We compared the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet to the iPad — here’s how they stack up

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Getty Images | Peter Macdiarmid

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If you or someone special wants a new tablet for the holidays, you know finding one at a decent price can be a challenge.

After all, the Apple iPad, which is known as the top tablet on the market, starts at $329 for the Wi-Fi-only model and $459 for the Wi-Fi and cellular model. That is certainly not a cheap option for many shoppers.

Amazon recognized the need for a more affordable tablet and introduced its own tablet: the Amazon Fire. The Amazon Fire HD 10 retails for $149.99 and can often be found on sale during the holidays for even less. It can be a tempting option for people looking to buy a tablet as a holiday gift.

Yes, it is half the price of its competitor — but is the Amazon Fire HD 10 a decent substitute for the Apple iPad?

Amazon

iPad Vs Amazon Fire HD 10: Which One is Better?

The answer is: it depends on what you’re looking for in a tablet and who will be using it. We recommend both the iPad and the Amazon Fire HD 10 on our Best Tablet list. So, other than a significant difference in price, what sets both tablets apart from one another?

If you or the person on your holiday gift list is looking for a tablet that can fill in for a laptop computer, then you definitely need to look into an iPad. This tablet allows for some serious multitasking between productivity tools (documents, spreadsheets), internet access and even a notepad with a tablet pencil. The iPad is capable of running multiple apps at once, which makes doing all of this relatively easy.  Of course, you get the Apple Music app so you can always have your tunes at your fingertips.

We also liked the iPad’s long battery life, which was up to 10 hours according to most reviews.

Best Buy

However, if you’re looking for a tablet for primarily entertainment purposes, then you might want to consider the Amazon Fire HD 10. This tablet is not designed to be a workhorse like its Apple competitor. Experts at Engadget call the Amazon Fire HD 10 the “ideal machine for binge-watching.”

It has Amazon features (such as Prime Video and Kindle) right at your fingertips and you can easily add other apps (such as Netflix) to expand your video library. The Alexa assistant is also built-in on some models to control some fun and productive features, including calendars, video calling and a music player. Kids (or kids at heart) can also access digital games on the Amazon Fire HD 10.

One thing we like about the Amazon Fire HD 10 is its expandable memory up to 256GB, which Apple products do not have.

So, if you’re looking for a fun, portable and affordable entertainment tablet, you should probably consider the Amazon Fire HD 10. It’s great for the basics you’ll get a big bang for the price. However, if you’re looking for a gift that can be a powerful productivity tool in addition to providing a comprehensive entertainment library, then the Apple iPad is your best bet.

The great news? Both are currently marked down for Cyber Monday, so you will save money regardless of which one you choose.

Which one will you buy?

About the Author

Marie Rossiter

Marie is a freelance writer and content creator with more than 20 years of experience in journalism. She lives in southwest Ohio with her husband and is almost a full-fledged empty nest mom of two daughters. She loves music, reading, word games, and Walt Disney World. You can find her writing about her personal health journey at marierossiter.substack.com and connect with her at marierossiter@gmail.com More.

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