Amazon's tablets are known for being cheap, somewhat slow, but good enough to access your Kindle library, stream shows in Prime Video or browse the web. The tablets aren't known for being fill-in for your work laptop, but Amazon is looking to change that perception.
The company announced[1] the new $149 Fire HD 10[2] and $179 Fire HD 10 Plus[3] tablets, complete with new kids editions, back in April. Alongside the refreshed design and new components, Amazon also announced a new productivity bundle[4]. The bundle adds $70 to the cost of either Fire HD 10 model and includes a 1-year subscription to Microsoft 365 as well as a Bluetooth keyboard built specifically for the tablet.
For the last few weeks, I've been testing the standard Fire HD 10 and the productivity bundle -- a kit that would cost you $219. As someone who uses the iPad as my main computer and laptop replacement, I was eager to see how the Fire HD 10 compared to the iPad Pro.
I don't want to fully spoil it, but the experience fell short in a lot of areas. Namely app availability and performance.
Design
Amazon debuted a new design with the Fire HD 8 last year, and that same aesthetic has carried over into the Fire HD 10 and HD 10 Plus. The edges and corners are now rounded, the front-facing camera is now centered when the tablet is horizontal -- it's a welcome design change.
When the tablet is docked in the included case, you'll find the volume and power buttons to the right of the screen. That's also where you'll find the USB-C port that's used for charging (another welcome