Kindle vs. Fire Tablet: What's the Difference?

Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets are both Amazon devices that are solidly plugged into the Amazon ecosystem, but they have some substantial differences. Kindles are e-readers, while Fire tablets are more flexible devices that can browse the web, run apps, play videos, and, yes, also display ebooks. That’s only the first part of the story, so let’s look at what differentiates these two Amazon devices so you can decide which one fits your needs.  

Overall Findings: Is a Fire Tablet the Same as a Kindle?

Fire tablets aren’t the same as Kindles, which can be a bit confusing, especially to anyone who remembers when the line of Fire tablets initially launched as Kindle Fire. Kindle and Fire share a tablet form factor, but Kindles are e-readers and Fire tablets are general-use tablets. As a result, you can run the Kindle app on a Fire tablet to read books, but you can’t watch movies, play games, send an email, or video chat with a Kindle.

The latest models are the Fire HD 10 tablet and the 11-generation Kindle.

Design and Display: LCD Vs. E-Ink

Kindles can’t do most of the things you can do with a tablet, but they are easier on the eyes due to the use of e-ink for the display. On the other hand, fire tablets typically include beautiful IPS LCDs with brilliant colors and sometimes even high-definition resolutions.

The benefit of an e-ink display is it’s easier on your eyes when reading for long periods. Instead of a backlight shining light from the screen into your eyes, like a Fire tablet, phone, or computer, an e-ink display relies on light hitting it and bouncing into your eyes, just like the pages of a book. Even the front light on newer models uses LEDs directed at the page instead of outward.

Besides less eye fatigue, the e-ink display consumes less power than the full-color IPS LCDs found in Fire tablets. That’s part of why a Kindle can go much longer between charges than a Fire tablet.

On the Fire tablet side, they use full-color IPS LCDs with bright backlights. These screens look great in most lighting conditions and are well-suited to running apps and streaming video from Netflix, but they can be challenging to see in direct sunlight due to glare.

Features: Fire Tablets Are More Flexible

The tablet is more flexible when you look at the feature sets of Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets. Kindles are e-readers, and that’s pretty much it. While they include a web browser, and you can get a version with a limited monthly amount of free mobile internet access, they aren’t ideal for web browsing. Their micro USB ports are just for charging, not connecting peripherals. Some models offer Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to pair speakers or headphones to listen to audiobooks via Amazon-owned Audible.

Fire tablets provide various features depending on your specific model, but every Fire device functions as a tablet. That means you can run apps from the Amazon app store, browse the web, send and receive emails, stream music, and video, take pictures, record video, and everything else you’d typically expect to do with a tablet.

Most Fire tablets include front and rear cameras, although some older models don’t offer both. They typically also provide Bluetooth connectivity for wireless earbuds, keyboards, and other peripherals and a USB-C port to connect additional peripherals. Some also include hands-free controls via the Alexa virtual assistant.

Software: Can You Read Kindle Books on Amazon Fire Tablets?

Kindle devices are severely limited in terms of software. What you see is, essentially, what you get. You can access the Kindle store via a Kindle, read books in the Kindle format and a handful of other formats, and browse the web with the built-in web browser. Amazon also offers a free conversion service that lets you view non-ebook files on your Kindle.

Fire tablets run on Amazon’s Android version, which has software capabilities similar to those of other Android tablets. Each Fire tablet has apps for web browsing, email, and streaming media, but you can also access the Amazon app store. With built-in store access, you can download games and other apps. You can even run the Kindle app, which allows you to read Kindle books on your Fire tablet.

Since Fire tablets run on Amazon’s version of Android, advanced users can sideload Android apps and even access the Google Play Store. If you want an app that isn’t available in the Amazon App Store, there’s a good chance you can get it on your Fire tablet with enough research and work.

Final Verdict: Do You Want to Read Books, or Run Apps and Watch Videos?

Kindle e-readers and Amazon Fire tablets are both Amazon products with some overlap in function, but they’re very different devices with different purposes. You need to ask yourself if you want to read books or run apps, browse the web, make video calls, watch videos, and everything else you can do with a tablet.

If you need a multi-purpose gadget that can do it all, then an Amazon Fire tablet is your device. If you want an experience laser-focused on reading e-books with a paper-like display and essentially no room for distractions, then a Kindle can do the job.

Pricing & Where to Buy

The Amazon Kindle retails for $100.

The Amazon Fire HD 10 retails for $140.