The tablet market offers a wide spectrum of choices, from premium experiences to budget-friendly options. This comparison pits Apple’s consistently popular iPad 10.2 (2021) against Amazon’s Fire HD 10 Plus (2021), two devices targeting different segments. The iPad represents Apple’s established ecosystem and performance focus, while the Fire HD 10 Plus prioritizes affordability and media consumption.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and prioritizing performance, the iPad 10.2 (2021) is the clear winner. Its A13 Bionic chip delivers significantly faster processing speeds. However, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021) offers compelling value for casual users focused on media and reading, especially with its wireless charging capability.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | - |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - A2603 | - |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only | - |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - A2604 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 14 | 2021, April 27. Released 2021, May 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 24 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5 mm (9.87 x 6.85 x 0.30 in) | 247 x 166 x 9.2 mm (9.72 x 6.54 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) | No |
| Weight | 487 g (Wi-Fi) / 498 g (LTE) (1.07 lb) | 468 g (1.03 lb) |
| | Stylus support (1st gen only) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Aluminosilicate glass |
| Resolution | 1620 x 2160 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density) | 1920 x 1200 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~224 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.2 inches, 322.2 cm2 (~73.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.1 inches, 295.8 cm2 (~72.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | Mediatek MT8183 Helio P60T (12 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), Fire OS 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 31mm (standard), 1.12µm, AF | 5 MP |
| Video | 1080p@25/30fps, 720p@120fps; gyro-EIS | 720p |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 122˚ (ultrawide) | 2 MP |
| Video | 1080p@25/30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 720p |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS - cellular model only | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0; magnetic connector | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer | Accelerometer |
| | - | Text-to-Speech English-language content reader |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | Wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 8557 mAh (32.4 Wh) | Li-Ion |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Slate |
| Models | A2603, A2604, iPad12,1, iPad12,2 | T76N2P |
| Price | About 430 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1123:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-29.4 LUFS (Average)
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 617292(v9)
GeekBench: 3124 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Apple iPad 10.2 (2021)
- Significantly faster performance with the A13 Bionic chip.
- Superior display quality with higher brightness and contrast.
- Access to Apple’s extensive app ecosystem.
- Higher price point.
- Lacks wireless charging.
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021)
- More affordable price.
- Wireless charging support.
- Amazon ecosystem integration (Kindle, Prime Video).
- Substantially slower performance.
- Lower display quality.
Display Comparison
The iPad 10.2 (2021) boasts a measured peak brightness of 513 nits and a 1123:1 contrast ratio, providing a vibrant and clear viewing experience. While the Fire HD 10 Plus’s display specifications aren’t provided, Amazon tablets typically prioritize size over quality. The iPad’s superior contrast ratio ensures deeper blacks and more vivid colors, crucial for content creation and detailed viewing. The lack of detailed display specs for the Fire HD 10 Plus suggests a less refined visual experience, likely with lower brightness and contrast.
Camera Comparison
Both tablets feature cameras capable of photo and video capture, but neither is a primary focus. Given the context data, a detailed camera comparison is limited. The iPad’s camera benefits from Apple’s image signal processing, likely delivering more accurate colors and better dynamic range. The Fire HD 10 Plus’s camera is likely adequate for basic video calls and casual snapshots, but won’t compete with dedicated cameras or even smartphone cameras.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. Apple’s A13 Bionic (7nm+) is a hexa-core powerhouse, featuring two high-performance Lightning cores clocked at 2.65 GHz and four efficiency-focused Thunder cores at 1.8 GHz. This architecture allows for both sustained peak performance and excellent power efficiency. In contrast, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus utilizes the MediaTek MT8183 Helio P60T (12nm), an octa-core processor. While the Helio P60T has more cores, the larger 12nm manufacturing process and less sophisticated architecture result in significantly lower performance compared to the A13 Bionic. The A13’s superior single-core and multi-core performance will translate to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience.
Battery Life
Battery life is difficult to assess without specific mAh ratings. However, the Fire HD 10 Plus gains an advantage with its wireless charging capability, offering convenient top-ups. The A13 Bionic’s efficiency may partially offset the Fire HD 10 Plus’s wireless charging convenience, but the lack of wireless charging on the iPad is a notable omission for users who value that feature. Charging times will likely be faster on the iPad, assuming it supports faster wired charging, but this isn’t specified.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) if you need a tablet for demanding tasks like photo editing, gaming, or running professional applications, and if you value seamless integration with other Apple devices. Buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021) if you primarily intend to consume media, read ebooks, browse the web, and appreciate a lower price point with the convenience of wireless charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the MediaTek Helio P60T in the Fire HD 10 Plus sufficient for playing modern mobile games?
While the Helio P60T can handle some mobile games, it will struggle with graphically demanding titles at higher settings. Expect lower frame rates and potential lag compared to the iPad 10.2’s A13 Bionic, which offers a much smoother gaming experience.
❓ How does the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus’s software experience differ from iPadOS?
The Fire HD 10 Plus runs Fire OS, a heavily customized version of Android. It’s deeply integrated with Amazon’s services (Prime Video, Kindle) and features a different app store. iPadOS offers a more polished and feature-rich experience, with a wider selection of optimized apps and stronger privacy features.
❓ Can I use Google Play Store apps on the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus?
You can sideload the Google Play Store onto the Fire HD 10 Plus, but it's not officially supported and can be complex. Compatibility isn't guaranteed, and the experience may not be optimal.
❓ What accessories are available for each tablet, and how do their costs compare?
Apple offers a wide range of accessories for the iPad 10.2 (2021), including the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, but these are expensive. Amazon offers more affordable accessories for the Fire HD 10 Plus, such as covers and Bluetooth keyboards, but the quality is generally lower.
