Apple iPads vs. Amazon Fire Tablet Comparison: Which is better for whom?

Until recently, Amazon Fire Tablets were considered cheap devices in the lowest price category, but things are changing.

This is mainly due to the increasing quality of products like the Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11. But can tablets from Jeff Bezos’s empire actually keep up with an Apple iPad? Here you will learn more about it.

Although Apple and Amazon both belong to the largest tech companies in the world, their history in the tablet sector could hardly be more different: Apple has significantly shaped the development of tablets in general with its iPads.

Amazon, on the other hand, started its tablet line as an extension to the Kindle e-book readers. The focus here was on low prices and making content from Amazon’s streaming services available with a digital device.

However, the latest tablet generations from Amazon are causing a stir with surprisingly good technical features. Therefore, some people are asking a question that would not have been considered possible a few years ago: Should I buy an Apple iPad or an Amazon Fire tablet?

Our team at MyNextTablet regularly tests the latest tablets to hit the market and has rigorously reviewed all devices from both manufacturers.

Based on our test reports, we will compare iPads with Fire tablets and tell you which device is recommended for whom.

Which Devices Are We Comparing?

To enable a fair comparison between the devices from Amazon and Apple, the choice of devices is crucial. After all, it would make little sense to compare an Apple iPad Pro with an Amazon Fire HD 8.

So, which tablets from the two brands are comparable?

In our opinion, the following four devices are worth looking at:

• Apple iPad 10: The Apple iPad 10 is one of the best-selling tablets worldwide. Responsible for this are its stylish design, good software, and a price that remains within a reasonable range. Current price: from $449.
• Apple iPad 9: This tablet is not exactly new but promises a good value for money. The support for the iPad 9 also goes until 2029, so the device remains a good option. Current price: from $329.
• Amazon Fire HD 10: In the 2023 version, the Fire HD 10 is a real bargain, considering the solid technical features. Thanks to a pen with USI 2.0 technology, even handwritten notes are possible. Current price: $94.99 (regular $139.99).
• Amazon Fire Max 11: The mid-range tablet is also available with an original keyboard cover, supports Amazon’s own stylus as well, and impresses us with a metal case and a good display. Current price: $179.99 (regular $229.99).

Let’s take a closer look at the four candidates.

Design and Processing: Can Amazon Really Compete With Apple’s Tech Magicians?

The first visual impression forms two unexpected pairs: Both the iPad 9 and the Amazon Fire HD 10, with their somewhat antiquated design and thick black borders around the display, appear rather old-fashioned. In contrast, the Amazon Fire Max 11 and the Apple iPad 10 stand out pleasantly with a modern look.

Upon a second look, significant differences within these pairs do indeed reveal themselves. While the iPad 9 has a high-quality metal case, the Fire HD 10’s case is made of plastic. Although Amazon insists that the tablet outperforms competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 in terms of robustness, unfortunately, it doesn’t feel high-quality. The weight difference is about 50 g, which is unlikely to become a factor in everyday use.

The iPad 10 and the Fire Max 11 both have metal cases and are almost the same weight. According to Amazon, the Fire Max 11 is significantly more robust in drop tests than its competitor from Apple. However, this is not specifically verified in our tests. Neither device has a headphone jack.

By the way, only the iPad 9 has the old Lightning port. The three other tablets have a USB-C port, which significantly increases flexibility in use. However, the Amazon tablets do not offer the possibility to connect an external monitor.

Opinions Change When It Comes To The Displays

With sizes ranging from 10.1 inches to 11 inches, all four devices are very close in terms of display size. However, there are indeed differences in quality.

And this could be a decisive factor for many interested parties.

The Apple tablets impress with good contrast and remarkable brightness (500 nits). The resolution of the iPad 10 is even higher at 2360 x 1640 pixels than its predecessor. Compared to premium tablets like the iPad Pro, the black levels don’t look as convincing. But that’s okay given the significant price difference.

However, there are also some flaws in the displays of the two iPads: neither the ninth nor the tenth generation have a laminated display. The iPad 10 also has a somewhat disturbing jelly effect, which becomes noticeable when scrolling. This shouldn’t actually happen to a manufacturer like Apple.

The two Fire tablets from Amazon have fully laminated displays – despite the significantly lower price. This minimizes reflections.

In terms of resolution and color values, the Amazon devices are at a disadvantage. Although they are by no means bad displays, individual pixels can be discerned on the Fire Max 11 upon close inspection.

So you have to decide: laminated display or impressive images? In direct comparison, we keep noticing that we prefer the iPad 9 display thanks to its brightness.

Those Who Prioritize Performance Will Choose Apple, but How Good Are the Fire Tablets, Really?

Unsurprisingly, Apple offers better processors, easily outperforming the two Fire tablets in benchmark tests. Even today, the iPad 9 outperforms many Android tablets. The iPad 10 with the A14 chipset is even faster than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series, which currently represents the best Android tablets.

So it’s safe to say that in terms of performance, iPads play in a different league than Amazon devices.

However, part of the truth is that users who rely on high computing power usually do not opt for the standard iPads either. Instead, the iPad Air or the Pro models are often preferred.

This means: Many users might do just as well with less computing power – unless you primarily want to use the tablets for gaming.

The Fire tablets have made good progress over the last generations. Especially the Fire Max 11 is no longer just a pure “media tablet”. In benchmark tests, the tablet outperforms competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite or the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2. The graphics performance of the Fire HD 10 is better than that of its competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7.

What Else You Need to Know about the Tablets From Amazon and Apple…

Without a doubt, Apple offers more sophisticated operating systems. After all, Amazon’s Fire OS is a slimmed-down version of Android with some weaknesses. If you don’t want to miss out on apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Chrome, you’ll have to manually install the Google Play Store on the Fire tablets via a workaround.

Not every user likes that the tech giant Amazon aggressively promotes its own platforms, including Amazon Prime Video or Audible, on the devices. However, one can live with that.

Thanks to ongoing updates, even the iPad 9 still gets the latest software. Experts expect the iPad 9th generation to receive support until between 2027 and 2029. The iPad 10 could even be supported until 2030.

For the Amazon Fire HD 10 and Max 11 from 2023, the company guarantees security and software updates until at least 2028.

Another factor that plays a major role in everyday life is battery life: Here, the Amazon Fire HD 10 emerges as an unexpected winner, surprising with a battery life of an amazing nine hours. In contrast, the Amazon Fire Max 11 falls short with a runtime of six hours in our test. In this test, we play HD YouTube videos on loop at maximum brightness.

Also Read: Is an iPad useful? 11 Reasons to get one

Thus, it ties in with the iPad 9 and beats the iPad 10 by a narrow 30 minutes, with a battery life of 5.5 hours. The brighter displays of the two iPads naturally demand more from the batteries installed there.

All four devices in this comparison offer original keyboard covers as accessories. While the keyboards of the iPad 10 and the Fire Max 11 are suitable for extended typing, the keyboards for the iPad 9 and the Fire HD 10 are not solutions for longer periods of use.

Conclusion: Are the Fire Tablets a Real Alternative to the Apple iPad?

The assumption that the Apple iPads are better devices compared to the Amazon Fire Tablets is confirmed. In almost every aspect, the iPad 10 and iPad 9 clearly outperform the Fire Max 11 and its slightly smaller counterpart, the Fire HD 10.

The only category where Amazon really excels is battery life, where the Fire HD 10 impresses across the board. Features such as the laminated displays and the robustness of the Fire series touted by Amazon are “nice to have.” However, they are offset by Apple’s better build and display quality.

So, do we recommend buying an iPad over an Amazon Fire? It depends.

In our reviews at MyNextTablet, we rated all four candidates with similar, good overall scores. All four devices are excellent tablets when considering the relative price-performance ratio and the different price segments.

It only makes sense that a tablet costing around $140, like the Amazon Fire HD 10, is technically inferior to an upper-midrange device, such as the $350 iPad 10.

Perhaps this statement sums it up: The iPads do what they’re supposed to do, and the two Amazon Fire tablets do more than they should for the price.