Amazon’s Fire tablets have always focused on being ultra-affordable, but a new addition to the lineup changes things up a bit. At $229.99 / £249.99, the new Fire Max 11 is the most expensive tablet Amazon has ever made.
That price puts it up against budget Android slates for the first time, even if the iPad is still out of reach.
The material also looks encouraging. As the name suggests, this is an 11-inch tablet, with a respectable 2000×1200 screen resolution. Amazon doesn’t say so explicitly, but it’s likely to join other tablets Fire as an LCD screen.
Power comes from an unnamed 2.2GHz octa-core processor, but with 4GB of RAM you can apparently expect performance to be “almost 50% faster than Apple’s next fastest tablet.” Amazon”, which is the Fire HD 10 Plus. You also have the choice between 64 and 128 GB of storage on the device.
While the Fire Max 11 is unlikely to be able to run many demanding apps, Amazon specifically mentions its suitability for the company’s Luna game streaming service. Other specs include an 8Mp camera on both sides of the device, a fingerprint sensor in the power button, and up to 14 hours of claimed battery life.
This is also the first time we’ve seen productivity-focused accessories for a Fire tablet. The detachable case (£89.99) includes a trackpad, full-size keyboard and built-in stand, while a new stylus (£34.99) has been specially designed for the device. Packages for all three start at $329.99 / £374.99.
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Of course, the big limitation of all Fire tablets is the software. They run Fire OS, which relies on the Amazon Appstore rather than the Google Play Store or Apple’s Appstore, meaning you can’t install Google apps like Docs or Gmail. Statista estimates put the number of apps on the Amazon Appstore at around 480,000 at the end of 2022, compared to several million for its competitors.
However, Fire OS has its advantages. The home screen includes a dedicated controller for Alexa-enabled smart home technology, while View Mode makes it look and function like one of Amazon’s smart displays.
If you don’t mind that more streamlined software experience, the Fire Max 11 seems like a solid tablet. Pre-orders are live today, ahead of the release of the device and all accessories on June 14.
All purchases include a free three-month subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal for new customers, after which it will cost you $6.99/£5.99 per month or $69.99/£59.99 per year.
