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Apple iPads are considered the gold standard of the tablet category.
The Amazon Fire, however, is a competitor that costs a lot less.
The most affordable new iPad costs around $400 on sale. New Fire tablets can cost as little as $75.
The history of the tablet begins in the 1980s and 90s with devices like the Linus Write-Top and PalmPilot. Microsoft released a true tablet computer in 2000, and in 2010, the tablet that would be the gold standard of the product category arrived: the iPad.
While iPads remain arguably the best tablets at present, they have a worthy competitor in the form of the Amazon Fire tablet, and that competitor costs a lot less, too. For reference, the most affordable new iPad sells for around $400, and that’s on sale, whereas the most affordable new Kindle Fire tablets cost less than $75.
Granted, iPads have some features and functions Fire tablets don’t, like the ability to run certain notable apps.Overall, the Fire tablet is a capable and affordable device that will suit the needs of most users.
What is the Amazon Fire tablet used for?
The Fire tablet can be used for all the standard things you’d expect, from browsing the web to watching videos to checking emails to playing games. You can use it to read ebooks, doodle, play music, and so much more.
In short, an Amazon Fire tablet can do almost everything any other tablet can do.
What is the newest Amazon Fire tablet model?
The Amazon Fire Max 11 is the latest in this tablet series. The Fire Max 11 has four GB of RAM, is available with 128 GB of storage space that can be expanded to a terabyte with a micro SD card, a 14-hour battery, a sharp screen, and a solid camera.
The Fire Max 11 is hardly the only Fire tablet in town, though. There are several others worth considering. These include the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet, which is built to be extra durable, it has a 10.1″ high def display and 3 GB of RAM. It can be overseen and controlled by a parent control center on a linked smartphone or tablet.
For adults looking for a less expensive but still very capable tablet, go back one generation to the Fire HD 10 Plus tablet, which has four GB of RAM and either 32 or 64 GB of storage behind a crisp display. It works with myriad apps like Netflix, Spotify, and, of course, Amazon Music.
And if you want a smaller tablet perfect for travel, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus has an 8-inch screen and it weighs in at just 9.9 ounces. Its 10-hour battery life will have you entertained for the whole plane ride or during your daily train commute.
What are the disadvantages of an Amazon Fire tablet?
One thing many people bemoan about the Fire tablet is the mediocre-at-best camera. Another is that you are limited to using the native web browser that comes loaded on the tablet, which is called Silk and has a worse user experience than Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or your other favorites. And the other native apps, like the maps and calculator, pale in quality to those you’d find on, say, an iPhone.
The biggest drawback to the Fire tablet, however, is its limited access to and use of some of the most popular apps out there. Nearly every Google app is unavailable on the Fire tablet.
What’s the difference between a tablet and an Amazon Fire?
There is no difference: The Amazon Fire tablet is indeed a tablet, not a separate category of devices. The Fire tablet is manufactured by the Taiwanese tech company Quanta Computer. While the Fire tablet’s operating system differs from iOS and Android, it’s a reliable device that offers similar capabilities to other tablets.
Does the Amazon Fire tablet have an internet browser?
The Fire tablet has a web browser called Silk. It works much like any other browser, and via Silk you can navigate to just about any page on the web including search engines like Google or Bing.
Can you use YouTube on a Fire tablet?
The tablet arrives already configured, and you cannot immediately watch YouTube because it’s a Google app that’s not available in the Amazon App Store. But there’s a workaround.
In the tablet’s settings, configure it to allow apps from “Unknown” sources, then download the YouTube app onto a separate computer. Connect the tablet and computer via USB cable and you should be able to transfer YouTube to the tablet.
Do you have to have an Amazon subscription to use a Fire tablet?
No Amazon subscription is necessary to use an Amazon Fire tablet to its fullest capabilities. Once you buy the tablet, it’s yours— no more fees, subscriptions, or plans involved. You will of course need paid subscriptions to things like Netflix or Tubi TV if you want to enjoy them on a Fire tablet, but there is no further cost to simply use the device.