Samsung tablet vs Amazon Fire – what’s the difference, and which one is right for you?

If you want to settle the ‘Samsung tablet vs Amazon Fire’ debate, then we’re here to help you out.

Now, Samsung has two main series of tablets – Tab A and Tab S. The former offers budget options, while the latter comes with a premium price tag. On the other hand, Amazon Fire tablets are some of the most affordable tablets on the market. These tablets have great displays, decent battery life, and an affordable price tag, making them suitable for portable media consumption. 

With that being said, the two manufacturers have quite a few tablets on the market. And to help you decide what to buy, we have put together this comparison guide. 

Samsung tablet vs Amazon Fire – what is the difference?

To explore more nuanced differences between Samsung and Fire tablets, we have compared the two brands’ devices based on performance, design, display, and other specs. 

List of Samsung tablets available on Amazon

List of Fire tablets available on Amazon

Samsung tablet vs Amazon Fire tablet – Performance

In terms of performance, the budget variants come with a mobile processor, which is enough for casual, everyday use. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 comes with an octa-core chip, which is good for streaming as well as light tasks. Meanwhile, the latest tablet, Galaxy Tab S9, features a powerful Snapdragon processor, which is fast enough for resource-intensive tasks.

On the other hand, the Amazon Fire tablets come with mobile chips, which can handle media consumption and similar light tasks very well. For example, the Fire tablet 10 (2023) comes with an octa-core processor with a speed of 2.0 GHz, which is good enough for casual use. 

Samsung tablet vs Amazon Fire tablet – Operating system

One of the main differences between Samsung tablets and Amazon Fire tablets is the operating system. Most Samsung tablets run on Android OS and have a Samsung UI. Users have access to the Google Play Store as well as the Samsung Store, so they can download apps from both platforms. As far as voice support is concerned, you can use Google Assistant as well as Bixby. 

Meanwhile, Amazon tablets run on the Fire OS, which is also based on Android, but it feels limited in comparison to Android. Users can head over to the Amazon app store and download apps from there. While this store has the most common and popular apps, the amount is limited compared to the Google Play Store. An add-on here is that you get built-in Alexa and better support for Kindle. 

Samsung tablet vs Amazon Fire tablet – Design

Generally speaking, both Fire and Samsung tablets are lightweight and portable. However, as Samsung has multiple series of tablets, the manufacturer offers more variety in terms of screen sizes, builds, and other aspects.

With that being said, if you go for budget Samsung tablets, then those options come with a plastic body. However, if you opt for high-end variants, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, they have metal bodies that are premium. 

Meanwhile, Amazon Fire tablets usually have a plastic body, which might not look premium, but it absorbs shocks and adds to durability. Further, you will find screen sizes ranging from 7 inches to 11 inches – the choice depends on your needs and budget. 

Samsung tablet vs Amazon Fire tablet – Display

As mentioned earlier, Samsung has multiple series of tablets, which means you get a lot of choices when it comes to screen sizes and resolutions. You will find tablets as small as 7 inches and as big as 14 inches. Similarly, you will find variety in the resolutions, too. Some of the budget options have HD or FHD resolution. At the same time, the more expensive variants have 2K or better resolution. 

On the other hand, you will find Fire tablets in sizes ranging from 7 inches to 11 inches. Plus, most Amazon Fire tablets have an LCD display, which aims to deliver vivid, clear picture quality. Most Fire tablets have HD or FHD resolution, which, considering that these are budget tablets, is a nice spec to have. 

Samsung tablet vs Amazon Fire tablet – Battery life

Both Samsung and Amazon tablets, on average, offer 8 to 12 hours of battery life – this is more or less the same as some of the best Android tablets. However, some high-end Samsung models (like Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 or S9 series) offer an all-day battery life. 

Meanwhile, Amazon Fire tablets usually offer average battery life (that is, 8 to 12 hours). However, some newer models, like the Amazon Fire tablet (2023 release), offer a 13-hour battery life, which is an improvement over the older models. 

Samsung tablet vs Amazon Fire tablet – Price

Amazon Fire tablets are some of the most affordable tablets available on the market. In fact, you can get one for under $100. Plus, if you want the most powerful and latest model, then it would cost you around $194.99 without lock screen ads and 64GB storage – which makes Fire tablets some of the best budget tablets.

Meanwhile, Samsung tablets have two main series – Tab A and Tab S. The Tab A lineup has budget options, while the Tab S series offers premium tablets. To make it clearer, let’s look at some examples from both series. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 costs $329, while the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+, which is one of the newest models, costs $999. 

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S9+

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

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FAQs

What’s the difference between Amazon Fire tablets and Android tablets?

The main difference between an Android tablet and a Fire tablet is the operating system. Android tablets like Lenovo M10, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, and more run on the Android system. Meanwhile, Amazon Fire tablets run on the Fire OS.

Conclusion 

To sum up, you can consider getting an Amazon Fire tablet if you’re looking for a tablet for streaming and media consumption. These devices come with a good display, decent battery life, and budget-friendly prices, which make them suitable for watching your favorite shows on the go or keeping your kids entertained. 

On the other hand, if you want a more “all-round” tablet experience, then Samsung tablets are more suitable. You get access to the Google Play Store, which has a wider selection of apps. Plus, if you go for powerful variants, then you can use those tablets for photo editing, taking notes, and doing more.