Tablets have become widely popular as alternatives to large laptops. They can handle complex tasks and are convenient to carry around.
An example of a budget-friendly and high-quality tablet is the Amazon Fire HD 10. Not only is it popular as a tablet, but is also quite famous for the Amazon Fire line. It has 2GB RAM, a USB-C port, and a stellar 1080p screen. This makes the processor very fast and results in a screen resolution that is crystal-clear and distortion-free. Moreover, you can give voice commands to Alexa wherever you are for your ease of access.
There are two models that you can choose from, the 32GB or the 64GB. Additionally, the tablet has a microSD card slot in case you want more space.
Not only is the processor stronger, but the RAM is also an improvement from previous models. This makes it an extremely smooth functioning tablet. If you are in search of a substitute for your laptop and need an option with a memory card reader, then the Amazon Fire HD 10 is ideal.
Design
The Amazon Fire HD 10 comes in four different colors (plum, blue, white, and black) so that you can choose whichever one best suits you.
It weighs 17.8 oz. and measures 10.3×6.3×0.4 inches so it is neither too big nor too small for your hands.
The front is mostly covered by the 10.1-inch screen, while the back is made of polycarbonate and has the Amazon symbol. The edges have the power, volume, headphone jack, and USB port. The colors of the display when turned on are extremely vibrant, detailed, and bright. It is similar to an iPad when it comes to picture quality, especially with its 16:10 aspect ratio in landscape mode.
The design overall is quite minimalist, which is often a great selling point. It has a matte touch to it on the back and a glossy one at the front. Essentially it is a good size that can easily fit into a bag; almost the same size as a notebook. While it is true that the shimmer, and at times the noise, is not like what you get in an iPad when watching video, it is still worth the money.
The simplicity, easy-to-use buttons, and voice command make it a good buy. It also features front and back cameras, and the resolution is decent for the price. Overall, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a portable tablet that doesn’t weigh too much and can easily fit into your purse or bag.
The Amazon Fire HD 10 in Use
The tablet has a commendable battery life and can last for a couple of days before you need to charge it. Its 9W C-type charger also charges it quite fast, even though it comes with a 15W option as well, with its fast-charging cable.
It runs on Fire OS, so existing users will be quite comfortable with this tablet. Even if you are an Android user, it will be quite simple for you to navigate. The operating software features simple buttons at the bottom and top that are essentially shortcuts to Books, Games, Videos, Music, and more.
Having Alexa for all previous Amazon Echo owners is a plus point, since you will be familiar with it. You can give it simple commands such as “Alexa, play the music app” and you won’t even have to go through the hassle of using the touch screen.
With the resolution that it offers, the screen can be a little bright and can sometimes get a glare. The colors can also be slightly cold, but Night Mode comes in handy for this problem. The brightness will only be bothersome when you use it in direct sunlight, so you might want to reconsider this if you spend a lot of time working outside.
Other than that, many people use it as an alternative to TV as its screen is quite large for a tablet and it has Amazon Prime, Netflix, and all the other usual suspects.
A word to the wise, though: the 2MP camera isn’t exactly a great choice for someone wanting to use this tablet for photography. It is a very basic camera and produces blurry, poor-quality pictures with a lot of noise.
Overall, the interface is quite interactive and easy to understand, but glitches still exist and will take some time getting used to.
The storage space of 32 GB is ample if you want to download things, but you can also opt for a 64GB version. That being said, it also has Amazon Cloud services so space really shouldn’t be an issue.
If you plan to use the tablet for reading, you might want to reconsider. eBook readers like Kindles have better screen resolutions that will not cause excess strain on your eyes. The size of this tablet also makes it a bit clunky for holding one-handed, especially over long periods.
You may experience longer loading on the Amazon Fire HD 10, but that really shouldn’t be surprising since, at the end of the day, this is a budget-friendly tablet with basic features. Games on this tablet will make you wait as they load, so you should keep that in mind if you wish to buy for that purpose only.
Picture and Sound Quality
The LCD screen of the Amazon Fire HD 10 is its selling point. It is quite big for a tablet, which makes it ideal to watch shows and movies. Watching HD video is quite a good experience on the tablet. It also has really big bezels, unlike other comparable tablets.
When you’re playing games though, the picture can get glitches and become distorted, especially when playing heavier games.
The Amazon Fire HD 10’s Dolby Atmos speakers are quite lightweight and produce crisp, open sounds. Placed at the left edge, they have decent sound quality, but expecting amazing treble and bass from a tablet is unrealistic since it isn’t stereo audio.
Movies, Music, and Games
This tablet is more suited to you if you are an existing Amazon Prime member. The app store is from its Fire OS and it also has Spotify, which is something that most users want.
This tablet is not suitable for you if you are a gamer. The RAM isn’t sufficient for heavy games and the Amazon app store only features a limited selection.
Connectivity
The tablet has multiple connectivity options. It has built-in Wi-fi capabilities, Bluetooth, and a USB Type-C cable that allows you to connect the device with other devices as well.
How Does the Amazon Fire HD 10 Compare?
Let’s compare the Amazon Fire HD 10 with two of its most popular competitors on the market, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 and the Onyx Boox Note2. In the table below, we compare the most important features that should be considered before purchasing a tablet.
| Amazon Fire HD 10 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 | Onyx Boox Note2 | |
| Dimensions | 10.3×6.3×0.4 inches | 9.8×6.5×0.3 inches | 9.84x7x0.27 inches |
| Screen Size | 10.1 inches | 10.5 inches | 10.3 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1,920×1,200 pixels | 2,560×1,600 pixels | 1,872×1,404 pixels |
| CPU | MediaTek MT8183 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 |
| Weight | 17.8 oz | 17 oz | 13.3 oz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours and 12 minutes | 8 hours and 33 minutes | Up to 4 weeks |
Final Thoughts on the Amazon Fire HD 10
The Amazon Fire HD 10 is quite a reliable and trustworthy tablet overall. Its large screen, sharp display, and smooth performance make it a good buy, especially for Amazon Prime members. If you’re shopping for tech gifts, this is definitely worth a look.
The Amazon Fire HD 10 is not a high-end tablet, but if you are familiar with the Amazon Operating Software then this is a good option for you. It cannot compete with other, higher-end tablets like the iPad Pro 12.9, but it offers all that they offer with a few compromises at a lower price point.
However, if you want a tablet that is more suitable for your office or job then you might want to look at tablets that are more catered to work use.
