Looking for a tablet that won't break the bank but can still handle your daily dose of entertainment and light tasks? The Amazon Fire HD 10 has been a popular contender in the budget tablet market for years, and the latest iterations continue to evolve. We've dug through the expert reviews to bring you a comprehensive look at what the Amazon Fire HD 10 (including the 2024 and 2023 models) offers, helping you decide if it's the right tablet for you.
A Long History of Budget-Friendly Tablets
The Amazon Fire HD 10 boasts a significant lineage, with the 2024 model being the 13th generation since the original. Over the years, the fundamental approach has remained consistent: offer a capable tablet experience at an accessible price point.
Design and Build: Practicality Over Premium Feel
Don't expect a sleek, award-winning design here. The Fire HD 10 prioritizes practicality over aesthetics. The design hasn't changed dramatically over the years, featuring noticeable bezels surrounding the 10-inch display. While these bezels might contribute to a slightly bulkier feel, they also provide ample room to comfortably hold the tablet one-handed. In fact, its design makes it pretty comfortable to clutch.
The tablet is primarily constructed from plastic, which might feel less premium than aluminum. However, Amazon emphasizes the ruggedness of the Fire HD 10, claiming it to be 2.7 times more rugged than the aluminum-backed Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. This durability makes it a good option for families and those prone to accidental drops. The weight is around 433-434 grams, making it manageable for extended use and suitable for kids. You can typically find the Fire HD 10 in colours like black, purple, and blue.
Display: Solid Entertainment for the Price
The Amazon Fire HD 10 features a 10.1-inch IPS display with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. While it's not the most supremely crisp display with fine detail, it's more than adequate for browsing photos, streaming videos on platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video in HD, and reading ebooks. The screen offers reasonably respectable contrast and colour production, though it might not be as vibrant or colour-accurate as more expensive tablets. It's also reported to be a little brighter than the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8. For bedtime reading, a blue shade mode is available to warm up the screen and reduce eye strain. The brightness is generally strong enough to counter some sun glare for outdoor reading.
Performance: Capable for Everyday Tasks
Powering the Fire HD 10 is a MediaTek chipset coupled with 3GB of RAM. Amazon states that the 2023 and 2024 models offer a 25% faster performance than the previous generation. While it won't deliver mind-blowing speed, the performance is generally sufficient for seamless streaming, reading, and casual gaming. You might experience occasional slight judder or a brief wait for apps to load, especially with more demanding tasks or multiple tabs open in the browser. Basic games like match-3 puzzles and Plants vs. Zombies run well, and even more demanding titles like PUBG Mobile and Diablo are playable at lower settings, though you might encounter some stutters.
Storage: Choose Wisely and Consider Expansion
The base model of the Fire HD 10 comes with 32GB of internal storage, with only around 25GB actually usable. A 64GB version is also available for a higher price. If you plan on downloading a lot of apps, games, movies, and music, the 64GB option is recommended. Thankfully, the Fire HD 10 includes a microSD card slot that supports cards up to 1TB, allowing you to significantly expand your storage for media. However, some users have reported occasional glitches when using microSD cards.
Software and Apps: The Amazon Ecosystem Experience
The Fire HD 10 runs on Amazon's Fire OS, which is based on Android. If you've used an Amazon tablet before, you'll be familiar with the experience, which heavily revolves around Amazon's own apps and services. The home screen is typically divided into three sections: Home (your apps), For You (recommendations and recent activity), and Library (your content). You can customize the home screen to remove the discover widget and recommendations if you prefer a cleaner look.
One of the most significant aspects of Fire OS is its app ecosystem. Instead of the Google Play Store, you have the Amazon Appstore. While the Amazon Appstore has grown over the years and includes many popular apps like Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Minecraft, and Microsoft 365, the selection is considerably smaller than the Google Play Store. You'll find notable omissions like Google apps (YouTube, Gmail, Chrome, Google Docs), Apple Music, and many other mainstream apps.
Despite this limitation, many users find the available apps sufficient for their needs, especially for media consumption and basic productivity. The tablet also features the Alexa voice assistant, which can be accessed via voice command and can control smart home devices. The Show Mode is a particularly useful feature that transforms the tablet into an Echo Show-like smart display, ideal for kitchen use with recipes and smart home control. It's also possible to sideload the Google Play Store onto Fire tablets, though this is not officially supported by Amazon and carries potential risks.
Cameras and Speakers: Basic but Functional
The Amazon Fire HD 10 is equipped with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera. The front camera is adequate for video calls via Skype and Zoom. The rear camera can be used for basic photos and videos, especially in good lighting conditions, but the quality is generally described as basic and not recommended for serious photography. The tablet features a basic stereo speaker arrangement with the speakers typically located on the top edge when held in landscape orientation. The sound quality is okay for the price and sufficient for casual listening, but it might not be loud or clear enough in noisy environments. A welcome inclusion is a standard headphone jack for private listening. The tablet also supports Bluetooth for wireless audio.
Battery Life and Charging: Good Endurance, Slow Charging
Amazon claims a battery life of up to 13 hours for mixed use or video streaming. Real-world testing suggests it's closer to 10 hours, which is still respectable and should last for a full day of typical use or several movies on a long trip. The Fire HD 10 charges via a USB-C cable, which is included in the box, along with a power adapter. However, the bundled charger is a basic 9W charger, resulting in a relatively slow charging time of around 4 hours to fully charge from empty. Using a faster charger (like a 15W smartphone charger) can slightly reduce the charging time to around 3 hours.
Special Features: Enhancing the Value
Beyond the core features, the Amazon Fire HD 10 offers several noteworthy additions:
- Alexa Integration: Full voice control for accessing information, controlling smart home devices, and more.
- Show Mode: Transforms the tablet into a smart display with visual information and hands-free Alexa access.
- Parental Controls: Robust tools for managing screen time, content access, and in-app purchases for child profiles.
- Multiple Profiles: Allows different users in a household to have their own personalized experience on the same tablet.
- Amazon Kids+: An optional subscription offering a vast library of ad-free books, apps, games, and videos for children.
- Accessory Support: Compatible with optional accessories like a keyboard and stylus for increased productivity, though these are sold separately. The 2023 model supports USI 2.0 stylus technology.
- Screen Mirroring: Ability to cast the tablet's screen to compatible devices.
Pros and Cons at a Glance
Pros:
- Affordable price point, especially during sales events.
- Durable and rugged design, suitable for families.
- Good battery life for media consumption and everyday tasks.
- Expandable storage via microSD card up to 1TB.
- Adequate display for streaming and reading.
- Alexa integration and useful Show Mode.
- Comprehensive parental controls and support for multiple profiles.
- Standard headphone jack.
Cons:
- Plastic build can feel cheap.
- Noticeable bezels contribute to a less modern look.
- Limited app selection in the Amazon Appstore compared to Google Play Store.
- Slower performance compared to more expensive tablets.
- Basic cameras with mediocre image quality.
- Slow charging with the included power adapter.
- Operating system includes advertisements on the lock screen (unless you pay extra for an ad-free version).
- No fingerprint sensor or face unlock for biometric authentication.
Who is the Amazon Fire HD 10 For?
The Amazon Fire HD 10 is an excellent option for:
- Individuals deeply invested in the Amazon ecosystem, who frequently use Kindle, Prime Video, Amazon Music, and Audible.
- Families looking for an affordable and durable tablet for children, thanks to the robust parental controls and Amazon Kids+.
- Budget-conscious consumers who primarily need a tablet for media consumption, light browsing, and basic productivity tasks.
- Those who value Alexa integration and want a device that can double as a smart display with Show Mode.
- Travellers who need a relatively inexpensive tablet for entertainment on the go with decent battery life.
However, it might not be the best choice for:
- Users who rely heavily on Google apps and services.
- Individuals needing a tablet for serious productivity with a wide range of available apps.
- Gamers looking for high-performance and a vast selection of demanding games.
- Those who prefer a premium design and build quality.
- Users who want a completely ad-free experience without paying extra.
The Value Proposition: Is It Worth the Money?
The Amazon Fire HD 10's primary strength lies in its value for money. Typically priced around $140-$150 USD (around 142-160 quids in the UK), it often goes on sale for even lower during events like Black Friday and Prime Day. At these discounted prices (sometimes under $100 USD), it represents a real bargain for a solid and usable tablet with good battery life and a decent display for its class. However, at its full retail price, while not a waste of money, it faces stiffer competition from other budget Android tablets that might offer a more open app ecosystem. If you own a recent previous generation model, the upgrades might not be significant enough to warrant an immediate upgrade.
Final Verdict
The Amazon Fire HD 10 remains a compelling option in the budget tablet arena, particularly for those already integrated into the Amazon ecosystem or seeking an affordable and durable tablet for media consumption and light tasks. While its limitations, especially the restricted app store, are worth considering, its strengths in price, durability, and Alexa integration make it a worthwhile contender for many users. Keep an eye out for sales to maximize its value.