5 reasons to choose a Fire tablet over an iPad

Main points

• The Amazon Fire tablet is much cheaper than the iPad, making it a more affordable option.
• Fire tablets are great for kids, offering customized content and powerful parental controls.
• Fire tablets have a more open operating system that allows for customization and the ability to install Google Play.

There is no doubt that Apple’s iPad is the most popular and arguably the best tablet money can buy. This didn’t happen purely because of luck; All iPad models are incredible devices with great displays and specs that make them a joy to use, not to mention the vast number of apps you can install on them.

I know it might sound crazy for me to encourage you to buy a Fire tablet instead of an iPad, but after hearing what I have to say, you might come around to siding with the Fire.

But before you spend a lot of money on an iPad, I suggest you take a look at Amazon’s Fire tablet. Amazon’s line of tablets have some pretty exciting advantages that make them worth your time even when compared to Apple’s amazing iPad, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad Pro.

Trust me, I know I’m probably going to encourage you to buy a Fire tablet instead of an iPad, but after hearing what I have to say, you’re probably going to side with the Fire instead. If you don’t, at least you can buy an iPad with the confidence that you’ve considered the alternatives and made the right choice for your needs.

1 You save money, a lot of money

Even the accessories are cheaper

This is the most obvious reason to buy a Fire tablet instead of an iPad, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. The cheapest new iPad is the relatively older base model iPad 9th generation, which sells for $329. A similarly sized Fire HD 10 sells for $139.99, but it’s often available for much cheaper.

This is one of Amazon’s higher-end models. When you consider options like the $100 Fire HD 8 and the $60 Amazon Fire 7, you’ll find that you can buy an Amazon Fire device for very little money compared to an iPad. The iPad mini, a fun-sized little iPad, starts at $500, so if you want a more portable tablet, Amazon’s devices are the clear winner on price, although they’re certainly not as powerful as the iPad.

2 The Amazon Fire is a great tablet for kids

There are also excellent parental controls

Amazon offers its Amazon Kids+ subscription service, which offers tons of content tailored for younger users and consistently tops our list of the best tablets for kids. Kids can watch a variety of fun videos and play safe games and apps without parents worrying. The service comes with the first year of tablet purchase, so you can let your kids play wildly with their device without worrying about them getting into something they shouldn’t.

In addition to kid-friendly content, Amazon offers some of the best parental controls for locking down how often and for how long kids can use the tablet. Your kids can request content they want to download on their Fire tablet, and you can choose whether to allow them to download it. Everything is controlled from the convenient parent dashboard, so you don’t need to be a tech guru to lock down your kid’s fancy new tablet.

3 Ridiculous warranty for kids version

it covers everything except losing it

Another benefit of the Kids’ Fire tablet is the incredible two-year warranty. Even the $110 Fire Tab 7 Kids comes with a warranty, so it doesn’t matter whether you choose the cheapest or most expensive model. If your child damages the tablet in some way, you’ll be able to get a new one for the first two years without any issues, even with the thick protective case that comes with it.

Amazon calls it a two-year worry-free guarantee, and based on everything I’ve heard from people who’ve used it, the process is painless and it doesn’t matter how the tablet gets damaged. If your child decides to throw it at a rock and the screen cracks, you can still get a replacement tablet. Keep in mind that this only applies to children’s brand tablets; the regular model only comes with a standard warranty, which isn’t much different than what you’d get for an iPad without AppleCare.

4 Fire OS is more versatile

If not frustrating at first

At first glance, the Fire tablet seems as closed as the iPad, but with just a few settings tweaks you can open up a whole world of side-loading, meaning any third-party app you want can be used.

Heck, you can even just install Google Play and open up the entire world of Android on your device.

Whether you want to run an emulator to play your favorite retro games or simply change the look and feel of your operating system by sideloading themes and icons, Fire OS makes it possible. Heck, you can even just install Google Play and open up the entire world of Android on your device. iPadOS doesn’t offer a huge range of possibilities.

Enabling sideloading does require some technical knowledge, but it’s not too difficult. Our sister site Android Police has a complete guide explaining how to get Google Play on your Fire device, from where you can explore and enjoy downloading all kinds of content.

5 Wireless charging is very convenient

Plus, it turns into a smart display

For whatever reason, Apple hasn’t brought its beloved MagSafe technology to the iPad. Amazon, on the other hand, offers wireless charging technology on its Plus version of the tablet. So you can take a Fire HD 8 Plus or Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus and charge it wirelessly using any Qi wireless charger.

If you really want to go all out, though, we recommend using the official dock, which automatically puts your tablet into display mode when in use, so you can get an Alexa Display-like experience from your tablet. It brings similar features to the Pixel tablet, but at a slightly cheaper price.