The tablet market caters to a wide range of needs and budgets. The Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) represents Apple’s entry-level offering, leveraging its established ecosystem and powerful silicon. Conversely, the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) prioritizes affordability, aiming to deliver a functional tablet experience at a significantly lower price point. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two devices, helping you determine which best suits your requirements.
🏆 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 and superior display quality justify the higher price. However, the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) provides exceptional value for casual users seeking a basic tablet for media consumption and light tasks.
| 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 | - | N/A |
| GPRS | - | N/A |
| 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 | 2022, September 21 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 24 | Available. Released 2022, September 21 |
| 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) | 201.9 x 137.4 x 9.6 mm (7.95 x 5.41 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM (cellular model only) | No |
| Weight | 487 g (Wi-Fi) / 498 g (LTE) (1.07 lb) | 337 g (11.89 oz) |
| | Stylus support (1st gen only) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | - |
| Resolution | 1620 x 2160 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~265 ppi density) | 800 x 1280 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~189 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.2 inches, 322.2 cm2 (~73.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 8.0 inches, 185.6 cm2 (~66.9% 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) | Hexa-core (6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | Mediatek MT8169A |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Mali-G52 2EE MC2 |
| OS | iPadOS 15, upgradable to iPadOS 26.1 | Android 11, Fire OS 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB 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 | 1080p |
| 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 | 5.2, 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 |
| 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 |
| | - | Alexa natural language commands
Text-to-Speech English-language content reader |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Talk time | - | Up to 13 h |
| Type | Li-Ion 8557 mAh (32.4 Wh) | - |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Black, Denim, Rose |
| Models | A2603, A2604, iPad12,1, iPad12,2 | KFRAWI |
| Price | About 430 EUR | About 110 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.
- Limited storage options at the base price.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)
- Extremely affordable price.
- Tight integration with Amazon services (Kindle, Prime Video).
- Compact and lightweight design.
- Significantly slower performance.
- Lower display quality.
- Limited app ecosystem compared to iPad.
Display Comparison
The iPad 10.2 (2021) boasts a significantly more capable display, achieving a measured peak brightness of 513 nits and a contrast ratio of 1123:1. While the Fire HD 8’s display specifications aren’t publicly available with the same granularity, it’s generally understood to offer lower brightness and contrast. This translates to a more vibrant and readable experience on the iPad, particularly in bright environments. The iPad’s display is also likely to have wider color gamut coverage, enhancing the visual fidelity of photos and videos. The Fire HD 8’s display, while functional, is geared towards cost-effectiveness rather than visual excellence.
Camera Comparison
Both tablets feature cameras capable of photo and video capture, but the specifics are limited in the provided data. Given Apple’s typical camera implementation, the iPad 10.2 (2021) likely offers superior image quality and video recording capabilities. The Fire HD 8’s camera is likely focused on basic functionality for video calls and casual snapshots. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a precise comparison, but the iPad’s image signal processor (ISP) within the A13 Bionic will undoubtedly provide better image processing and noise reduction.
Performance
The performance gap between these tablets is substantial. The iPad 10.2 (2021) is powered by the Apple A13 Bionic, a 7nm+ chip featuring a hexa-core CPU (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder). This chip delivers significantly faster processing speeds and superior graphics performance compared to the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)’s Mediatek MT8169A, a hexa-core (6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) processor. The A13 Bionic’s architectural advantages, including its dedicated Neural Engine, enable smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience. The Fire HD 8, while adequate for basic tasks, will struggle with demanding applications and graphically intensive games. The A13 Bionic’s superior efficiency also contributes to better battery life under load.
Battery Life
The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) supports 15W wired charging, a relatively slow charging speed compared to modern standards. While the iPad 10.2 (2021)’s charging specifications aren’t provided, it typically supports faster charging via USB-C. The actual battery life will depend on usage patterns, but the A13 Bionic’s efficiency and Apple’s software optimization likely contribute to comparable or even better battery endurance on the iPad, despite potentially having a similar capacity battery to the Fire HD 8. The slower charging speed of the Fire HD 8 means longer downtime between uses.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) if you need a tablet capable of handling demanding apps, multitasking, and creative workloads, and if you value seamless integration with other Apple devices. Buy the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) if you prioritize affordability, primarily intend to consume media (streaming video, reading ebooks), and are comfortable within the Amazon ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Mediatek MT8169A in the Fire HD 8 sufficient for streaming video and reading ebooks?
Yes, the Mediatek MT8169A is adequate for basic tasks like streaming video (Netflix, Prime Video) and reading ebooks. However, it will struggle with demanding apps or multitasking. Expect some lag when switching between apps or loading complex web pages.
❓ Does the iPad 10.2 (2021) support Apple Pencil, and is it worth purchasing for note-taking?
Yes, the iPad 10.2 (2021) supports the 1st generation Apple Pencil (sold separately). It's a worthwhile investment for students or anyone who frequently takes notes, sketches, or annotates documents. The Pencil provides a precise and responsive writing experience.
❓ How does the Amazon Fire HD 8's software experience differ from iPadOS?
The Fire HD 8 runs Fire OS, a heavily customized version of Android. It's deeply integrated with Amazon's services, prioritizing content consumption from Amazon's ecosystem. iPadOS, on the other hand, offers a more versatile and open software experience with a wider range of apps and customization options.
❓ Can I easily sideload apps onto the Amazon Fire HD 8?
Sideloading apps onto the Fire HD 8 is possible, but it requires some technical knowledge and isn't officially supported by Amazon. It involves enabling developer options and downloading APK files from third-party sources. Be cautious when sideloading apps, as they may pose security risks.
