When someone is looking to pick up a new tablet, Amazon is a pretty difficult option to ignore — its Fire tablets offer incredible value, are well-made and loaded with tons of features.
Admittedly, Fire tablets aren’t as premium as Apple’s iPad, but they are much more affordable and offer a “good enough” experience. Plus, there are plenty of models to pick from, including some designed for children. Once you start looking at Fire tablets, it’s easy to find the perfect tablet for your needs. Here are the very best Fire tablets available right now.
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Best overall Amazon Fire tablet
Amazon Fire HD 8
Fantastic hardware
This compact tablet is ideal for a range of uses. It’s the best all-around pick for the majority of users. It also offers great value, making it even easier to recommend.
- Handy size
- Great value for price
- Simple to use
- A little small for some media
Read our review
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) review: Still the budget tablet to buy
Amazon’s revamped Fire HD 8 has been upgraded with a new processor for 2022. Here’s our full review.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 offers great value, giving you more space and a better display than the Fire 7, but still at a really attractive price. It sits in an appealing position, offering portability, excellent battery life and great sound. This model was most recently updated in 2022, giving it 30% more power than the previous version.
Alternatively, there’s the Fire HD 8 Plus, which adds Qi wireless charging with an optional compatible dock, so you can use it as an Echo Show.
Best premium Amazon Fire tablet
Amazon Fire Max 11
The Fire Max 11 doesn’t match up to the iPad or other Android tablets, but it’s still an incredibly affordable device with access to a lot of popular services and functions. Plus, now it features a much better build and the option of a physical keyboard and stylus.
- Much better built than other Fire tablets
- Big screen is an improvement
- Easy access to Amazon services, plus Microsoft 365 and Zoom
- Very accessibly priced
- Fire OS is limited
- Display could be better in bright conditions
- Not the fastest or smoothest experience
Read our review
Amazon Fire Max 11 review: Amazon’s best tablet yet
Amazon pushes its Fire tablet range up a notch, delivering a more ‘serious’ tablet that’s still very affordable.
The Amazon Fire Max 11 is the latest addition to the Fire lineup in terms of size – it’s the biggest tablet Amazon has ever made, and the most powerful too, with a keen eye on productivity. With the option of a keyboard and trackpad support, this is the only Fire tablet you might be able to work from, and it’s also great for media viewing. A more premium design rounds things off, but this all comes at the highest price of any Amazon tablet.
Best Amazon Fire tablet for portability
Amazon Fire 7 Tablet
Small but powerful
If you want an even smaller tablet, then this could be your best choice. It’s so easy to fit into bags of any size, and is still a great upgrade over your phone for watching TV or movies.
- So portable
- Nice compact design
- Runs pretty smoothly
- Budget-friendly
Read our review
Amazon Fire 7 (2022) review: The go-to cheap tablet
The cheapest tablet on the block gets an update – but is it any good?
The Amazon Fire 7 (2022) is one of the most affordable tablets out there, and it’s perfect for those who might break it (like kids). The Fire 7 was updated in 2022 to give a power boost, but it’s still an entry-level device.
The kids’ edition gets a case, a two-year warranty and a one-year subscription to Fire for Kids+. There are two versions: one for ages 3-7 and one for 6-12 with a slightly different type of case. The older model is called the Fire 7 Kids Pro, but this iteration currently uses the 2019 version of the tablet, which you likely don’t want.
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)
Everyday excellence
Amazon’s 10-inch tablet is a joy to use and offers a great all-round experience thanks to its impressive display.
- Superb value
- Great for watching movies and TV
- Solid power
Read our review
Amazon’s latest Fire HD 10 is a cheap tablet that nails the basics
Amazon’s Fire HD 10 gets the job done, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
The Fire HD 10 (2023) offers a slightly more compact design than the older 2021 version, a better battery, and an improved front camera. At 5-megapixels, both the front and back cameras are now the same quality.
Its size is perfect if you’re looking for a tablet that compares to the standard iPad (although it’s still a little smaller than that), and it remains impressively competitive on the pricing front. There are also two versions for children: the Fire HD 10 Kids and the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro.
Best Amazon Fire tablet for power
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
Boosted power
The boosted power of the HD 10 Plus makes it a great way to get a more powerful Fire tablet without going for the pricier Max 11.
- Boosted power
- Some productivity chops
- Nice accessories
Read our review
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus review: Premium ambitions
Amazon is slowly elevating the features of the Fire HD tablets. But does this result in a more desirable device?
Fire HD 10 Plus was the most powerful of Amazon’s Fire tablets until the Max 11 arrived. It also adds wireless charging to the mix. This tablet can double up as a smart display if you opt for the dock, too, since Amazon offers a productivity version with a Bluetooth keyboard.
The bottom line: What is the best Amazon Fire tablet to buy right now?
It’s fair to say that you could make a case for each of Amazon’s Fire tablets given they all offer slightly different features. Still, we think the Fire HD 8 is the one that will suit most people. It’s super affordable and features great specs, striking a great balance and making it perfect for at-home or travel use.
Editor’s Choice
Amazon Fire HD 8
How do we choose the best Amazon Fire tablets?
Amazon’s Fire tablets are a lot easier to compare than some others because they all run the exact same software, with different screen sizes, designs and features. On the one hand, extensive testing has left us with our favorites and those we keep coming back to, leading to the order you see above.
However, those differences in display size can also make it a bit difficult to compare them in some ways — if you want a bigger tablet, a seven-inch display isn’t for you, so keep that in mind as you figure out what Fire Tablet best fits your needs. If you’re shopping for a new tablet and you’ve decided that Amazon makes the best-value options, these questions might help you narrow things down even further to pick a winner.
FAQ
Q: What Amazon Fire tablet size is best for you?
One of the key differences between the various Fire tablet models I’ve evaluated above is their screen sizes, which go from compact to much bigger. Knowing roughly what size you think you want will help you a lot. Do you imagine holding the tablet in one hand, or are you thinking more of a comparison to the standard iPad, in which case a bigger option makes sense? Of course, figuring this out leads to my next question.
Q: What will you use your Fire tablet for?
This can really help you figure out the right size and model for you. What do you plan to do on your tablet? Is it primarily going to be a media machine for lounging on the sofa or in bed? Do you plan to use a bunch of apps and games, or even try to work on the tablet every so often? If so, a bigger display will be handy.
If, instead, you imagine the tablet staying in your bag for when you’re on the move, something smaller is probably a better idea, so that you can more easily bring it with you wherever you go. There’s no wrong answer here, but anything will narrow it down.
Q: Do you care about processing power?
While the processors and power brought to bear by each Fire tablet do vary, the fact is that none of the models we’ve listed should feel sluggish, since they’re all relatively recent launches. If you do want the most power possible, though, whether that’s to ensure that you make a more future-proof choice, or simply because you know you’re planning to play some demanding games, that could be an avenue to pursue as you compare models.
