The Fireplace HD 10 prices much more than Amazon’s smaller tablets, nevertheless it additionally offers you much more. The ten.1in display is clearly greater, however the decision of 1920×1200 means it has the next pixel density of 224ppi. Meaning it appears sharp and – as with its siblings’ – it’s an incredible display with vibrant colors and good viewing angles.
It has a sooner processor and 3GB of RAM as customary which suggests it’s extra responsive than the cheaper tablets right here. There’s additionally a Plus mannequin obtainable which has 4GB of RAM, wi-fi charging and, just like the HD 8, helps Present Mode that makes it very very similar to an Amazon Echo Present.
Charging is by way of USB-C and the battery lasts for 12 hours.
Anybody in search of a regular iPad-size pill shouldn’t be disillusioned with the HD 10 contemplating the $149.99/£149.99 worth. And it’s additionally obtainable in a Fireplace HD 10 Youngsters Version and the Fireplace Youngsters Professional for 6-12 yr olds for $199.99/£199.99.
Learn our full
Amazon Fireplace HD 10 (2021) evaluation
Right here’s a abstract of the important thing specs of the most recent variations exhibiting how they examine.
Observe: the Plus variations of the Fireplace HD 8 and HD 10 have wi-fi charging and further RAM. They’re in any other case similar to their non-Plus variations however are solely obtainable in a Slate color.
Fireplace 7 (2022) |
Fireplace HD 8 (2022) |
Fireplace HD 10 (2021) |
Fireplace Max 11 (2023) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Value (from) |
$59.99 / £49.99 |
$99.99 / £99.99 |
$149.99 / £149.99 |
$229.99 / £249.99 |
Show |
7in |
8in |
10.1in |
11in |
Decision |
1024 x 600 (171 ppi) |
1280 x 800 (189 ppi) |
1920 x 1200 (224 ppi) |
2000 x 1200 (213 ppi) |
Colors |
Black, Denim, Rose |
Black, Denim, Rose |
Black, Denim, Lavender, Olive |
Gray |
Processor |
Quad-core 2.0 GHz |
Hexa-core 2.0 GHz |
Octa-core 2.0 GHz |
Octa-core 2.2 GHz |
Alexa-enabled |
Sure, hands-free |
Sure, hands-free |
Sure, hands-free |
Sure, hands-free |
Sound |
Mono speaker, built-in microphone |
Dolby Atmos, dual-stereo audio system, built-in microphone |
Dolby Atmos, dual-stereo audio system, built-in microphone |
Dolby Atmos, dual-stereo audio system, built-in microphone |
Storage |
16 or 32 GB (expandable by as much as 1 TB) |
32 or 64 GB (expandable by as much as 1 TB) |
32 or 64 GB (expandable by as much as 1 TB) |
64 or 128 GB (expandable by as much as 1 TB) |
Cameras |
2Mp + 2Mp rear |
2Mp entrance + 2Mp rear |
2Mp entrance + 5Mp rear |
8Mp entrance + 8Mp rear |
Wi-Fi |
Twin-band Wi-Fi 4 |
Twin-band Wi-Fi 5 |
Twin-band Wi-Fi 5 |
Twin-band Wi-Fi 6 |
Battery Life |
As much as 10 hours |
As much as 13 hours |
As much as 12 hours |
As much as 14 hours |
Charging (time) |
USB-C (USB 2.0) (4 hours) |
USB-C (USB 2.0) (5 hours) |
USB-C (USB 2.0) (4 hours) |
USB-C (USB 2.0) (4.2 hours) |
Weight |
282 g |
337 g |
465 g |
490g |
Dimensions |
180.68 x 117.59 x 9.67 mm (7.11” x 4.63” x 0.38”) |
202 x 137 x 9.7mm (8.0″ x 5.4″ x 0.4″) |
247mm x 166mm x 9.2 mm (9.73” x 6.53” x 0.36”) |
259.1 x 163.7 x 7.5 mm (10.2” x 6.44” x 0.3”) |