By James Gardner
- 4 minutes read - 692 wordsUPDATE: Amazon has launched a new series of Fire HD Tablets for 2021, and we've updated our review to reflect those.
Amazon Tablets have been extremely popular in recent years, providing great bang for your buck, sturdy builds with above average hardware, and seamless experience with Amazon services (Shopping, Prime, FreeTime for Kids, etc.).
Though these days, as 2021 is creeping in with its uncertainties and pandemic riddled world, there's already quite a choice between the different versions Amazon offer.
So we've decided, besides the obvious difference in display size (duh...), to try and help you decide which Amazon Fire tablet is best for you.
Whether it's for your own use or for your kids (be sure to check out Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids for ages 3-7 or Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro for ages 6-12!), here is a quick run down of differences, as well as some quick tips on how to choose.
Fire 7 vs. Fire HD 8 vs. Fire HD 10 Feature Comparison At a Glance
Fire 7 |
Fire HD 8 |
Fire HD 10 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 7" | 8" | 10.1" |
| Resolution | 1024 x 600 | 1280 x 800 | 1920 x 1200 |
| CPU | 1.3-GHz quad-core processor | 1.3-GHz quad-core processor | 2.0 GHz octa-core processor |
| Battery Life | 6-7 hours | 9-10 hours | 13-14 hours |
| Weight | 10.1 ounces | 13 ounces | 17.8 ounces |
| Kids Edition | - | - | + |
| Price | ~$50, changes seasonally, depends if Ad-Supported |
~$150, changes seasonally, depends if Ad-Supported |
~$250, changes seasonally, depends if Ad-Supported |
The Differences Between Amazon Fire 7, Amazon Fire HD 8, and Amazon Fire HD 10
Did we mention display size already? Well, the Fire 7 is really tiny in comparison to modern day tablets, but it shines in terms of portability and weight. Although battery life is shorter it can still hold 6-7 hours without charging, and is a good companion as a travel tablet. Resolution is not HD (hence no HD in its title), so don't expect crisp movie watching.
Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 are better equipped for heavier workloads, like movie watching. Yes, they're heavier, but when watching movies you want screen real-estate. Fire HD 10 beats the Fire HD 8 in terms of processing power, memory (RAM), and battery life. The experience with Fire HD 10 is smoother than with the Fire HD 8, with apps reacting quicker and videos starting up faster. Granted, it's also almost double the price, so it is something to take into account.
The last thing to note is that since the 2021 edition, Amazon is also offering a package for Fire HD 10 which it dubs a "productivity bundle", that includes a bluethooth keyboard and a Microsoft 365 personal subscription. For people looking to take their tablets to the next level, and turn them into a small alexa-enabled laptop, that's a brilliant package.
What's The Best Amazon Fire Tablet?
The best Amazon Fire Tablet for you really depends on what your intended uses are.
Fire 7 is really good if you need to carry it around a lot (let's hope travel picks up after the covid-19 pandemic is over!), and if the main things you plan to do are reading Kindle books, listening to podcasts, and using the occasional app.
Fire HD 8 is optimal for you if you are looking to use it for movie watching, if you don't mind the occasional interface slowness, and if you really are looking for a value-for-money deal.
Fire HD 10 is the best offer right now in terms of hardware specifications, and fits long move watching with the bigger screen size and better battery life. Just keep in mind that it can be almost double the price of the Fire HD 8, so if budget is tight, you can probably do well with the Fire HD 8.
And one last note - if you're planning to have your kids using it, go for the Fire HD 10 Kids Edition (or Fire HD 10 Kids Pro if they're aged 6-12) - it comes packed with 2-year no-questions-asked warranty, a soft cover shell, and a free year of subscription to Amazon FreeTime for content for kids!
