Fire tablet vs Kindle – what’s the difference, and which one is best for you?

If you’re debating “Fire tablet vs Kindle” and deciding which one to get, then we’re here to settle the argument. 

Both – Amazon Fire and Amazon Kindle – are Amazon products, but they are quite different from each other. The Kindle range is all about e-reading, and so the tablets are all tailored for the digital reading experience. On the other hand, the Fire tablets are more versatile and put emphasis on entertainment and streaming with the Fire interface. 

With that being said, until a few years ago, the portable entertainment Fire tablets were referred to as “Kindle Fire,” which sometimes causes confusion. However, since 2015, the two tablet ranges have been separated. In fact, the Kindle and Fire tablets serve entirely different purposes and possibly have different user bases. 

Amazon Fire tablet vs Amazon Kindle: What’s the difference?

One of the main differences between Amazon Kindle and Amazon Fire tablets is the use case. As mentioned before, Kindle tablets are focused on e-reading, so they offer features that make reading comfortable. In contrast, Fire tablets are for portable entertainment devices that are more versatile.

For a closer comparison, we have compared the two ranges on various grounds like performance, design, battery life, and more. 

List of Amazon Fire tablets

Below, we have listed some of the Amazon Fire tablets available on Amazon to give you an idea. 

List of Amazon Kindles

Before we go ahead and compare the two Amazon products, here’s a quick list of Kindle tablets available on the market.

Amazon Fire Tablet vs Kindle – Performance

To start with, the Kindle tablets run on a custom Linux-based operating firmware, which is designed specifically for reading e-books. Users get access to the Kindle Store, from where they can download books, comic books, magazines, plays, and more. As this is an e-reader, the store might feel limiting to some. 

On the other hand, Amazon Fire tablets run on the Fire OS, which is Amazon’s custom OS based on Android. This means the user experience is very similar to Android tablets, but the tablets have a Fire interface. 

Compared to Kindle, the Fire tablets have more options when it comes to downloading and using apps. You can even download popular apps like Spotify, Netflix, Peacock TV, Paramount+, Apple TV, and more – think of this as a portable TV. Meanwhile, the Kids’ version of Fire tablets offers an age-restricted, children-friendly experience mostly focused on educational content. 

However, Kindles are almost strictly for reading books, so you will get access to reading-related services like Kindle, Goodreads, Project Gutenberg, and more. Kindles also let you upload and read PDFs, so you don’t have to limit yourself to a Kindle library. Plus, you can also access a search feature, which is a limited version of a web browser. It is worth noting that some models, like the Kindle Scribe, come with a stylus and note-taking features.

Amazon Fire Tablet vs Kindle – Design

In terms of appearance, Amazon Kindle tablets usually have a slim profile, and they look sleek. They are a few inches smaller than Fire Tablets, as these are supposed to be held continuously in a single hand for reading. For example, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition has a 6.8-inch display, which should be comfortable for holding as well as reading. Further, the Kindle tablets tend to be lightweight for easier holding. Taking the same example as before, the Paperwhite Signature edition weighs around 200 grams. 

Now Fire tablets are bigger compared to the Kindle tablets, as they are meant to be used for entertainment. Fire tablets have screens as small as 7 inches and as big as 11 inches. For example, the 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet has a 10.1-inch FHD display, which should deliver an immersive viewing experience. Considering the screen sizes, you can either hold these tablets or place them on a tabletop. For convenience, you can also choose to get a stylus. Overall, the 10-inch model weighs about 430 grams, which is twice the weight of the Kindle mentioned above. 

Amazon Fire Tablet vs Kindle – Display

One of the biggest differences between the Fire and Kindle tablets is the display technology. The Kindle tablets use e-ink displays, which are designed to mimic the look and feel of a real-life book page. These displays are meant to go easy on the eyes and deliver a comfortable reading experience – so they have high contrast and sharp text. 

Meanwhile, the Fire tablets usually sport a regular LCD display with HD or FHD resolutions. These displays are meant to deliver a wide spectrum of colors for media consumption. They are ideal for streaming Netflix and other multimedia content. 

Now, you can use Fire tablets for reading e-books as well, but the experience won’t be as comfortable as Kindle. Similarly, you can use a browser on Kindle and even watch videos, but the video output will not be as vibrant as a Fire tablet. For a more in-depth explanation, you can check out our guide on Tablets vs e-readers for reading.

Amazon Fire Tablet vs Kindle – Battery life

Now, Kindles have a longer battery life, as reading does not consume too much power. For instance, if you look at the Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition, it has a battery life that can last for up to 10 weeks. Most Kindle owners do not use their devices for power-hungry tasks like gaming, streaming, or photo editing – so the power does not get consumed too much. 

On the other hand, Fire tablets have a battery life of 8 to 12 hours, which is on par with some of the best Android tablets. For example, the latest Amazon Fire HD 10 Pro tablet (2023) has a battery life of 13 hours, which is quite decent and travel-friendly. As people use the Fire tablet for streaming, gaming, browsing, and other activities, the power gets consumed quicker than e-readers. With that being said, this is not exactly a “con,” as most tablets offer more or less similar battery life.

Amazon Fire Tablet vs Kindle – Price 

Now, both Kindle tablets and Fire tablets are budget-friendly options on the market. For comparison, let’s look at the latest devices from both lineups. The 2023 Fire HD 10 tablet can cost up to $194.99 with 64GB storage and no lock-screen ads. Similarly, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet can cost you $279.99 with 128GB storage and no lock-screen ads. Here, you can also consider the cost of Netflix and other subscriptions. 

On the other hand, the latest version of Kindle Paperwhite comes with a $169.99 price tag with 16GB storage and no lock-screen ads. Further, if you want a few more functions, like note-taking, then Amazon Kindle Scribe comes at the price of $419.99, which includes lock-screen ad removal, premium pen, and 64GB of storage. 

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (2023) (Without Lockscreen Ads)

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Amazon Kindle Scribe (64 GB)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use an Amazon Kindle tablet for browsing?

Yes, but most Kindle models do not have a fully functional web browser. They have an Experimental Browser that brings up text-based results. Plus, with each new update, the web browser gets more and more functions, so you can expect a decent browsing experience.

Is Fire tablet and Kindle the same?

No, Fire tablets and Kindle tablets are not the same. After 2015, Amazon produced two different lineups of tablets – Fire and Kindle. The Fire tablets are focused on portable entertainment and streaming, while the Kindle tablets are e-readers meant for e-books.

Conclusion

Whether Amazon Fire or Amazon Kindle is better for you depends on how you plan to use the tablet. For instance, if you are planning to get a tablet for reading on the go and maybe browse a little, then Kindle is the way to go. However, if you want versatility and portable entertainment on a budget, then the Fire tablets are a good investment.