The tablet market offers a spectrum of choices, from premium, high-performance devices to budget-friendly media consumption hubs. This comparison pits the Apple iPad mini (2019), a veteran known for its portability and polished ecosystem, against the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021), a value-focused tablet aiming to deliver entertainment without breaking the bank. We'll dissect their core components to determine which tablet best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and prioritizing portability and a responsive experience, the iPad mini is the clear winner. However, the Fire HD 10 Plus offers significantly more value for media consumption and casual use, especially for those already invested in Amazon's services, despite its older chipset.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - A1454; A1455 | N/A |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - A1454; A1455 | - |
| 4G bands | 4, 17 - A1454 | - |
| EDGE | - | No |
| GPRS | - | No |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | - |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2012, October. Released 2012, November | 2021, April 27. Released 2021, May 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 200 x 134.7 x 7.2 mm (7.87 x 5.30 x 0.28 in) | 247 x 166 x 9.2 mm (9.72 x 6.54 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | No |
| Weight | 312 g (11.01 oz) | 468 g (1.03 lb) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Oleophobic coating | Aluminosilicate glass |
| Resolution | 768 x 1024 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~162 ppi density) | 1920 x 1200 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~224 ppi density) |
| Size | 7.9 inches, 193.3 cm2 (~71.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.1 inches, 295.8 cm2 (~72.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Apple A5 (45 nm) | Mediatek MT8183 Helio P60T (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX543MP2 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | iOS 6, upgradable to iOS 9.3.6 | Android 9.0 (Pie), Fire OS 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 512MB RAM, 32GB 512MB RAM, 64GB 512MB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 5 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular | - |
| Single | 1.2 MP | 2 MP |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 720p |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, compass | Accelerometer |
| | - | Text-to-Speech English-language content reader |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | Wireless |
| Talk time | Up to 10 h (multimedia) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 4490 mAh, non-removable (16.7 Wh) | Li-Ion |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black/Slate, White/Silver | Slate |
| Models | A1454, A1455, iPad2,6, iPad2,7 | T76N2P |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 150 EUR |
Apple iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular
- Highly portable and compact design
- Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem
- Optimized iOS experience
- Outdated A5 chipset
- Higher price point
- No wireless charging
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021)
- Significantly more affordable
- Larger display for media consumption
- Wireless charging support
- Less powerful chipset
- Fire OS ecosystem limitations
- Lower build quality
Display Comparison
The iPad mini boasts a contrast ratio of 812:1, suggesting good black levels and vibrant colors, though its exact brightness remains unspecified. The Fire HD 10 Plus, while likely offering a lower contrast ratio (typical of IPS LCDs), benefits from a larger 10.1-inch screen. The iPad mini’s smaller size (8-inch) prioritizes portability, while the Fire HD 10 Plus is better suited for viewing content. Both lack high refresh rate displays, but the iPad mini’s superior color accuracy, typical of Apple’s displays, will be noticeable for photo and video editing.
Camera Comparison
Neither tablet excels in photography. Given the context data, a detailed camera comparison is limited. The iPad mini likely features a more refined image signal processor (ISP) within the A5, potentially yielding slightly better image quality. However, both tablets are primarily designed for content consumption, not creation, and camera quality is unlikely to be a deciding factor for most users. We can assume the Fire HD 10 Plus has a basic camera setup focused on video calls.
Performance
The performance gap is substantial. The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus utilizes a Mediatek MT8183 Helio P60T, an octa-core processor built on a 12nm process. This offers a significant core count advantage over the iPad mini’s Apple A5, a dual-core processor fabricated on a 45nm node. While the A5 is optimized for iOS, the sheer architectural advantage of the Helio P60T, with its Cortex-A73 and A53 cores, translates to faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the Fire HD 10 Plus. The older manufacturing process of the A5 also implies lower power efficiency and potentially more heat generation. However, iOS’s efficient memory management may mitigate some of the A5’s limitations.
Battery Life
Battery life is difficult to assess without specific mAh ratings. However, the Fire HD 10 Plus’s larger screen size and less power-efficient chipset likely necessitate a larger battery capacity. The inclusion of wireless charging on the Fire HD 10 Plus is a convenience feature absent on the iPad mini. While the A5’s older architecture is less efficient, iOS’s power management features could help extend battery life during light usage. Real-world usage will determine which tablet offers superior endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular if you need a highly portable tablet for on-the-go productivity, appreciate a refined user experience, and require seamless integration with other Apple devices. Buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus (2021) if you prioritize affordability, long battery life for media consumption, and are heavily invested in Amazon's ecosystem of services like Prime Video and Kindle.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Apple A5 chipset still capable of running modern apps smoothly?
While the A5 is aging, iOS is optimized to run efficiently on older hardware. Basic apps and web browsing will be fine, but demanding games or resource-intensive applications may experience slowdowns or lag. The Fire HD 10 Plus’s Helio P60T will generally offer a smoother experience with newer software.
❓ How much does Amazon's Fire OS limit app availability compared to iOS?
Fire OS is based on Android but lacks full Google Play Store access. You primarily rely on the Amazon Appstore, which has a smaller selection of apps. While many popular apps are available, you may need to sideload apps from other sources, which can be less secure and more complex.
❓ Does the Fire HD 10 Plus's wireless charging significantly impact charging speed?
Wireless charging on the Fire HD 10 Plus is convenient, but it's generally slower than wired charging. Expect a full charge to take several hours longer via wireless charging compared to using the included power adapter.
