Verdict
The Amazon Fireplace Max 11 is a succesful possibility with a strong show that beats many of the price range competitors in benchmarks, however restricted app availability means it’ll by no means be the productivity-focused pill that Amazon envisions.
Execs
- Way more premium design than different Fireplace tablets
- Nice all-day battery life
- Strong 11-inch 2K show
Cons
- Restricted app availability
- Very gradual to cost
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Non-compulsory work-focused equipmentDepsite not having the perfect collection of productivity-focused apps, the elective keyboard and stylus are nice for phrase processing and doodling. -
Massive show ultimate for streamingThe 11-inch show of the Fireplace Max 11 is ideal for binging sequence’ on Netflix and iPlayer, with loud room-filling stereo audio system in addition. -
Easy price range efficiencyRegardless of its price range focus, the Fireplace Max 11 can deal with fundamental on a regular basis duties and even beats many of the price range competitors in benchmark exams.
Introduction
The Amazon Fireplace Max 11 is the newest top-end Fireplace pill from Amazon, boasting an even bigger show, higher efficiency and longer battery life than the Fireplace HD 10 Plus. It’s definitely a change from the cheap-as-chips Fireplace tablets Amazon normally makes, however can Amazon compete on the larger value level?
In spite of everything, the £249/$229 Amazon Fireplace Max 11 runs the identical Fireplace OS as the remainder of the Fireplace pill assortment – software program primarily based on Android 11, however totally devoid of any Google apps or Google providers, working Amazon equivalents as a substitute. The App Retailer is fairly stocked with streaming apps, nevertheless it doesn’t have the whole lot that you simply’d discover on a daily Android pill.
That makes Amazon’s pitch for the Fireplace Max 11 as a productiveness gadget a tough one to swallow, even with a reasonably succesful keyboard and stylus equipment obtainable at extra price.
Nevertheless, if you will get together with the app providing and Amazon branding, the Fireplace Max 11 is a strong price range pill with efficiency besting many of the low cost competitors, a strong 11-inch show, an aluminium body and 14 hours of battery life.
Design and construct
- A unique look to different Fireplace tablets
- Appears loads like an iPad
- Solely obtainable in gray
In a bid to separate itself from the cheaper tablets in Amazon’s Fireplace assortment, the Amazon Fireplace Max 11 seems to be decidedly extra premium. The truth is, somewhat than trying like a Fireplace pill, it seems to be extra like one in all Apple’s current iPads – extra particularly, the Tenth-gen iPad.
Its aluminium physique is squared off with flat edges, similar to Apple’s possibility, nevertheless it doesn’t cease there. The bezels are additionally of an identical dimension to the iPad 10, the digital camera is embedded within the lengthy facet of the pill for higher panorama use and even the rear digital camera protrudes from the shell in the identical method that Apple’s does.
There’s additionally a handful of pro-level equipment (I’ll get to these in a minute) and even a fingerprint scanner constructed into the facility button.
That’s not essentially dangerous contemplating Amazon’s pill is cheaper than the £499/$449 iPad 10, nevertheless it’s not precisely an unique look. It’s a little bit of a disgrace that it’s solely obtainable within the somewhat ‘skilled’ gray end, too – I believe a splash of color may’ve helped it stand out from a sea of different price range gray tablets obtainable on Amazon’s storefront.
It does differ from Apple’s iPad in a handful of the way, although. Whereas storage caps out at 64 or 128GB, you may have a microSD card slot to increase storage when required. There’s additionally the odd placement of buttons, with the quantity and energy buttons showing alongside the USB-C port and microSD slot on the brief right-hand facet of the pill (when seen horizontally, that’s).
It’s a placement that took fairly some time to get used to, and somewhat annoyingly, it turned awkward to carry when charging. I used to be both attempting to keep away from knocking the USB-C cable or unintentionally hitting the facility or quantity keys.
There’s additionally a barely much less elegant POGO system for connecting equipment, with the uncovered ports on the underside fringe of the pill and gaps for equipment to snap into place. It’s not precisely the slickest method, however you most likely gained’t discover it typically.
Elsewhere, Amazon claims that the Fireplace Max 11 and its strengthened glass is thrice extra sturdy than the iPad 10 in its personal drop exams. That’s not one thing I’m simply capable of check, nevertheless it ought to carry peace of thoughts to these with clumsy youngsters close by.
There’s no official IP score, nonetheless, so most likely greatest to maintain it away from kitchen counter tops and loos.
Show
- Massive 11-inch show
- 2000 x 1200 decision
- Not fairly brilliant sufficient to be used open air
One of many primary causes to go for the Amazon Fireplace Max 11 is the show. The 11-inch IPS LCD show might not boast the deep blacks and vivid colors of OLED panels, however that’s not one thing you’ll discover on the value level. What’s necessary is that with a 2K (2000 x 1200) decision, the display screen is pin-sharp and full of element.
It additionally affords wonderful distinction with a large viewing angle, making it attainable for me and my companion to huddle collectively on the couch and revel in a film with out twiddling with the angle.
It additionally exceeds the iPad 10’s show in a single key space; lamination. The Fireplace Max 11’s show is absolutely laminated, and whereas which may not sound like a lot, it means there’s no air hole between the entrance glass and the LCD panel beneath.
That implies that, in contrast to the iPad, there isn’t an affordable hole sound once you faucet on the show. It feels strong, well-built and as famous earlier, it’s lined in an unnamed protecting glass that ought to shield it from a drop or two.
If there’s any space the place the Fireplace Max 11 may enhance, it’d be brightness. Amazon’s claimed 420nits brightness is appropriate for indoor use, nevertheless it leaves a lot to be desired when you wander out to the backyard on a very sunny day. It’s nonetheless nearly usable, however you’ll possible be looking for shaded areas.
The comparatively low brightness means there’s no HDR help on supply both, although as with OLED tech, that’s one thing you’ll be hard-pressed to seek out on the £250/$250 value level.
Equipment
- Keyboard case is surprisingly succesful
- Trackpad gestures turn out to be useful
- Stylus is suitable with different tablets
As hinted at, the Amazon Fireplace Max 11 isn’t simply one other Fireplace pill; it’s designed for work. Nicely, based on Amazon anyway – however I’ll get into the specifics slightly later. With a view to assist this lofty intention, the Fireplace Max 11 is suitable with work-focused equipment together with a full keyboard case, full with trackpad, and a stylus too.
The keyboard is definitely fairly strong in on a regular basis use with little key journey wanted to activate every key, a lot in order that I truly wrote a big portion of this evaluation on the pill itself.
There’s a useful row of shortcut keys on the high such as you’d discover with a ‘correct’ laptop computer, and ordinary Home windows keyboard shortcuts additionally work, with the likes of Alt-Tab switching home windows, CTRL + C copying textual content and extra. The one draw back is that it’s not backlit, which generally is a little bit of a downer when hammering away some textual content in a darkish room.
The trackpad can also be high quality for on a regular basis use, with gesture help permitting you to scroll with two fingers, pinch to zoom with two fingers and a three-finger swipe to change apps. The one actual oddity is the requirement to faucet with two fingers to pick out textual content, which I couldn’t get used to throughout testing.
The elective stylus works in the way in which you’d anticipate, with stress sensitivity and wonderful palm rejection when taking notes on the Max’s 11-inch show, and it snaps into place on the facet of the pill when not in use similar to an iPad. It’s additionally USI 2.0 supported, which suggests you should use it with different tablets just like the Google Pixel Pill, which doesn’t have an official stylus accent.
It’s a useful elective further for doodling and handwriting; it’s only a little bit of a ache that it makes use of a normal AAAA battery that’ll want changing each on occasion.
Efficiency
- Unnamed octa-core processor
- 4GB of RAM
- Surprisingly respectable price range efficiency
The Amazon Fireplace Max 11 continues the pattern of Amazon utilizing unnamed processors in its pill vary, claiming solely that it’s an octa-core processor, and that’s paired with a measly 4GB of RAM and both 64 or 128GB of expandable storage relying on the variant you go for.
Regardless of the somewhat underwhelming spec sheet, on a regular basis efficiency on the Fireplace Max 11 is surprisingly strong for a price range pill.
Don’t get me incorrect, this gained’t be competing with the iPad 10’s A14 Bionic chipset any time quickly, nevertheless it dealt with most on a regular basis duties – switching between apps, scrolling by way of the net on the Silk browser, studying on the Kindle app and taking part in a fast recreation of Township – with ease. Even fundamental 3D video games like Roblox run with out a lot criticism, and it will possibly deal with even probably the most ad-laden web sites.
That is borne out in benchmark testing with the Amazon Fireplace Max 11 besting different budget-focused tablets just like the Lenovo Tab M10 Plus third Gen, nevertheless it’s far behind established price range choices like the virtually two-year-old iPad 9.
Regardless of the dearth of fancy audio choices like Dolby Atmos, the Fireplace Max 11 generates sufficient quantity to fill a room comfortably and is obvious and crisp even at these top-end volumes. Bass efficiency leaves a lot to be desired, as with most tablets, nevertheless it’s serviceable for watching a film on the pill with out reaching for Bluetooth headphones.
And sure, they should be Bluetooth headphones, because the Fireplace Max 11 doesn’t sport a 3.5mm headphone jack like different low cost tablets.
I’d normally dedicate a whole part to digital camera efficiency, however the Fireplace Max 11’s providing is lacklustre, even for a pill.
The mix of 8MP lenses – one on the entrance, one on the rear – is an enchancment on the Fireplace HD 10’s 5MP and 2MP providing, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not near what you’d get from the digital camera on the cellphone in your pocket. It’s detailed sufficient for video calling and the odd selfie, however you gained’t be ditching your smartphone digital camera for this setup anytime quickly.
Software program
- Software program will probably be a sticking level for a lot of
- Not all Android apps can be found
- Lack of productivity-focused apps
As is the case with each Fireplace pill, software program is the sticking level for a lot of. It’s not a decidedly dangerous expertise, nevertheless it’s very a lot an Amazon-first one with its personal Appstore, browser and UI devoid of Google’s affect.
Meaning you gained’t discover Google providers on the pill regardless of it working on a modified model of Android 11. Meaning no YouTube, Gmail, Drive, Docs or Sheets, and though the shop has loads of apps, together with Netflix, Disney+ and most social networking apps together with Twitter, TikTok and Fb, there are many gaps in its assortment – significantly in relation to video games.
Amazon’s recreation assortment features a few respectable choices, like Roblox, nevertheless it’s primarily full of free-to-play video games like Gardenscapes full of microtransactions. You gained’t discover Name of Responsibility Cell, Genshin Influence or something like that right here.
In the event you’re decided, you’ll be able to sideload apps – it’s how I benchmarked the pill, in any case – however be warned that apps that depend on Google providers (like Uber) gained’t work on the pill.
This additionally clashes with Amazon’s work-oriented pitch for the pill. Most Android tablets battle with the work-focused pitch as a result of the Android OS lacks a number of the ‘killer’ professional apps obtainable for Apple’s iOS ecosystem. These vary from video enhancing app LumaFusion Professional to the digital drawing app Procreate, and whereas the state of affairs is slowly bettering, there’s nonetheless a solution to go.
That challenge is much more prevalent on the Fireplace Max 11 with such a restricted providing on Amazon’s Appstore. Whereas apps like Microsoft 365 can be found on the pill – full with a three-month free trial – you gained’t discover apps for Google Docs and Sheets.
In the event you’re a Microsoft subscriber, that’s high quality, however everybody else will probably be relegated to internet apps. Having to make use of web-based apps the place full-blown apps can be found for iOS and Android gadgets isn’t ultimate for both leisure or productiveness.
There’s additionally the dearth of cloud storage apps obtainable, with choices like Dropbox and Google Drive unavailable on the pill. This might trigger severe points in case your work revolves round a particular app or platform that’s not obtainable on the OS.
To Amazon’s credit score, the corporate has up to date the Information app to can help you create spreadsheets and phrase paperwork with out the necessity for a subscription, however the implementation leaves a lot to be desired.
Upon booting up the app, I used to be warned that WPS Workplace for Amazon was “constructed for an older model of Android and should not work correctly” – hardly an amazing begin. Nevertheless, it acquired worse from there, with the phrase processing app failing to show accurately on the 11-inch show, slicing off the highest menu and primarily making it unusable.
Evidently Amazon nonetheless has work to do if it needs the Fireplace Max 11 to be seen as a work-focused machine, even with its useful keyboard and stylus equipment.
Battery life
- 7500mAh battery
- Spectacular standby occasions
- Tremendous gradual charging with included 9W brick
With a stripped-back model of Android, a reasonably power-efficient (and never too power-hungry) chipset and a 7500mAh battery, the Amazon Fireplace Max 11 has the potential to final for fairly some time. Amazon claims it’ll final round 14 hours on a cost – up two hours on the Fireplace HD 10 – and I’ve discovered that to be roughly on the cash.
I used the pill sporadically throughout a current five-day journey to Amsterdam, together with studying a e book on the Kindle app on the airport and on the hour-long flight (in each instructions), watching two films on Netflix on one significantly wet night and taking part in a fast recreation of Townscapes to cross the time ready for a cab. Reader, I acquired house with 30% battery left within the tank.
That speaks not solely to the overall battery lifetime of the pill however how effectively it does on standby, with the pill reliably able to go at any time when I attain for it – even when it hasn’t been charged not too long ago.
That’s a very robust level as a result of, on the flip facet, the Amazon Fireplace Max 11 is tremendous gradual to cost as soon as it does lastly die.
The pill comes with a comparatively weak 9W charging brick within the field that, in testing, took a whopping 4 hours to regain a full cost. The pill does help as much as 15W charging, so you could possibly theoretically minimize down on cost occasions (round 40 minutes much less in testing), however you’ll should spend money on a separate charging brick to take action.
Newest offers
Must you purchase it?
You can purchase if you would like an affordable pill for streaming: The Amazon Fireplace Max 11’s 11-inch 2K show makes it ultimate for streaming and gaming – so long as the app’s obtainable on the Appstore.
You shouldn’t purchase if you would like a pill for work: Even with official keyboard and stylus equipment, the dearth of productivity-focused apps on the pill means it’s much less succesful than most Android-based alternate options. Try our greatest pill listing for extra decisions.
Ultimate Ideas
The Amazon Fireplace Max 11 isn’t fairly the productivity-focused pill that Amazon needed it to be, even with fairly respectable keyboard and stylus equipment, however that’s not right down to {hardware}.
The truth is, the 2K 11-inch show is without doubt one of the primary causes to go for the pill over the competitors, with pin-sharp element and nice viewing angles. It’s not even right down to a scarcity of processing energy, with the unnamed octa-core processor simply beating different low cost Android tablets in CPU and GPU exams.
No, it’s right down to the software program providing. Whereas the Android 11-based Fireplace UI is straightforward sufficient to make use of with most UK streaming apps obtainable on the faucet of a button, it lacks key productiveness apps that’d make it ultimate for work.
The truth that you’ll be able to’t even get Google Docs, Google Sheets, Drive or anything that depends on Google providers is a little bit of a purple flag for anybody seeking to get severe work carried out on a pill. For that, it’s best to choose up the OnePlus Pad or Apple’s iPad 10 – the latter is rather more costly however boasts a way more expansive app providing than any Android-based pill.
If, nonetheless, you’re on the lookout for an affordable pill for streaming, scrolling by way of social media and a bit of sunshine gaming and you’ll settle for Amazon’s restricted Appstore providing, the {hardware} is deliciously strong for the worth.
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In contrast to different websites, we completely check each product we evaluation. We use industry-standard exams with the intention to evaluate options correctly. We’ll all the time inform you what we discover. We by no means, ever settle for cash to evaluation a product. Inform us what you assume – Ship your emails to the Editor.
Used for a month earlier than evaluation
Reviewed alongside stylus and keyboard case
Benchmarked with industry-standard instruments
FAQs
Sure, nevertheless it’s solely 9W – you’ll have to purchase your individual 15W charger to reap the benefits of the quickest charging attainable.
You’ll be able to fairly simply, however any app that depends on Google providers gained’t work on the pill.
Trusted Critiques check information
Geekbench 6 single core
Geekbench 6 multi core
Max brightness
1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR)
30 minute gaming (mild)
Time from 0-100% cost
Time from 0-50% cost
30-min recharge (included charger)
15-min recharge (included charger)
3D Mark – Wild Life
GFXBench – Aztec Ruins
GFXBench – Automotive Chase
UK RRP
USA RRP
Producer
Display Measurement
Storage Capability
Rear Digital camera
Entrance Digital camera
Video Recording
IP score
Battery
Measurement (Dimensions)
Weight
ASIN
Working System
Launch Date
First Reviewed Date
Decision
Refresh Price
Ports
Chipset
RAM
Colors
Jargon buster
LCD
The kind of show normally used on cheaper and mid-range gadgets. Lacks the punch on an OLED panel.
