The Epic Amazon Fire HD 10 inch tablet Is Everything You Need And More
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- Fast and responsive – powerful octa-core processor and 3 GB RAM. 50% more RAM than previous generation.
- Long-lasting 12-hour battery and 32 or 64 GB internal storage. Add up to 1 TB with microSD (sold separately).
- Brighter display – Vivid 10.1″ 1080p Full HD display is 10% brighter than previous generation, with more than 2 million pixels. Fire HD 10 is almost 20% brighter than Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2022).
- Enjoy your favorite apps like Netflix, Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore (Google Play not supported. Subscription for some apps required).
- Stay connected – Download apps like Zoom, or ask Alexa to make video calls to friends and family.
- Get more done – Check email, update shopping lists, and set reminders. Use your favorite apps like Microsoft Office, OneNote, and Dropbox.
- Hands-free with Alexa, including on/off toggle.
- Thinner and lighter than previous generation. Screen made with strengthened aluminosilicate glass. As measured in a tumble test, Fire HD 10 is twice as durable as durable as Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2022).
- Split screen – All-new feature for Fire OS that shows two compatible apps, like Facebook Messenger and Prime Video, open side by side for easy multitasking.
The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) received a slight redesign compared to the 2019 model, weighing slightly less (465g vs. 504g) with a slightly more compact frame. Otherwise, most of the differences between them are internal; these Fire tablets still aren’t winning any beauty contests.
Measuring 247 x 166 x 9.2mm with a 10.1-inch LCD display, the Fire HD 10 (2021) has thick bezels on the top and bottom, giving it a lower screen-to-body ratio than recent tablets with edge-to-edge displays.
With a plastic back, the Fire tablet doesn’t have the snazzy metal finish you see on some other devices, but at least you don’t need to worry as much about scuffs or falls. You do need to watch out for spills, however, as the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) has no reported water resistance.
You can choose between one of four colors: black, denim (dark blue), lavender (pinkish) or olive (green). The Plus version only ships in slate gray, with a softer finish that you may find more comfortable to hold.
Like most tablets of this size, we found it most convenient to hold with two hands and the bottom propped against our stomach, or set on a flat surface with a kickstand. Holding it in one hand unsupported while swiping with the other for a prolonged stretch isn’t particularly comfortable.
The Fire HD 10 2021 charges using a USB-C 2.0 port located alongside the power button, volume buttons, two mic holes and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top end of the tablet (when held in portrait orientation). If you buy the Plus edition, you can also charge it with a wireless charger.
You’ll also find a microSD card slot on the top right, good for up to 1TB of additional storage. Instead of paying an extra $40 / £40 (around AU$75) for the 64GB variant, you can invest in a great microSD card and add 32GB of storage for a much lower price – or extra storage if 64GB isn’t enough.
The dual integrated speakers are located on one long end of the tablet, meaning you get highly directional (and somewhat underwhelming) sound that gets muffled if it points into your desk or bed. If you slot your Fire HD 10 2021 into a case with a kickstand, make sure the audio side sticks upwards.
Most people buy cheap tablets for comfortably streaming shows in bed, making the quality of the display an important aspect. Thankfully, this display mostly outperforms the tablet’s low price.
As you would expect by its name, the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) has a 10.1-inch display. It has a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 1920 x 1200 resolution, with its 224 pixels per inch (PPI) matching the PPI of the 2019 model.
For comparison, most of our top tablet picks fall somewhere in the 260–280 PPI range. The Fire HD 10 2021’s display is clear and functional; you just won’t get the sharpness of an Apple Retina display or the richness of a 2K-resolution, OLED Samsung tablet, either of which would cost much more.
Amazon claims the Fire HD 10 (2021) got a 10% bump in brightness (nits) from the 2019 model. We don’t have a specific nit value for the new tablet, but we placed it side by side with an iPad Pro 11 (2018), which hits 600 nits, and found the two fairly comparable at max brightness. We then took it outside and found that the display was visible (though dim) in direct sunlight.
We also don’t have an official number for the Fire HD 10 2021’s refresh rate, but from our tests and given the price we’re almost certain it’s 60Hz, like most affordable slates.
As we mentioned above, this Fire tablet has fairly large bezels. While not as stylish as a bezel-less tablet, you’ll have far fewer accidental taps with this display because of the unresponsive buffer.
If you purchase the ad-supported Fire HD 10 (2021), your lock screen will show ads while your wallpaper can come from your Amazon Photos account or stock photos. Go ad-free, and your lock screen will be the same as your wallpaper.
The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) showed impressive battery life in our tests across two weeks of use. In one test, we set it to stream movies non-stop at max brightness and volume; it went from 92% to 10% after 11 hours, making it suited for all-day use.
Using less intensive apps like Kindle on adaptive brightness drained the battery at a slightly lower rate, putting the tablet on pace to last even longer than Amazon’s 12-hour battery life estimate. On the other hand, certain games tended to burn through the battery slightly faster.
If you plan to use your Fire HD 10 primarily for streaming and reading, you’ll be more than satisfied with its longevity. Anyone considering placing it regularly in Show Mode, on the other hand, may want to buy the Fire HD 10 Plus, so they can place it on a wireless charger while in standby mode.