A comparison between Samsung tablets and Amazon tablets is not something many consider. Given the opportunity to compare gadgets, most people will opt for Apple vs Samsung tablets. However, that should not be the case.
Two brands should not dominate market conversations in that manner. Instead, more people should consider giving other tablet manufacturers a look, as they might surprise you. For instance, the following article compares tablets produced by two giants in the technology industry; namely, Amazon and Samsung.
Such comparisons are eye-opening as they provide insight into devices that others have overlooked. Read on for a detailed breakdown of the Samsung vs Fire tablets, including their specifications and features.
Samsung Tablets vs Amazon Fire: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Samsung Tablets | Amazon Fire Tablets | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Samsung Electronics | Amazon.com, Inc. |
| Weight | Between 1.12 pounds and 1.03 pounds, depending on the model | Between 1.03 pounds and 0.62 pounds depending on the model |
| Screen Size | Galaxy S8 Ultra -14.6 inchesGalaxy S8 – 11 inchesGalaxy A8 – 10.5 inchesGalaxy A7 – 10.4 inches | Fire HD 10 – 10.1 inches Fire HD 8 – 8 inches Fire 7 – 7 inches |
| Operating System | Android | Fire |
| Processors | Octa-core Snapdragon | Octa-core or Quad-core MediaTek |
| Application Source | Google Play StoreGalaxy Store | Amazon App Store |
| Price | Starting from $229.99 | Starting from $59.99 |
Samsung Tablets vs Amazon Fire: What’s the Difference?
With so many options in the marketplace, it can be challenging to decide on a tablet that will sufficiently meet your needs. The dilemma is not any easier, even after narrowing it down to two brands. Here’s our technical review of the Samsung vs Fire tablets.
Dimensions and Weight
Simply looking at the Samsung Galaxy and the Amazon Fire tablets, you can tell that the Galaxy tablets are larger. Moreover, you will notice that the Samsung tablets are heavier than the Fire ones when you hold them.
- DeX MULTITASKING: Do more on the go with enhanced productivity capabilities, like Samsung DeX and Microsoft 365 integration, that give you a PC experience, wherever you happen to be
- PACKED WITH POWER: Galaxy Tab S8 provides powerful performance with an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, super fast WiFi 6E, and all-day battery to get you through your day, whether you’re...
- S PEN: Inspire your imagination with our fastest S Pen yet, an S Pen that is more responsive than ever, feels even more like a real pen, and it’s included with tablet purchase
- LONG-LASTING BATTERY plus UNIVERSAL CHARGING: Go for hours on a single charge and back to 100 percent quickly with the fast charging USB C port
- SCREEN EXPERIENCE: Get ready for 11 inches of dazzling optical amazement with a dynamic LCD screen that delivers next-level brilliance, crispness and color
The flagship Galaxy S8 tablet’s dimension in inches is 9.99*6.51*0.25 inches compared to 9.73*6.53*0.53 inches on the flagship Amazon Fire HD 10.
The Galaxy S8 is longer in order to accommodate a larger screen. However, it is thinner as it incorporates smaller and slimmer internal components than the Fire HD 10. The Galaxy S8 is also slightly heavier than the Fire HD 10 at 1.1 pounds compared to 1.03 pounds.
The mid-range Galaxy A8 measures 9.72*6.37*0.27 inches and weighs 1.12 pounds, while the mid-range Amazon Fire HD 8 measures 7.94*5.40*0.37 inches and weighs 0.74 pounds. As noted, with the flagship models, Samsung tends to build larger tablets. Hence, the discrepancy in dimensions and weight with the mid-range tablets.
Lastly, the budget Galaxy A7 measures 9.75*6.20*0.28 inches and weighs 1.05 pounds, while the Fire 7 measures 7.11*4.63*0.38 inches and weighs 0.62 pounds. Likewise, the significant difference in dimension and weight measurements is Samsung’s insistence on building large tablets.
Screen Size and Resolution
The screen sizes on Samsung Galaxy tablets are typically larger than their Amazon Fire equivalents. That makes for a more immersive and comfortable viewing experience.
Take the Samsung Galaxy S8 tablet; it has an 11-inch screen compared to the 10.1 inches on its equivalent, the Amazon Fire HD 10. The S8 tablet also has a better screen resolution than the Fire HD 10 at 2560*1600 compared to 1920*1200.
- 10.4" (263.1mm), 2000 x 1200 (WUXGA+), TFT, 16M colors - Slim. Stylish. Sophisticated.
- 64GB ROM, 3GB RAM, Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm), Octa-core, Adreno 610, Android 10, One UI 2
- Rear Camera: 8MP, Front Camera: 5MP, 7040 mAh battery w/ 15W Fast charging, Bluetooth 5.0
- Wi-Fi Only - No SIM Card Slot / Network, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4G+5GHz, VHT80
- US Model. Warranty, if any, will be honored by Manufacturer. Restrictions may apply.
Moreover, the screen size and resolution on the Galaxy A8 are 10.5 inches and 1920*1200 resolution, while the specifications on the Fire HD 8 are an 8-inch screen and a 1280*800 resolution.
Lastly, the Galaxy A7 has a 10.4-inch screen with a 2000*1200 resolution compared to a 7-inch screen and a 1024*600 resolution on the Amazon Fire 7.
Overall, Samsung tablets offer larger screen sizes with better resolution resulting in brighter and sharper viewing of pictures and videos. However, if you are comfortable with smaller screens, the Amazon Fire tablets offer better variety.
Operating Systems
All Samsung tablets run on the Android operating system (OS), while you will find Amazon Fire tablets running on either the Fire OS or the Android OS. The most common OS on Samsung tablets is Android 12, while the most common on Amazon Fire tablets is the Fire OS 7.
Android 12.0 is available in the flagship models Samsung Galaxy Tab S8, S8+, and S8 Ultra, while the Android 11.0 OS is available in the S7FE, A8, and A7 Lite. Moreover, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ sport the Android 10.0 OS. The standout model among Samsung tablets is the Galaxy A7, which runs on Android Q.
- 7" IPS display; 16 or 32 GB of internal storage (add up to 512 GB with microSD)
- Faster 1.3 GHz quad-core processor
- Up to 7 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching video, and listening to music
- Hands-free with Alexa, including on/off toggle
- 1 GB of RAM
On the other hand, the Amazon Fire 7 runs on the Fire OS 6, while the Fire HD 8 and the Fire HD 10 use the Fire OS 7. Amazon based the Fire OS 6 on Android 7.1, meaning some Fire 7 tablets are running on Android 7.1 while they based the Fire OS 7 on Android 9.0.
Thus, some Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets will have the Android 9.0 OS. The Samsung tablets use more advanced OS versions than Amazon Fire tablets. Therefore, they are likely to offer better functionality and performance.
Performance
Customers looking to buy tablets for work-related tasks should compare Samsung vs Fire tablets based on their performance. As noted in the trends so far, the Samsung Galaxy tablets’ specifications are superior to those of the Amazon Fire tablet, and the performance specifications are no different.
The Galaxy tablets have some of the best microchips on the market; thus, they also enjoy exceptional processing power. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S8 has an octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, while the Amazon Fire HD 10 has an octa-core Mediatek MT8183 Helio P60T processor.
- Octa-core processor plus 3GB RAM
- 12-hour battery life
- Up to 64GB internal storage (up to 1TB with a microSD card)
- 10.1-inch full HD display
The Galaxy S8 processor consists of 1×3.0GHz + 3×2.5GHz + 4×1.8GHz cores, while the Fire HD 10 consists of 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A7 has an octa-core Snapdragon 622 processor with 4×2.0GHz + 4×1.8GHz cores, while the Fire 7 has a quad-core Mediatek processor with 8×2.0GHz cores.
The power of the Samsung Galaxy tablets enables seamless use without delays in processing, even when running large applications or working on large files. By contrast, the Amazon Fire tablets might limit function swiftness.
Applications
Samsung Galaxy Tablets have access to a significantly more extensive catalog of applications compared to the Amazon Fire tablets. That is because the Galaxy Tablets have access to Google Play, the largest legitimate App Store on the market. Thus, it offers access to thousands, if not millions, of applications.
Aside from Google Play, Samsung tablets also have access to the Samsung Galaxy Store, which offers exclusive apps unavailable for non-Samsung devices. On the other hand, Amazon Fire tablet users source their apps from the Amazon App Store, which does not have the same wealth of applications as the Google Play Store.
Though you can download the Google Play Store on Amazon Fire tablets or access the store if your Fire tablet runs on Android, the experience may not be the same because the Fire tablets run on inferior operating systems. Therefore, Samsung tablets are the best if you want access to many apps.
However, suppose you already have other Amazon devices in your home, like the Echo. In that case, you can opt for the Amazon Fire tablet, as it will help streamline your experience with the help of Amazon’s assistant, Alexa.
Storage
A device with ample storage is always beneficial to the user. A high Random Access Memory (RAM) means your tablet will launch applications faster. Thus, you do not have to wait as they load. Conversely, a large Read Only Memory (ROM) means you have more space to store your data.
The Samsung Galaxy tablets generally have a substantial upper hand over the Amazon Fire tablets regarding storage. The flagship Galaxy S8 has 8GB RAM and an option for 128GB or 256GB in internal memory, compared to the flagship Amazon Fire HD 10, which has 3GB RAM and options for 32GB or 64GB in internal memory.
- Spacious 10.5-inch display
- Access to Samsung Kids
- Large 7,040mAh battery
- Fast charging
For the mid-range tablets, the Galaxy A8 has three options, namely, 3GB RAM with 32GB in internal storage, 4GB RAM with 64GB, or 4GB RAM with 128GB internal storage. Amazon’s mid-range tablet, the Fire HD 8, offers 2GB RAM with 32GB or 64GB in internal storage.
Lastly, the entry-level Samsung Galaxy A7 offers 3GB RAM, with choices between 32GB and 64GB in internal memory. The entry-level Amazon Fire 7 offers 2GB RAM with options between 16GB and 32GB in internal memory. However, all the Samsung Galaxy and Amazon Fire tablets can add up to 1TB of external storage.
Cameras
A high-quality camera is essential in a tablet, primarily if you use the tablet for business purposes like content creation or to attend online meetings. Thus, this segment of our Samsung tablets vs Amazon Fire review is valuable for social media influencers and remote workers.
Generally, your best bet is to work with a Samsung Galaxy tablet as it generally tends to have a better quality camera than an Amazon Fire tablet. For instance, the Galaxy S8 tablet has a 12MP front-facing camera and two rear cameras with 13MP and 6MP plus a flash, while the Fire HD 10 has a 2MP front-facing camera and a 5MP rear camera.
In addition, the Galaxy A8 has a 5MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear camera, while in the Fire HD 8, both the front-facing and rear cameras have 2MP. For the budget-friendly models, the Galaxy A7 has a 5MP front camera and an 8MP rear camera, while the Amazon Fire 7 has 2MP front and rear cameras.
Overall, if you want a device to capture your cherished moments or to help you handle your business, you should consider getting a Samsung Galaxy tablet, as they have far superior camera specifications.
Battery Life and Charging Time
The Samsung Galaxy tablets have the following battery capacities:
- Samsung Galaxy S8 – 8,000mAh
- Samsung Galaxy A8 – 7,040mAh
- Samsung Galaxy A7 – 7,040mAh
With their high-capacity batteries, all Samsung Galaxy tablets can last up to 13 hours during consistent use while you watch videos and browse the internet. Additionally, it will take you just over 3 hours to fully charge the tablets.
On the other hand, the battery life of the Amazon Fire tablets is:
- Amazon Fire HD 10 – Up to 12 hours
- Amazon Fire HD 8 – Up to 13 hours
- Amazon Fire 7 – Up to 10 hours
The Amazon tablet charging times vary from 4 hours for the Fire 7, Fire HD 10, and Fire HD 8 devices.
Price
We conclude our review of Samsung vs Fire tablets by comparing their market prices. The Amazon Fire tablets are significantly cheaper because of their inferior specifications compared to the Samsung Galaxy tablets. Below are the starting prices of each of the tablets reviewed above.
- Amazon Fire 7 – $54.99
- Amazon Fire HD 8 – $74.99 for the 32GB model
- Amazon Fire HD 10 – $89.99
- Samsung Galaxy A7 – $245.15
- Samsung Galaxy A8 – $229.99 for the 32GB model
- Samsung Galaxy S8 – $699.99
Samsung Tablets vs Amazon Fire: 7 Must-Know Facts
- Samsung tablets run on Android OS, while Amazon Fire tablets run on the Android-based Fire OS.
- The smallest Samsung tablet is the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite with an 8.7-inch screen, while the largest is the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra with a 14.6-inch screen.
- The smallest Amazon Fire tablet is the Fire 7 with a 7-inch screen, while the largest is the Amazon Fire with a 10.1-inch screen.
- Samsung’s top range Samsung Galaxy tablets, like the S8, S8+, and S8 Ultra, have a special stylus pen for use when you’re tired of scrolling or working using your fingers.
- Samsung began developing its first tablet towards the end of the 2000s. The company presented it at the International Radio Exhibition Berlin on 2nd September 2010, before officially releasing the tablet two months later.
- Amazon Fire tablets initially had the name Kindle Fire, with the first version of the gadget released in November 2011.
- Amazon designs and develops the Fire tablets, but the Taiwanese computer hardware company Quanta Computer, Inc. handles the manufacturing process.
Samsung Tablets vs Amazon Fire: Which One Is Better?
Samsung Galaxy tablets are, without a doubt, the better tablet option. The Samsung tablets defeat the Amazon Fire tablets in every category that matters to the consumer, except price. The Samsung tablets have better screens, processors, storage, cameras, and application access than Amazon tablets.
Though we have thoroughly reviewed Samsung vs Fire tablets, the brand and model you choose depends on your needs. Amazon Fire is your best option if you want an affordable but reliable tablet.
The Amazon Fire tablets cost less than $200, unlike the Samsung tablet, the price of which starts at $229.99. On the other hand, Samsung tablets have some of the best hardware and software available, making them ideal for intensive tablet users.
