Amazon/Apple/

When you shop for a tablet, you'll encounter different brands and options. But narrowing these down largely depends on what and who you're shopping for. Whether you choose anAmazon Fire tablet or anApple iPad in the end, our hope is to help you be completely satisfied with your choice, as this is the start of a beautiful partnership: That between a user and their tablet.

Also: How to turn your old Fire tablet into an Echo Show

These two tablet manufacturers couldn't be more different. Comparing the best Amazon Fire tablets to the best iPads is akin to comparing grapes to blueberries; they're both a type of fruit and could look similar, but the insides offer completely different experiences.

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You should buy an Apple iPad if...

Jason Cipriani/

iPad models compared

iPad models	iPad Pro 12.9-inch	iPad Pro 11-inch	iPad Air	iPad Mini	iPad 10th Gen	iPad 9th Gen
Price
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB	64GB, 256GB	64GB, 256GB	64GB, 256GB	64GB, 256GB
Display size	12.9 inches	11 inches	10.9 inches	8.3 inches	10.9 inches	10.2 inches
Display type	Liquid retinaXDR	Liquid retina	Liquid retina	Liquid retina	Liquid retina	Retina
Resolution	2732x2048	2388x1668	2360x1640	2266x1488	2360x1640	2160x1620
Chip	M2	M2	M1	A15 Bionic chip	A14 Bionic chip	A13 Bionic chip
RAM	8GB-16GB	8GB-16GB	8GB	4GB	4GB	3GB
Main camera	12MP, up to 4K video	12MP, up to 4K video	12MP, up to 4K video	12MP, up to 4K video	12MP, up to 4K video	8MP, up to 1080p
Rear camera	12MP	12MP	12MP	12MP	12MP	12MP
Battery life	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours
Finishes	Silver, space gray	Silver, space gray	Space gray, starlight, pink, purple, blue	Space gray, starlight, pink, purple	Blue, pink, silver, yellow	Silver, space gray

1. Your tablet doubles as your computer

Though a tablet tends to be the perfect mix between a phone or a computer, if you're looking for one that offers the power of a small computer with the portability of a tablet, then the iPad is the better choice. The2022 iPad Pro in particular is the not only the fastest iPad to date, thanks to the M2 chip, but you can also choose from storage options of 125GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB, and it supports the hover feature of the Apple Pencil (2nd generation). 

Also: How to take notes on your iPad with an Apple Pencil -- 3 very simple ways

This upgrade from previous models translates into up to 35% faster graphics performance, letting you edit anything from photos in Photoshop, to videos using DaVinci Resolve. All of these features come with a price tag to match, however, with the price of the iPad Pro starting at$1049. 

Review: iPad Pro (2022)

Though the top Fire tablet model, the Fire HD 10 Plus, only comes with 32GB or 64GB of storage, it can be extended by up to 1TB. Even so, its octa-core 2.0 GHz processor and 4GB of RAM are not as powerful as the iPad Pro's performance.

2. You prefer a more beautiful display

We know Apple makes notoriously beautiful displays,and theiPad lineup is no exception. Though the resolution across all models varies from one to the next, even the smallest model, theiPad Mini , has a higher resolution display, at 2266 x 1640 pixels, than the best Amazon Fire tablet, at 1920 x 1200 pixels. 

Also: The best large-screen tablets money can buy

If you'll be using your tablet to watch movies or videos, and a great resolution retina display is more your preference, any of the iPad models will be a good choice.

3. You enjoy the Apple ecosystem

Having an iPhone doesn't mean you have to get an iPad when you're shopping for a tablet. But having the two can make for a smoother, even more enjoyable experience.  

Also: iPhone or Android slow or buggy? Do this one simple thing every week

When you have more than one Apple device using the same Apple ID, you begin your journey into what Apple likes to call its "ecosystem." Inside, two or more Apple devices interact with you and each other, making for a seamless experience in transferring data from one to the other, like media, and beginning work in one and finishing in the other. 

Though I have my gripes with Apple -- ahem, Siri -- I admit working seamlessly with my MacBook, iPhone, iPad, and iMac is pretty remarkable. 

Also: How to use Siri to take photos with your iPhone

Taking photos and videos with my iPhone that will be immediately available to edit in my iMac certainly makes for an easier workflow, forexample. 

Buy the iPad Pro

View now at Amazon

You should buy an Amazon Fire tablet if...

June Wan/

Fire Tablets compared

Fire Tablet	Amazon Fire HD 10Plus	Amazon Fire HD 10	Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus	Amazon Fire HD 8	Fire 7
Price
Storage	32GB, 64GB, expandable by up to 1TB	32GB, 64GB, expandable by up to 1TB	32GB, 64GB, expandable by up to 1TB	32GB, 64GB, expandable by up to 1TB	16GB, 32GB, expandable by up to 512GB
Display size	10.1 inches	10.1 inches	8 inches	8 inches	7 inches
Display type	1080p LCD touch display	1080p LCD touch display	HD LCD touch display	HD LCD touch display	Standard definition touch display
Resolution	1920x1200	1920x1200	1280x800	1280x800	1024x600
Procesor	Octa-core 2.0 GHz	Octa-core 2.0 GHz	Hexa-core 2.0GHz	Hexa-core 2.0GHz	Quad-core 2.0GHz
RAM	4GB	3GB	3GB	2GB	2GB
Main camera	5MP, up to 720p	5MP, up to 720p	5MP, up to 1080p	2MP, up to 720p	2MP, up to 720p
Rear camera	2MP	2MP	2MP, up to 720p	2MP, up to 720p	2MP, up to 720p
Battery life	Up to 12 hours	Up to 12 hours	Up to 13 hours	Up to 13 hours	Up to 10 hours
Finishes	Slate with soft-touch finish	Black, denim, lavender, olive	Gray	Black, denim, rose	Black, denim, rose

1. You want wireless charging

If you're a fan of wireless-charging your devices and are looking to do the same with a tablet, I hate to tell you that the iPad has yet to adopt the technology. The Plus lineup of Amazon Fire tablets, however, does support wireless charging. 

Also:The 5 best wireless charging pads: Never fumble with cables again

This includes theAmazon Fire HD 10 Plus and the Fire HD 8 Plus , and you can also buy anaccompanying dock for each. And though you can use other compatible Qi wireless chargers, putting your Fire Plus on the dock switches it to Show mode, where you can ask Alexa to make video calls, play a video or music, and deliver the latest weather updates, like you would anEcho Show . 

2. You want a more affordable tablet

The biggest differences in features between the iPad and Fire tablets result in the latter having a significantly lower price than the entire lineup of Apple's iPads, by a lot. The most expensive Fire Tablet, the Fire HD Plus, without lockscreen ads and with the highest internal storage of 64GB ispriced at$195 , while the most inexpensive iPad, the9th Generation iPad , starts at$330 (though discounted often). 

Also: Looking for a cheap tablet? Our top picks are under$400

This means that you can get a mid-range Amazon Fire tablet like theHD 8 Plus , for $80, and a simple seven-inch tablet, like theAmazon Fire 7 , for only$60.

Do consider, however, that this translates into the Amazon Fire tablets having fewer high-end features, a slower processor, less resolution, lower RAM, and lower-quality cameras.

3. You don't want to worry about kids breaking it

Amazon has a line of dedicatedkids tablets that come with one year ofAmazon Kids+ content and a kid-friendly case for protection. The Fire tablets also feature a strengthened aluminosilicate glass that makes it considerably harder to break than the iPad's screens.

I can't tell you how many times my kids' Fire tablets have withstood them literally standing on them or stepping on them when they're on the floor, while my iPad's screen was completely shattered after using a cheap keyboard case for a couple months. 

Also: The best tablets for kids, according to actual parents and parenting experts

Sure, you can get your kid a 9th Generation iPad with aprotective kids case , but the screen replacement through Apple could end up costing the same as the price of a Fire tablet.

Buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus

$140 at Amazon

Alternatives to consider

Open to other tablet models aside from the Amazon Fire tablets and iPad? Consider these -recommended options:

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

$249.99 at Samsung

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is comparable to most Amazon Fire tablets, with a similar price point. 

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

$899.99 at B&H Photo-Video

For more performance power with high portability, the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is an alternative to a laptop for the price of the iPad Pro 12.9 inches.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

$724.95 at Amazon

More of a mid-range option between the S6 Lite and the Microsoft Surface Pro 9, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra has a beautiful AMOLED display and comes with an S Pen. 

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