Quick answer: Amazon's Fire tablets come in a number of increasing sizes, including 7-inch, 8-inch, 10.1-inch, and 11-inch models.

The Fire 7 is the range's most compact and affordable model, with a 600p screen and quad-core CPU. It'll work best with smaller hands. The Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus are both 8-inch tablets with 800p displays and hexa-core CPUs. They're similar devices. However, the Plus model offers extra features like wireless charging and a 1080p camera.

The latest Fire HD 10 features a FHD display and octa-core CPU with 3GB of RAM. According to Amazon, the new HD 10 is 25% faster than the previous generation; it's ideal for multitaskers and those who enjoy a large screen. But if you'd like an even larger screen with more RAM and storage, go with the Fire Max 11. It's Amazon's largest, most powerful Fire tablet to date and sports a premium build with upgraded performance and display.

Amazon's Fire tablets offer affordable prices and excellent build quality, making them popular among tablet users. They are compact, easy to use, and compatible with Amazon's Alexa assistant. They also enjoy the app ecosystem within Amazon's Fire OS. You can even install the Google Play Store on your Fire tablet to access the full set of apps found on any other cheap Android tablet. There are many good reasons to buy an Amazon Fire tablet, but with so many tablets offered, which is best for your specific usage needs?

Amazon's lineup includes numerous models, including Fire Kids and Fire Kids Pro for younger users. However, we're focusing here on the standard Fire tablets made for everyday users, of which there are now five models that range across four sizes. The different model sizes, hardware, and features can be tricky to decipher, but we'll help you pick exactly what you need.

Who should buy the Fire 7?

The Amazon Fire 7 tablet, which was most recently updated in 2022, is the most compact and affordable of the five Fire tablets Amazon offers. Prices start at roughly $60 for a 16GB build or about $80 for the 32GB variety. These prices are for models that include ads on the lockscreen, but you can pay $15 more for an option without ads, if that's something you'd rather avoid. There's also a slot to introduce a microSD card supporting storage enhancement of up to 512GB.

The Fire 7 is packed with a quad-core processor (CPU) with a 2GHz clock speed, 2GB of RAM, and a battery that Amazon reports can last up to ten hours. Our Amazon Fire 7 review found the battery lasts more than eight hours of video playback. Similarly, the Fire 7 requires around four hours to charge fully via the USB-C port. This tablet's performance is the weakest among the entire range, and you will notice some sluggishness if you're working with particularly heavy apps. This applies to gaming, so you won't want to play anything except the most basic titles on this tablet for fear of a laggy experience that frustrates rather than entertains.

The 7-inch touch display offers a 1024 x 600 resolution (which works out to 171 ppi), giving it the lowest pixel density of all the Fire tablets. Still, the small form factor translates into a tablet great for reading eBooks, browsing the web, and handling social media. There's a single speaker in the body and a pair of 2MP cameras on the front and back faces of the device. You can also plug in a headset with the 3.5mm jack. Lastly, it's worth noting that the Fire 7 does not support the full-screen Show Mode for Alexa, while all other Fire tablets do support it.

We should also mention there's a Fire 7 Kids. And while it's still pricey, it's a steal compared to Amazon's other kids' versions. Plus, you get access to valuable extras like 12 months of Kids+ and a two-year warranty where Amazon will replace the Fire 7 if it breaks.

Bottom line? Users who don't plan on multitasking and prefer a small, inexpensive device should love what the Fire 7 offers. The performance isn't likely to wow anyone, but it performs admirably when engaged in light work or play and rings up at a basement-level price point that naturally turns heads. You can grab one in Black, Rose, or Denim colors.

Who should buy the Fire HD 8?

The Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is a step up from the entry-level Fire 7, but it's only a tiny step. The device has 32GB or 64GB of storage, starting at $100 and $130, respectively. As with the Fire 7, you can pay $15 more to avoid lockscreen ads. It's also possible to expand the storage capacity of this variety by up to 1TB with a microSD card.

The touchscreen is larger, measuring 8 inches, and offers a higher resolution at 1280 x 800 (189ppi). In fact, we think it's better than most budget-friendly options for watching TV and movies. And while it's larger than the Fire 7, the Fire HD 8 is still nice and compact, making it an excellent travel companion. Speaking of media consumption, the Fire HD 8 has two stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos for an excellent overall listening experience, and it still includes a 3.5mm audio jack for those who want to use plug-in headphones. Cameras on the HD 8 are identical to those that grace the Fire 7.

The Fire HD 8's CPU brings two extra cores with a 2GHz clock speed to bear, resulting in better multitasking. However, the device provides the same 2GB of RAM, limiting the upgrade's scope. It will struggle with heavy apps and games, like its smaller cousin, but it should handle anything else without issue. Amazon claims about 13 hours of life from the tablet, and we tested battery life in our own Amazon Fire HD 8 review to get to the bottom of the device's true capabilities. We got about two full days of usage from the device, with sporadic light use during the day and heavier use during the evening.

Bottom line? The Fire HD 8 is great for TV and movie watchers who don't want to overspend or go too large. It's available in Black, Denim, and Rose colors. Amazon also provides a kids version of the HD 8.

Who should buy the Fire HD 8 Plus?

As its name might imply, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus improves upon the experience you'll get from the standard Fire HD 8. Several upgrades factor into the Plus model, including wireless charging, an upgraded camera, and more memory. Models with 32GB of storage start at about $120, while 64GB models start at about $150. Removing ads from the lockscreen raises the price by $15 on both systems.

The Fire HD 8 Plus is built with many similarities to the standard model, too. It supports the same 8-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution, the same hexa-core CPU, and the same 32GB or 64GB of internal storage (with 1TB expandable) as the HD 8 Plus. However, it comes with 3GB of RAM to improve multitasking instead of the 2GB that the standard build ships with. Its front-facing camera is the same 2MP as the cheaper models, but the rear camera has been upgraded to 5MP with 1080p video capabilities. This can come in handy for those who want to take pictures with their tablet. As with the Fire HD 8, you get dual speakers and Dolby Atmos support.

Battery life clocks in at the same 13-hour estimate from Amazon as the Fire HD 8, but the typical time required to charge the battery has been slashed to three hours. The Fire 8 HD Plus is also capable of wireless charging, and you can bundle up the wireless charger when ordering yours for about $50 more.

Bottom line? The Fire HD 8 Plus is a nice middle ground regarding the overall size. Its extra features — including an improved camera, wireless charging, and memory — will be well worth the money for those who enjoy multitasking and watching TV and movies.

Who should buy the Fire HD 10?

New from October 2023, the updated Fire HD 10 sports a 10.1-inch display and a resolution of 1920 x 1200 (224ppi). This makes it ideal for light gaming, media consumption, and multitasking. The octa-core CPU housed within the tablet offers a 2GHz clock speed and 3GB of RAM, which is faster than the more affordable Fire tablets (and the previous Fire HD 10), but it still isn't going to break any speed records. The tablet is built with a thin, lightweight construction with aluminosilicate glass adorning the screen. These features make for a sturdy outfit that's also easy to handle, carry, and use.

The HD 10 (2023) comes in Lilac, Ocean, and Black colorways and starts at $140 for the ad-including 32GB build. To remove lockscreen ads, you're looking at a $15 price increase. You can also get the device with a 64GB storage option, starting at $180. And for you parents out there, the HD 10 Kids offers peace of mind with all its safety features and kid-minded apps.

Performance metrics aren't the only improvement found in the tablet. In addition to the processing capabilities under the hood, the new Fire HD 10 comes packed with dual 5MP cameras (both front and rear) for greater clarity while video calling with friends or family or recording from the device for social media. The tablet provides a 13-hour battery life and is compatible with keyboard additions and Amazon's stylus for increased productivity options.

With built-in Alexa capabilities and compatibility with up to 1TB microSD upgradable storage, the Fire HD 10 (2023) is suitable for most users. The device is also kid-friendly, with Amazon Kids features ready to be enabled so that your young ones can read, watch, or play on the device without any added worry. The prior generation was already one of our favorite tablets on the market, so this boost in performance is a welcome release that's sure to fit right in with nearly any needs you might have.

Bottom line? The Fire HD 10 offers the second-largest display with a high resolution. It has the most powerful processor out of the bunch if you exclude the new Fire Max 11. Battery life is excellent, and the larger display and optional keyboard case make it better suited for productivity work, gaming, or watching TV and movies. These features make it the best Amazon Fire tablet and one of the best Android tablets anywhere.

Who should buy the Fire Max 11?

The Fire Max 11 is Amazon's biggest tablet, and it boasts a series of rather significant improvements over the Amazon HD 10 Plus. Amazon has positioned it as a device that's more comfortable handling productivity and office tasks while also showcasing several premium features to help justify the elevated price. Most noticeable is the aluminum construction that deals with daily use and abuse much better than the usual plastic outer shell. The tablet is also lightweight, has a fingerprint sensor installed on the side, and there are dual 8MP cameras for snapping stills, taking video, or joining a video conference in greater visual detail.

Amazon Fire tablets were never really known as performance machines. Still, that expectation is in for a shock with the Fire Max 11's MediaTek MT8188J CPU that Amazon says will boost performance by about 50% compared to the next fastest tablet. You can get it with 64GB or 128GB of storage, with the premium again available to ditch Amazon's typical lockscreen ads.

The 11-inch touch display has a 5:3 aspect ratio and a 2000 x 1200 resolution. The screen offers a 60Hz refresh rate and more than 400 nits brightness. Battery life is excellent (Amazon claims up to 14 hours), and you can even utilize an attachable keyboard folio and active pen for about $90 and $35, respectively. Standard prices for the tablet alone start at about $230, making it the most expensive tablet Amazon offers. But this is the best choice if you're after the best performance, the largest display, and the most durable construction among the range of Fire tablets.