Amazon Fireplace HD 10 (2019) Overview: A Massive Display screen With A Massive Worth

Amazon Fireplace HD 10 (2019) evaluation: Massive display screen, large worth

MSRP $150.00

“The Amazon Fireplace HD 10 is one of the best worth in tablets.”

Professionals

Massive, sharp display screen
Low worth
Lengthy battery life
Sensible display screen functionality in Present Mode

Cons

Fireplace OS is laggy at instances
No Google providers

If you would like a pill however don’t have a whole lot of {dollars} to throw round, then it’s doubtless you’ve thought-about Amazon’s Fireplace gadgets. The Amazon Fireplace HD 10 is the most important and better of its Fireplace pill vary. It doesn’t sound like fairly as a lot of a discount because the Fireplace HD 8 at $80 or the Fireplace 7 at $50, however a ten.1-inch display screen for simply $150 is sort of noteworthy. Amazon has additionally made some welcome enhancements over the 2017 mannequin, together with a bit extra grunt underneath the hood — each by way of processing energy and battery life — and a swap to USB-C for sooner, simpler charging.

You’ll be able to anticipate some compromises at this worth, however the Fireplace HD 10 might be the perfect household pill for these on a funds.

Price range construct

Slip the Fireplace HD 10 from its easy cardboard packaging and also you’ll discover a minimalist design that’s all in regards to the 10.1-inch display screen. The physique is chunky plastic that curves into the glass entrance whereas the again bears Amazon’s emblem and the digicam lens on the prime left. Massive bezels across the display screen make the pill simpler to deal with, even when it does look a bit dated. The highest bezel homes the front-facing digicam.

Holding the pill in portrait, the ability button is on the prime proper with the USB-C port subsequent to it. We’re glad to see Micro USB disappearing as USB-C cables are at all times proper aspect up and so they permit for sooner charging. Transferring additional left alongside the highest edge there’s a 3.5mm audio port and quantity controls. On the fitting edge there’s solely a flap that opens to disclose the MicroSD card slot.

The Fireplace HD 10’s stereo audio system are on the left aspect, or the underside while you maintain the pill in panorama, as you’ll probably do when gaming or watching a film. That is one thing you must be careful for, as a result of the audio system are straightforward to dam should you relaxation the pill on one thing mushy to observe a film in mattress. The Fireplace HD 10 Children Version comes with a thick case that solves this downside by redirecting sound to the entrance and it has a inbuilt stand, too. A grown-up model of that case would truly be actually useful.

The design is minimal in an affordable method; we’re speaking plain plastic, slightly than the metallic minimalism of higher-priced tablets, however the Fireplace HD 10 is constructed nicely sufficient that it feels sturdy. It’s comfy to deal with, however it’s a bit heavy to carry up for lengthy durations, so a pill stand is a good suggestion.

The ten.1-inch display screen has a decision of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, which works out to 224 pixels-per-inch. That’s nearly as sharp as Apple’s entry stage iPad, which boasts 264 pixels-per-inch. The Fireplace HD 10’s display screen can’t match the vivid colour or brightness of Apple’s pill, however it’s greater than ample to learn, get pleasure from films, or play video games. Brightness was a difficulty in direct daylight and the display screen is annoyingly reflective, however tucked up in mattress at night time or sitting on the sofa away from a window, it seems nice. This isn’t simply the most important display screen Amazon provides, it’s additionally the sharpest.

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All Amazon, on a regular basis

In the event you’re an Amazon Prime member ($119 yearly or $13 monthly) then the Fireplace HD 10 comes with a well-rounded package deal of content material so that you can get pleasure from. There are millions of films and TV exhibits in Prime Video, 2 million songs in Prime Music, greater than a thousand magazines, comics, and ebooks — some with Audible narration — in Prime Studying, and hundreds of apps and video games within the Amazon app retailer. No different system actually provides this a lot content material out of the field with out you having to place your hand in your pocket once more.

Amazon additionally provides subscriptions to different channels and providers; you should buy and obtain a number of flicks, TV exhibits, books, and music not contained in its Prime providing. The Fireplace HD 10 is a straightforward window to a world of content material, however with out Prime membership its limitations come into sharp reduction.

There may be one other large benefit to going with Amazon’s pill, although, and that’s Alexa. In the event you like the concept of a good speaker with a show like Amazon’s Echo Present, then you definately’ll be all for Present Mode on the Fireplace HD 10. Swipe down on the notification shade and tick the Present Mode field, then prop your HD 10 on a stand and it’ll perform similar to an Echo Present. You’ll be able to ask Alexa questions and concern instructions to play content material; the display screen will keep on exhibiting you related information and climate primarily based in your location. Shopping for a easy stand can provide your Fireplace HD 10 a complete new goal and it’s lots cheaper than shopping for a separate good show.

Simon Hill / Digital Traits

I used it in Present Mode within the kitchen, which feels just like the pure house for an Echo Present. It proved useful for enjoying music and TV exhibits whereas I cooked and cleaned, and should you plug into the wall, the always-on display screen offers you climate and time at a look. Plus, the youngsters loved getting visible suggestions for questions and tune lyrics on-screen after they requested music. It could actually additionally do video calls, which is the one smart cause you’d ever wish to use the 2-megapixel front-facing digicam on the Fireplace HD 10.

Shaky software program and lacking apps

Fireplace OS runs the present on the Fireplace HD, which is utilizing a model primarily based on Android 9.0 Pie, however with Google apps stripped out. Amazon makes use of an easy carousel interface that divides content material into tabs; you’ll be able to check out books, movies, video games, apps, music, and extra. There’s additionally a Dwelling tab along with your most lately accessed content material and primary apps just like the Silk browser, a Maps app, and a Calculator. On the far left, a For You tab supplies ideas for stuff you would possibly wish to do subsequent.

Dip into the settings and there’s no mistaking the Android heritage, however it does really feel very naked bones. It’s like peering behind a film set to seek out easy, unfinished wood planks hammered collectively to carry up the facade. The interface may also be just a little sluggish and laggy at instances. In the event you have been to modify to the Fireplace HD 10 from an iPad, as an illustration, the distinction could be jarring. Fireplace OS lacks polish and it hardly ever feels slick.

There are additionally issues with the dearth of alternative in Amazon’s app retailer. I wished to check the Fireplace HD 10 out with a difficult recreation, however you received’t discover Name of Obligation: Cellular or Shadowgun Legends right here. I ultimately settled for Asphalt 8: Airborne — Asphalt 9 has not made it into Amazon’s retailer but — and I performed some Minecraft. Occasional dropped frames and stutter apart, the Fireplace HD 10 has sufficient muscle to play video games, however this can be a weak spot in comparison with higher-end tablets just like the iPad or Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S5e.

It’s doable to get Google’s Play Retailer on a Fireplace pill, however it does require a little bit of technological know-how. If you aren’t going to be content material with Amazon’s ecosystem it might be higher to purchase a special pill.

Satisfactory efficiency

Amazon says the upgraded processor within the Fireplace HD 10 is 30% sooner than the previous one, although it’s backed by the identical 2 GB RAM. In the event you’re switching from an older Fireplace pill, you’re going to benefit from the improved efficiency. Whereas issues are noticeably sooner, this pill can nonetheless really feel under-powered at instances. Apps and video games might be sluggish to load, there are pauses switching between them, and occasional lag might be anticipated right here. The bottom mannequin solely provides 32GB of storage and the efficiency will get a lot worse when that house fills up, so that you’ll wish to add a MicroSD card.

In the event you’re primarily going to make use of your Fireplace HD 10 for films, studying, and informal gaming then it’s going to be adequately quick for you.

Loads of stamina

I’m happy Amazon managed to pack an even bigger battery into the Fireplace HD 10. The corporate suggests you’ll get 12 hours of combined use from a full battery and I believe that’s pretty conservative. Whereas gaming chews via battery shortly, film streaming and studying doesn’t appear to. It’s the form of system you’ll doubtless use within the house more often than not anyway, however it’s good that it’s able to simply seeing you thru a long-haul flight.

Even higher, we now have a USB-C port. The charging cable is way simpler to plug and it fees sooner. Amazon solely offers you a 9-watt charger within the field, which takes round 4 hours to completely cost the Fireplace HD 10, however you should utilize a 15-watt charger with a USB-C to USB-C cable and cost it in three hours. There’s an inexpensive probability you have already got one in every of these should you’ve bought a brand new cellphone lately; I used to be ready to make use of my Pixel 4 charger for the higher outcomes.

Value, availability, and guarantee data

The Amazon Fireplace HD 10 prices $150 direct from Amazon for the 32GB mannequin with lock display screen ads. Leaping as much as 64GB provides $40 to the worth, plus it prices $15 to eliminate the adverts, which you are able to do at any time.

It comes with a regular one-year restricted guarantee that covers you for defects in supplies and workmanship underneath unusual use.

Our take

The Amazon Fireplace HD 10 is without doubt one of the greatest Android tablets you should buy. It’s an actual discount at $150 and it’ll show irresistible for Prime members looking for a brand new slate with a big display screen. There are inevitable compromises in a tool at this worth, however should you can stay with the restrictions it’s a compelling pill.

Is there a greater different?

A $150 pill with a ten.1-inch display screen is a discount. In the event you can stretch a bit additional, then there are similar-sized choices from Lenovo and Huawei for round $200, but when $150 is your restrict you received’t discover something higher than the Fireplace HD 10.

There’s little question that the fundamental iPad is healthier in each method, however it begins at $329. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e can also be lots higher than the Fireplace HD 10 by each measure, however it begins from $400.

How lengthy will it final?

Fireplace tablets aren’t actually constructed to final, however should you get a protecting case and maintain it dry your Fireplace HD 10 may final you a few years. Amazon does push out software program updates for some time, however I’ve discovered the necessity to manufacturing unit reset my Fireplace tablets on occasion to achieve again efficiency.

Do you have to purchase it?

Sure. It’s one of the best pill Amazon provides and a perfect household pill for Prime members.