The new Amazon Fire HD 10 is growing into a viable productivity tablet

Amazon has been busy churning out a entire host of new units and upgrades to present units over the previous a number of months. Earlier this yr, I reviewed the wonderful Echo Buds (2nd Gen), and even the implausible Echo Frames (2nd Gen), have since been up to date to incorporate choices with sunglass and blue light filtering lenses. In early May, we additionally discovered that Amazon was refreshing the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show Eight and that it was even rolling out its first Echo Show for kids.

While newer and extra novel merchandise like those talked about above typically see a sooner replace cycle, extra mature units like Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets go longer between new variations. In reality, the final replace to the Fire HD 10 line was again in 2019, so, understandably, Amazon was able to reinvigorate its flagship tablet. Not solely did it replace the specs and colours on the Fire HD 10, but it surely additionally gave us a second model within the Fire HD 10 Plus.

Amazon despatched me the common Fire HD 10 (2021) with the new Productivity Bundle to assessment. However, after having used each the Fire HD Eight and Fire HD 8 Plus final yr, I feel it is pretty secure to imagine that the expertise utilizing the Fire HD 10 Plus will probably be largely related for most individuals, save a few further perks added to that extra premium version. The modifications Amazon made with the usual Fire HD 10 aren’t revolutionary, however they’re sufficient to make it the most effective tablet below $200 and the one it’s best to in all probability purchase for your loved ones.

Amazon announced not one but two models of its popular Fire HD 10 tablet in late April, 2021, alongside a new tier of Kids Pro Fire Tablets. The units had been instantly accessible for pre-order and shipped out to clients on the finish of May 2021.

The two “grownup” tablets introduced had been the Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus, which adopted a related launch technique employed with the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus. Both the Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus are available 32GB and 64GB base storage configurations and begin at $150 and $180. The Kids Pro Fire tablets are priced at $100 for the Fire 7 Kids Pro, $140 for the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro, and $200 for the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro.

As with the Fire HD Eight line, the principle variations between the Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus come all the way down to the accessible RAM, wi-fi charging, and coloration choices, all of which we’ll handle under. Amazon provides a number of totally different bundles, together with a Productivity version with both mannequin that features a customized, “made for Amazon” Bluetooth keyboard and a 12-month Microsoft 365 Personal subscription. The HD 10 Plus mannequin additionally provides a bundle with a customized wi-fi charging dock, much like the one supplied with the HD 8 Plus. Customers have the choice to buy the Fire HD 10 as a Lockscreen Ad-Supported version or Without Lockscreen Ads.

You can buy each the Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus straight from Amazon and Best Buy, although the bundles can solely at present be discovered via Amazon. We count on the tablets to be accessible via extra retailers within the coming months.

The Fire HD 10 is usually Amazon’s flagship tablet, but it surely had been practically two years since we might seen any replace or refresh to the system. The Fire HD Eight and eight Plus, which have themselves been out for nearly a yr, gave us a good preview of what to anticipate for the latest huge Fire tablets, so earlier than we get into what I favored and disliked in regards to the system, let’s take a fast look to see simply what has modified.

The primary dimensions, together with dimension, weight, show decision, battery life, and storage configurations, have not modified since 2019, however there are positively sufficient upgrades to make this model value contemplating, even when you have the earlier mannequin.

For starters, whereas nonetheless not nice, the rear digicam is practically 3 times pretty much as good as earlier than, upgrading from a 2MP sensor to a 5MP sensor. And whereas the interior storage configurations are the identical as final time, you now get twice the exterior storage capability of as much as 1TB through a microSD card.

Of course, the largest change to the 2021 mannequin(s) is that there are actually two Fire HD 10 units. Both have elevated RAM over the 2019 mannequin (3GB for the usual Fire HD 10 and 4GB for the HD 10 Plus). Both can be found in a Productivity Bundle, together with a surprisingly good Bluetooth Keyboard case and a 12-month subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal version. Interestingly, each units additionally adjust to Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly program and are comprised of over a quarter of post-consumer recycled content material (extra on this later).

These two new fashions differ within the accessible RAM (talked about above), the colour choices (talked about within the desk right here), and the truth that the HD 10 Plus can cost wirelessly with a appropriate wi-fi charging dock.

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021): What I like

I’ve owned or reviewed greater than a half-dozen Fire tablets over time, and the one factor you could constantly say about them is that they have been constantly good…. sufficient. Amazon has skimped with specs in some areas (just like the cameras or supplies) and as a substitute supplied its clients with inexpensive portals to take pleasure in its and different companions’ content material. You’ve all the time had fairly first rate screens, expandable storage choices, headphone jacks, and ridiculously rugged sturdiness. On the opposite hand, the Fire tablets have been comparatively underpowered for productivity, cannot (simply) run Google apps and companies, and have not had as many good Bluetooth keyboard equipment. Well, a lot of that has modified now with these new Fire HD 10 tablets.

The Fire HD 10 (2021) is gentle and sturdy, making it simple to carry up for lengthy binge-watching classes.

The Fire HD 10 (2021) just about appears to be like and appears like its predecessors, however that is not a unhealthy factor in any respect. Because it is made out of plastic, it is gentle, sturdy, and simple to carry for lengthy intervals of time, whether or not you are studying a Kindle guide or catching up in your favourite streaming collection. Many have scoffed on the plastic construct, however one factor’s for certain — you do not have to child this factor. It can take most bumps, scrapes, and even drops and carry on rolling. That simply provides to its worth, for my part.

I admire that Amazon continues to incorporate a headphone jack with the Fire HD 10 (2021), which is one thing my present sofa companion — the Lenovo Chromebook Duet — doesn’t have. I additionally like how simple it is to forged content material (even net pages) to my Echo Show and Fire TV units. I understand you are able to do this with Google Chrome and Chromecast units, but it surely’s nonetheless a good perk right here.

When it involves efficiency, I’ve by no means been overly impressed with the pace or responsiveness of Fire tablets, however this version has modified my tune. Scrolling is simply as quick right here as on my Lenovo Chromebook Duet, which is to say it is principally very easy with nary a noticeable stutter. That’s little doubt due at the very least partly to the bump in RAM over the earlier model, and it is good to see right here, particularly on a system that is supposed for use (at the very least partially) as a productivity machine.

It’s been a long-time coming, however we lastly have USB-C in Amazon’s largest tablets, and just like the Fire HD 8 Plus, the Fire HD 10 Plus is able to charging wirelessly with the accessible wi-fi charging dock. Both variations of the Fire HD 10 help hands-free Alexa entry (with a shortcut within the notification shade to forestall Alexa from listening). Both variations additionally help Show Mode, which basically turns your Fire tablet into an Echo Show system when it is docked and charging, and each even have the Devices Dashboard, which provides you fast entry to manage your related house units.

But except for now providing two variations of the Fire HD 10, the large replace is that each variations will be bought as a part of a Fire HD 10/Plus Productivity Bundle. For round $70 over the bottom worth of every system, this bundle consists of a bespoke Bluetooth keyboard (made by accent maker Fintie), in addition to a 12-month subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal version, which itself consists of 1TB of OneDrive storage.

I’ve been ready years to have reputable productivity choices on a Fire tablet system, and Amazon (and Microsoft) have delivered.

I’ve wished the choice to do gentle work on Fire Tablets for years, and this first-party implementation is really fairly good. When it involves productivity, I’m closely invested within the Google ecosystem and have been utilizing Google apps and companies like Docs, Gmail, and Drive for nearly a decade and a half. It had been even longer than that since I’d commonly used the Microsoft Office suite, so I anticipated a little bit of a studying curve. However, I’m happy to report that simply wasn’t the case. While compatibility and interoperability with Google companies aren’t actually there, I had no points utilizing the Microsoft companies in a related method to how I exploit Google’s. I additionally favored how Microsoft’s choices allowed me to scan and signal PDFs, convert PDFs to Word docs for modifying, and even let me scan QR codes and create types. That’s fairly productive for a $150 tablet.

The Bluetooth keyboard and case snap across the Fire HD 10 fairly snuggly and securely to offer extra drop safety as nicely. I discovered the typing expertise fairly good, whether or not on a exhausting floor, my lap, or pillow whereas on the sofa. Compared to the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, the largest distinction was that the display on the Fire HD 10 wobbled a bit when typing (as a result of it would not have a kickstand to help the again). It wasn’t a dealbreaker by any means, but it surely was noticeable at instances. The key journey was good, although the keys had been a bit loud and clacky for my tastes. I did admire how one can tab via apps on the house display and use the arrow and search keys to navigate the UI with out taking your fingers off the keyboard. Still, I might have appreciated a trackpad or pointing system for extra precision and adaptability.

There is a split-screen mode that works nicely for multitasking, and the keyboard has built-in shortcuts for locking the display and opening apps like e-mail, recordsdata, and web browsers. Better nonetheless, you possibly can customise what these shortcut keys open and assign them from Amazon’s built-in apps to ones like Outlook and OneDrive. The keyboard additionally expenses through USB-C, so you possibly can simply pack one twine with you if you exit (not that you will have to as a result of it will probably maintain a cost for over 400 hours).

Even although Amazon has a Kids Fire tablet lineup consisting of six separate units, mother and father nonetheless have loads of choices to implement age restrictions, parental controls, household profiles, and household library entry, and there are many sturdy circumstances accessible if the tablet is supposed to be shared with different family members.

There are many accessibility options built-in to Fire OS, together with a Voice View function that helps folks with imaginative and prescient issues navigate the UI. The tablets additionally function Braille Display Support and Braile Screen Input with appropriate related units. Other accessibility options embody settings to regulate the font dimension and magnification, excessive distinction textual content, coloration correction, inversion, audio descriptions, closed captioning, and so forth.

Finally, I wished to acknowledge my appreciation of Amazon’s dedication to sustainability. These new tablets adjust to its Climate Pledge Friendly program, utilizing 27% post-consumer recycled plastics for the system, 27% post-consumer plastics for the case. Even the packaging is extra sustainable, consisting of 95% wooden fiber-based supplies that Amazon says have been acquired from “responsibly managed forests or recycled sources.”

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021): What could possibly be higher

It’s exhausting to get too important of a system that gives such good worth for the cash, however there are a few issues that I’d prefer to see improved in future Fire HD 10 tablets.

When it involves the construct high quality, I’ve already talked about how sturdy the Fire HD 10 is, but it surely certain could be good if it had some type of official water and dirt safety. Just one thing to guard it from unintentional spills, shock splashes, or occasional Cheeto mud that this tablet is certain to come across could be good to have.

Amazon, please give us a trackpad on the following Bluetooth keyboard!

For the Productivity Bundle, I might like to have a model of the Bluetooth keyboard case with a trackpad or pointing system of some type. While I most popular the typing expertise to that on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, the Duet’s keyboard received out for me when it comes to usability due to that helpful trackpad (and the kickstand on the again).

Not that it’s best to, or will, take a lot of pictures along with your Fire HD 10, however I’d prefer to see an enchancment within the sensor and picture processing within the subsequent model. Yes, this 2021 version has a much-improved sensor (at the very least on paper) to the 2019 model — 5MP in comparison with 2MP — but it surely’s nonetheless … not nice.

As you possibly can see with these indoor pictures under, there is little or no dynamic vary, and the photographs are notably muddled. “Potato cam” is the phrase that first got here to thoughts. Granted, these had been taken in low-light situations, however they don’t seem to be spectacular in any respect.

When you’re taking the Fire HD 10 outdoor or into a extra well-lit area, the outcomes enhance. The colours look okay, although highlights can get blown out, and the element nonetheless is not very crisp. This type of high quality is to be anticipated in a tablet digicam, particularly one which prices below $200, but it surely’s one thing chances are you’ll need to know if you happen to’re contemplating selecting one up.

Finally, I’ve to deliver this up with each Fire tablet assessment as a result of it is the elephant within the room, however Amazon’s tablets haven’t got prepared entry to Google Play Services, the Play Store, or Google apps. You can sideload them, but it surely’s a little bit of a course of, and most customers aren’t more likely to hassle. This is nothing new, however I hadn’t realized that you simply could not even entry most Google companies from the built-in Silk web browser. Whenever I attempted to go to docs.google.com or sheets.google.com, I used to be redirected to the product information pages and could not get the online apps to open. I may get a model of Gmail within the browser, but it surely wasn’t a nice expertise, and I used to be higher off simply including my Gmail account to the built-in Amazon e-mail app or Outlook. However, if you happen to intend to purchase the Productivity Bundle with Microsoft companies, this in all probability will not be a enormous loss for you.

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021): Competition

Fire tablets have all the time been a good worth for content material consumption, and their low costs are a part of why we nonetheless embody them on our roundup of the best Android tablets. Most of the opposite Android tablets on that listing are priced considerably larger than Amazon’s choices, so it is a little difficult teasing out simply who makes a compelling different from a monetary perspective.

From a {hardware} perspective, it is exhausting to dispute that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S lineup is the king of the Android camp, however the Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus are loopy costly. Thankfully, the corporate has introduced lower-cost choices on this lineup within the type of upcoming Galaxy Tab S7 FE and Lite versions.

One of my private favourite options (and the system I typically flip to on the finish of the day) is the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. It provides a very related expertise to the Fire HD 10 Productivity editions at a comparable worth level. It’s priced comparably to the Fire HD 10 Productivity bundle, and also you get the pliability of working each Chrome OS and Android apps, and even Linux, if that is your factor. Plus, the keyboard case consists of a trackpad and kickstand, making it a lot simpler to be productive, at the very least for my part.

Arguably the most effective different is Apple’s entry-level iPad. While that is a implausible system for the cash, it is nonetheless twice as a lot because the Fire HD 10, and that does not rely all of the equipment you would possibly need to choose up, like an Apple Pencil, Bluetooth keyboard, or protecting case.

Finally, if you wish to save a little cash and do not want the Productivity Bundle, you will get practically the identical expertise with both the Amazon Fire HD 8 or Fire HD 8 Plus . The solely main compromise right here is in display dimension.

You can purchase this if …

• You’re already invested within the Amazon/Alexa ecosystem or are assistant agnostic
• You use and are comfy with Microsoft apps and companies
• You need a good, informal consumption tablet with the choice of performing some gentle work on it
• You want or need a super-affordable secondary productivity system

You should not purchase this if …

• You want a extra strong productivity platform
• You’re ensconced within the Google ecosystem

4.5
out of 5

Amazon’s Fire tablets have all the time been a nice worth for consuming content material, whether or not watching movies, enjoying video games, or studying books and comics. Still, they’ve by no means been a legitimate choice for getting actual work accomplished — even gentle work. However, now that they arrive geared up with extra RAM, a purpose-built Bluetooth keyboard case, and a yr of Microsoft Office 365, they’re a reputable challenger to cheaper Android and Windows tablets and convertibles and even low-cost Chromebooks.

Those who need a critical moveable system ought to nonetheless have a look at a mid to high-range Chromebook, iPad Pro, or Surface tablet. Still, for round $200, it is powerful to argue in opposition to the new Fire HD 10 tablets with the Productivity Bundle. I’m completely happy to remain in my Google-centric world and stick with Chromebooks and Chrome OS tablets, however if you happen to took these away and advised me that I may solely use the Fire HD 10 (2021) with Productivity Bundle, I’d get alongside fortunately.

If you are not within the productivity add-ons, I like to recommend you stick with the bottom mannequin Fire HD 10. The causes are the identical I gave after I in contrast the Fire HD Eight and Fire HD 8 Plus final summer season. I believe that the majority who buy a Fire tablet will not discover the additional GB of RAM, nor want the wi-fi charging choice, particularly in the event that they’re sharing it with relations. And whereas 32GB of storage is not a lot, you possibly can simply and affordably broaden as much as 1 TB with any of the best microSD cards if and when it is advisable.