What is the best Amazon Fire HD tablet for reading e-books and audiobooks? Amazon has been making waves in the world of e-books lately. In addition to the Kindle series, the company has released several new Fire HD tablets for reading e-books.
Best of all, all Amazon tablets are very affordable. So if you are looking for a cheap tablet that is perfect for reading a book, while also having the functionality of a tablet, then deciding on an Amazon fire hd tablet might be the right choice for you.
Many users wonder “Why would I get a Kindle when I can use an Amazon fire tablet?”.
The main difference between the Kindle and Fire HD tablet for reading is that the kindle uses e-ink technology, which makes the screen easier on the eyes when reading. It’s also has the ideal battery lifespan for reading e-books and audiobooks.
For more on this debate, see our post: Fire HD vs Kindle Paperwhite: Which is Better for Reading?
Even though the different Fire HD tablets models are not as efficient as the kindle for reading as far as battery life and e-ink technology, they still offer a great reading experience.
When you think about it, all you need from a tablet for reading is a big, bright display, good battery life, and solid performance. And luckily, the Amazon Fires and Kindles offer all of that.
Also see: What can you do with the Amazon Fire Tablet? (Fire HD)
Let us take a look at the 7 best Amazon Fire HD tablets for reading e-books.
- 1. Amazon Fire Tablet Hd 10: largest, most affordable fire tablet for reading
- 2. Kindle Paperwhite E-reader: Best Alternative to a Fire HD Tablet for reading
- 3. Amazon Fire Tablet Hd 8: Good size tablet for reading
- 4. Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus: Strongest Fire HD tablet for reading
- 5. Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus: Fastest, 8 inch budget tablet for reading
- 6. Kindle Oasis: Best premium alternative to Amazon fire Tablet for reading
- 7. Fire HD 10 Pro Kids: Best Fire Tablet for kids that Read books, e-books, and learning
- Is the Kindle fire good for reading outside?
At a Glance – What Fire Tablet is best for reading e-books?
Below, you’ll find our top choices for the best amazon fire tablet for reading based on on our hands-on reviewing.
- Amazon Fire Tablet Hd 10: largest, most affordable fire tablet for reading
- Kindle Paperwhite E-reader: Best Alternative to a Fire HD Tablet for reading
- Amazon Fire Tablet Hd 8: Good size tablet for reading
- Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus: Strongest Fire HD tablet for reading
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus: Fastest, 8 inch budget tablet for reading
- Kindle Oasis: Best premium alternative to Amazon fire Tablet for reading
- Fire HD 10 Pro Kids: Best Fire Tablet for kids that Read books, e-books, and learning
Can you Read Books on an Amazon Fire tablet? (e-books)
Amazon Fire HD tablets are designed for simple everyday tasks like reading, checking email, and browsing. You can certainly read ebooks on an Amazon Fire tablet, but there are a few things to keep in mind first.
- For example, Fire tablets are not just for reading. If you enjoy reading books and magazines that contain images, then by all means go for it. They just won’t pair as well in direct sunlight compared to the Kindle PaperWhite or Oasis e-readers.
However, if you’re choosing a tablet device solely for reading, then the Kindle Paperwhite or Kindle Oasis is without a doubt the better choice between notes two devices.
On the other hand, if you need a tablet for simple everyday tasks (including browsing, streaming, reading), then you should definitely go for an Amazon Fire HD device.
Related: 9 Best Tablets for Reading and Web Browsing (Reading Pads)
In conclusion, Fire HD tablets can easily be your main reading device. They are lightweight, powerful and have solid displays. Let us take a look at the best Amazon Fire HD tablets for reading.
7 Best Amazon Fire HD Tablets for Reading
Below, you’ll find our top picks based on overall tablet functions in addition to being compatible for reading.
Related: E-ink Tablet vs iPad: Choosing between an E-Book reader and a Tablet
The Amazon fire devices below has been tested for reading e-books and audiobooks and we will cover all the pros and cons of each. One quick fact is that the Kindle HD models allow you to adjust the letter sizes and cool looking words with the generated font that the e-ink technology allows for.
1. Amazon Fire Tablet Hd 10: largest, most affordable fire tablet for reading
The latest Fire HD 10 tablet is a great choice for anyone looking for a tablet to read. With its 10.1-inch, full HD display, you can easily read any eBook or magazine.
And if you need to read a smaller text, the Fire HD 10 is the perfect choice. In fact, to fully enjoy your books, you definitely need a bigger screen, and the 10-inch screen is perfect.
Additionally, if you prefer to read in a two-page mode, you can simply activate the landscape mode and read in full screen.
The Fire HD may even be a good device for those who are learning to read because you can change the size of the font and make it easier to read. There are also apps you can run alongside it if you are trying to improve phonics, special education, and even for improving literacy in general.
Related: 9 Best Tablets for Reading PDF files [Buyers Guide
The fire tablet is a good for reading, it just doesn’t have e-ink technology like the kindle models do.
The battery can last up to 12 hours, so you can be on the go and read whenever you want. In a few words, the Fire HD 10 has everything you need at a low price. So, this tablet is a brilliant choice for reading e-books.
2. Kindle Paperwhite E-reader: Best Alternative to a Fire HD Tablet for reading
Kindle devices are designed exclusively for reading e-books. The Kindle Paperwhite features what is called e-ink, so you feel like you are reading a real book. The 300 ppi also ensures that you can read in any light, even under the sunlight.
The size of the display is 6.8 inches. It’s smaller than the Fire HD 10’s, but better if you are just using it for reading.
You can adjust the hue of your Paperwhite to have a better reading experience. Also, you can change the boldness and size of the text to read at your own pace.
See the 9 Best Kindle Paperwhite Stands and Holders (stand cases)
It is a compact, waterproof and lightweight device so you can take it anywhere. The best part is that the device can go for weeks without charging, depending on how many hours you spend with it every day.
Finally, you’ll find a wide selection of more than 2 million e-books and audiobooks in Amazon Prime Reading. Only Kindle devices have access to Amazon’s Prime Reading library.
See our post on the best tablet for writers and professional writing.
3. Amazon Fire Tablet Hd 8: Good size tablet for reading
The Fire HD 8 tablet is certainly a good choice for reading e-books. Like the Fire HD 10, you can also use it for browsing and everyday tasks. However, it is better in some aspects when it comes to reading.
Display: The 8 inches with a resolution of 1200 x 800 pixels allow you to hold the device in one hand. You will feel like you are reading a regular book.
Also, you can easily read books and documents with pictures. Moreover, you can use the two-sided screen like the Fire HD 10 if you prefer to read in landscape mode.
The HD 8 is lightweight and a portable device. Its battery lasts up to 12 hours and can be fully charged in 5 hours. This also makes it good tablet for traveling & reading on a plane.
In summary, the Amazon Fire HD 8 has the perfect size for reading, it’s lightweight and its battery lasts many hours.
4. Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus: Strongest Fire HD tablet for reading
The latest Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus is the most powerful and fastest Fire HD device for reading. Like all Fire HD devices, the new 10 Plus is perfect for your everyday tasks, yet is more durable than ever with a screen made of reinforced glass.
Display & Performance: You can enjoy reading on the 10.1 inch full HD display. It’s faster than the Fire HD 10, thanks to the 4 GB RAM, instead of the 3 GB of the HD 10.
Related: 7 Best Tablets for FaceTime, Video calls, and Skype
Battery: The battery lasts up to 12 hours while reading, browsing and watching videos, like most Fire HD tablets, yet Amazon is introducing wireless charging on this device. You can also charge it with a USB cable.
If you are using a stylus to draw or annotate on certain apps, then see the 7 Best Stylus for Amazon Fire HD 8 & 10
All of these features make the HD 10 Plus the perfect tablet for reading and browsing on the go. It may not be quite as light as the Kindle devices, but it can do much more than just be a device for reading.
5. Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus: Fastest, 8 inch budget tablet for reading
The Fire HD 8 now has a new version, the HD 8 Plus. As mentioned earlier, the Fire HD 8 is a reliable device that has the best size for reading. The display and resolution are the same, yet there are some differences.
Display & Performance: Like the HD 10 Plus, the Fire HD 8 Plus offers wireless charging. It also offers a better RAM with 3 GB instead of 2 GB. Apart from that, it is faster and you can easily use it throughout the day with a battery life of up to 12 hours.
Bottom line, you can have a great reading experience even with one hand. The device is faster than the Fire HD 8 and only costs a few dollars more. This device is definitely worth the money.
To be clear: It is the 5th best kindle fire for reading due to it’s price for value -the plus has more RAM and doesn’t break the budget at the same time.
Related: Best Cases for Fire HD 8 & 8+ with Stand, Keyboard, Cover
6. Kindle Oasis: Best premium alternative to Amazon fire Tablet for reading
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The Amazon Kindle series is the best series of tablets for reading e-books and audiobooks, because it was designed specifically for this purpose. That said, the Kindle Oasis has a few differences compared to the (more affordable) Kindle Paperwhite.
Display & Performance: The biggest difference between the two is that the Oasis has a slightly larger display at 7 inches. It has a sleek and ergonomic look with an aluminum body instead of plastic and the 12- LED layout makes the Oasis much brighter.
Another big difference is that the Oasis lets you change pages with a physical page turn button. This model has ads, but there is also a non ad supported device. See our post on kindle ads vs no ads.
You can also adjust and customize the text size, hue, and boldness. You can also switch between reading and listening modes. Of course, some things remain the same between the Oasis and the Paperwhite. For example, both devices are waterproof and have 8GB of memory.
Comparable to the Kobo Libra 2 (Kobo e-reader), the Kindle Oasis works with an e-ink screen. One disadvantage is that it’s less intuitive for reading PDF files on this compared to the Kobo Libra 2. See our post on the best tablets for PDF reading for more information on this.
The Oasis feels premium with all of these added features. And the price range proves that as well: the Paperwhite costs almost half the price.
7. Fire HD 10 Pro Kids: Best Fire Tablet for kids that Read books, e-books, and learning
The Fire HD 10 Pro for kids edition is the latest in Amazon’s Kids series. This device has proven to be the best tablet for kids that can do more than just read e-books.
Display & Performance: With its 10.1-inch display and 3GB RAM, your kids can also enjoy school-age content that includes educational content from top-rated apps like National Geographic and countless educational audiobooks and TV.
Additional features: Plus, parental controls give your kids the independence they need while still keeping you in control. You can let them surf the web, but with limits.
Plus, the device comes in 4 different colors to choose from. Like most Fire HD tablets, it lasts up to 12 hours.
What are the differences between reading an ebook on a Kindle Paperwhite and an Amazon Fire tablet?
Amazon has developed two different series of tablets for reading e-books. The Fire HD and the Kindle series. They have significant differences, but can still serve the same purpose: reading.
The main difference between the two series is that the Kindles are strictly for reading and the Fire series can do more than just read. You can browse the web and do all the necessary everyday tasks like reading emails.
See, Why is my Kindle Paper white slow? [How to fix it]
On the flip side, the Kindle Paperwhite is a lightweight, waterproof device with a 6.7-inch display made for reading ebooks. It gives you the ability to adjust and moderate the display settings for a better reading experience. You can also read directly in sunlight. With the e-ink display, you will feel like you are reading from a real book.
Are Kindle Fire & Amazon Fire HD 8 & 10 tablets good for reading?
The Fire HD tablets are great for reading e-books and audiobooks since they have an e-reading app as well as audiobook and bluetooth functionality. The added benefit that the kindle has over the amazon fire hd tablet for reading e-books is that it has e-ink technology and a long battery life.
However, the disadvantage is that it doesn’t function like a full tablet does (ex. fireOS apps, games, etc).
The Kindle Fire series is made for reading. Amazon has included some of the best features for reading, such as e-ink that will not tire your eyes and text customization.
Plus, these tablets are lightweight and waterproof. All in all, these are the best devices for reading on the go. You can take them with you every day and the battery lasts up to 6 weeks.
The Fire HD 8 and 10 tablets are also good for reading. These devices have larger screens (8 and 10 inches, respectively). In addition, the large screens allow you to read smaller texts because they have excellent resolution.
They are also compact and the battery life is up to 12 hours. All said, since reading ebooks isn’t a demanding task, all Amazon tablets will provide a solid experience.
Is the Kindle fire good for reading outside?
Reading outside can be a pleasant experience, but it can also be a challenging one, especially when it comes to electronic devices.
When it comes to the Kindle Fire, devices like the Kindle Paperwhite or the Kindle Oasis are significantly better for reading outside than The Fire HD models. This is due to the E-ink technology, which is used in Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Oasis, is specifically designed for reading. Fire HD tablets have a different display, that while bright, is very difficult to read in the sunlight. Also, it will drain the battery faster, while the e-ink reader technology will actually slow it’s drainage.
Can you get Kindle books on Fire tablet
Amazon’s library is easily accessible from any Fire tablet. You can download e-books on your Fire tablet in many different ways, but the easiest is this:
When you go to the Amazon Store from your device, select “Books” at the top of the screen and then “Store” to browse through the myriad of e-books and audiobooks. You can also search for the “Free Books” list to find the entire free selection of books.
If you would like to purchase items, simply click “Buy” and the download of the item will begin. When the process is complete, you can open the book and start reading.
Reading apps for Amazon fire tablet & kindle fire
Although Amazon fire tablets can easily handle any reading app out there, there are some reading apps that prove to be more reliable than others. To be precise, the best reading apps for Amazon Fire and Amazon Kindle devices are:
- Goodreads: This is one of the most popular reading app on the market. If you want to build the ultimate ebook collection, Goodreads is the app for you.
- OverDrive: This is one of the top contender; a well-known app when it comes to borrowing ebooks and audiobooks in minutes. This is why OverDrive is a brilliant choice for students.
- Wattpad: Wettpad is by far the most beginner-friendly reading and writing app out there.
- ComiCat: This is a must-have app for those of you who are comic book fans.
Best learning apps for Amazon fire tablet
Amazon offers a wide selection of educational apps for the Fire tablets. Depending on the age of your kids, you are sure to find plenty of free and paid programs that your kids will love.
If your kids are starting to learn how to write now, the Writing Wizard app will definitely help them out. With plenty of colorful pens and animated stickers, your kids are sure to love the app.
If your child is in preschool, first and second grade, ABCmouse is the best learning app for them. It offers more than 900 books with interactive activities like puzzles, animations, and printable assignments.
Last but not the least, we have the latest app by NASA. It contains all the latest news and tablet live streaming from the NASA station!
What is it like to read ebooks on Kindle Fire & Amazon Fire HD 8 & 10 tablets?
Reading books on the Kindle Fires is great because all devices have a perfect-sized screen for reading and you can easily turn the pages. Kindle Fires like the Paperwhite and Oasis also have a built-in light for reading at night and exceptional battery life of up to two weeks.
On the other hand, the Amazon Fire HDs are also great for reading. Unlike Kindles, the Fires are multifunctional tablets. This means that if you have a HD 8 or HD 10, you can also browse the web, watch movies, etc. If you want to read books on Amazon Fire HD 8 &10 tablets, you need to download the free Kindle App from the Amazon App Store.
Related: Amazon Fire HD vs Samsung Tablet models (A8, A7, & S8)
Bottom line
In this post we covered all the best fire tablets for reading since many users want the functionality of a tablet and not just a single, dedicated e-reader like the Kindle.
The best fire HD for reading is the 8 inch as its compact and still suits the approximate size of many books. The Largest 10inch model works well, but I found it to be on the bulkier side, though preference of size and display is up to the user.
One thing that can’t be argued is that the best amazon fire hd for e-books and audiobooks will ideally have a long battery life for reading. You can certainly use the Amazon fire HD for reading and e-books as well as audiobooks.
