When someone's looking to pick up a new tablet, Amazon is now a pretty hard option to ignore - its Fire tablets are incredibly good value, well made and with loads of features.
Related: Best Black Friday iPad deals
While they're perhaps not as premium on the whole as something like an iPad, there are loads more models and sizes to pick from, making it pretty easy to find the perfect tablet for your needs. Here are the very best Fire tablets right now.
Best Amazon Fire tablets: Our top picks
Amazon Fire HD 8
Fantastic hardware
This compact tablet is ideal for a range of uses - it's the best all-around pick for the majority of users, unsurprisingly. The fact that it's also great value makes it even easier to recommend.
- Storage
- 32/64GB
- CPU
- 2.0GHz hexa-core
- Memory
- 2GB
- Measurements
- 201.90 x 137.34 x 9.60mm, 337g
- Handy size
- Such great value
- Simple to use
- A little small for some media
The Amazon Fire HD 8 is great value for money, giving you more space and a better display than the Fire 7, but still at a really attractive price. It sits in an appealing position, offering portability, excellent battery life as well as great sound. This model was just updated in 2022 and is currently in pre-order, with 30 per cent more power than the previous version.
Alternatively, there's the Fire HD 8 Plus, which adds Qi wireless charging with an optional compatible dock - so you can use it as an Echo Show.
Amazon Fire Max 11
Premium quality
This brilliant tablet is probably the single best to use in Amazon's lineup, but it can't quite win out because of a higher price tag that means it might be overkill for some.
- Storage
- 64GB or 128GB
- CPU
- 2.2Ghz octa-core
- Memory
- 4GB RAM
- Measurements
- 259 x 164 x 7.5mm
- Super powerful
- Productivity accessories
- Great design
- Expensive
- Accessories are extra
The Amazon Fire Max 11 is the newest addition to the Fire lineup in terms of size - it's the biggest tablet Amazon has ever made, and the most powerful too, with a keen eye on productivity.
With the option of a keyboard and trackpad support, this is the only Fire tablet that you might be able to fully work from, and it's also great for media viewing as you'd hope. A more premium design rounds things off, but this all comes at the highest price of any of Amazon's tablets, to temper things.
Amazon Fire 7 Tablet
Small but powerful
If you want an even smaller tablet, then this could be the best choice - it's so easy to fit into bags of any size, and is still a great upgrade on your phone for watching TV or movies.
- Storage
- 16/32GB
- CPU
- 2.0GHz quad-core
- Memory
- 2GB
- Measurements
- 180.68 x 117.59 x 9.67mm, 282g
- So portable
- Nice compact design
- Runs pretty smoothly
- Not too powerful
- Big bezels
The Amazon Fire 7 (2022) is one of the most affordable tablets you'll find and it's perfect for those who might break it - like kids - although do also consider the Fire 7 Kids too. The Fire 7 was updated in 2022 to give a power boost, but it's still an entry-level device.
The Kids edition gets a case, 2-year warranty and 1-year subscription to Fire for Kids+ and there are two versions, one for ages 3-7 and one for 6-12 with a slightly different type of case. The older model is called the Fire 7 Kids Pro, but this currently uses the 2019 version of the tablet, which you don't want.
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)
Everyday excellence
Amazon's 10-inch tablet is a joy to use, and a great all-rounder with a very decent display.
- Storage
- 32GB, 64GB
- CPU
- 2.0GHz Octa-core
- Memory
- 3GB
- Measurements
- Superb value
- Great for watching movies and TV
- Solid power
- A little thick
The Fire HD 10 (2021) offers a slightly more compact design over the older 2019 version, a brighter display and more power, so it's likely to be popular and a worthy upgrade over the 2019 model.
Its size is pretty perfect if you're looking for something that compares to the standard iPad (although it's still a little smaller than that), and it remains impressively competitive on the pricing front.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus
Boosted power
The boosted power of the HD 10 Plus makes it a great way to get a more powerful Fire tablet without going for the pricier Max 11.
- Storage
- 32/64GB
- CPU
- 2.0GHz octo-core
- Memory
- 4GB
- Measurements
- 247 x 166 x 9.2mm, 468g
- Boosted power
- Some productivity chops
- Nice accessories
- A bit more expensive
The Fire HD 10 Plus was the most powerful of the Fire tablets until the Max 11 arrived, and it added wireless charging to the mixture too. This could double up as a smart display if you opt for the dock too, with Amazon also offering a productivity version with a Bluetooth keyboard.
The bottom line: Which is the best Amazon Fire tablet?
So, it's fair to say that you can pretty much make a great case for each of Amazon's Fire tablets - they all offer slightly different things and make for excellent additions. Still, overall we think the Fire HD 8 is the one that will suit most people. It's super affordable and has great specs, which is a balance that few tech devices nail as well as it does, and will be a great addition for travel or home use.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)
The best tablet for most people, and the one that we'd recommend above the other options in Amazon's impressively wide lineup.
How I chose the best Amazon Fire tablets
Amazon's Fire tablets are a lot easier to compare than some others, because they all run the exact same software, simply with different screen sizes and designs around them.
So, ordering them is both straightforward and complex at once. On the one hand, extensive testing has left us with our favourites and those we keep coming back to, leading to the order you see above.
However, it's also very much the case that those differences in display size can make it a bit hard to compare them in some ways - if you want a bigger tablet, a 7-inch display isn't for you, so bear that in mind while you peruse our thoughts.
Frequently asked questions
If you're shopping for a new tablet, and you've decided (wisely) that Amazon makes the best-value options out there, these questions might help you narrow things down even further to pick a winner.
What Amazon Fire tablet size is best for you?
One of the key differences between the various Fire tablet models I've evaluated above is their screen sizes, which go from compact to much bigger.
Knowing roughly what size you think you want will help you a lot - do you imagine holding the tablet in one hand, or are you thinking more of a comparison to the standard iPad, in which case a bigger option makes sense?
Of course, figuring this out leads to my next question.
What will you use your Fire tablet for?
This can really help you figure out the right size and model for you - what do you plan to do on your tablet? Is it primarily going to be a media machine for lounging on the sofa or in bed?
Do you plan to use a bunch of apps and games, or even try to work on the tablet every so often? If so, a bigger display will be handy.
If, instead, you imagine the tablet staying in your bag for when you're on the move, something smaller is probably a better idea, so that you can more easily bring it with you wherever you go.
There's no wrong answer here, but anything will narrow it down.
Do you care about processing power?
While the processors and power brought to bear by each Fire tablet do vary, the fact is that none of the models we've listed should feel sluggish, since they're all relatively recent launches.
If you do want the most power possible, though, whether that's to ensure that you make a more future-proof choice, or simply because you know you're planning to play some demanding games, that could be an avenue to pursue as you compare models.