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Amazon’s Fire tablet collection is a great choice for those interested in an affordable Android slate. The 10-inch model is incredibly popular, but there are good reasons to avoid an Amazon Fire HD 10. Like if you’re already locked into Apple’s system, this tablet probably isn’t on your radar.
It’s one of the top-selling slates running Android, however. That means it’s often recommended on lists for tablets under $200, but is it the best in this range? You might be surprised by the answer as we have four good reasons to avoid Amazon’s 10-inch tablet.
Reasons to Avoid an Amazon Fire HD Tablet
The Amazon Fire HD 10 has been around since 2015, and the latest version from 2021 is the 4th generation. Amazon doesn’t refresh this line every year, which brings us to the first reason why you may want to hold off from purchasing this tablet.
New Releases
While the original Fire Tablet 10 HD arrived in 2015, Amazon launched the second version in 2017. The 3rd generation came out 2 years later in 2019 followed by the most recent version of the Fire Tablet 10 HD. Do you see a pattern?
Amazon has launched a new version of this 10-inch tablet every 2 years since its inception. Every version has been better than the last, even if some of the upgrades have been fairly minor. Based on the company’s normal release window, we could see a Fire HD 10 tablet refresh in 2023. Especially if this listing pans out from earlier in the year.
The current version of Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet is reasonably priced, but is it worth it when a new one may be just around the corner? Not when you consider a minimal price difference and potential new features from Amazon.
Performance
If you’re purchasing a new Amazon Fire HD tablet and expect it to perform like a new iPad, you’re going to be in for a rude surprise. There’s a reason Amazon’s Fire lineup is affordable, and not in the premium class with high-end slates from Samsung or Apple.
The 10.1-inch display on the Fire 10 HD is sharp and colorful with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200. Movies and games look great, although the sound is subpar. The processor and GPU are the same ones found in the previous generation, but the new model does have more RAM. It comes with 3GB standard, but the processor isn’t on par with Apple’s bionic chips or Google’s Tensor G2.
That’s fine for tablets in the mid-range like the Fire HD 10, but it affects performance. Games and apps aren’t as responsive on Amazon’s tablets as they are on comparable options. That’s due in part to the hardware, but also because of the company’s operating system which is a forked version of Android. The tablet will run anything “available” for it, unfortunately, the options are limited.
Amazon’s Ecosystem
Technical specifications may not be a deal breaker if you only want to watch Netflix or play some games. Before you buy the Fire HD 10 tablet, you’ll want to check out Amazon’s app store. They have a large selection of Android games and apps, although it pales in comparison to Google Play or the App Store.
While you can find popular apps in Amazon’s app store, many are scaled down to a degree. You won’t find the same features as you would from an Android app on Google Play, especially when it comes to Google’s suite of apps. If you use apps like Gmail, Docs, and like to have your Chrome browser synced, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
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As you might suspect, most of the experiences on Fire tablets are geared toward Amazon products and services. You won’t have any trouble finding a book to read or accessing content on Prime, but it’s highly unlikely you’ll find your favorite Indie game on their platform. You can sideload games onto Fire Tablets, but the process isn’t exactly straightforward and requires turning off key permissions.
The Size
Tablets are essentially large versions of smartphones, but also something that can be an acquired taste. If you’ve never owned or used a tablet, the Amazon Fire HD 10 may not be the best place to start. It’s affordable, and a great starter tablet although considerably larger and heavier than your average phablet.
With a 10.1-inch display, the Fire 10 HD is not a one-handed device. The screen is great for viewing content, but it’s not exactly svelte. The weight is comparable to other 10-inch tablets at a little over a pound. By comparison, the Fire Tablet 8 is less than 12 grams and is easier to hold for extended periods of time.
It may seem minor, but the size of a 10-inch tablet is something to consider. They aren’t as easy to tote around when you’re on the go, so you’ll want to keep usage in mind along with battery life. The larger the screen, the more power a tablet will require.
Alternatives to the Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet
Amazon’s walled ecosystem the other reasons on our list may lead you to look for an alternative. While there are dozens of suitable options, we narrowed things down to three tables including a new member of the Fire family.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is comparable in price to the Fire 10 HD but with a slightly smaller screen and one big advantage. It’s manufactured by Samsung, so it has plenty of style to go along with full access to the Google Play store.
One of the major draws of an Android smartphone or tablet are the apps and games you have access to. You’re locked out of most of them with Amazon but can download anything from Google with ease on this slate. The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is stylish with a metal chassis and has specifications on par with the best mid-range Android slates.
The standard version of this tablet has 3GB of RAM under the hood and 32GB of storage which you can expand up to 1TB through a microSD card slot. While the resolution is only 1,340 x 800, the panel pops and the cameras are respectable. It’s not the fastest tablet, but the price and features make it an interesting Fire HD 10 alternative.
- Slim and stylish with a metal frame
- 8.7-inch display
- 3GB of RAM
- Expandable storage up to 1TB
iPad Mini
If you’re looking for a tablet packed with flagship features and premium games, it’s hard to go wrong with the iPad. Apple’s larger slates are impressive but we love the 6th generation iPad Mini as a substitute for the Amazon Fire HD 10.
The latest version of the iPad Mini blows the old models away. It doesn’t have the M2 chip, but the A15 processor is speedy and backed by 4GB. It can handle 4K video through the 12MP main sensor at 60 frames per second. The 6th gen iPad Mini also has a gorgeous 8.2-inch Liquid Retina IPS display with a resolution of 2,266 x 1,488.
You’ll pay a premium for the iPad Mini but have access to the App Store and the company’s latest innovations. From the side-mounted fingerprint sensor to the build quality, this flagship tablet strikes all the right notes and the iPad Mini holds its value well over time.
Microsoft Surface Go 2
Apple and Android are the biggest two mobile operating systems, and there are no challengers in sight. Despite accessories and apps, both ecosystems are lacking in the productivity department. Microsoft has a device that solves that with the new Surface Go 2.
This 2-in-1 tablet transforms from a slate to a pint-sized laptop in seconds with the Type Cover and kickstand. A stylus allows users to notate or create. There’s plenty of room to work on the 10.5-inch panel which has a 1,920 x 1,280 touchscreen display. This base version of the Surface Go 2 has 64GB of expandable storage and 4GB of RAM. An Intel Pentium Gold chip or M3 processor powers the tablet depending on the model.
Microsoft’s Surface Go lineup tends to go under the radar but provides a lot of value for the price. They are durable, have solid battery life, and are upgradable to Windows 11. The only drawback is the price compared to Amazon’s Fire lineup, which is considerably cheaper.
- 10.5" touchscreen FHD display
- 10 hours of battery life
- 4GB of RAM
- 64GB internal storage
The Fire Max 11
We mentioned new tablets from Amazon and yearly refreshes as a reason to avoid an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet today. The Fire Max 11 is proof of that, and despite the higher price point, it’s a better tablet than the Fire HD 10 or HD 10 Plus.
Amazon’s new tablet is billed as a productivity device compared to its other slates. There are a number of accessories you can bundle with the tablet to expand its capabilities including keyboards, covers, and pens. The Fire Max 11 has more power than the company’s previous models as well thanks to a 2.2GHz octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM.
The display on this tablet is almost an inch larger with sharper resolution and better color. Battery life has also improved slightly from the Fire HD 10, and it has dual 8MP cameras. Pricing on the new Amazon Fire Max tablet starts at $229 for the 64GB variant without lock screen ads or additional accessories.
- 11-inch 2K display
- Octa-core processor
- 128GB of storage
- Dual 8MP cameras
The Wrap-Up
Amazon Fire tablets like the Fire HD 10 are popular thanks to the range of features for the price. The company’s voice assistant, Alexa is a huge perk as well. They are a fantastic choice for a first tablet or an affordable slate but not for everyone. Our list of reasons why you should avoid an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet shows that, and proves there is a viable alternative for everyone including those that want to stay in the Fire tablet family.
| Alternatives to an Amazon Fire HD 10 |
|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite |
| iPad Mini |
| Microsoft Surface Go 2 |
| The Fire Max 11 |
- SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A7 Lite 8.7" Android Tablet
- Slim and stylish with a metal frame
- 8.7-inch display
- 3GB of RAM
- Expandable storage up to 1TB
- Apple iPad Mini
- Stunning 8.3-inch Retina Display
- 3GB of RAM
- Dual 12MP cameras
- 6th generation
- Microsoft Surface Go 2
- 10.5" touchscreen FHD display
- 10 hours of battery life
- 4GB of RAM
- 64GB internal storage
- Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet
- 11-inch 2K display
- Octa-core processor
- 128GB of storage
- Dual 8MP cameras
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We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
