Amazon Fire Hd 10 Plus Productivity Bundle
The Productivity Bundle includes a detachable keyboard and a year of Microsoft 365, so you can use apps like Word in split-screen on the Fire HD 10.
As noted above, the Fire HD 10 Plus is the same as the standard model, but with 4GB of RAM instead of 3GB, a soft-touch finish, and wireless charging. None of these things are worth the extra cost: the RAM didnt make an appreciable difference in performance because Amazons software is the bottleneck for productivity the soft-touch finish is slightly grippier, but anyone who puts a case on the tablet wont even experience it and the wireless charging is convenient but slow, and finding a charger thats big enough for the tablet and not awkward to use is a bit of a challenge.
I tested the Fire HD 10 Plus with the $250 Productivity Bundle, which includes a detachable keyboard case and a year of access to Microsofts Office apps. Its Amazons acknowledgment that people are using tablets for more than just media consumption, especially as many workers and students were stuck at home during the pandemic and had to do everything remotely.
The keyboard is small and plasticky, but its not the worst thing Ive ever typed on.The back of the Fire HD 10 Plus has a soft-touch finish.
But the hardware is not the main thing holding the Fire HD 10 Plus back its the software, or, more accurately, the lack of it.
Know Which Kindle Fire You Have: Device Model
The FASTEST and EASIEST way to figure out which tablet you have is checking the actual device model in your tablet’s settings. Kindle Fire tablets from 2013 and newer have the setting that tells you which model you have.
Slide down the quick menu and tap “Settings” then tap “Device Options”.
On this screen if you look near the bottom you’ll see “Device Model” and under that you should see which Kindle Fire model and generation you have.
Amazon labels their Kindle Fire generations based on which year the device was released.
The first year they created the Kindle Fire is the 1st generation.
The second year they created newer Kindle Fires and labeled them Kindle Fire 2nd generation.
The third year are called 3rd generation, fourth year are 4th generation, etc.
All The Amazon Fire Tablets Reviewed
Amazon offers, perhaps, the best value in tablets as long, as you are willing to live with some compromises. The Fire series boasts more than acceptable specifications for light web browsing and movie watching. The tradeoff for the low prices is that the available software is somewhat limited, but that shouldnt be a problem for most users.
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Amazon Fire Hd 8 Battery Life
Amazon says this years Fire HD 8 lasts for up to 12 hours of reading, browsing the web and watching video, which is a nice improvement over the 10 hours of the previous model.
This largely holds up. At 50% display brightness, an hour of Netflix consumes 7% of the battery, which is a great result. Crank the battery up further though and this will double. Due to the fairly dull screen, I tended to have the screen set to max brightness when I was doing anything in a well-lit room.
A very welcome change is the switch to USB-C, replacing the tired microUSB port. This means you can now use any USB-C cable to charge the tablet.
Dont Expect To Use Your Fire Longer Than A Year
Tech specs of new Amazon Fire models make them useful in the first months after the launch. With every update of the operating system, the tablets performance is visibly deteriorating.
It may turn out that after a year its hardly possible to use the Fire, although it is in an excellent physical condition. Loading the home screen or single apps may take ages. The tablet may stall or respond after a few seconds. You may notice the battery gets drained extremely fast.
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Deep In The Amazon Ecosystem
The Fire tablets have always been about consuming Amazon content. They started out as the “Kindle Fire,” intended for reading color books and streaming video. The mission has expanded, but only slightly you can certainly play games and join Zoom calls on these tablets, but Amazon will drive you, again and again, to the videos and books it wants you to buy.
This year’s Fire lineup has a bewildering array of options, but they’re all the Fire HD 10 at heart. Here’s what you’ll get with the various versions:
Take Control Of Your Notificationsincluding The Annoying Amazon Ones
If you got the slightly cheaper Fire Tablet that comes with Amazons Special Offers, then youre going to get a lot of superfluous ads showing up in your notification bar.
But worry not, because you can actually block these ads pretty easily by using a feature thats built into Android. The next time an ad shows up, simply long-press it, then tap the little i icon on the right side.
From there, you can toggle the Block option to hide notifications generated by Special Offers from that point forward. Thats a win for you.
If youre into getting even deeper control of your notifications, check out our primer on full notification control across the board on Android devices.
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Performance: How Fast Can $90 Get You
- 2.0GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8168
- Mali-G52 MC1 GPU
- 32/64GB of storage
You know this wont be a fast device from the get-go. Its a $90 tablet, so its performance is that of a $90 tablet. But things arent as bad as one would imagine.
The tablet does what matters. Swiping through home screens and launching the various Amazon apps shows little to no lag. Its when you start doing other things that you really notice the lack of power. Typing, for example, was significantly painful, as the tablet was always two or three letters behind. You literally have to wait for it. Apps like Facebook will stutter pretty much nine out of 10 swipes. Attempting to have a natural conversation on Messenger really tests your patience.
I quickly realized this wasnt a device made for those activities, so I uninstalled social networks and messaging apps to avoid notifications I didnt want. It wasnt as frustrating when using the Amazon Fire HD 8 solely as a consumption tablet. It played HD video smoothly, even if typing titles was slow during search. Amazon shopping worked well, and light tasks such as reading in the Kindle app worked without a hiccup. Playing music was also seamless, and flipping through magazines felt as natural as the real deal.
Amazon Fire Hd 8 Software
The Amazon Fire HD 8 runs Fire OS, which is based on the same software as the other slates in our best Android tablets list but looks and feels completely different. If youve used an Amazon tablet before, then nothing significant has changed. But its worth a quick primer if youre new to the Fire range as it can put people used to regular Android off completely.
Fire OS is very service-driven. Its made up of a bunch of homescreens, most of which push other Amazon-owned platforms. Theres Instant Video, the Kindle Store, Amazon.co.uk, Audible, and more.
Its the equivalent of Google getting rid of the homescreens and instead just giving you pages featuring different parts of the Google Play Store. The reason the Amazon Fire HD 8 is so affordable suddenly becomes clear: Amazon makes most of its money elsewhere, badgering you into spending money with these services.
Some might find this approach annoying and I will admit that if you dont use any of Amazons many services then it wont be pleasant. However, if you do then I really appreciate the design. Your content is always front and center and easily accessible. All your books, video from Prime or audiobooks are laid out with big artwork and without having to dive into separate apps. It really helps the Fire HD 8 feel like a media tablet, rather than one for productivity.
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Simd Extensions For Multimedia
Introduced in the ARMv6 architecture, this was a precursor to Advanced SIMD, also known as .
Jazelle DBX is a technique that allows to be executed directly in the ARM architecture as a third execution state alongside the existing ARM and Thumb-mode. Support for this state is signified by the “J” in the ARMv5TEJ architecture, and in ARM9EJ-S and ARM7EJ-S core names. Support for this state is required starting in ARMv6 , though newer cores only include a trivial implementation that provides no hardware acceleration.
You Can Extend The Fires Memory By Microsd Card
Amazon Fire tablets come with the microSD card slot. Its one of their most significant benefits, especially that the internal memory is rather small.
A tablet with the 16 GB storage option leaves below 10 GB for the user. An operating system uses the rest. 10 GB is a couple of games, audiobooks, and movies. I bet you plan to download and use much more than that.
Thats why many Amazon Fire users buy memory cards together with other accessories. What you have to remember, however, is that microSD cards can be more expensive than the tablet.
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Amazon Fire Hd 8 Design
One of the best things about the Amazon Fire HD 8 is that while it is a cheap tablet, it doesnt appear instantly dated like many others in this price bracket. It isnt thick or heavy, and its very durable. This is a tablet I wouldnt mind chucking in a bag without a case or giving to clumsy kids .
Im looking at the white version of the Amazon Fire HD 8. Its a pleasant look and has a textured finish that both looks and feels better than glossy plastic. The tablet is also available in a wide array of hues.
The Fire HD 8 succeeds in a manner that sounds like an insult: it isnt rubbish. However, Ive used many sub-£100 tablets over the years that are, frankly, rubbish and a constant reminder that you opted to cheap out.
Amazon has tried to make a tablet that isnt going to disappoint buyers quickly. I dont think many of you will feel let down by its build, or become irritated by the amount of storage space you have to play with.
Amazon Fire Tablets Useful Links
Here are a quick links to Amazon Store sections devoted to Fire tablets:
- all new models that are sold by Amazon, plus a detailed comparison table,
- older models that were tested to work and look like new,
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Part 1: The Mentor
Coriolanus released the fistful of cabbage into the pot of boiling water and swore that one day it would never pass his lips again. But this was not that day. He needed to eat a large bowl of the anemic stuff, and drink every drop of broth, to prevent his stomach from growling during the reaping ceremony. It was one of a long list of precautions he took to mask the fact that his family, despite residing in the penthouse of the Capitols most opulent apartment building, was as poor as district scum. That at eighteen, the heir to the once-great house of Snow had nothing to live on but his wits.
His shirt for the reaping was worrying him. He had an acceptable pair of dark dress pants bought on the black market last year, but the shirt was what people looked at. Fortunately, the Academy provided the uniforms it required for daily use. For todays ceremony, however, students were instructed to be dressed fashionably but with the solemnity the occasion dictated. Tigris had said to trust her, and he did. Only his cousins cleverness with a needle had saved him so far. Still, he couldnt expect miracles.
326 words read
Book Riot news, bookish commentary, and recommendations for readers of all stripes
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How To Know Which Kindle Fire You Have: Kindle Fire Specs
Another way to know which tablet you have is to check the Kindle Fire specs and then determine which year your tablet was released.
First, look through Amazon’s technical specifications for each Kindle Fire and find which physical features your tablet has.
Second, some versions of the Kindle Fire are the same physically on the outside. Once you narrow down the possibilities, you’ll need to determine the year of your tablet, which I’ll explain below under the Kindle Fire specs.
Notes about features:
- To know the size of your Kindle Fire screen measure from the inside viewing pane from opposite corners, don’t include the outside border that is a dark black. There are several sizes depending on which model you have. You should have either a 6″, 7″, 8″, 8.9″, or 10″ screen.
- If your Kindle Fire can connect to the Internet without Wi-Fi it has 4G capability. You can tell if your tablet has this option by sliding down the top menu, select “Wireless”, and if you see the “Mobile Network” option then your device has 4G.
Best Amazon Fire Tablets : Which Amazon Tablet Is Best For You
The best Amazon Fire tablets for families, for work and for play
Included in this guide:
Fire HD 10 Plus
Fire HD 8 Plus
Fire 7
Amazons updated Fire tablet range really does have something for everyone: the Fire 7 is astonishingly cheap while the Fire HD 10 Productivity version is an Office-capable work tablet that still costs less than an iPad, and there are Fire HD tablets for every kind of user including young children.
The range is constantly being updated, too: the Fire HD 10 has been given a significant upgrade for 2021, and theres a version of it for kids too. Our junior testers are currently putting the Fire Kids Pro of the new HD 10 through its paces and well post our review shortly.
In this guide well take you through what we think are the best Amazon Fire tablets for every kind of buyer: the best Fire tablets for young children, the best Fire tablets for everyday apps, the best Fire tablets for gaming and the best budget Fire tablets.
is just around the corner, which means we’ll likely see a whole host of deals on these tablets too. Whether youre looking for a Fire thats cheap and cheerful or one thats capable of putting in a full days work, these are the best Amazon Fire tablets in 2021.
Reasons to avoid
The Fire HD 10 Plus is the best of Amazon’s Fire tablet range, and while the price is still affordable it’s going to cost you a touch more than the other options on this list.
Reasons to avoid
Reasons to avoid
Reasons to avoid
Reasons to avoid
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Best Amazon Fire Tablet For Kids: Fire Hd 10 Kids Pro Tablet
Some may object to this pick based on the price alone. You see, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is significantly more expensive than the Fire HD 10 Tablet, even though they are essentially the same device. So why is this so? It’s about all of the extras, which adds up to a good value.
Amazon’s Kids Edition Fire Tablets all come with a kid-proof case with a built-in stand to protect the devices from inevitable accidents. In the case of the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, you can get them in Sky Blue, Black, Doodle, or Intergalactic. In addition to the case, Amazon throws in a two-year worry-free guarantee, so you can send the device back at any time if it gets damaged, and Amazon will send you a new one.
Just as important as physical device security is digital peace of mind. The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro comes with parental controls that allow you to decide what your child can and cannot do on-device. For example, it’s easy to set screen time limits, curfews, or limit content. Alexa and in-app purchasing are disabled by default. The device also comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, which gives you access to 20,000 apps, books, videos, games, audiobooks, as well as educational content from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney, and more.
What You Get For $150
The Fire HD 10 is made of matte plastic, and you can get it in black, blue, green, or pink. It has dual stereo speakers on top, a USB-C port for charging and transferring files, and a microSD memory card slot behind a little door. The battery is not removable. It measures 9.73 by 6.53 by 0.36 inches and weighs 16.4 ounces.
The basic model has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and ads on the lock screen. There are two mix-and-match ways to upgrade it right off the bat: pay $15 to get rid of the ads, and pay $40 for an additional 32GB of storage. Doing both just breaks the $200 barrier, but even among $200 tablets, the Fire HD 10’s features are about as good as you’re doing to get, and for the base price of $150, they’re impressive. Just don’t expect them to stack up against what a fancier tablet or phone can do.
There’s a 5MP camera on the back of the matte plastic tablet.
Amazon describes the 10.1-inch, 1920-by-1200, 224ppi screen as “brilliant.” That’s overstating the case it doesn’t get tremendously bright, and the viewing angle is limited. However, the display has nicely deep colors when you look at it straight on.
The tablet handles Zoom just fine.
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