Amazon Fire tablets remain the most affordable route to a premium entertainment experience. While 2025 hasn't introduced a completely new lineup, it has brought significant maturity to the ecosystem. The headline for 2025 is the widespread availability of Generative AI features and the “soft launch” of the upgraded Fire HD 8 (2024 release), which redefines the budget tablet market.

In this 2025 edition of the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide, we analyze how the current models hold up against modern apps, why the “Plus” models are effectively discontinued, and which tablet is the best value for your money in 2025-2026. We also updated the buyer's guide with the best time to buy a Fire tablet and some technical warnings.

Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025 will help you decide:

• Is a Fire tablet right for me?
• Which Fire tablet is for me?
• How to get the best deal on a Fire tablet?

This Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025 edition is an updated version of Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024, which highlighted the new Fire HD 8 2024, and new generative AI features: webpage summaries, wallpaper creator, and writing assist.

Difference between the Fire tablet and the Android tablet

Amazon Fire tablet is not exactly an Android tablet, although it is often quoted as the most affordable Android tablet.

Amazon Fire tablet differs from a “normal” Android tablet in a few aspects, including:

• No official Google Play Store access. The official app store is Amazon's Appstore, whose app pool is less than 1/100 of Google Play.
• No Google-related apps, for example, Gmail, YouTube, Photos, and Chrome.
• Some Android apps may not work with the Fire tablet.
• You cannot change the default launcher (unless you sideload the Google Play Store).
• Some default apps cannot be changed in Fire OS.

Amazon actually purposely created the “incompatibility” with Android. They want you to use Amazon services ONLY, instead of Google's.

The Fire OS, which is based on Android, removes almost all Google-related services and replaces them with Amazon's. This is not an issue when you replace Chrome with the Silk browser.

But when coming to the app store. Amazon not only adds its App Store but also disables Google Play. And to block Google Play, the whole Google Play Framework, including some security and privacy features, has to be removed or blocked.

And this is the source of all problems.

Android allows the co-existence of the vendor's App Store and Google Play Store. For example, on all Samsung phones and tablets, you can find both Samsung's Galaxy Store and Google Play.

Anyway, the Fire tablet is NOT designed as an Android tablet. Instead, it is designed as an Amazon device.

Who may consider a Fire tablet?

As an Amazon device, the Fire tablet is an essential component of the Amazon ecosystem.

You may consider a Fire tablet, if

• You are an Amazon Prime member or are considering it now.
• You own a lot of content on Amazon. Although all content can be accessed from an Android tablet or iPad, the Fire tablet offers centralized access.
• You need a tablet for entertainment and reading, not for work.
• You need a tablet for your kids or grandma.
• You are considering Amazon Kids+, which is an excellent add-on to the Fire tablet if the tablet is for young kids (younger than 13).
• You are comfortable with sideloading apps. If you need any Google services, you have to sideload the Google Play store. Please note Google Play Store does not work well on Fire OS 8.
• Your budget is very limited. With a comparable configuration and performance, you cannot find a better deal than the Fire tablet.

Although Amazon enjoys a cozy relationship with Microsoft and all Office apps are available for the Fire tablet, we seldom recommend the Fire tablet for business use for two reasons:

• You need an Amazon account for the Fire tablet. The integration of the Amazon account in Fire OS is mainly for home use.
• You very likely need some Google services for your work.

Of course, if you just need a tablet for Zoom (or Teams) meetings and/or editing/sharing office documents, yes, the Fire tablet is sufficient and can be considered.

Although you can sideload the Google Play Store and some Google apps to the Fire tablet (as explained in this guide), it is not recommended for business use. There are possibly some unknown compatible issues.

Please continue on this Fire tablet buyer's guide 2022 to see which Fire tablet is for you.

Who should NOT consider a Fire tablet?

The Amazon Fire tablet is probably not for you, if:

• You need a tablet with mobile data connectivity. All Fire tablets are WiFi only.
• You need a tablet for work that requires some sort of Google services.
• You need a performance tablet for games. The Fire tablet is “just enough” for casual games, but heavy mobile games normally require resources beyond the Fire tablet.
• You are not an Amazon customer. The Fire tablet requires an Amazon account.
• You need to use a few apps that are not compatible with Fire OS.
• You sometimes need to take some photos with the tablet. The front and rear cameras on the Fire tablet are very basic. They are generally good enough for video calls but normally not good for photos.
• You have more than $300 to spend on the tablet. The most expensive Fire tablet currently is the 128GB version of Fire Max 11. The list price is $279.99. Normally, you can get it at a lower price.

Anyway, the Fire tablet is not for everyone. It depends on your needs and preferences.

The current models and variations of the Fire Tablet

In this section of Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025, we now compare the current models of Fire tablets in 2025. We do not recommend you buy older versions or refurbished Fire tablets (explained in the last two sections of the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025 below).

Amazon currently offers 4 base models of the Fire tablet:

1. Fire 7.
2. Fire HD 8.
3. Fire HD 10.
4. Fire Max 11.

The Kids Edition is available on the first 3 models with a 2-year hardware warranty, a kid-proof case, and a one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription. We will discuss it later in this guide.

Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 offer the “Plus” edition with some hardware upgrades. Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus are also offered as a Productivity bundle, which will be discussed in a separate section of this Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025 (read on).

Currently, Amazon offers both the 11th Gen Fire HD 10 (2021) and 13th Gen Fire HD 10 (2023). But the 13th Gen of Fire HD 10 does not offer the Plus model. We strongly recommend you get the 13th Gen (Fire HD 10 2023) unless you want to get the Plus model.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

$69.99

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

The following table compares the current models and variations of the Fire Tablet in 2025.

We will update this table if any new Fire tablets are released.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

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-

$69.99

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

-

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

-

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

What are the considering factors when buying a Fire tablet?

Once you plan to buy a tablet, you need to consider a few factors. The Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025 considers the following 4 factors:

1. Your budget.
2. Your intended usage.
3. Portability requirements.
4. Special needs.

Budget

The Fire tablet is the most affordable tablet on the planet up to now. Period.

A $329 budget for the cheapest iPad allows you to buy one Fire 7 + one Fire HD 8 + one Fire HD 10 at the full list price. You still have another $29 cash in your pocket.

Even Samsung's cheapest Tab A7 Lite (2GB/32GB/WiFi) is 77.7% higher than Fire HD 8, based on the list price.

As mentioned, the most “expensive” Fire tablet is the Fire Max 11, whose price tag is $229.99.

For all Amazon devices, you should not buy them at the list price unless you need them urgently. Every year, Amazon offers huge (usually 20-40%) discounts on the Fire tablet at least a few times a year. So, you just pay attention to the price change.

Of course, we recommend you purchase the “current” version. The reason is explained in the section (below) “About buying older generations of Fire tablets” of this Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025.

Intended usage

You need to buy a tablet because you want to use it for something.

The Fire tablet normally is good enough for the following usage:

• Browse websites.
• Read books.
• Watch videos.
• Listen to music or audiobooks.
• Play games.
• Online shopping
• Online learning.
• Edit office documents.
• Video or conferencing calls.
• Reply emails.
• Use social network apps.

The Fire tablet is usually a bit underpowered for the following usages:

• Edit photos/videos.
• Play heavy games.
• Take photos.
• Record videos.

Fire OS stripped almost all Google-related features. Although you may sideload the Google Play store and some Google apps to the Fire tablet, there may be some unknown issues. So, it is not recommended to use sideloaded Google services for your business. A cheap Samsung tablet should give fewer troubles with Google-related apps. Update: Fire OS 8 is compatible with the Google Play Store.

In addition to some unknown issues with Google services, some Google features will not work on the Fire tablet. For example,

• Family Link child and teen.
• YouTube Kids. The YouTube app should work on the Fire tablet, but not the YourTube Kids.

Another perspective of usage is who is going to use it.

Amazon Fire tablet is very user-friendly, especially for the non-tech-savvy. It simply works without confusing settings and unnecessary tweaks. The parental control (Amazon Kids) on the device also makes it a good option for kids.

So, the Fire tablet is generally good for:

• Kids who require parental control.
• Users who want the gadget to work without fiddling around.

Amazon Kids (old name: Amazon FreeTime) does not require a subscription and is free. Amazon Kids+ adds a subscription to age-appropriate books, audiobooks, apps, and videos for kids.

Portability

The size and weight determine how you can carry the tablet around.

All of the Fire tablets weigh less than 500g. So, it is usually not a big issue if you carry it in the backpack. There are no big differences in size and weight among current tablets in the market.

However, if you plan to carry it in a smaller bag, you need to consider the 7″, 8″, 10″, or 11″ form factors.

Special needs

You need to know whether you have any special needs for the tablet.

For instance, if you want to use your bank app on a tablet, it's probably not available in the Amazon App Store. Even if you check the Google Play Store, you might find that it's not available for the Fire tablet either.

A number of apps, particularly certain banking and streaming apps, are designed to work only on specific devices listed in the Google Play store. Sideloading these apps is not feasible, and even if you manage to sideload them, they are unlikely to function properly.

Certain users may require specific accessibility features. These features, which are present in the standard Android system, may be modified or excluded in Fire OS.

Anyway, it is important to check whether you have any special needs for apps and accessibility features.

When to consider Fire 7?

Amazon Fire 7 tablet (newest model) 7” display, read and watch, under $80 with 10-hour battery life, 32 GB, Black

• Entertainment in the palm of your hands – With 7″ touchscreen display, 2 GB RAM and quad-core processor, choose between 16/32 GB storage and download books, shows or movies to keep your downtime going.
• Big library, small tablet, more fun – Unwind with your favorite apps like Kindle, Netflix, Spotify and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription fees may apply).
• Pocket-sized entertainment hub – Enjoy up to 10 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos and listening to music at home or on-the-go. Expand storage to up to 1 TB with micro-SD card (sold separately).
• Say hello & go hands-free – Ask Alexa to make video calls to friends and family with Zoom or to check your Instagram or TikTok feeds. Alexa can also help find you a recipe, get you updates on weather, and more.
• Built for the whole family to enjoy – Amazon Kids offers easy-to-use parental controls on Fire tablets. Subscribe to Amazon Kids+ for access to thousands of books, popular apps and games, videos, songs, Audible books, and more.

Buy on Amazon

Fire 7 is the smallest and the cheapest Fire tablet.

Traditionally, the Fire 7 is in the category of the under-$50 tablet. But the current model (12th Gen) is priced at $59.99, which is $10 higher than previous generations.

The $10 price increase actually narrows the gap between Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 considerably. For the 32GB model, the price difference between Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 (11th Gen) is only $10.

You may consider Fire 7 when:

• You want to get a tablet as small as possible. But it should be large enough to read books and watch videos.
• Your budget is really very tight.

For the current generation of Fire 7, as mentioned earlier, the 32GB version is actually not as attractive as the 32GB version of Fire HD 8. With $10 more, you will get a better (and bigger) screen and better sound. of course, Fire HD 8 will be a bit heavier.

Please note, if you mainly use the tablet to read books and check social networks, the 7″ screen is good enough.

Verdict for 2025: The Fire 7 (2022 Release) is showing its age. While it is still the cheapest option, the performance gap between the Fire 7 and the refreshed Fire HD 8 (2024) has widened enormously. We only recommend the Fire 7 if you are on an extremely strict budget or need a device solely for reading Kindle books. For almost any other task (video, games, web browsing), the Fire HD 8 is worth the small extra cost.

When to consider Fire HD 8

Sale

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Hibiscus

• Fire HD 8 offers an 8″ HD display for seamless streaming and gaming, coupled with a 5MP rear facing camera for photos—with a thin, light, durable design.
• Responsive with all day battery life – Includes 3GB RAM (50% more than 2022 release), 32GB of storage, and up to 1 TB of expandable storage (sold separately). Up to 13 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos, gaming, and listening to music at home and on-the-go.
• Save time, get creative – Enjoy three new smart tools to help you send polished emails, quickly summarize webpages, and create unique wallpapers.
• Stream or download your favorite shows, movies, and games (like Minecraft, Roblox, and more). Enjoy your favorite content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
• Stay connected with family and friends – ask Alexa to make video calls to friends and family or download apps like Zoom.

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

Fire HD 8 is a versatile tablet. It is generally small enough to put in most bags so that it is easy to carry it around with you. It is not so heavy (337g). The screen is big enough to enjoy HD movies.

Also, the Fire HD 8 screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio. This increases the usable screen area noticeably compared to an 8″ screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio (as in Fire 7 and Fire HD 10).

You may consider Fire HD 8 when

• A 10″ tablet is a bit too big to carry around.
• You do not want to spend more than $100 on a tablet.
• You spend a lot of time reading books on the tablet.
• You spend a lot of time watching videos on the tablet alone.

Fire HD 8 is the most practical tablet to enjoy Amazon content: books, music, videos, games, and audiobooks.

When to consider Fire HD 10

Sale

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1″ vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

• Do what you love, uninterrupted — 25% faster performance than the previous generation and 3 GB RAM are ideal for seamless streaming, reading, and gaming.
• High-def entertainment — A 10.1″ 1080p Full HD display brings brilliant color to all your shows and games. Binge watch longer with 13-hour battery, 32 or 64 GB of storage, and up to 1 TB expandable storage with micro-SD card (sold separately).
• Thin, light, durable — Tap into entertainment from anywhere with a lightweight, durable design and strengthened glass made from aluminosilicate glass. As measured in a tumble test, Fire HD 10 is 2.7 times as durable as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2022).
• Stay up to speed — Use the 5 MP front-facing camera to Zoom with family and friends, or create content for social apps like Instagram and TikTok.
• Ready when inspiration strikes — With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the Made for Amazon Stylus Pen (sold separately) offers a natural writing experience that responds to your handwriting. Use it to write, sketch in apps like OneNote, and more.

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Fire HD 10 used to be the biggest tablet in the line. It is generally faster than Fire 7 and Fire HD 8. But it is slower than Fire Max 11.

The full HD resolution of a 10″ IPS screen is good enough for everything. You really do not need a higher resolution.

You may consider Fire HD 10 when

• You do not mind the size and weight of a “normal” tablet.
• You need a big screen for your documents and Excel sheets.
• You want to enjoy videos with your kids together.
• You spend a lot of time watching videos on the tablet.
• You spend a lot of time editing documents on the tablet.
• You need to open some PDF documents on the tablet.

The Fire HD 10 is a general-purpose tablet. But it is slightly too bulky for reading Kindle books.

Since Fire HD 10 (2021), the split-screen multitasking feature is available on Fire tablets except Fire 7. The 10″ screen is OK for casual split-screen type multitasking.

When to consider Fire Max 11

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

• BIGGER, BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL — Vivid 11“ screen with 2.4 million pixels (2000 x 1200 resolution) lets you see every detail of your favorite movies, TV shows, and games. Certified for low blue light.
• MAX PERFORMANCE — Built with a powerful octa-core processor, 4 GB memory, and Wi-Fi 6 for fast streaming, responsive gaming, and quick multitasking.
• THIN AND LIGHT — Sleek aluminum design is also durable. It has strengthened glass and is 3 times as durable as the iPad 10.9-inch (10th generation) as measured in tumble tests.
• ALL-DAY ENTERTAINMENT — With 14-hour battery life, maximize your downtime for reading, browsing the web, watching videos, and listening to music at home and on-the-go. Save your favorites with 64 or 128 GB storage, and expand to up to 1 TB with micro-SD card (sold separately).
• VERSATILE FOR WORK AND PLAY — Optional Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case and/or Made for Amazon Stylus Pen (sold separately). Try Microsoft 365 Personal for 3 months (auto renews for $6.99/month after free trial, eligibility and terms apply).

Buy on Amazon

Fire Max 11 is the biggest tablet in the line. It is also the fastest among Amazon Fire tablets.

You can consider Fire Max 11 as a “premium” version of Fire HD 10 with everything upgraded: better display, faster CPU, more storage, and better accessories, as explained in this guide.

Fire Max 11 is the only Fire tablet with a fingerprint sensor. It is also the only Fire tablet with USI 2.0 stylus support. The Fire Max 11 is also the only Fire tablet with a metal (not plastic) design with a decent keyboard case (with trackpad)

The main drawback of Fire Max 11 is the lack of 3.5mm audio jack and wireless charging (together with other missing features).

Of course, Fire Max 11 is the most expensive one among Amazon Fire tablets.

You may consider Fire Max 11 when

• You need to open and use a few apps simultaneously.
• You do not mind the size and weight of a “normal” tablet.
• You need the best screen for your documents and Excel sheets.
• You spend a lot of time watching videos on the tablet.
• You spend a lot of time editing documents on the tablet.
• You need to open some PDF documents on the tablet.
• You need to do some serious work on the tablet.

The Fire Max 11 is a general-purpose tablet. But it is slightly too bulky for reading Kindle books. And it may be too expensive if you mainly watch videos on it.

What happened to the “Plus” models?

Update: Long-time Fire tablet users might be looking for the “Plus” versions (e.g., Fire HD 8 Plus or Fire HD 10 Plus). For 2025, our advice has changed: You no longer need to buy a Plus model.

• Fire HD 8 Users: The new Fire HD 8 (2024 Release) has absorbed the performance benefits of the old Plus model. It now comes standard with 3GB of RAM (or 4GB on the 64GB model) and an upgraded 5MP camera. The only feature missing is wireless charging. We do not recommend buying the older 2022 Fire HD 8 Plus just for wireless charging, as you will sacrifice newer hardware longevity.
• Fire HD 10 Users: The Fire HD 10 Plus is a 2021 model (11th Gen). It is significantly slower than the current Fire HD 10 (13th Gen, 2023). Do not buy the HD 10 Plus in 2025; the standard 2023 model is superior in every way.

Amazon offers the Plus version of Fire HD 8 2020, Fire HD 8 2022, and Fire HD 10 2021. However, Amazon does not offer the Plus version for Fire HD 8 2024 and Fire HD 10 2023.

The two features added to the Plus version are:

1. 1GB more RAM. So, Fire HD 8 Plus gets 3GB RAM and Fire HD 10 Plus gets 4GB RAM.
2. Wireless charging. Qi wireless charging was added to charge the tablet battery without using the USB-C port.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet, 8” HD Display, 32 GB, 30% faster processor, 3GB RAM, wireless charging, (2022 release), Gray

• Fire HD 8 Plus offers everything you get with a Fire HD 8 and more – wireless charging, 9W power adapter, 3 GB RAM, 2 MP front-facing and 5 MP rear-facing cameras. New design is thinner and lighter than previous gen and has a screen made with strengthened aluminosilicate glass. As measured in tumble tests, Fire HD 8 Plus is twice as durable as Apple iPad mini (2021).
• Fast and responsive – Enhanced hexa-core processor for more responsive performance (up to 30% faster than previous gen Fire HD 8 Plus) so you can get more done. Check email, tackle your to-do lists, browse the web, and more.
• Great for on-the-go – Up to 13 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos, and listening to music. Hassle-free wireless charging dock (dock not included) offers easy charging anywhere. Choose from 32GB or 64GB (up to 1TB of expandable storage via microSD card).
• Relax and unwind with your favorite content from Netflix, Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
• Stay connected with friends and family – Ask Alexa to make video calls or download apps like Zoom.

$119.99

Buy on Amazon

For Fire HD 8 Plus, another upgrade is the included 9W wall charger. A 5W charger is a standard configuration for Fire HD 8. Please note that Fire HD 8 also supports 9W and higher (up to 15W) charging. The difference between Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus is only the included charger.

Both Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus come with a 9W wall charger in the box.

1GB more RAM is very useful if you frequently switch between several apps. It also makes most games faster.

Wireless charging adds one more way to charge the tablet. But you cannot use wireless charging and USB cable charging concurrently. If you already have a wireless charger, or you may need to use the USB port for other accessories (e.g., a USB thumb drive), you will find wireless charging useful.

So, you need to check whether you actually need the two additional features for a price of $20 (for Fire HD 8 Plus) or $30 (for Fire HD 10 Plus).

When to consider the Kids edition

Amazon offers the Kids edition (Kids and Kids Pro) of Fire 7, Fire HD 8, and Fire HD 10, for an additional $50. This Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025 will try to explain what you get for the $50 and whether you should consider it or not.

For 2025, the Fire HD 8 Kids and Fire HD 8 Kids Pro have been updated to use the new 2024 hardware. This is a massive win for parents.

• Why it matters: Kids' games like Roblox and Minecraft are resource-heavy. The bump to 3GB/4GB RAM in the 2024 Fire HD 8 Kids edition means these games will run much smoother than on previous versions. If you are buying for a gamer kid on a budget, ensure you are buying the “2024 Release” of the Kids tablet to get this performance boost.

Kids and Kid Pro: what is the difference?

Do NOT confuse the Kids Pro with the Pro version of the tablet discussed earlier. They are totally unrelated.

The Kids version is for kids aged 3-7. In comparison, Kids Pro is for kids aged 6-12.

The tablet hardware is exactly identical. The differences between Kids and Kids Pro are:

1. The case/cover is different.
2. Whether the home screen theme can be customized.
3. Whether the digital store can be accessed.
4. Whether only handpicked websites can be browsed.

The Kids version comes with a bumper-style protective case; while the Kids Pro version comes with a slim protective case. Of course, the bumper-style case offers more protection. But it looks very bulky. Bigger kids may prefer the slim case. Both covers are well-designed.

The last 3 differences are mainly in the default parental controls. You can overwrite them in the parental control settings. Or you can adjust the kid's age to change these settings automatically.

The Kids Edition tablet requires a parent Amazon account. Parents can use the tablet as a normal Fire tablet. Kids will only access content added to them and Amazon Kids+ content (subscription).

What do you get for the $50?

In the Kids edition, you essentially get the following 3 items for the $50:

1. A kid-proof case (MSRP: $29.99).
2. One-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ (MSRP: $4.99/month or $48/year for Prime members and $7.99/month or $79/year for non-Prime members)
3. Two-year worry-free guarantee (not sold separately).

Amazon claims you will save $70 if you buy separately. But it seems Amazon does not sell the 2-year worry-free warranty separately. The $7.99 2-year accidental Accident Protection Plan is totally a different story.

Anyway, if you are not a Prime member and subscribe monthly, yes, the claim is legit.

The protective case is decent and offers excellent protection for the tablet. The 2-year worry-free guarantee is, of course, a nice option for devices to be used by kids.

Please note that Amazon simplified Amazon Kids+ subscriptions in June/July 2022. All subscriptions include unlimited access for up to 4 kid profiles. The single-child plan and Family plan were no longer available.

The one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription cannot be stacked with the existing subscription. So,

• If you are paying the Amazon Kids+ subscription monthly or annually, the subscription will be canceled with a pro-rated refund. The free one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription starts.
• If you are currently enjoying the free one-year Amazon Kids+ (e.g., comes with Echo Dot Kids), then the existing subscription will be cancelled without a refund, and the new one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription will start. Your existing Amazon Kids+ subscription will be forfeited, not extended.

So, if you plan to get a tablet and Amazon Kids+ for your kids, then yes, it saves you money to get the Kids edition.

Remember you do NOT need an Amazon Kids+ subscription if you only need parental controls. Amazon Kids is free.

So, if you do not need Amazon Kids+, then the Kids Edtion is probably not a good choice. It saves you money to buy the normal Fire tablet and case separately.

You may check our Amazon Kids+ guide (coming soon) for more details on how to maximize the benefits of Amazon Kids+.

Sale

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet (newest model), ages 6-12. Bright 8″ HD screen, includes ad-free content, parental controls, 13-hr battery, slim case for older kids, 32GB, Hello Teal

• SAVE UP TO $70: Get a full-feature tablet (not a toy) made for big kids ages 6–12, 6-month subscription Amazon Kids+ and a slim Kid-Friendly Case, versus items purchased separately.
• 2 YEAR WORRY-FREE GUARANTEE INCLUDED: If it breaks, return it and we’ll replace it for free for 2 years.
• AMAZON KIDS+ INCLUDED – Includes 6 months of Amazon Kids+, a digital subscription that provides unlimited access to ad-free, age-appropriate content that kids love. This includes STEM content like Math Claw or books in different languages to help kids develop their skills. After 6 months, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at just $5.99/month plus applicable tax. You may cancel any time by visiting the Amazon Parent Dashboard or contacting Customer Service.
• EASY-TO-USE PARENTAL CONTROLS – Remotely review child activity to learn more about what your child is enjoying, approve (or deny) purchase and download requests, manage content, and more.
• LONG LASTING BATTERY – Features all-day up to 13-hour battery life, powerful hexa-core processor, 3GB RAM (50% more than 2022 release), and 32GB of internal storage with up to 1 TB of expandable storage (sold separately). It’s great for downloading games, videos, books, and music for their on-the-go educational entertainment.

$64.99

Buy on Amazon

Sale

Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet (newest model) ages 3-7. Top-selling 7″ kids tablet on Amazon. Includes ad-free and exclusive content, easy parental controls, 10-hr battery, 16 GB, Purple

• SAVE UP TO $70 — Get a full-featured tablet (not a toy) for kids ages 3–7, 1 year of Amazon Kids+ content, and a Kid-Proof Case with a built-in stand and save versus purchasing items separately.
• 2 YEAR WORRY-FREE GUARANTEE INCLUDED — If it breaks, return it and we’ll replace it for free for 2 years.
• AMAZON KIDS+INCLUDED – Includes 1-year of Amazon Kids+, an award-winning digital subscription featuring thousands of ad-free books, interactive games, videos, and apps – now with select ad-free Disney and Avengers episodes! Kids can explore content from trusted brands like Disney, Nickelodeon, and PBS Kids including educational STEM activities, language learning, and entertainment they love – all in one place. After 1 year, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at $5.99/month plus applicable tax. You may cancel any time by visiting the Amazon Parent Dashboard or contacting Customer Service.
• NO-HASSLE PARENT CONTROLS — Easy-to-use Parent Dashboard allows you to filter content based on child's age, set educational goals and time limits, and grant access to additional content like Netflix and Disney+.
• SAFETY FIRST — We partner with leading family trust experts to provide a safer digital experience for kids.

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

Sale

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet (newest model) ages 6-12. Bright 10.1″ HD screen, includes ad-free content, robust parental controls, 13-hr battery and slim case for older kids, 32 GB, Nebula

• Built-in safeguards that protect your children's privacy and prevent malware and spyware, ensuring a safe and secure online experience.
• Awarded “Best Parental Controls” by Parents Magazine, the Amazon Kids Parent Dashboard mobile app makes it easy for parents to remotely set screen time limits and stay aware of the content kids are using.
• Includes 1-year of Amazon Kids+, a digital subscription offering a vast, ever-growing selection of tailored, ad-free content suitable for all ages. After 1 year, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at just $5.99/month plus applicable tax. You may cancel any time by visiting the Amazon Parent Dashboard or contacting Customer Service.
• Powerful tablet not a toy. Our largest, most powerful tablet with HD display, large storage and 10+ hours of battery. Includes a slim case and a 2-year worry free guarantee.
• Kids tablet ready to go right out of the box. Amazon Kids+ provides instant access to ad-free videos, games, apps, books and interactive experiences that help kids Play, Create and Learn.

$104.99

Buy on Amazon

When to consider the Productivity bundle for the Fire tablet

Amazon offers a “productivity bundle” for Fire HD 10, Fire HD 10 Plus, and Fire Max 11. The productivity bundle for Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus will cost you $70 more than buying the tablet only. The productivity bundle for Fire Max 11 costs more and depends on whether you want to include the stylus.

Productivity bundle for Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus

This Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025 will check whether you should spend an additional $70 for it.

The productivity bundle includes:

• The tablet (Fire HD 10 or Fire HD 10 Plus).
• A Bluetooth keyboard with a detachable case (MSRP: $49.99)
• 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal. (MSRP: $69.99, usually $58.99).

So, if you need both the Bluetooth keyboard (see this guide on how to use it) and Microsoft 365, then you may consider buying them as the productivity bundle. It saves you about $40 compared to purchasing them separately. The Bluetooth keyboard is surprisingly good at that price point. You can also use some special keys and shortcuts tailored for Fire HD 10 tablets.

However, if you do not need the Microsoft 365 subscription, or you do not like the Bluetooth keyboard, then you should not consider the productivity bundle. It saves you money to buy the tablet and accessories separately.

Productivity bundle for Fire Max 11

The $125 productivity bundle for Fire Max 11 includes the following:

• The official keyboard.
• The official stylus.

Please note that the official keyboard connects to the tablet magnetically, and you may not be able to use it on other devices. It is not a standard Bluetooth keyboard.

The stylus is the standard USI 2.0 one. So, you can use it on other devices (e.g., many Chromebooks) that support USI 2.0 stylus.

About buying older generations of Fire tablet

When a new generation of the Fire tablet is released, Amazon may want to clear the stock of the previous generation.

We do not recommend our readers to buy older generations of Fire tablets, although the price may be enticing.

For example, for Fire HD 10, the current version is Fire HD 10 Gen 11, released in 2021. The previous generation is Fire HD 10 9th Gen, released in 2019. Although the list price of these two models did not change, the specs improved a lot in the newer version, as explained in this guide. So do not be trapped in the high discount for the previous generation (Fire HD 10 2019 in this case).

You should always buy the current (latest) generation of the Fire tablet for better performance and longer security updates. Amazon promised a 4-year security update after they stopped selling the device on Amazon as a new one (not refurbished). So this means the current model usually has at least one or two years longer security updates because Amazon refreshes each model every 2 to 3 years.

About buying a refurbished Fire tablet

Thanks to the generous returning policy, Amazon gets a lot of returning Fire tablets.

Of course, most of these Fire tablets will end up in other users' hands as a replacement or a “refurbished” device.

Amazon usually offers a high (sometimes more than 50%) discount for these Fire Tablets.

Although the pricing is enticing, you probably should stay away from these deals unless your budget is extremely limited.

There are a couple of reasons against buying a refurbished Fire tablet:

• They are usually not the current generation Fire tablet.
• Some of them have been proven to be problematic. The problem that the previous owner faced may come again sooner or later. The rectifying and certification process often fails to detect some defects.
• Although you get a one-year limited warranty, it is troublesome to return and get another refurbished device. This explains a few owners keep getting faulty replacements.

Of course, we believe Amazon maintains a high standard for refurbished products. And they usually honor the warranty without issues.

But a tablet has hundreds of electric components. Some issues can only be triggered after actual usage, not a lab test.

Anyway, you may consider the refurbished Fire tablet only if you are constrained by your budget. If the device works without issues, it could be a good deal.

About devices with Fire OS 8

Amazon released Fire OS 8 for the 12th and 13th Gen Fire tablets, including:

• Fire 7 2022.
• Fire HD 8 2022.
• Fire HD 8 Plus 2022.
• Fire Max 11.
• Fire HD 10 2023.
• Fire HD 8 2024.

Fire OS 8 is based on Android 11 and gives some new features and improved security and privacy. You can sideload Google Play store like on Fire OS 7 and 6.

The Best Time to Buy a Fire Tablet in 2025/2026

Content: Amazon Fire tablets are famous for their fluctuating prices. The “list price” is rarely what you should pay. Amazon runs aggressive sales on its own devices at least 4-5 times a year.

2025-2026 Sales Calendar:

• Big Spring Sale (Late March): Usually the first major drop of the year. Expect mild discounts (20-30% off).
• Prime Day (Mid-July): historically the best time to buy. Prices often hit all-time lows (up to 50% off). Requires a Prime membership.
• Prime Big Deal Days (October): A second “Prime Day” that effectively kicks off the holiday season.
• Black Friday & Cyber Monday (Late November): Matches Prime Day pricing but is open to everyone (no Prime membership required).

Target Price Cheat Sheet

Don't pay more than this!: If you see these prices, it is a “Buy Now” trigger.

• Fire 7: ~$40
• Fire HD 8 (2024): ~$55 – $60 (Great value for the new model)
• Fire HD 10 (2023): ~$70 – $75 (The “sweet spot” for value)
• Fire Max 11: ~$140 – $150
• Kids Editions: Look for at least $40-$50 off the list price.

Important Warnings for 2025 Buyers

1. The “Show Mode” Switch is Gone

If you are upgrading from an older Fire HD 8 (10th Gen) or Fire HD 10 (11th Gen), be aware that the dedicated “Show Mode” toggle in the notification shade is not available on the newer Fire OS 8 devices (Fire HD 8 2022/2024, Fire HD 10 2023, and Max 11). You can still access Alexa hands-free, but the dedicated smart-display interface is significantly different and harder to access manually.

2. SD Card Limitations

While you can still add a MicroSD card (up to 1TB) to store movies, photos, and music, do not expect to run apps off the SD card. The newer Fire OS 8 (based on Android 11) has stricter security that prevents most apps from being moved to external storage.

• Advice: If you plan to play a lot of games, do not buy the 32GB model thinking you can just “add an SD card” for more game space. Buy the 64GB model instead.

3. Lockscreen Ads Cost

Remember that the low list price includes “Lockscreen Ads” (Amazon calls this “Special Offers”). Removing these ads costs a one-time fee of roughly $15 USD per device, which you pay through your Amazon account after purchase.

Will Fire Tablets stop using Android? (The Vega OS Rumor)

There are persistent rumors that Amazon is building a new operating system called “Vega OS” to eventually replace Android on Fire TV and Fire Tablets.

• The Reality for 2025: As of now, all current Fire tablets still run Fire OS (Android). Even if Amazon launches Vega OS in the future, your current Fire tablet will continue to function normally. However, a shift to Vega OS would eventually break the ability to “sideload” the Google Play Store.
• Our Recommendation: If access to the Google Play Store is your #1 priority, be aware that this loophole might close in future hardware generations (post-2025), but it remains functional on the devices listed in this guide.

Do you have any questions about the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025?

If you have any questions about the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025 or need help buying a Fire tablet, please let us know in the comment box below. The community will try to help you.

Detailed information on how to use the Google Play Store on Fire tablets can be found here.

Need advice on choosing a Fire tablet? Check the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide now.

You may check other Fire tablet how-to guides and tutorials on the Fire tablet how-to guides page.

You may also reach us via our Facebook page or the contact us form.

The post Fire Tablet Buyer’s Guide 2025 appeared first on Guides for Fire Tablet.

Writing Assist is the most practical tool among the three generative AI features currently available on Fire tablets.

This Fire tablet how-to guide explains what Writing Assist is, the available features of Writing Assist, and how to access and use these features to help your writing. The guide also explains how to use Writing Assist with a Bluetooth keyboard and the limitations of this AI tool.

You may check the other two AI features on Fire tablet in these two guides: Webpage Summaries and Wallpaper Creator.

What is the Writing Assist on Fire Tablet?

Amazon announced three generative AI features when Fire HD 8 2024 was released: Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator.

Writing Assist on Fire tablet is simply an AI-powered writing tool. It uses generative AI to help you improve your writing and offers various suggestions, including grammar, spelling, style, and even the tone of your writing. You can even get suggestions for making your writing tone more casual or professional. The feature is similar to Samsung's Writing Assistant (powered by Grammarly) but not comparable to Galaxy AI's Writing Assist, which offers many advanced features like Composer and auto-reply.

Writing Assist is integrated into the Fire tablet's keyboard in Fire OS 8. So, it works across all apps that require text input and you can access it whenever you use the keyboard.

You can even use it when you use a Bluetooth keyboard with your Fire tablet (read on).

List of Fire tablet models with Writing Assist

Currently, Writing Assist is available on Fire tablets with Fire OS 8 (excluding Fire 7 2022).

Here is the list of suppirted Fire tablets:

• Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen).
• Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen).
• Fire Max 11 (2023).
• Fire HD 8 2022 (12th Gen).

Amazon will not be adding this AI feature to older models. Future models of the Fire tablet, except for the Fire 7, are likely to receive this feature. This list will be updated periodically.

The Fire 7 2022 (12th Gen) runs on Fire OS 8 and includes the Writing Assist option in the Keyboard settings. However, this feature is not accessible on Fire 7 2022, as Amazon has disabled it on this device. In fact, none of the three generative AI features are available on the Fire 7 2022.

What are the available features of Writing Assist on Fire tablet?

Currently, the Writing Assist offers the following 9 features:

1. Proofread
2. Rewrite.
3. Elaborate
4. Concise
5. Key points.
6. Emojify.
7. Professional.
8. Witty.
9. Causual.

Proofread

The Proofread feature is your basic grammar and spell checker on steroids. It goes beyond simple error detection to identify potential issues with punctuation, sentence structure, and word choice, offering suggestions for improvement.

Standard grammar and spell checkers typically identify misspelled words and basic grammatical errors like subject-verb agreement or incorrect punctuation. They often offer simple suggestions for correction.

In contrast, Proofread includes more advanced error detection. It doesn't just catch simple errors but also identifies more complex issues like sentence structure problems, awkward phrasing, inconsistencies in style, and even potential plagiarism.

Proofread also understands the context of your writing and provides more relevant and nuanced suggestions. It's not just about correcting errors but also about improving clarity, conciseness, and style.

Based on the issues identified, Proofread can deliver more sophisticated suggestions. For example, instead of just offering a single correction, it might provide multiple options or explain why a particular change is recommended.

Rewrite

The Rewrite feature in Writing Assist for Fire tablet lets you rephrase sentences or paragraphs in different ways. It can help you find clearer, more concise wording, or adjust the tone of your writing. Its core functions include:

• Rephrase sentences and paragraphs. The Rewrite can rephrase sentences or entire paragraphs to explore alternative ways of expressing your ideas. It may also experiment with different word choices and sentence structures to find the most effective and engaging language.
• Enhance clarity and conciseness. It can identify and eliminate unnecessary words or phrases, making your writing more streamlined and readable. It also simplifies complex sentences and reorganizes ideas for greater clarity and impact.
• Adjust writing tone. The Rewrite will try to make the tone consistent, based on the original text. It may also adjust it automatically. Besides, you can manually choose Professional, Witty, and Causal tones (read on) and the Writing Assist will rewrite the content accordingly.
• Context-aware suggestions. The Rewrite analyzes the context of your writing to provide tailored suggestions that are relevant to your content. Due to the limitations of the cutoff date for the AI training data, it may not understand correctly the most recent topics.

Elaborate

If you have a short sentence or idea, the elaborate feature in the Writing Assist for Fire tablet can help you expand on it. It can add details, examples, or explanations to make your writing more comprehensive.

Elaborate essentially can transform a simple idea or an outline into a more comprehensive and engaging piece of writing, making it easier for your readers to understand and connect with your message.

You should always check the “expanded” contents because of the possible hallucinations of AI, especially when the context is not clear. Sometimes, you may design your original sentence as a prompt.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

$69.99

Price not available

-

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Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

Concise

Concise is the opposite of “Elaborate” in the Writing Assis for Fire tablet. It helps you shorten your text by removing unnecessary words or phrases. It's great for tightening up your writing and making it more direct.

Please note Concise focuses on the writing (the text)instead of the summary (contents), and therefore, it is different from Key Points (read on).

Key points

Key points feature in the Writing Assist for Fire tablet can analyze a larger chunk of text and extract the most important information. It's useful for summarizing articles, emails, or notes.

Summarizing is one of the proven strengths of most LLMs. The AI model is very efficient in extracting key points and organizing them coherently. It can then help us improve our understanding of complex texts by breaking down information into digestible chunks and key points.

Emojify

Emojify in the Writing Assist adds relevant emojis to your text to express emotions or add visual flair. It's best used in informal contexts.

You can use Emojify:

• To enhance communication with the visual cues.
• To express emotions that may be difficult to convey through text alone.
• To add a touch of personality and creativity to your writing.

Professional (tone)

Writing Assist on Fire tablet offers three tones that can be manually specified: professional, witty, and casual. By default, the Writing Assist uses the “mixed” tone based on the context when you use the Rewrite feature.

The Professional tone helps you adjust the tone and style of your writing to make it suitable for professional settings. It might suggest more formal vocabulary, sentence structures, and an objective and impersonal tone.

Witty (tone)

The Witty tone infuses your writing with humor and cleverness, transforming it into an engaging and memorable experience for the reader.

The playful approach may incorporate puns that spark a smile, clever wordplay that invites laughter, or satire that brings social commentary to life with a twist. It can also use irony to highlight the unexpected, hyperbole to exaggerate for comedic effect and parody to mimic styles in a lighthearted manner. Each of these techniques adds a distinctive flair, ensuring the writing captivates the audience and lingers in their minds.

Casual (tone)

The Casual tone in the Writing Assist on Fire tablet makes your writing sound more relaxed and conversational. It might suggest using simpler vocabulary, contractions, and a less formal tone.

How to access the Writing Assist on Fire tablet?

As mentioned earlier, Writing Assist is integrated into the Fire keyboard. You should find the Writing Assist button on the top row of the keyboard, as shown in the screenshot below.

If your Fire tablet is supported (see the supported Fire tablet list above) and there is no Writing Assist button, you may try to update the system from Settings —Device options — System update — Check now. And make sure the Fire OS is newer than 8.3.3.

To access and use Writing Assist, you just highlight the text and tap the button.

As shown in the screenshot below, after tapping the Writing Assist button, you can find all of the 9 features.

You just need to tap the feature you want to use.

How to use Writing Assist on a Fire tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard?

After tapping the Writing Assist button, all text above the cursor will be selected automatically, by default. If you want to work on some paragraphs, you can manually select the text.

Once the text is highlighted (or manually selected by you), as shown below, you can tap the feature button you want to use.

For example, I want to proofread this paragraph, so I tap the Proofread button, as shown below.

Within a few seconds, a proofreaded version is provided.

Once you start to use one of the features in Writing Assist, the 9 buttons are now on the top row. You can swipe left or right to see all of them.

For example, if I want to try the Rewrite feature, I tap the Rewrite button.

The rewritten version of the paragraph is shown in a few seconds. It looks like the AI did a good job. Of course, it depends on the content and your luck.

After Writing Assist generates contents, you can find the three action buttons at the bottom:

• Regenerate. If you are not happy with the text, you can use this button to generate the content again. If you are not sure, you should copy the text first before tapping the Regenerate button because there is no guarantee that the new versions are better.
• Copy. You can use this button to copy the contents to the clipboard so that you can paste them anywhere you want.
• Replace text. Be careful with this button. After tapping this button, the generated text will replace the original text. So, you should read through the generated contents before using them to replace the original one.

Until now, Amazon has not clearly stated the number of generations you can ask for daily or monthly. Currently, it appears nobody reports they have hit the limit yet.

How to use Writing Assist with a Bluetooth keyboard on Fire tablet?

Some blog posts incorrectly claimed that the virtual keyboard must be used to access the Writing Assist. This is not true.

You can use the Writing Assist even if you are using a Bluetooth keyboard, for example, the Bluetooth keyboard for Fire HD 10 or the Keyboard case for Fire Max 11.

By default, when a Bluetooth keyboard is connected to a Fire tablet, the virtual keyboard will not show up. However, there is always a keyboard icon in the navigation bar whenever a keyboard (regardless of the keyboard type) is being used, as shown in the screenshot below.

Tap this keyboard icon would bring up the virtual keyboard options, as shown in the screenshot.

You can then enable “Show virtual keyboard” to bring up the Writing Assist.

Once Show virtual keyboard is enabled, you will see a minimal virtual keyboard with the Writing Assist button, as shown below.

You can now use the Writing Assist, just like using the virtual keyboard.

Actually, this is also the trick if you need to switch between different input languages because Bluetooth keyboard does not support input method switch.

Please note that the Show virtual keyboard setting is consistent. In other words, it will be active until you turn it off manually. You can also change this setting in the keyboard settings.

How to enable or disable Writing Assist on Fire tablet?

Writing Assist works out of the box. It was enabled by default when you got the update.

However, you can disable or enable Writing Assist in keyboard settings if you want.

In Settings — Device option — Keyboard & Language, you can tap Current Keyboard Settings.

Then in Fire Standard Keyboard Settings, you can find the option of “Show word suggestions and Writing Assist“.

By default, it is enabled. You can use the switch to enable or disable the Writing Assist button.

Please note Writing Assist works in the cloud, not on the device locally.

What are the limitations of the Writing Assist on Fire tablet?

Unlike Wallpaper Creator (which gives you 10 creations each month), Writing Assist apparently has no limits at this time. The current usage is probably quite low, and therefore, Amazon is not rushing to impose a hard limit. But if the usage picks up, Amazon may put some limits because the servers running the generative AI model cost money.

For the time being, the usage is not limited.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

-

-

$69.99

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

-

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

-

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

However, the tool has some limitations, such as being online only and the quality of the AI model.

Online only

Since all Fire tablets lack the power to run such AI models locally, all processing is done in the cloud. This leads to two primary issues:

• Privacy. The privacy policy associated with the use of Writing Assist is not explicitly defined. The protocols regarding the collection, utilization, and protection of user data remain unclear.
• Internet connection. You cannot use the feature if the Fire tablet is not connected.

The quality of the AI model

Writing Assist is provided as a complimentary feature for Fire tablet users, prompting Amazon to utilize smaller language models to minimize costs. The specific model employed for Writing Assist remains unspecified.

Based on the generated content, it is evident that the AI model utilized does not match the capabilities of OpenAI's GPT-3.5 or GPT-4, nor Google's Gemini 1.5. However, it appears to be comparable to Google's on-device Gemini Nano model, as shipped with the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9.

Consequently, the quality of the output is satisfactory for daily usage, e.g., writing short articles and emails. Nevertheless, for professionals such as copywriters seeking higher-quality models, alternative options may be necessary.

Do you haev any questions about Writing Assist on Fire tablet?

Please let us know in the comment box below if you have any questions or encounter any problems with Writing Assist on Fire tablet.

Detailed information on how to use the Google Play Store on Fire tablets can be found here.

Need advice on choosing a Fire tablet? Check the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide now.

You may check other Fire tablet how-to guides and tutorials on the Fire tablet how-to guides page.

You may also reach us via our Facebook page or the contact us form.

The post How to use Writing Assist on Fire Tablet? appeared first on Guides for Fire Tablet.

Wallpaper Creator is one of the three AI features Amazon offers to their recent Fire tablets, together with Webpage Summaries and Writing Assist.

This Fire tablet guide explains Wallpaper Creator, how to access and use Wallpaper Creator on your Fire tablet to create your unique wallpapers, how to manage and edit these AI-generated images on Fire tablet, the limitations of this feature, and its availability for Fire tablets.

For other generative AI features, you may check this guide for Webpage Summaries and this guide for Writing Assist for your Fire tablet.

What is Wallpaper Creator on Fire tablet?

Wallpaper Creator for Fire Tablet is essentially an AI image generator. It was announced with Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen) and was also offered to the latest generation of Fire HD 10 (Fire HD 10 2023) and Fire Max 11 with a Fire OS update in late October.

With Wallpaper Creator, you can describe what you want (i.e., prompt) to dictate the wallpaper generation. The actual image generation is done on Amazon servers, not on the tablet, which is not capable of running such a generative AI model locally.

In addition to the prompt (text description), you need to also specify one of the following styles to generate substantially different wallpapers:

• Suggested.
• Photorealistic.
• Fantasy.
• Oil painting.
• Starry night.
• Wtercolor.
• Pop up paper art.
• Color pencil.
• Cartoon.

The image generated will be in a fixed resolution of 2048px by 2048px. The generated image will be saved on the phone Gallery automatically. You can also apply it as the wallpaper directly in the Wallpaper Creator.

Two common ways to access Wallpaper Creator on Fire tablet

There are at least two frequently used ways to access the Wallpaper Creator on Fire tablet:

1. From Wallpaper Creator app.
2. From Wallpaper settings.

The outcome is identical. So, you can choose either of them.

In addition to these two ways, you can also access it from the Gallery app, within which there is a shortcut to access the Wallpaper Creator.

Method 1: from the Wallpaper Creator app

After the Fire OS update in late October, 2024, you can find a new app named Wallpaper Creator with this icon:

You can tap it to start to generate your wallpapers (read on).

Method 2: from wallpaper settings

An alternative way to launch and use Wallpaper Creator is from the wallpaper settings.

You can follow these steps.

Step 1: Access Display settings

On the Fire tablet Setting app, as shown in the screenshot below, tap Display to access wallpaper settings.

Step 2: Access Wallpaper settings

On the Fire tablet Display settings page, as shown in the screenshot below, you can adjust some aspects of the display, including:

• Brightness level.
• Dark theme.
• Blue Shade.
• Adaptive brightness.
• Wallpaper.
• Screen timeout.
• Auto-rotate screen.
• Font size.
• Display size.

Some of these settings can also be accessed from the Quick Settings.

Tap Wallpaper, as shown below to access wallpaper settings.

Step 3: Access Wallpaper Creator

On the wallpapers settings page, as shown in the screenshot below, you can set the wallpaper for your Fire tablet with:

• Any image from the Gallery app.
• Default wallpaper (pre-installed by Amazon).
• Create your own wallpaper.

Tap the Create your own wallpaper option to launch Wallpaper Creator to generate some unique wallpapers you want. Read on.

If your tablet does not support Wallpaper Creator, you will not see the third option.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

$69.99

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

How to use Wallpaper Creator to generate your own wallpapers on Fire tablet?

Once you access the Wallpaper Creator (with either method mentioned above), you can start to use AI to create some unique images and then use them as wallpapers for your Fire tablet as you want.

To create a wallpaper (actually just an image), you need to specify what you want with:

1. A prompt (text description of what you want).
2. Selection of the style for the image.
3. Then, ask AI to generate the wallpaper (image).

These 3 parts are highlighted in the screenshot below.

For example, you want to generate a wallpaper with the Japanese autumn foliage scene.

So, as shown in the screenshot below, in the prompt (description) field, you type the prompt.

Then select the image style. The default suggested style usually is good enough if you are not sure about the style.

Of course, after playing around with the Wallpaper Creator, you can choose the style you want for the specific wallpaper.

After providing the description and choosing the image style, you can now tap the “Create your image” button to let the AI do the rest.

Because the image (wallpaper) is always created on Amazon servers, just like the Webpage Summaries, not on the Fire tablet locally, it usually takes at least 30 seconds (up to one or two minutes) to receive (download) the generated image.

Before the final image is retrieved, you will see the progress screen, as shown in the screenshot below.

At this stage, you have to wait.

Once the wallpaper is created, you can see it immediately on the screen, as shown below.

All wallpapers created by Wallpaper Creator are automatically saved on your Fire tablet. You can check and edit them in the Gallery app.

For example, as shown in the screenshot below, a wallpaper with the suggested style was created.

If you are satisfied with the image, you can tap Set as wallpaper to use it to replace the current wallpaper instantly.

You may also edit the image in the Gallery app (or any other third-party photo editing tools) and then use or share it.

How to manage and edit wallpapers generated with Wallpaper Creator?

As mentioned, all wallpapers generated with Wallpaper Creator are automatically saved onto your Fire tablet. They are just normal images.

So, you can edit and share them, in addition to using them as wallpapers for the tablet.

The new Gallery app can be found on your Fire tablet with this icon:

The default Gallery app offers some basic photo editing capabilities for your Fire tablet. You can install other third-party photo editing apps on Fire tablet from the Amazon Appstore or Google Play store.

In the default Gallery app, after opening an image, next to the shareing button, you can find the context menu (3 dots), marked as A in the screenshot below.

A floating pencil icon (marked as B in the screenshot below) allows you to access the editing tools without going through the context menu.

After tapping the context menu button, you can find the following features:

• Delete. You can use it to delete this image.
• Slideshow. This feature lets you view all photos in the Gallery in a slideshow. You can tap anywhere to exit the slideshow mode and return to the current photo.
• Edit. Amazon offers some basic photo editing tools.
• Set as wallpaper. You can use this option to change wallpaper for the tablet instantly.
• Details. It shows the meta info of the photo.
• Print. You can print the photos wirelessly to your printer.

As mentioned, you can access the edit features quickly through the floating pencil icon.

Just remember the images generated with the Wallpaper Creator, once saved, are just standard images. You can do whatever you want, like other photos.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

-

-

$69.99

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

-

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

-

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

The limitations of the Wallpaper Creator on Fire tablet

Because the wallpaper generation is done with the Amazon servers, it costs Amazon money. Therefore, Amazon currently imposes some usage limitations for Wallpaper Creator.

Limitation 1: You can create up to 10 images each month

Currently, you are given a quota of 10 generations each month. The quota is reset automatically each calendar month. So, the unused quota will NOT be rolled over to thenext month.

There are no subscription options currently. So, if you need to generate more images, you have to use other AI service providers.

Limitation 2: The resolution (size) of the image generated is fixed at 2048 by 2048px

The resolution itself is sufficient for all Fire tablets because the maximum screen resolution of all Fire tablets is 1200*2000 (Fire Max 11).

But if you want to crop the image, sometimes you may prefer more pixels.

Again, Amazon does not offer any paid add-ons or subscriptions to bypass this limitation.

Limitation 3: Wallpaper Creator is only available on the recent Fire tablets

Amazon offers the Wallpaper Creator only on the recent Fire tablets released in 2023 and 2024, including:

• Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen).
• Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen).
• Fire Max 11 (2023).

This limitation is not due to hardware or software limitations of older Fire tablets because most of the work was done in the cloud, not locally.

Which are the Fire tablet models with Wallpaper Creator support?

As mentioned, the following Fire tablet models support Wallpaper Creator:

• Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen).
• Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen).
• Fire Max 11 (2023).

We will update this list whenever Amazon rolls out this feature to other devices.

Do you have any questions about Wallpaper Creator and other AI features on Fire tablets?

If you have any questions about generative AI features (Wallpaper Creator, Webpage Summaries, and Writing Assist) on Fire tablets, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

Detailed information on how to use the Google Play Store on Fire tablets can be found here.

Need advice on choosing a Fire tablet? Check the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide now.

You may check other Fire tablet how-to guides and tutorials on the Fire tablet how-to guides page.

You may also reach us via our Facebook page or the contact us form.

The post How to use Wallpaper Creator on your Fire tablet? appeared first on Guides for Fire Tablet.

Among the three generative AI features available for Fire tablets, the Webpage Summaries feature stands out as the most widely accessible.

This Fire tablet how-to guide explains what the Webpage Summaries feature is, how to use the Webpage Summaries on your Fire tablet, and its availability on Fire tablet models. FAQs related to this feature are also answered in the guide.

You may check other guides on how to use the other two generative AI features: Wallpaper Creator and Writing Assist.

What is the Webpage Summaries feature?

With the release of the Fire HD 8 2024, Amazon announced three generative AI features:

• Webpage Summaries to help you quickly get essential info on a webpage with the Silk browser.
• Wallpaper Creator to help you create some unique wallpapers for Fire tablets.
• Writing Assist to help you improve your writing in many apps.

In a nutshell, the Webpage Summaries can help you summarize the key points of a webpage, especially for long articles. This can save you a lot of time because many articles are usually too long and wordy.

Because the summary is created with generative AI, occasionally, hallucinations may be spotted for some articles that are too hard to understand (e.g., too technical or not well-written).

Which Fire tablet supports Webpage Summaries?

Among the three generative AI features, the Webpage Summaries has the highest availability. It is available on Fire HD 8 (2018 or later), Fire HD 10 (2019 or later), and Fire Max 11 (2023):

• Fire HD 8 2018 (8th Gen)
• Fire HD 8 2020 (10th Gen)
• Fire HD 8 Plus 2020 (10th Gen)
• Fire HD 8 2022 (12th Gen)
• Fire HD 8 Plus 2022 (12th Gen)
• Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen)
• Fire HD 10 2019 (9th Gen)
• Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen)
• Fire HD 10 Plus 2021 (11th Gen)
• Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen)
• Fire Max 11 (2023)

Please note that generative AI features are currently unavailable on Fire 7, including Fire 7 2022 (12th Gen) and Fire 7 2019 (9th Gen).

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

$69.99

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

How to use Webpage Summaries on supported Fire tablets?

The Webpage Summaries feature is part of the Silk browser. You can access and use it only in the Silk browser. It is not available in any third-party browsers, e.g., Chrome or Firefox.

Remember to update the system (Settings — Device options — System update) to the latest Fire OS, e.g., Fire OS 7.3.3 or later, or Fire OS 8.3.3 or later, depending on your Fire tablet model.

To use this feature, you just browse the webpage normally. The AI icon appears automatically if the webpage is supported.

For example, after opening our article on new features of Fire HD 8 2024, the AI icon appears in the address bar, as shown in the screenshot below. The icon appears only if:

• The content of the webpage is not too short.
• The content is in English.
• It is not a shopping website.

You can tap the AI icon to get two options:

1. Summarise page.
2. View the simplified page.

The second option actually is not new. It is the reading mode for supported web pages. It has been available in the Silk browser for a long time.

The first one is the new generative AI feature we are discussing about.

Tap the Summarise page, as shown in the screenshot below, to get the summary of the page.

At the bottom of the page, you will then find the progress of creating a summary, as shown in the screenshot below.

The duration depends on the length of the content, internet connection speed, and the load of Amazon (Silk) servers. Normally it should take less than a few seconds.

By default, the summary is overlaid over the bottom half of the screen, as shown below.

There are two buttons for you to

• Expand the summary overlay to read the full summary. You can tap or drag the expansion icon (highlighted in red in the screenshot below).
• Close the summary overlay by tapping the close button (highlighted in blue in the screenshot below.) You can also close the summary by tapping anywhere outside the summary overlay.

Now, let’s check the quality of the summary.

Because the post was written by us, we can quickly judge whether the summary captures the key points accurately.

Based on this test, we can conclude that the Webpage Summaries works very well. All important info is clearly reproduced in the summary.

As mentioned, occasionally, the AI may hallucinate when it has problems understanding the content.

So, Amazon puts a warning label under every summary generated, as shown in the screenshot below.

This summary was generated with AI and may contain inaccuracies.

FAQs on Webpage Summaries

Is Webpage Summaries free to use?

Yes, currently you can use it for free. No subscription is required.

Unlike Wallpaper Creator (one of the three AI features for Fire tablet), Amazon doesn’t impose limitations on the usage of summaries as well.

No AI icon for any web pages

You need to make sure:

• Your Fire tablet is supported (see the list of supported Fire tablet models above).
• The Fire OS (Fire OS 7/ Fire OS 8) has been updated to the latest version for your tablet.
• You are using the Silk browser.
• The webpage has meaningful content.

Is Webpage Summaries an on-device AI feature?

No, all three AI features need Amazon servers to process the data, and the AI models are deployed on Amazon servers in the cloud. Current Fire tablets do not have the capability to run generative AI models locally.

Do you have any questions on the Webpage Summaries on Your Fire Tablet?

The Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles, so you won’t have to scroll through pages of information. If you have questions about this feature or encounter any problems when using this AI feature and other AI features (Wallpaper Creator and Writing Assist), please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

Detailed information on how to use the Google Play Store on Fire tablets can be found here.

Need advice on choosing a Fire tablet? Check the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide now.

You may check other Fire tablet how-to guides and tutorials on the Fire tablet how-to guides page.

You may also reach us via our Facebook page or the contact us form.

The post How to Use Webpage Summaries on Your Fire Tablet? appeared first on Guides for Fire Tablet.

Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen) is an upgraded model (not a new model or a new gen in the product line) of Fire HD 8 20222 (12th Gen). This means the update in this 2024 release is relatively limited.

This Fire Tablet guide explains the new features and upgrades in Fire HD 8 2024, including more RAM, AI features, and an improved rear camera, to help you decide whether this tablet is the right device for you.

If you are considering a Fire tablet, you may check out the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025, which covers all Fire tablet models available in the market and the key differences among them.

Additional RAM

Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen) now has 3GB RAM for the 32GB storage version and 4GB RAM for the 64GB version. So, compared to Fire HD 8 2022, both versions get 1GB of additional RAM.

For this reason, Amazon claims a 50% increase in RAM (2GB to 3GB). For the 64GB version, the increase is 33.3%.

Although many potential buyers may be disappointed with the ancient CPU, which is identical to that in Fire HD 8 2022 (12th Gen), it is actually smart to add more RAM if you can only upgrade one of them. The tablet feels smoother when switching between apps, especially for some large apps.

Additional RAM is very likely required for the coming AI features (read on).

5MP rear camera

Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen) shares identical dimensions and button layout with Fire HD 8 2022 (12th Gen). The second upgrade to the tablet is the rear camera sensor.

The rear camera in Fire HD 8 2024 is upgraded to 5MP (from 2MP in the 2022 model). It should take better photos than its predecessor. This “upgrade” is compared to Fire HD 8 2022. Fire HD 8 Plus 2022 (12th Gen) was already equipped with the same 5MP camera sensor.

Of course, this is still a “tablet-quality” camera. Do not compare it with the camera in $500 or $1000 phones.

AI features

The third upgrade is the AI features, which will be available in late October or early November. Amazon offers three major AI features on Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen) and a few other tablets:

• Wallpaper Creator. You can create your own wallpapers using AI. Provide your prompt and get your desired wallpaper.
• Webpage summaries. The Silk Browser can summarize the content on the page with AI.
• Writing Assist The keyboard on the tablet can help your writing. In addition to the old-school spell correction, the AI feature of the keyboard can help you with grammar, choose the tone, and rewrite some text. This AI feature is similar to the Writing Assistant in the Samsung keyboard. But do not confuse it with the new Galaxy AI's Writing Assist.

These AI features will also be available to some other Fire tablets, including Fire Max 11, Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen), Fire HD 10 Plus (2021), and Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen).

You may check this guide on how to use the Webpage Summaries.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

$69.99

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

FAQs on Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen)

Do you have any questions about Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen)?

You may share your thoughts or questions about Amazon Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen) in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

Detailed information on how to use the Google Play Store on Fire tablets can be found here.

Need advice on choosing a Fire tablet? Check the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide now.

You may check other Fire tablet how-to guides and tutorials on the Fire tablet how-to guides page.

You may also reach us via our Facebook page or the contact us form.

The post What’s new in Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen)? appeared first on Guides for Fire Tablet.

Amazon Fire tablet (Fire 7, Fire HD 8, Fire HD 10, and Fire Max 11) is the most affordable Android tablet on the planet. Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 will help you decide:

• Is a Fire tablet right for me?
• Which Fire tablet is for me?
• How to get the best deal on a Fire tablet?

In this Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024, I will first explain the difference between the Fire tablet and the Android tablet, when you may consider buying a Fire tablet, and when you should not consider the Fire tablet at all. The current (2024) available models of Amazon Fire tablets are compared to explain the differences among these available models in 2024. You can then decide whether to get the 7″ Fire 7 or 8″ and 10″ HD or 11″ Fire max tablet based on your budget usage, portability, and special needs.

The Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 also provides comprehensive details regarding the additional features and upgrades available in the Plus version for Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10. The guide also offers a detailed overview of the Kids edition, enabling users to make informed decisions about its suitability for their needs.

This Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 finally explains why you should not buy a Fire tablet of the old generation and why you should avoid the refurbished Fire tablet.

This Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 is an updated version of Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2023 with the new Fire HD 8 2024, and new generative AI features: webpage summaries, wallpaper creator, and writing assist.

Update (latest): Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2025.

Difference between the Fire tablet and the Android tablet

Amazon Fire tablet is not exactly an Android tablet, although it is often quoted as the most affordable Android tablet.

Amazon Fire tablet differs from a “normal” Android tablet in a few aspects, including:

• No official Google Play Store access. The official app store is Amazon's Appstore, whose app pool is less than 1/100 of Google Play.
• No Google-related apps, for example, Gmail, YouTube, Photos, and Chrome.
• Some Android apps may not work with the Fire tablet.
• You cannot change the default launcher (unless you sideload the Google Play Store).
• Some default apps cannot be changed in Fire OS.

Amazon actually purposely created the “incompatibility” with Android. They want you to use Amazon services ONLY, instead of Google's.

The Fire OS, which is based on Android, removes almost all Google-related services and replaces them with Amazon's. This is not an issue when you replace Chrome with the Silk browser.

But when coming to the app store. Amazon not only adds its App Store but also disables Google Play. And to block Google Play, the whole Google Play Framework, including some security and privacy features, has to be removed or blocked.

And this is the source of all problems.

Android allows the co-existence of the vendor's App Store and Google Play Store. For example, on all Samsung phones and tablets, you can find both Samsung's Galaxy Store and Google Play.

Anyway, the Fire tablet is NOT designed as an Android tablet. Instead, it is designed as an Amazon device.

Who may consider a Fire tablet?

As an Amazon device, the Fire tablet is an essential component of the Amazon ecosystem.

You may consider a Fire tablet, if

• You are an Amazon Prime member or are considering it now.
• You own a lot of content on Amazon. Although all content can be accessed from an Android tablet or iPad, the Fire tablet offers centralized access.
• You need a tablet for entertainment and reading, not for work.
• You need a tablet for your kids or grandma.
• You are considering Amazon Kids+, which is an excellent add-on to the Fire tablet if the tablet is for young kids (younger than 13).
• You are comfortable with sideloading apps. If you need any Google services, you have to sideload the Google Play store. Please note Google Play Store does not work well on Fire OS 8.
• Your budget is very limited. With a comparable configuration and performance, you cannot find a better deal than the Fire tablet.

Although Amazon enjoys a cozy relationship with Microsoft and all Office apps are available for the Fire tablet, we seldom recommend the Fire tablet for business use for two reasons:

• You need an Amazon account for the Fire tablet. The integration of the Amazon account in Fire OS is mainly for home use.
• You very likely need some Google services for your work.

Of course, if you just need a tablet for Zoom (or Teams) meetings and/or editing/sharing office documents, yes, the Fire tablet is sufficient and can be considered.

Although you can sideload the Google Play Store and some Google apps to the Fire tablet (as explained in this guide), it is not recommended for business use. There are possibly some unknown compatible issues.

Please continue on this Fire tablet buyer's guide 2022 to see which Fire tablet is for you.

Who should NOT consider a Fire tablet?

The Amazon Fire tablet is probably not for you, if:

• You need a tablet with mobile data connectivity. All Fire tablets are WiFi only.
• You need a tablet for work that requires some sort of Google services.
• You need a performance tablet for games. The Fire tablet is “just enough” for casual games, but heavy mobile games normally require resources beyond the Fire tablet.
• You are not an Amazon customer. The Fire tablet requires an Amazon account.
• You need to use a few apps that are not compatible with Fire OS.
• You sometimes need to take some photos with the tablet. The front and rear cameras on the Fire tablet are very basic. They are generally good enough for video calls but normally not good for photos.
• You have more than $300 to spend on the tablet. The most expensive Fire tablet currently is the 128GB version of Fire Max 11. The list price is $279.99. Normally, you can get it at a lower price.

Anyway, the Fire tablet is not for everyone. It depends on your needs and preferences.

The current models and variations of the Fire Tablet

In this section of Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024, we now compare the current models of Fire tablets in 2024. We do not recommend you buy older versions or refurbished Fire tablets (explained in the last two sections of the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 below).

Amazon currently offers 4 base models of the Fire tablet:

1. Fire 7.
2. Fire HD 8.
3. Fire HD 10.
4. Fire Max 11.

The Kids Edition is available on the first 3 models with a 2-year hardware warranty, a kid-proof case, and a one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription. We will discuss it later in this guide.

Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 offer the “Plus” edition with some hardware upgrades. Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus are also offered as a Productivity bundle, which will be discussed in a separate section of this Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 (read on).

Currently, Amazon offers both the 11th Gen Fire HD 10 (2021) and 13th Gen Fire HD 10 (2023). But the 13th Gen of Fire HD 10 does not offer the Plus model. We strongly recommend you get the 13th Gen (Fire HD 10 2023) unless you want to get the Plus model.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

$69.99

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

Price not available

-

Buy on Amazon

The following table compares the current models and variations of the Fire Tablet in 2024.

We will update this table if any new Fire tablets are released.

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

-

-

$69.99

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1" vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

-

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Black

-

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

What are the considering factors when buying a Fire tablet?

Once you plan to buy a tablet, you need to consider a few factors. The Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 considers the following 4 factors:

1. Your budget.
2. Your intended usage.
3. Portability requirements.
4. Special needs.

Budget

The Fire tablet is the most affordable tablet on the planet up to now. Period.

A $329 budget for the cheapest iPad allows you to buy one Fire 7 + one Fire HD 8 + one Fire HD 10 at the full list price. You still have another $29 cash in your pocket.

Even Samsung's cheapest Tab A7 Lite (2GB/32GB/WiFi) is 77.7% higher than Fire HD 8, based on the list price.

As mentioned, the most “expensive” Fire tablet is the Fire Max 11, whose price tag is $229.99.

For all Amazon devices, you should not buy them at the list price unless you need them urgently. Every year, Amazon offers huge (usually 20-40%) discounts on the Fire tablet at least a few times a year. So, you just pay attention to the price change.

Of course, we recommend you purchase the “current” version. The reason is explained in the section (below) “About buying older generations of Fire tablets” of this Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024.

Intended usage

You need to buy a tablet because you want to use it for something.

The Fire tablet normally is good enough for the following usage:

• Browse websites.
• Read books.
• Watch videos.
• Listen to music or audiobooks.
• Play games.
• Online shopping
• Online learning.
• Edit office documents.
• Video or conferencing calls.
• Reply emails.
• Use social network apps.

The Fire tablet is usually a bit underpowered for the following usages:

• Edit photos/videos.
• Play heavy games.
• Take photos.
• Record videos.

Fire OS stripped almost all Google-related features. Although you may sideload the Google Play store and some Google apps to the Fire tablet, there may be some unknown issues. So, it is not recommended to use sideloaded Google services for your business. A cheap Samsung tablet should give fewer troubles with Google-related apps. Update: Fire OS 8 is compatible with the Google Play Store.

In addition to some unknown issues with Google services, some Google features will not work on the Fire tablet. For example,

• Family Link child and teen.
• YouTube Kids. The YouTube app should work on the Fire tablet, but not the YourTube Kids.

Another perspective of usage is who is going to use it.

Amazon Fire tablet is very user-friendly, especially for the non-tech-savvy. It simply works without confusing settings and unnecessary tweaks. The parental control (Amazon Kids) on the device also makes it a good option for kids.

So, the Fire tablet is generally good for:

• Kids who require parental control.
• Users who want the gadget to work without fiddling around.

Amazon Kids (old name: Amazon FreeTime) does not require a subscription and is free. Amazon Kids+ adds a subscription to age-appropriate books, audiobooks, apps, and videos for kids.

Portability

The size and weight determine how you can carry the tablet around.

All of the Fire tablets weigh less than 500g. So, it is usually not a big issue if you carry it in the backpack. There are no big differences in size and weight among current tablets in the market.

However, if you plan to carry it in a smaller bag, you need to consider the 7″, 8″, 10″, or 11″ form factors.

Special needs

You need to know whether you have any special needs for the tablet.

For instance, if you want to use your bank app on a tablet, it's probably not available in the Amazon App Store. Even if you check the Google Play Store, you might find that it's not available for the Fire tablet either.

A number of apps, particularly certain banking and streaming apps, are designed to work only on specific devices listed in the Google Play store. Sideloading these apps is not feasible, and even if you manage to sideload them, they are unlikely to function properly.

Certain users may require specific accessibility features. These features, which are present in the standard Android system, may be modified or excluded in Fire OS.

Anyway, it is important to check whether you have any special needs for apps and accessibility features.

When to consider Fire 7?

Amazon Fire 7 tablet (newest model) 7” display, read and watch, under $80 with 10-hour battery life, 32 GB, Black

• Entertainment in the palm of your hands – With 7″ touchscreen display, 2 GB RAM and quad-core processor, choose between 16/32 GB storage and download books, shows or movies to keep your downtime going.
• Big library, small tablet, more fun – Unwind with your favorite apps like Kindle, Netflix, Spotify and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription fees may apply).
• Pocket-sized entertainment hub – Enjoy up to 10 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos and listening to music at home or on-the-go. Expand storage to up to 1 TB with micro-SD card (sold separately).
• Say hello & go hands-free – Ask Alexa to make video calls to friends and family with Zoom or to check your Instagram or TikTok feeds. Alexa can also help find you a recipe, get you updates on weather, and more.
• Built for the whole family to enjoy – Amazon Kids offers easy-to-use parental controls on Fire tablets. Subscribe to Amazon Kids+ for access to thousands of books, popular apps and games, videos, songs, Audible books, and more.

Buy on Amazon

Fire 7 is the smallest and the cheapest Fire tablet.

Traditionally, the Fire 7 is in the category of the under-$50 tablet. But the current model (12th Gen) is priced at $59.99, which is $10 higher than previous generations.

The $10 price increase actually narrows the gap between Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 considerably. For the 32GB model, the price difference between Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 (11th Gen) is only $10.

You may consider Fire 7 when:

• You want to get a tablet as small as possible. But it should be large enough to read books and watch videos.
• Your budget is really very tight.

For the current generation of Fire 7, as mentioned earlier, the 32GB version is actually not as attractive as the 32GB version of Fire HD 8. With $10 more, you will get a better (and bigger) screen and better sound. of course, Fire HD 8 will be a bit heavier.

Please note, if you mainly use the tablet to read books and check social networks, the 7″ screen is good enough.

When to consider Fire HD 8

Sale

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest model), 8” HD Display, 3GB memory, 32GB, designed for portable entertainment, Hibiscus

• Fire HD 8 offers an 8″ HD display for seamless streaming and gaming, coupled with a 5MP rear facing camera for photos—with a thin, light, durable design.
• Responsive with all day battery life – Includes 3GB RAM (50% more than 2022 release), 32GB of storage, and up to 1 TB of expandable storage (sold separately). Up to 13 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos, gaming, and listening to music at home and on-the-go.
• Save time, get creative – Enjoy three new smart tools to help you send polished emails, quickly summarize webpages, and create unique wallpapers.
• Stream or download your favorite shows, movies, and games (like Minecraft, Roblox, and more). Enjoy your favorite content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
• Stay connected with family and friends – ask Alexa to make video calls to friends and family or download apps like Zoom.

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

Fire HD 8 is a versatile tablet. It is generally small enough to put in most bags so that it is easy to carry it around with you. It is not so heavy (337g). The screen is big enough to enjoy HD movies.

Also, the Fire HD 8 screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio. This increases the usable screen area noticeably compared to an 8″ screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio (as in Fire 7 and Fire HD 10).

You may consider Fire HD 8 when

• A 10″ tablet is a bit too big to carry around.
• You do not want to spend more than $100 on a tablet.
• You spend a lot of time reading books on the tablet.
• You spend a lot of time watching videos on the tablet alone.

Fire HD 8 is the most practical tablet to enjoy Amazon content: books, music, videos, games, and audiobooks.

When to consider Fire HD 10

Sale

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, built for relaxation, 10.1″ vibrant Full HD screen, octa-core processor, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB, Black

• Do what you love, uninterrupted — 25% faster performance than the previous generation and 3 GB RAM are ideal for seamless streaming, reading, and gaming.
• High-def entertainment — A 10.1″ 1080p Full HD display brings brilliant color to all your shows and games. Binge watch longer with 13-hour battery, 32 or 64 GB of storage, and up to 1 TB expandable storage with micro-SD card (sold separately).
• Thin, light, durable — Tap into entertainment from anywhere with a lightweight, durable design and strengthened glass made from aluminosilicate glass. As measured in a tumble test, Fire HD 10 is 2.7 times as durable as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2022).
• Stay up to speed — Use the 5 MP front-facing camera to Zoom with family and friends, or create content for social apps like Instagram and TikTok.
• Ready when inspiration strikes — With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the Made for Amazon Stylus Pen (sold separately) offers a natural writing experience that responds to your handwriting. Use it to write, sketch in apps like OneNote, and more.

$69.99

Buy on Amazon

Fire HD 10 used to be the biggest tablet in the line. It is generally faster than Fire 7 and Fire HD 8. But it is slower than Fire Max 11.

The full HD resolution of a 10″ IPS screen is good enough for everything. You really do not need a higher resolution.

You may consider Fire HD 10 when

• You do not mind the size and weight of a “normal” tablet.
• You need a big screen for your documents and Excel sheets.
• You want to enjoy videos with your kids together.
• You spend a lot of time watching videos on the tablet.
• You spend a lot of time editing documents on the tablet.
• You need to open some PDF documents on the tablet.

The Fire HD 10 is a general-purpose tablet. But it is slightly too bulky for reading Kindle books.

Since Fire HD 10 (2021), the split-screen multitasking feature is available on Fire tablets except Fire 7. The 10″ screen is OK for casual split-screen type multitasking.

When to consider Fire Max 11

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

• BIGGER, BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL — Vivid 11“ screen with 2.4 million pixels (2000 x 1200 resolution) lets you see every detail of your favorite movies, TV shows, and games. Certified for low blue light.
• MAX PERFORMANCE — Built with a powerful octa-core processor, 4 GB memory, and Wi-Fi 6 for fast streaming, responsive gaming, and quick multitasking.
• THIN AND LIGHT — Sleek aluminum design is also durable. It has strengthened glass and is 3 times as durable as the iPad 10.9-inch (10th generation) as measured in tumble tests.
• ALL-DAY ENTERTAINMENT — With 14-hour battery life, maximize your downtime for reading, browsing the web, watching videos, and listening to music at home and on-the-go. Save your favorites with 64 or 128 GB storage, and expand to up to 1 TB with micro-SD card (sold separately).
• VERSATILE FOR WORK AND PLAY — Optional Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case and/or Made for Amazon Stylus Pen (sold separately). Try Microsoft 365 Personal for 3 months (auto renews for $6.99/month after free trial, eligibility and terms apply).

Buy on Amazon

Fire Max 11 is the biggest tablet in the line. It is also the fastest among Amazon Fire tablets.

You can consider Fire Max 11 as a “premium” version of Fire HD 10 with everything upgraded: better display, faster CPU, more storage, and better accessories, as explained in this guide.

Fire Max 11 is the only Fire tablet with a fingerprint sensor. It is also the only Fire tablet with USI 2.0 stylus support. The Fire Max 11 is also the only Fire tablet with a metal (not plastic) design with a decent keyboard case (with trackpad)

The main drawback of Fire Max 11 is the lack of 3.5mm audio jack and wireless charging (together with other missing features).

Of course, Fire Max 11 is the most expensive one among Amazon Fire tablets.

You may consider Fire Max 11 when

• You need to open and use a few apps simultaneously.
• You do not mind the size and weight of a “normal” tablet.
• You need the best screen for your documents and Excel sheets.
• You spend a lot of time watching videos on the tablet.
• You spend a lot of time editing documents on the tablet.
• You need to open some PDF documents on the tablet.
• You need to do some serious work on the tablet.

The Fire Max 11 is a general-purpose tablet. But it is slightly too bulky for reading Kindle books. And it may be too expensive if you mainly watch videos on it.

When to consider the Plus version

Amazon offers the Plus version of Fire HD 8 2020, Fire HD 8 2022, and Fire HD 10 2021. However, Amazon does not offer the Plus version for Fire HD 8 2024 and Fire HD 10 2023.

The two features added to the Plus version are:

1. 1GB more RAM. So, Fire HD 8 Plus gets 3GB RAM and Fire HD 10 Plus gets 4GB RAM.
2. Wireless charging. Qi wireless charging was added to charge the tablet battery without using the USB-C port.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet, 8” HD Display, 32 GB, 30% faster processor, 3GB RAM, wireless charging, (2022 release), Gray

• Fire HD 8 Plus offers everything you get with a Fire HD 8 and more – wireless charging, 9W power adapter, 3 GB RAM, 2 MP front-facing and 5 MP rear-facing cameras. New design is thinner and lighter than previous gen and has a screen made with strengthened aluminosilicate glass. As measured in tumble tests, Fire HD 8 Plus is twice as durable as Apple iPad mini (2021).
• Fast and responsive – Enhanced hexa-core processor for more responsive performance (up to 30% faster than previous gen Fire HD 8 Plus) so you can get more done. Check email, tackle your to-do lists, browse the web, and more.
• Great for on-the-go – Up to 13 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos, and listening to music. Hassle-free wireless charging dock (dock not included) offers easy charging anywhere. Choose from 32GB or 64GB (up to 1TB of expandable storage via microSD card).
• Relax and unwind with your favorite content from Netflix, Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
• Stay connected with friends and family – Ask Alexa to make video calls or download apps like Zoom.

$119.99

Buy on Amazon

For Fire HD 8 Plus, another upgrade is the included 9W wall charger. A 5W charger is a standard configuration for Fire HD 8. Please note that Fire HD 8 also supports 9W and higher (up to 15W) charging. The difference between Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus is only the included charger.

Both Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus come with a 9W wall charger in the box.

1GB more RAM is very useful if you frequently switch between several apps. It also makes most games faster.

Wireless charging adds one more way to charge the tablet. But you cannot use wireless charging and USB cable charging concurrently. If you already have a wireless charger, or you may need to use the USB port for other accessories (e.g., a USB thumb drive), you will find wireless charging useful.

So, you need to check whether you actually need the two additional features for a price of $20 (for Fire HD 8 Plus) or $30 (for Fire HD 10 Plus).

When to consider the Kids edition

Amazon offers the Kids edition (Kids and Kids Pro) of Fire 7, Fire HD 8, and Fire HD 10, for an additional $50. This Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 will try to explain what you get for the $50 and whether you should consider it or not.

Kids and Kid Pro: what is the difference?

Do NOT confuse the Kids Pro with the Pro version of the tablet discussed earlier. They are totally unrelated.

The Kids version is for kids aged 3-7. In comparison, Kids Pro is for kids aged 6-12.

The tablet hardware is exactly identical. The differences between Kids and Kids Pro are:

1. The case/cover is different.
2. Whether the home screen theme can be customized.
3. Whether the digital store can be accessed.
4. Whether only handpicked websites can be browsed.

The Kids version comes with a bumper-style protective case; while the Kids Pro version comes with a slim protective case. Of course, the bumper-style case offers more protection. But it looks very bulky. Bigger kids may prefer the slim case. Both covers are well-designed.

The last 3 differences are mainly in the default parental controls. You can overwrite them in the parental control settings. Or you can adjust the kid's age to change these settings automatically.

The Kids Edition tablet requires a parent Amazon account. Parents can use the tablet as a normal Fire tablet. Kids will only access content added to them and Amazon Kids+ content (subscription).

What do you get for the $50?

In the Kids edition, you essentially get the following 3 items for the $50:

1. A kid-proof case (MSRP: $29.99).
2. One-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ (MSRP: $4.99/month or $48/year for Prime members and $7.99/month or $79/year for non-Prime members)
3. Two-year worry-free guarantee (not sold separately).

Amazon claims you will save $70 if you buy separately. But it seems Amazon does not sell the 2-year worry-free warranty separately. The $7.99 2-year accidental Accident Protection Plan is totally a different story.

Anyway, if you are not a Prime member and subscribe monthly, yes, the claim is legit.

The protective case is decent and offers excellent protection for the tablet. The 2-year worry-free guarantee is, of course, a nice option for devices to be used by kids.

Please note that Amazon simplified Amazon Kids+ subscriptions in June/July 2022. All subscriptions include unlimited access for up to 4 kid profiles. The single-child plan and Family plan were no longer available.

The one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription cannot be stacked with the existing subscription. So,

• If you are paying the Amazon Kids+ subscription monthly or annually, the subscription will be canceled with a pro-rated refund. The free one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription starts.
• If you are currently enjoying the free one-year Amazon Kids+ (e.g., comes with Echo Dot Kids), then the existing subscription will be cancelled without a refund, and the new one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription will start. Your existing Amazon Kids+ subscription will be forfeited, not extended.

So, if you plan to get a tablet and Amazon Kids+ for your kids, then yes, it saves you money to get the Kids edition.

Remember you do NOT need an Amazon Kids+ subscription if you only need parental controls. Amazon Kids is free.

So, if you do not need Amazon Kids+, then the Kids Edtion is probably not a good choice. It saves you money to buy the normal Fire tablet and case separately.

You may check our Amazon Kids+ guide (coming soon) for more details on how to maximize the benefits of Amazon Kids+.

Sale

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet (newest model), ages 6-12. Bright 8″ HD screen, includes ad-free content, parental controls, 13-hr battery, slim case for older kids, 32GB, Hello Teal

• SAVE UP TO $70: Get a full-feature tablet (not a toy) made for big kids ages 6–12, 6-month subscription Amazon Kids+ and a slim Kid-Friendly Case, versus items purchased separately.
• 2 YEAR WORRY-FREE GUARANTEE INCLUDED: If it breaks, return it and we’ll replace it for free for 2 years.
• AMAZON KIDS+ INCLUDED – Includes 6 months of Amazon Kids+, a digital subscription that provides unlimited access to ad-free, age-appropriate content that kids love. This includes STEM content like Math Claw or books in different languages to help kids develop their skills. After 6 months, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at just $5.99/month plus applicable tax. You may cancel any time by visiting the Amazon Parent Dashboard or contacting Customer Service.
• EASY-TO-USE PARENTAL CONTROLS – Remotely review child activity to learn more about what your child is enjoying, approve (or deny) purchase and download requests, manage content, and more.
• LONG LASTING BATTERY – Features all-day up to 13-hour battery life, powerful hexa-core processor, 3GB RAM (50% more than 2022 release), and 32GB of internal storage with up to 1 TB of expandable storage (sold separately). It’s great for downloading games, videos, books, and music for their on-the-go educational entertainment.

$64.99

Buy on Amazon

Sale

Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet (newest model) ages 3-7. Top-selling 7″ kids tablet on Amazon. Includes ad-free and exclusive content, easy parental controls, 10-hr battery, 16 GB, Purple

• SAVE UP TO $70 — Get a full-featured tablet (not a toy) for kids ages 3–7, 1 year of Amazon Kids+ content, and a Kid-Proof Case with a built-in stand and save versus purchasing items separately.
• 2 YEAR WORRY-FREE GUARANTEE INCLUDED — If it breaks, return it and we’ll replace it for free for 2 years.
• AMAZON KIDS+INCLUDED – Includes 1-year of Amazon Kids+, an award-winning digital subscription featuring thousands of ad-free books, interactive games, videos, and apps – now with select ad-free Disney and Avengers episodes! Kids can explore content from trusted brands like Disney, Nickelodeon, and PBS Kids including educational STEM activities, language learning, and entertainment they love – all in one place. After 1 year, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at $5.99/month plus applicable tax. You may cancel any time by visiting the Amazon Parent Dashboard or contacting Customer Service.
• NO-HASSLE PARENT CONTROLS — Easy-to-use Parent Dashboard allows you to filter content based on child's age, set educational goals and time limits, and grant access to additional content like Netflix and Disney+.
• SAFETY FIRST — We partner with leading family trust experts to provide a safer digital experience for kids.

$54.99

Buy on Amazon

Sale

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet (newest model) ages 6-12. Bright 10.1″ HD screen, includes ad-free content, robust parental controls, 13-hr battery and slim case for older kids, 32 GB, Nebula

• Built-in safeguards that protect your children's privacy and prevent malware and spyware, ensuring a safe and secure online experience.
• Awarded “Best Parental Controls” by Parents Magazine, the Amazon Kids Parent Dashboard mobile app makes it easy for parents to remotely set screen time limits and stay aware of the content kids are using.
• Includes 1-year of Amazon Kids+, a digital subscription offering a vast, ever-growing selection of tailored, ad-free content suitable for all ages. After 1 year, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at just $5.99/month plus applicable tax. You may cancel any time by visiting the Amazon Parent Dashboard or contacting Customer Service.
• Powerful tablet not a toy. Our largest, most powerful tablet with HD display, large storage and 10+ hours of battery. Includes a slim case and a 2-year worry free guarantee.
• Kids tablet ready to go right out of the box. Amazon Kids+ provides instant access to ad-free videos, games, apps, books and interactive experiences that help kids Play, Create and Learn.

$104.99

Buy on Amazon

When to consider the Productivity bundle for the Fire tablet

Amazon offers a “productivity bundle” for Fire HD 10, Fire HD 10 Plus, and Fire Max 11. The productivity bundle for Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus will cost you $70 more than buying the tablet only. The productivity bundle for Fire Max 11 costs more and depends on whether you want to include the stylus.

Productivity bundle for Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus

This Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 will check whether you should spend an additional $70 for it.

The productivity bundle includes:

• The tablet (Fire HD 10 or Fire HD 10 Plus).
• A Bluetooth keyboard with a detachable case (MSRP: $49.99)
• 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal. (MSRP: $69.99, usually $58.99).

So, if you need both the Bluetooth keyboard (see this guide on how to use it) and Microsoft 365, then you may consider buying them as the productivity bundle. It saves you about $40 compared to purchasing them separately. The Bluetooth keyboard is surprisingly good at that price point. You can also use some special keys and shortcuts tailored for Fire HD 10 tablets.

However, if you do not need the Microsoft 365 subscription, or you do not like the Bluetooth keyboard, then you should not consider the productivity bundle. It saves you money to buy the tablet and accessories separately.

Productivity bundle for Fire Max 11

The $125 productivity bundle for Fire Max 11 includes the following:

• The official keyboard.
• The official stylus.

Please note that the official keyboard connects to the tablet magnetically, and you may not be able to use it on other devices. It is not a standard Bluetooth keyboard.

The stylus is the standard USI 2.0 one. So, you can use it on other devices (e.g., many Chromebooks) that support USI 2.0 stylus.

About buying older generations of Fire tablet

When a new generation of the Fire tablet is released, Amazon may want to clear the stock of the previous generation.

We do not recommend our readers to buy older generations of Fire tablets, although the price may be enticing.

For example, for Fire HD 10, the current version is Fire HD 10 Gen 11, released in 2021. The previous generation is Fire HD 10 9th Gen, released in 2019. Although the list price of these two models did not change, the specs improved a lot in the newer version, as explained in this guide. So do not be trapped in the high discount for the previous generation (Fire HD 10 2019 in this case).

You should always buy the current (latest) generation of the Fire tablet for better performance and longer security updates. Amazon promised a 4-year security update after they stopped selling the device on Amazon as a new one (not refurbished). So this means the current model usually has at least one or two years longer security updates because Amazon refreshes each model every 2 to 3 years.

About buying a refurbished Fire tablet

Thanks to the generous returning policy, Amazon gets a lot of returning Fire tablets.

Of course, most of these Fire tablets will end up in other users' hands as a replacement or a “refurbished” device.

Amazon usually offers a high (sometimes more than 50%) discount for these Fire Tablets.

Although the pricing is enticing, you probably should stay away from these deals unless your budget is extremely limited.

There are a couple of reasons against buying a refurbished Fire tablet:

• They are usually not the current generation Fire tablet.
• Some of them have been proven to be problematic. The problem that the previous owner faced may come again sooner or later. The rectifying and certification process often fails to detect some defects.
• Although you get a one-year limited warranty, it is troublesome to return and get another refurbished device. This explains a few owners keep getting faulty replacements.

Of course, we believe Amazon maintains a high standard for refurbished products. And they usually honor the warranty without issues.

But a tablet has hundreds of electric components. Some issues can only be triggered after actual usage, not a lab test.

Anyway, you may consider the refurbished Fire tablet only if you are constrained by your budget. If the device works without issues, it could be a good deal.

About devices with Fire OS 8

Amazon released Fire OS 8 for the 12th and 13th Gen Fire tablets, including:

• Fire 7 2022.
• Fire HD 8 2022.
• Fire HD 8 Plus 2022.
• Fire Max 11.
• Fire HD 10 2023.
• Fire HD 8 2024.

Fire OS 8 is based on Android 11 and gives some new features and improved security and privacy. You can sideload Google Play store like on Fire OS 7 and 6.

Do you have any questions about the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024?

If you have any questions about the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide 2024 or need help buying a Fire tablet, please let us know in the comment box below. The community will try to help you.

Detailed information on how to use the Google Play Store on Fire tablets can be found here.

Need advice on choosing a Fire tablet? Check the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide now.

You may check other Fire tablet how-to guides and tutorials on the Fire tablet how-to guides page.

You may also reach us via our Facebook page or the contact us form.

The post Fire Tablet Buyer’s Guide 2024 appeared first on Guides for Fire Tablet.

Amazon Fire Max 11 is the first “premium” model of the Fire tablet product family after Amazon discontinued the Kindle Fire HDX 7 and HDX 8.9 in 2015. Although it only costs less than $230 (usually on sale for as low as $150), it has some interesting features, such as fingerprint ID, active pen support, and an official keyboard case, as explained in this post. However, at the same time, there are some limitations and missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11.

This Fire tablet guide explains the top 7 limitations and missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11, including no DisplayPort Alt Mode, no wireless charging, no fast charging, no headphone jack, lack of Google Play store support, limited multitasking capabilities, and outdated Android version.

Now, let's go through these seven limitations and missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11 one by one.

1. No USB-C Alt Mode support

USB-C Alt Mode allows USB-C ports to transfer data (e.g., video) via multiple interfaces, including the DisplayPort video interface. So, with USB-C Alt Mode support, you can instantly connect your tablet to a monitor or projector with a USB-C to HDMI cable to share the screen or work on the large screen.

Unfortunately, Amazon Fire Max 11 does NOT support USB-C Alt Mode. This means you cannot easily hook the tablet to a big screen.

This is one of the most disappointing missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11 if you need to share the screen or want to work on a big screen with the tablet.

Please note Amazon Fire Max 11 (and Fire HD 10 2023) does support screen mirroring through Miracast, which is only available on some TVs.

Amazon TV stick or Chromecast (or any Android TV) can be used if you need to hand over the video to the TV. Of course, if you want to use Chromecast on Fire Max 11, you need to sideload the Google Play store and install the Home app.

2. No 25W fast charging

Amazon started to adopt the USB-C port in the 9th gen of Fire HD 10 (2019). The standard 15W USB-C fast charging has been supported on all Fire tablets with a USB-C port, although the bundled charger is only 9W (or 5W).

Given the relatively large battery in Fire Max 11, a 4-hour charging time is apparently too slow by today's standard. In 2023, more and more mobile devices support 25W or even 65-100W fast charging through the USB-C connection. But Amazon Fire Max can still charge up to 15W.

Some owners may feel that the lack of 25W fast charging is one of the significant missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11.

3. No wireless charging

In the last few years, Amazon added the wireless charging feature to the “Plus” version of Fire HD 8 Plus 2020 and 2022 and Fire HD 10 Plus (2021). Please note Amazon did not release the Plus version for Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) and Fire HD 8 2024 (12th Gen).

However, due to the all-metal build of the back and frame, Fire Max 11 cannot support wireless charging. Wireless charging requires plastic or glass material to cover the charging coil region. So, this missing feature of Amazon Fire Max 11 is due to the limitation of the material (metal) used for the back cover.

4. No headphone jack

Amazon did not explain why the headphone jack was removed. It is one of the most frustrating missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11. Of course, there is no USB-C to 3.5mm dongle in the box.

We believe this is Amazon's most stupid decision for Fire Max 11.

Apple removed the headphone jack to sell AirPods (e.g., AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 3). Other Android manufacturers, like Samsung, Google, and Motorola, also removed it from the flagship models (e.g. Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S23) and hoped to sell wireless earbuds (e.g., Galaxy Buds and Pixel Buds). Of course, none of them, except Apple, succeeded.

Fire Max 11 will not push the sales of Amazon Echo Buds. The wireless earbuds market is oversaturated. Most Fire Tablet owners will not buy it.

The sad truth is that all wireless earbuds, including AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4/5, sacks due to limited bandwidth in Bluetooth (including the LDAC codec and Samsung Seamless Codec), compared to cheap wired headphones with an “ordinary” DAC.

Amazon Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case (Only compatible with 13th generation tablet, 2023 release)

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

Made for Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 (2023 Release) & Amazon Fire HD 10, (13th Gen, 2023 release) Tablets

Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter

$79.99

Price not available

$29.99

$17.79

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

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-

Amazon Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case (Only compatible with 13th generation tablet, 2023 release)

$79.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

Price not available

Buy on Amazon

-

Made for Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 (2023 Release) & Amazon Fire HD 10, (13th Gen, 2023 release) Tablets

$29.99

Buy on Amazon

Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter

$17.79

Buy on Amazon

-

5. Google Play store support through sideloading

It is not a secret that Amazon does not want Fire tablet owners to use the Google Play store. In some old versions, Amazon even worked very hard to make it extremely hard to use any Google services.

But without the Google Play store, the value of a Fire tablet would reduce by at least half. Most Fire tablet owners know the Fire OS is just Android, and they know how to sideload APK files, including Google Play Store.

Fire OS 8, which runs on Fire Max 11, initially attempted to block Google services, maybe inadvertently. Anyway, now there are no issues with sideloading and using the Google Play Store on Fire Max 11.

6. Limited multitasking capabilities

Amazon Fire Max 11 was designed as a “productivity” tablet, not just a content-consuming device. Amazon also worked hard to create a well-designed keyboard cover tailored for the Fire Max 11. Active pen (stylus) support was also introduced.

Also, for the first time, Amazon added the fingerprint ID to help you unlock the tablet.

However, one crucial feature is severely limited on Amazon Fire Max 11: multitasking.

The 5:3 aspect ratio of the display actually slightly adds more screen area compared to 16:9 (or 16:10) in the mainstream Android tablet. It should potentially help multitasking.

Since the split-screen view multiwindow feature was introduced in Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen) and HD 10 Plus, Amazon did not improve it. There is no pop-up view mode yet. You still cannot directly share content between two apps.

The limited multitasking capability is one of the major limitations and missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11.

7. Outdated Android version

Amazon Fire Max 11 comes with Fire OS 8, which is based on Android 10 and 11. So, compared to other Android tablets released this year, Fire Max 11 is already 3-4 years behind.

If you are within the Amazon ecosystem, you may not feel the need. The tablet was optimized for Amazon services.

But if you need any third-party apps, you will feel the pain. Most apps in Amazon Appstore have not been updated for a few years at least. In other words, you are running an outdated OS with outdated apps. Besides the new features and functions, you should also be concerned about security.

After sideloading the Google Play Store, you can surely get far more updated apps. But you may notice a few apps may not work well on Fire Max 11 as they require a newer version of Android.

The outdated Android version inside the Fire OS 8 is probably one of the most disappointing limitations and missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11.

Please note that Amazon added three generative AI features, Webpage Summaries, Wallpaper Creator, and Writing Assist, to Fire Max 11 in the Fire OS 8.3.3 update in October 2024.

Do you have any questions about the top 7 limitations and missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11?

Please let us know your thoughts on questions on these limitations and missing features of Amazon Fire Max 11 in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

Detailed information on how to use the Google Play Store on Fire tablets can be found here.

Need advice on choosing a Fire tablet? Check the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide now.

You may check other Fire tablet how-to guides and tutorials on the Fire tablet how-to guides page.

You may also reach us via our Facebook page or the contact us form.

The post Limitations and Missing Features of Amazon Fire Max 11 appeared first on Guides for Fire Tablet.

Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case is the first keyboard case with the Amazon brand on it. The unique design and special keyboard features make the accessory very impressive, although it is not cheap at $89.99.

This Fire tablet guide explains everything you need to know about the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case to help you decide whether it is for you or not. The guide also shows you how to use and customize Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case and its unique features.

The Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case is for Fire Max 11 only. Although the keyboard piece is removable, you cannot use the keyboard on any other devices because it is NOT a Bluetooth keyboard.

Update: In October 2024, Amazon added three generative AI features, Webpage Summaries, Wallpaper Creator, and Writing Assist, to Fire Max 11 in the Fire OS 8.3.3 update. You can use Writing Assist with Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case.

Unique features of Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case

Amazon Fire Max 11 is the first “premium” Fire tablet from Amazon after discontinuing the Fire HDX series long ago, although there are some missing features of the Fire Max 11.

So, Amazon packed some unique features and upgrades into Fire Max 11: both the tablet itself and the accessories. For example, the active pen was introduced. And the USI 2.0 pen can now also be used in the recently released Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen). The Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case is the first keyboard case made “by” Amazon.

The first “official” keyboard case for Fire tablet is the official keyboard case for Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen). But it was made “for” Amazon by Fintie. This means Amazon's involvement in the keyboard case's design is minimal. Actually, it is a generic Fintie design for various devices with 15 special keys for Fire tablets.

In contrast, the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case is made “by” Amazon. This means the Amazon Fire tablet team designed the keyboard case. This makes it possible to integrate some special features with the tablet seamlessly. Here are 4 of the unique features of the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case.

No Bluetooth, no paring, directly connected to the tablet

The keyboard connects to the tablet through the magnetic Pogo pins connector. The benefits include:

• Zero setup. No Bluetooth setup. No pairing. It works instantly, just like your wired keyboard.
• No charging or changing battery. The keyboard powers itself from the tablet. You do not need to check the battery levels of the keyboard. Because there is no Bluetooth, the battery consumption is very marginal.
• No lagging. Because the keyboard transmits keystrokes to the tablet through a direct connection, you will not experience lagging, which is an inherent problem for many Bluetooth keyboards.

Of course, there is one disadvantage of using the Pogo pins connector. The keyboard can only be used for this specific model of tablet. Unlike Bluetooth keyboard, you can pair it with any other device.

Trackpad with gesture support

Surprisingly, Amazon managed to integrate a decent trackpad into the keyboard. We usually see the trackpad on the keyboard for devices with a 13″ or larger screen.

Once you get used to the trackpad, it could be more useful and faster than an additional mouse for most tasks on a tablet.

Some frequently used gestures are supported. For example, you can use the pinch-to-zoom gesture, two-finger scrolling gesture, and task-switching gesture on Fire Max 11 easily.

15 shortcut keys with 2 customizable shortcuts

Similar to the official wireless keyboard for Amazon Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen), there are 15 shortcut keys on the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case. Two of them (Files and Emails) are customizable.

2-piece detachable back cover with integrated stand

The 2-piece design makes it very easy to remove the keyboard from the back cover when you do need the keyboard.

The back piece is attached to the tablet through magnetic without using any bulky plastic shells. You can flip the bottom part of the back cover to make it an integrated stand. The viewing angle is adjusted by how much “flipping” you applied. Like other this type of back covers, the stand works well on your desk, not on your lap, when you slouch on the sofa.

The stand works only in the landscape orientation.

The Components of the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case

As mentioned earlier, the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case adopted a 2-piece design. So, you can detach these two pieces:

• Keyboard (front piece)
• Back cover (rear piece).

The front piece

As shown in the illustration below, the front piece (which covers the screen) is the keyboard.

The following items can be found:

• Two keyboard alignment tabs.
• Five Pogo connectors to connect the tablet with the keyboard.
• A keyboard with some special keys.
• A trackpad.

The two alignment tabs should be inserted into two holes at the bottom of the Fire Max 11 tablet, as shown in the illustration below. Once the two tabs are positioned properly, the Pogo connectors will connect to the metal part (connectors) automatically.

Back Cover

The back cover consists of:

• Camera cutout.
• Hinge.
• Kickstand

The camera cutout can be used to help you position the back cover properly.

The hinge divides this piece into two sections. The top part (with the camera cutout) is always attached to the tablet by magnetic. The kickstand part can be flipped along the hinge freely within a certain range to create different viewing angles. When the kickstand is close to the tablet, the hinge will force it to attach to the tablet.

Because the hinge is fixed, you cannot use the kickstand feature in the portrait orientation.

How to attach the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case to the tablet?

Thanks to the magnetic force, It is extremely easy to attach the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case to the tablet by the following 3 steps.

Step 1: Attach the back cover to the tablet

You just need to align the camera cutout with the rear camera on the tablet, the back cover should be attached to the tablet immediately.

Step 2: Attach the keyboard to the tablet

To attach the keyboard to the tablet, you just need to pay attention to the location of the tab and hole. The magnetic force will do the rest.

It is not necessary to preciously point the tab to the hole. The directional magnetic force will help you position it properly.

Step 3: Adjust viewing angles

Now, you can adjust the viewing angle for the tablet.

As shown in the illustration below, you can put one hand on the top part, then use the other hand to flip the kickstand.

Remember if the kickstand is too close to the tablet, the hinge will move it back to the tablet automatically. So, you need to flip it to the position so that it will not move back to the tablet.

Once the kickstand is enabled, you can use one hand to adjust the viewing angle, as shown below.

You need to pay attention to the limit of the hinge. The kickstand can move up to perpendicular to the back of the tablet. This means the maximum viewing angle is about 135 degrees.

The keyboard layout of Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case

The keyboard layout is shown in the picture below.

There are a total of 15 special shortcut keys. 14 of them are located in the top row. The Email shortcut key is located in the last row between the Control key and the Alt key.

The special keys are identical to those on the official Bluetooth keyboard for Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen). Please check this guide on the meaning and usage of the 15 special keys on the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case.

The trackpad is located at the bottom.

Amazon Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case (Only compatible with 13th generation tablet, 2023 release)

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

Made for Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 (2023 Release) & Amazon Fire HD 10, (13th Gen, 2023 release) Tablets

Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter

$79.99

Price not available

$29.99

$17.79

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

-

-

Amazon Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case (Only compatible with 13th generation tablet, 2023 release)

$79.99

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet (newest model) vivid 11” display, all-in-one for streaming, reading, and gaming, 14-hour battery life, optional stylus and keyboard, 64 GB, Gray

Price not available

Buy on Amazon

-

Made for Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 (2023 Release) & Amazon Fire HD 10, (13th Gen, 2023 release) Tablets

$29.99

Buy on Amazon

Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter

$17.79

Buy on Amazon

-

How to configure and customize the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case?

By default, the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case works out of the box. You can use it immediately once you connect it to the tablet.

However, sometimes, you may want to customize or tweak the keyboard. You can do this in the Fire Max 11 Settings.

As shown in the screenshot below, you can find a dedicated entry of Fire Tablet Accessories for you to configure and customize the “official” accessories, including the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case and Amazon stylus pen for Fire Max 11.

Tap Fire Tablet Accessories on the Settings page to access the accessories settings page, as shown below.

Only the official accessories, including Made for Amazon or Made by Amazon, are listed here. Third-party accessories do not have a dedicated entry for them on the Settings page. Some third-party accessories have their own apps for you to manage and customize them. Some may appear as a connected Bluetooth device, and you can manage them there.

For Fire Max 11, currently, there are only two official accessories:

• Stylus pen.
• Keyboard case.

For the Fire Max 11 keyboard case, the back cover has no software-related features. So, you can see the Physical Keyboard entry.

Please note if you detach the keyboard from the tablet, the Physical Keyboard entry will not show up.

Tap Physical Keyboard to configure and customize the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case.

As shown in the screenshot below, you can customize the following 10 features of the keyboard:

1. Files Shortcut Key.
2. Email Shortcut Key.
3. Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case (keyboard layout).
4. Use on-screen keyboard.
5. Keyboard shortcuts.
6. Keyboard Trackpad Gestures.
7. Disable trackpad.
8. Pointer speed.
9. Tap to click.
10. Tap while Typing.

We now go through them one by one.

1. Files Shortcut Key

On the top row of the keyboard, as shown earlier, there is a Files button (Files Shortcut Key). By default, if you press this key, the Files app (from Amazon) opens.

However, you can customize this key to any apps installed on the tablet. It is not limited by file manager apps.

Normally, you customize this key to one of the frequently used apps. It can considerably save you time.

Email Shortcut Key

By default, the Email Shortcut Key lets you open the built-in Email app.

However, you can customize it to other email apps installed on the tablet.

For example, as shown in the screenshot below, you can change it to GMail after you sideload the app to Fire Max 11.

Please note this key can only be assigned to an Email app, not other types of app.

Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case (keyboard layout)

Multi-language input is usually painful on Fire tablets. The problem is even worse with an external physical keyboard.

Anyway, if your main language is not English, you can change the keyboard layout to your language by tapping Set up keyboard layouts, as shown in the screenshot below.

Use on-screen keyboard

By default, when the Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case or a third-party physical keyboard is connected to the Fire Max 11, the on-screen virtual keyboard will not show up.

You can overwrite this by making the on-screen keyboard always available when input is required.

This is especially useful for users who need to input text with mixed languages. In this case, you can use the on-screen keyboard to make language switching slightly easier. If you have an active stylus for Fire Max 11, you can use handwriting to text (which recognizes more than one language neurotically) to complement the physical keyboard.

Keyboard shortcuts

In addition to the 15 special keys (shortcut keys), the Fire Max 11 Keyboard case also supports other shortcuts.

The keyboard shortcuts are organized in three categories:

• System.
• Shortcut keys.
• Word processing.

Under the system category, as shown in the screenshot below, there are 5 shortcuts for:

1. Recents (Alt + Tab)
2. Cycle backwards through recent apps (Alt + Shift+ Tab)
3. Notifications (Search + N)
4. Split screen (Fn + S)
5. Enable/disable trackpad (Fn + Tab).

Under shortcut keys, as shown in the screenshot below, there are 15 special keys for Home, Push to talk to Alexa, Back, Search, Open Files, Decrease display brightness, Increase display brightness, Skip backward in media apps, Play/pause in media app, Volume down, Volume up, Go to Lock screen, Open Silk browser, Launch Email app.

Among these 15 shortcut keys (special keys), as mentioned earlier, only two of them (Email and Files) can be customized. The Silk browser key cannot be customized to Chrome or other browsers.

Under the Word Processing group, as shown in the screenshot below, the Fire Max 11 Keyboard case supports the following 16 shortcuts:

1. Copy (Control + C)
2. Paste (Control + V)
3. Cut the selection (Control + C)
4. Undo (Control + Z)
5. Select all text (Control + A)
6. Toggle selected text to bold (Control + B)
7. Toggle selected text to italic (Control + I)
8. Change selected text to underline (Control + U)
9. Open the find/search window if available in the app (Control + F)
10. Save the current document or file (Control + S)
11. Print (Control + P)
12. Home (Fn + )
13. End (Fn + )
14. Page up (Fn + ▲)
15. Page down (Fn +▼)
16. Amazon ( Search + P)

Keyboard Trackpad Gestures

In addition to navigation round with the trackpad, Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case supports the following 6 trackpad gestures:

1. Notification tray. Swipe down with two fingers from the top edge of the trackpad to open the notification tray when the cursor is not inside any app. This is also the quick way to access Quick Settings on the Fire tablet.
2. Scroll vertically. Swipe up or down with two fingers on the trackpad to scroll vertically when the cursor is inside the app.
3. Scroll horizontally. Swipe left or right with two fingers on the trackpad to scroll horizontally when the cursor is inside the app.
4. Pinch to zoom. The gesture works only if the app supports zoom-in and zoom-out.
5. Swipe to unlock. Swipe upwards with two fingers from the bottom edge of the trackpad to wake up and unlock the tablet. You still need to use the fingerprint ID or PIN/password to unlock.
6. Task switcher. Swipe left or right with 3 fingers to switch to the previous or next app, according to the sequence in the Recents screen.

Disable trackpad

If you want, you can disable the trackpad here.

You can also disable or enable the trackpad with the Fn + Tab shortcut on the keyboard.

Pointer speed

You can use the slider, as shown below, to adjust the speed of the pointer to meet your needs.

Tap to click

Tap to click allows you to register a click by tapping on the trackpad. The click gesture needs a bit more force to register. So, enabling the Tap to click can reduce the fatigue of your fingers.

Tap while Typing

Tap while typing allows you to use the trackpad when typing.

Sale

Amazon Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case (Only compatible with 13th generation tablet, 2023 release)

• COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE – Exclusively compatible with Fire Max 11, Keyboard Case delivers a lightweight and comfortable typing experience. With a spacious key layout, 15 shortcut keys, and 2 customizable shortcuts, typing is faster and easier.
• TRACKPAD BUILT IN – Integrated trackpad with adjustable pointer speed and trackpad disable/enable feature (Fn+Tab) provides responsive performance for navigation of documents, webpages, and email.
• ZERO SETUP – Keyboard installs in seconds via magnetic attach. Lightweight and portable keyboard cover is perfect while on-the-go and automatically wakes screen when opened.
• NEVER REQUIRES CHARGING – Pogo pin connection powers keyboard from Fire Max 11, eliminating need to charge keyboard independently.
• TRACKPAD GESTURES – Trackpad gestures like pinch to zoom, two finger scrolling, and task switching make navigating apps and documents quick and easy.

$79.99

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What are the shortcomings of the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case?

Although the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case offers many unique features and may improve your productivity and experience, there are a few shortcomings of the case, including:

• The keyboard can only attach to Fire Max 11. You cannot use it on any other devices.
• There is no shell to protect the frame.
• The kickstand can be used only in the landscape orientation.
• The viewing angle range offered by the kickstand is not so large.
• It is not cheap ($90).

Do you have any questions about the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case?

Please let us know in the comment box below if you have any questions about or need help with the Amazon Fire Max 11 keyboard case.

Detailed information on how to use the Google Play Store on Fire tablets can be found here.

Need advice on choosing a Fire tablet? Check the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide now.

You may check other Fire tablet how-to guides and tutorials on the Fire tablet how-to guides page.

You may also reach us via our Facebook page or the contact us form.

The post Amazon Fire Max 11 Keyboard Case: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Guides for Fire Tablet.

Amazon Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) was announced on September 18, 2003, and will be shipped from October 18. You may wonder what's new in Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen).

This Fire Tablet Guide explains the top 10 new differences between Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021, including a faster chipset (Mediatek MT8186A), 5MP front-facing camera, 13-hour battery life, stylus (active) support, lighter and thinner, Fire OS 8, new button layout, Bluetooth 5.3LE, no plus version, and $10 cheaper. We also explain some key features and specs remain unchanged.

Please do not confuse Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) with Fire Max 11 (2023). The latter is not in the Fire HD 10 series.

What's New in Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen): Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021?

Now let's go through these differences between Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021 one by one.

1. Stylus (active pen) support

Fire HD 10 2023 (13 Gen) now becomes the 2nd device with active pen support in the Fire tablet product line (after Fire Max 11). This is one of the most practical (especially for note-taking users) new features of Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021.

You can use any USI 2.0 pen on the Fire HD 10 2023, including the one for Fire Max 11.

Please check this guide on what the active pen can do on Fire HD 10 2023, how to use it, and whether you need to get it or not.

2. A faster chipset (Mediatek MT8186A) in Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen)

In each generation of Fire HD 10, Amazon bumped up the processing powers moderately.

Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) has the MediaTek MT8186A chip. The octa-core processor has 2 ARM Cortex-A76 cores at 2.05 GH and 6 A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. It is in the top spectrum of entry-level chips for tablets and Chromebooks.

The raw performance is 25% faster when you compare Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021.

3. 5MP front-facing camera

Amazon Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) improved the front-facing camera. The 2MP camera sensor found in Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen) was updated to a 5MP one.

The new camera sensor now supports 1080p (full HD) video recording. It is enough for most video meetings and calls. The previous generation of Fire HD 10 only supports 720p.

Of course, there is no auto-focus for both front and rear cameras.

4. 13-hour battery life

Amazon claimed the Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) has a battery life of 13 hours, which is 1 hour longer than the Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen).

5. Lighter and thinner

Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) is noticeably lighter than Fire HD 10 2021 (434g vs. 465g).

Compared to the previous Gen, Fire HD 10 2023 is also 0.6mm thinner (8.6mm vs. 9.2mm).

6. Fire OS 8

Since the 12th Gen, Amazon introduced Fire OS 8 in Fire 7 2022, Fire HD 8 2022, Fire HD 8 2024, and Fire Max 11.

Fire HD 10 2023 is also running on Fire OS 8. In comparison, Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen) is on Fire OS 7.

There are some new features introduced in Fire OS 8, e.g., dark mode, native screen recorder, and one-time permission. You may check this post for details of Fire OS 8. If you sideload Google Play Store to Fire HD 10 2023, you may have more choices of available apps.

Please note that Amazon has only issued security updates to its tablets in recent years and has not updated the major version of Fire OS. For example, Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen) was released with Fire OS 7. It will probably never be updated to Fire OS 8.

Update: Amazon introduced three generative AI features, Webpage Summaries, Wallpaper Creator, and Writing Assist, with the release of Fire HD 8 2024. Webpage Summaries and Wallpaper Creator are available on both Fire HD 10 2021 and Fire HD 10 2023. But Writing Assist is available on Fire HD 10 2023, not on Fire HD 10 2021.

7. Bluetooth 5.3LE

Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) supports Bluetooth 5.3 LE. Compared to Bluetooth 5.0 LE, LE audio is one of the most prominent new features. This means you may get far better audio quality when using a compatible Bluetooth headset.

8. New button layout

Since the 12th Gen of Fire tablets, Amazon adopted a new button layout for the power and volume buttons. In the landscape orientation, the power button is near the top, and the volume button is below it. In previous generations (e.g., Fire HD 10 2021), the volume button is above the power button.

Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) adopted this new button layout.

9. No Plus version

Until now, Amazon has not mentioned the Plus version of Fire HD 10 2023.

So, if you expect wireless charging or 4GB RAM on Fire HD 10 2023, you will be disappointed. These two features were available in the Plus version of Fire HD 10 2021 (11th Gen). Similarly, the 2024 release of Fire HD 8 2024 does not have a Plus version either. It seems Amazon will stop the Plus versions in their future tablet.

Please note Fire Max 11 does not support wireless charging either, as explained in the limitations and missing features of Fire Max 11.

10. $10 cheaper

Surprisingly, Amazon offers the 13th Gen Fire HD 10 2023 tablet at $10 cheaper than the previous generation. Apparently, it reversed the price hike in the 12th Gen Fire tablets.

Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) now starts at $139.99 ($10 cheaper than Fire HD 10 2021).

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• High-def entertainment — A 10.1″ 1080p Full HD display brings brilliant color to all your shows and games. Binge watch longer with 13-hour battery, 32 or 64 GB of storage, and up to 1 TB expandable storage with micro-SD card (sold separately).
• Thin, light, durable — Tap into entertainment from anywhere with a lightweight, durable design and strengthened glass made from aluminosilicate glass. As measured in a tumble test, Fire HD 10 is 2.7 times as durable as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2022).
• Stay up to speed — Use the 5 MP front-facing camera to Zoom with family and friends, or create content for social apps like Instagram and TikTok.
• Ready when inspiration strikes — With 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the Made for Amazon Stylus Pen (sold separately) offers a natural writing experience that responds to your handwriting. Use it to write, sketch in apps like OneNote, and more.

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Now, let's quickly review the specs unchanged in Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021.

What's Unchanged: Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021

The following remain unchanged:

• Screen size and resolution.
• 3GB RAM.
• 32GB/64GB storage.
• Build quality and materials.
• No Wi-Fi 6.
• Micro SD card support up to 1TB.
• USB-C 2.0
• USB-C charging.
• Headphone jack. Fire Max 11 is the only Fire tablet without the 3.5mm jack.
• Kids editions (Kids and Kids Pro) are available.
• The official keyboard case is available.

Please note that Fintie also makes the official keyboard case for Fire HD 10 2023. But it is NOT compatible with Fire HD 10 2021 due to the size difference. Similarly, the keyboard case for Fire HD 10 2021 does not fit with Fire HD 10 2023. The functions (e.g., special keys and shortcuts), layout, and usage of the two keyboards are identical.

Also, you cannot use the Fire Max 11 keyboard case on Fire HD 10 2023.

Do you have any questions about Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021?

If you have any questions about the differences between Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you.

Detailed information on how to use the Google Play Store on Fire tablets can be found here.

Need advice on choosing a Fire tablet? Check the Fire Tablet Buyer's Guide now.

You may check other Fire tablet how-to guides and tutorials on the Fire tablet how-to guides page.

You may also reach us via our Facebook page or the contact us form.

The post Fire HD 10 2023 vs. Fire HD 10 2021: What’s New in Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen)? appeared first on Guides for Fire Tablet.

Fire Max 11 is the first Amazon tablet with active stylus pen support (and fingerprint support). And Amazon released the official accessory for it: Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11.

This Amazon Fire tablet how-to guide explains the difference between an active stylus pen and a capacitive stylus, the key features and functions of the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11, how to use it in different apps, how to customize the settings for it, and answers to questions you may have on using the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 on Fire Max 11.

Because Fire Max 11 supports an active stylus (USI 2.0) and Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is essentially a USI 2.0 active pen, it is necessary to explain the difference between active and capacitive styluses first.

Update: Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen) became the second Fire tablet with active stylus support. You can use Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 on Fire HD 10 2023 (13th Gen).

Active stylus pen vs. capacitive stylus

For tablets, currently, there are two types of stylus in the market:

• Capacitive.
• Active. There are different types of active pens. Fire Max 11 only supports USI 2.0 active pen. For example, you can NOT use the S Pen (a Wacom Electromagnetic Resonance type active Pen) on Fire Max 11. Of course, Apple Pencil does not work either.

We do not include the old PDA-era resistive stylus because it has been almost out of the tablet market.

The difference between active and capacitive styluses can be highlighted from these 5 aspects.

1. Compatibility with touchscreens

Generally speaking, the capacitive stylus is compatible with all touchscreens found in all tablets (including Android tablets and iPads) in the market today. If you can use your finger on the screen, then a capacitive stylus should work.

So, you can definitely use a capacitive stylus on Fire Max 11 and other tablets with active pen support.

However, an active pen only works with “matching” touch screens. And this “match” is further complicated by different vendors. For example, S Pen only works on Samsung Galaxy devices.

The cause of this incompatibility comes from:

• Different active stylus types. For example, Wacom EMR (S Pen), Wacom Active Electrostatic (AES), and Apple Active Projected Capacitive (APC, as Apple Pencil) require different digitizers under the screen to interact with the companion active pens.
• Proprietary implementation. Even the same type of active stylus pen sometimes are not compatible with different vendors.

Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) is trying to solve the compatibility issue so that you can use a single active stylus on all devices. Currently, it is mainly supported by most Chromebook manufacturers.

Fire Max 11 supports USI 2.0; therefore, you can use any standard USI 2.0 active pens on it. Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is a USI 2.0 active pen made for (not by) Amazon.

2. Power source

A capacitive stylus does not require a power source and works based on the electrical charge of the user's finger or conductive material.

An active stylus pen is a digital pen and requires a power source, typically a battery, to function. Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is powered by one AAAA battery.

Wacom EMR-type active pen (e.g., S Pen) does require a battery in the pen. Such an active pen is powered by the magnetic field (through induction) of the active digitizer behind the screen.

3. Pressure sensitivity

All active stylus pens in the market offer at least 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity.

Of course, a capacitive stylus does not support pressure sensitivity at all.

4. Palm rejection

Another major difference between active and capacitive styluses is palm rejection (detection).

When using a capacitive stylus, the screen cannot differ input between your hands and the stylus. So, if your palm touches the screen, it will also be registered.

But when using an active pen, the screen can differ and separate the input of the pen and your hands. On most devices, by default, once the input of the S Pen is detected, the input from your palm will be rejected automatically.

5. Function button

Most active styluses have at least one function button. The function of this button can be customized. For example, you can use the button to turn the pen tip into an eraser.

A capacitive stylus seldom has a button.

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Made for Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 (2023 Release) & Amazon Fire HD 10, (13th Gen, 2023 release) Tablets

• Compatible with Amazon Fire Max 11 (2023 Release) & Amazon Fire HD 10, (13th Gen, 2023 release) Tablets
• Perfect for drawing, sketching, coloring, taking notes, and marking up PDFs.
• No pairing involved, simply insert the provided battery and start using the stylus with your tablet.
• Conveniently attaches magnetically to the side of your tablet.
• USI 2.0 certified stylus. Compatible with USI 2.0 supported devices.

$29.99

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Key features and facts of the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11

The stylus pen provides a unique way to interact with Fire Max 11. It is especially useful if you use the tablet for note-taking, sketching, digital art, and graphic design.

As mentioned earlier, you can use any USI 2.0 stylus pen on Fire Max 11. Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is just a convenient (and wallet-friendly) option.

The key features and facts of the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 include the following.

1. Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is not made by Amazon.

The stylus is made “for” Amazon, not “by” Amazon.

It was made by Maxeye, one of the major OEM active pen suppliers. The model number of the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is ME-USI306, certified by USI.

2. No special apps for Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11

Surprisingly, Amazon did not ship any apps that fully utilize the stylus. None of the Amazon apps updated for it. Even for split-screen multitasking, Amazon does not add special features to the pen.

So, your experience with this active stylus pen highly depends on the app you are using.

3. USI 2.0 certified

Because Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is USI 2.0 certified, you can use it on other devices that support USI 2.0. Some middle to high-end Chromebooks with a touchscreen supports USI 2.0.

Also, if you own a USI 2.0 active pen, you probably do not need to buy an Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11. You can use the existing one on Fire Max 11.

4. Magnetic attach

The stylus pen features a magnetic attach function, allowing it to securely attach to the side of the Fire Max 11 tablet, making it easily accessible and ensuring you don't misplace it.

5. Function button

The stylus pen includes a function button, whose function depends on the app you are using.

For example, in the writing mode, you can hold the button to turn the nib into an eraser.

6. Powered by one no-rechargeable AAAA battery

Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is powered by one AAAA battery (included). It is not rechargeable.

Amazon claims a long battery life of 6 months. But this highly depends on your usage.

7. 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity

This pressure sensitivity is sufficient for almost all sketching and graphic design jobs.

8. No on/off button

The stylus automatically sleeps and wakes up. There is no on/off button for it.

The only button is a function button. Of course, if you press the button, the pen wakes up immediately.

How to use Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11?

As mentioned, although the stylus function is integrated into Fire OS 8, there are no “flagship” apps to test the active pen.

So, the available pen-related functions and features depend on the app you are using.

Items in the box

As shown in the picture below, there are 5 items in the box of Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11:

1. The stylus (battery not installed).
2. One AAAA-size Battery (AAAA).
3. A pincer.
4. A spare nib.
5. Instruction leaflet.

The pincer is for you to replace the nib when the pre-installed one is worn out.

When you receive the box, the battery is not installed. You need to install it by yourself (read on). The battery size is standard AAAA. You can get one from most stores easily.

Do not throw away the box. The spare nib is useful if you use the stylus often. The pincer will make the replacement job very easy.

How to place and replace the battery to Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11?

As shown in the instructions, you need to unscrew the top part and then insert the battery into the bottom tube.

The positive terminal (with the + sign) of the battery should go into the tube first, as shown in the picture below.

When replacing the battery, you need to shake it gently to let the old battery move out. There is no tools to pull out the old battery. Gravity with a gentle shake will do the job.

As mentioned, you can only insert a AAAA-size battery into the tube. If you are not sure, ask the shop owner for a 4A battery (which is smaller than the more common AAA battery).

How to change the nip for Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11?

In the box, there is a spare nib (which is identical to the pre-installed one). You need to replace it only when the nib is worn out.

To replace the nib, you should pull out the nib from the pen with the pincer provided in the box.

As shown in the picture below, you should clamp the pincer tool on the groove of the nib. Otherwise, it is very hard to pull out of the nib.

How to use the function button on the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11?

Because Amazon did not assign special features for the function button in Fire OS 8, the function associated with the function button depends on the implementation of third-party apps.

When you are in writing mode, the function button can activate the eraser. In this case, you can hold the function button and erase the text where the nib passes.

How to switch to handwriting mode when using the virtual keyboard?

The handwriting mode only Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 works differently for different types of apps. Yes, it is a bit frustrating.

1. Pen-aware apps (note-taking apps, e.g., OneNote)

Such apps can detect the pen once it is close to the screen. In this case, it will automatically switch to pen model (handwriting) mode.

And the writing model should work with any keyboards, including an external physical keyboard.

Please note you can easily sideload the Google Play store into Fire Max 11. So, you can try various note-taking apps with pen support.

2. Text input box (e.g., address bar in Silk browser)

You can tap the text input box with the pen. The default virtual keyboard will show up.

If your default virtual keyboard is the default Fire keyboard, then it should automatically switch to handwriting mode, as shown in the screenshot below.

However, if your default keyboard is any third-party keyboard (e.g., Google Gboard), only the keyboard will show up. These keyboards do not support handwriting mode. You need to switch to the default Fire keyboard to use the pen.

For browser apps, if you launch them with the pen, then they will automatically open the handwriting mode for you to input without tapping the address bar.

3. Text editor apps (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs)

Such apps expect you to type from the keyboard. So, even if you tap the input area with the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11, the standard keyboard shows up, as shown below.

In this case, you need to switch to the writing mode manually.

Tap the keyboard icon in the keyboard (not the one in the navigation bar), as shown below.

After tapping the keyboard icon, the keyboard now changes to the split keyboard, as shown above.

Tap the keyboard icon again, as shown above, to switch to the handwriting mode.

Now, the virtual keyboard should switch to handwriting mode, as shown below.

You can write in the specified area. What you write will be recognized and converted to text automatically.

For such apps, if you launch the app with the pen, it may switch to the handwriting mode automatically when the keyboard shows. However, this behavior is not always consistent, based on our test in Google Docs and Microsoft Word. It seems there are some bugs related to the pen in Fire OS 8

How to switch to handwriting mode when using a physical keyboard?

You can similarly use the handwriting mode when using an external physical keyboard, e.g., the official keyboard for Fire Max 11.

If you set the default virtual keyboard as Fire keyboard, then the handwriting mode works similarly as with the virtual keyboard.

How to customize the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11?

You can customize the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 to make it work better for you.

To customize the settings for the active pen, you need to open Settings from the Home screen or Quick Settings.

On the Settings page, tap Fire Tablet Accessories, as shown in the screenshot below.

In the Fire Tablet Accessories page, you can customize :

• Pen & handwriting (the active pen)
• Physical keyboard.

Tap Pen & Handwriting, as shown below, to customize the settings for the stylus pen for Fire Max 11.

Fire Max 11 Keyboard case guide can be found here.

On the Pen and Handwriting page, as shown below, you can customize the stylus pen:

• Hover indicator.
• Time to text.
• Show word suggestions.
• Stroke width.
• Stroke color.
• Languages.
• Tutorial.

Let's go through them one by one.

Hover indicator

When the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 closes to the screen, the tablet can detect it automatically. By default, a hover indicator shows on the screen.

If it bothers you, you can turn off the hover indicator with the switch.

Time to text

When you write with the pen, the handwriting-to-text conversion should be slightly delayed to get better recognition.

If the default does not work well for you, you can make it faster or slower, as shown in the screenshot below.

Show word suggestions

The default Fire keyboard can predicate what you are trying to type. So, it gives you suggestions for the next word. If it is exactly what you plan to type, you can choose the word instead of typing.

This feature is also available for handwriting. The suggested words are shown for your consideration.

Of course, you can ignore the suggested words. This option lets you turn off the suggestion totally for the handwriting mode.

Stroke width

You can choose the pen stroke width as:

• Thin.
• Medium (default)
• Thick.

Stroke color

You can set the color for the pen stroke in the handwriting mode.

This does not affect the stroke color in your note-taking apps or doodling or sketching apps. It is for the handwriting window only.

Languages

You can also add more supported languages so that you can write in other languages.

However, you must switch the language for the keyboard first. The Fire keyboard does not support multiple languages in one layout. Each language has its own keyboard.

Tutorial

Amazon added a short tutorial showing you how to use the pen, how to select text, and how to make corrections.

A concise review of Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11

First, if you need to do some sketches or graphic designs on the tablet, then Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is essential.

If you need to take some notes, then using the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is no no-brainer.

If you mainly use the tablet for reading books or watching videos, then do not waste the $35.

If you use the tablet for writing, then the official keyboard is more important than this pen.

Overall, Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 is the best value-for-money USI 2.0 pen. The precision and responsiveness are acceptable. You need to pay more for a USI 2.0 pen with comparable quality.

Fire OS is the biggest issue for the pen. It is not optimized for the pen at all. Even Amazon apps are not optimized for the pen.

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FAQs on Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11

Do you have any questions about Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11?

If you have any questions about the Amazon Stylus Pen for Fire Max 11 or need help using the stylus pen on Fire Max 11, please let us know in the comment box below. The limitations and missing features of Amazon Fire Max are explained here.

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