The Amazon Fire Max 11 is Amazon ’s most muscular pad yet , but rather of simply being a big - screen portal into Amazon ’s world of goodness , euphony , and film – which the Fire mountain range has typically been – you may get it with a keyboard and a style , which says it ’s a productivity twist too .
It ’s a new direction for Amazon ’s Fire team , so has it pulled off this brave move ?
About our Amazon Fire Max 11 review
Originally published in July 2023 , we return to using the Fire Max 11 in June 2024 to see if it still contend and constitute the gamey degree of value it did upon its original release . The good newsworthiness is that the Fire Max 11 is still a majuscule bargain , and we ’ve included a new section below with our latest rating . The review ’s score has not changed .
Revisiting the Fire Max 11 in 2024
It ’s June 2024 as I write these words , and I ’ve been merrily typing away on the Fire Max 11 ’s keyboard for the last few days . The tablet had laid dormant for a while , and after give the battery a ripe direction ( which required careful selection as my common Anker 313 GaN mental block did n’t sour , but my Apple wall charger did ) and installing a handful of software package update , it has worked in precisely the same way as it did when I last used it . This is both a good and a bad thing . It ’s good because it means the Fire Max 11 still impress for the Mary Leontyne Price , but not so good because what was honest-to-god in 2023 is even old now .
It obviously still has a 60Hz screen which really put the Fire Max 11 in the tech Dark Ages , and I missed the smoothness of a high-pitched refresh rate screen and the natural fluidity of gesture control in Android . Software updates do seem to have meliorate the fingermark detector ’s responsiveness , plus motion pilotage restraint can now be selected alternatively of the three - button Android controls , and the overall performance does look fluent under normal use than I remember . It ’s still not a gambling machine , but for watching videos , reading books , and work in Google Docs , it ’s bright .
Yes , working in Google Docs , and I mean the app and not the web port . Installing Google bet onto the Fire Max 11is surprisingly soft and transforms the usefulness of Amazon ’s pad . I highly recommend doing it if you want to get the best from it . I love the Fire Max 11 ’s portability ( it jibe in my crossbody bag well due to its neat dimensions ) , the comfortable typing experience with the keyboard , and the neat kickstand on the magnetic rear cover .
repay to any art object of tech a year after launch unremarkably have in mind there are various new contenders for your money to list , but not so with the Fire Max 11.It ’s stillexcellentvalue for a oecumenical utilization pad of paper , and although aspects do make it onetime in engineering term , you probably wo n’t handle because of it .
The Fire Max 11’s design
The Amazon Fire Max 11 ’s intent is just about as simple as it gets . It ’s flat and grey on the back , flat and grey down the sides , and flat on the front too . There are two up - firing verbalizer , a small and awkward rocker switch for volume adjustment , and another small power key that doubles as a fingerprint sensor . That ’s really all there is to it .
impart the keyboard and rearward kickstand case accessory give it some character , though . Each has a soft , textured backing that adds hold and fashion , while the improbably useful kickstand firmly tie to the rump of the tablet using magnets . The folding lower section allows plenty of adjustment , and the hinge feel very secure . I have n’t convey it off , and I enjoy how useful it is to full enjoy watching videos . The keyboard is also bond using magnets but is also backed up by two solid locator pins , and it has n’t shaken loose yet .
At 7.5 millimetre stocky and 490 grams , the Fire Max 11 is very portable , even with the kickstand and the keyboard attached when it tops 900 grams , and I ’ve happily carry it around in my bag . It count less than both myiPad Pro ( 2020)and theMagic Keyboard(a hefty 1.06 kg ) and my 1.29kgMacBook Air M1 . alas , there ’s no water resistance military rank , but it does palpate well - protected from shocks inside the keyboard and kickstand example .
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This is n’t a lozenge to corrupt if you want to make a instruction . It ’s never going to attract admire glimpse or single you out as a trendsetter . Instead , it ’s euphemistic , well - made , maturely style ( although reminiscent of the Apple iPad ) , and highly functional . This sounds like I ’m putting it down , but I ’m not . The Fire Max 11 is n’t trying to be something it ’s not and is all the better for it .
Things the Amazon Fire Max 11 does best
I use a tablet every daylight , mostly for video and apps that profit from larger viewing areas , such as Reddit and Autotrader , and I also use my iPad Pro ( 2020 ) to edit TV and for work when I do n’t desire to express my MacBook . I ’ve tried to replicate all this on the Fire Max 11 , and just as expected , watching video emerge as the tablet ’s forte .
In plus to Amazon Prime , Disney+ , Netflix , ITVX , BBC iPlayer , Channel 4 , and Now are all usable in Amazon ’s App Store , and each works perfectly . The 11 - inch , 2000 x 1200 - pixel concealment looks great indoors , with natural colour and potent blacks , and I ’ve enjoy watching almost all of time of year three ofPicardon Prime through it . The tinny speakers are unsatisfying , but I ’ve connected several pair of Bluetooth headphones to the tablet , had no issues with link up them , and it ameliorate the audio experience a great quite a little .
It ’s good for casual games too . The MediaTek MT8188 octa - core processor handlesAsphalt 9 : LegendsandCandy Crush Sodawithout a problem , and the kickstand accessory means you do n’t have to guard the tablet all the time to flirt games like this either . The chip does scramble to keep a high bod pace playingAsphaltat sentence , and with only 4 GB of RAM , this is n’t a pill that will be glad to recreate graphically intensive , top - level games on .
Magazine view fully zoomed inAndy Boxall/Digital Trends
The list of things the Amazon Fire Max 11 does well is impressive .
Obviously , frequent on Amazon is fast and well-situated , and the storage app is right there on the dwelling screen . I ’m put on you ’re an Amazon customer already if you ’re interested in the Fire Max 11 , and residue assured the caller makes it effortless to spend money in its stores , as is connecting to Alexa devices and using the part assistant on the tablet itself .
Things the Fire Max 11 doesn’t do so well
The list of things the Fire Max 11 does well is impressive , and as a medium auto , it ’s a swell economic value . regrettably , the inclination of things it does n’t do well is evenly as long . The bad publication with the Fire Max 11 is the software and , in turn , the apps it will ladder . The package ( called Fire OS ) is a variation of Google ’s Android but without Google Play instal , and you snaffle apps from Amazon ’s own curated app store . There are path to install Google Play and to get apps like Chrome , Gmail , and beat back , but this is n’t how the lozenge will be delivered .
Using Fire O is like stepping back in time , which is n’t a surprise as it ’s based on outdated Android 11 . App icons are boring squares , the configurations screen is condensed and ugly , and there are square railway line absolutely everywhere . It ’s not slow , but it is painful to use because it appear and feels like an Android tablet that has n’t been update since 2018 .
The Amazon App Store is sparsely populated , and the apps that are there do n’t always work well on the tablet ’s screen . Twitter is ridiculous to habituate , and Instagram only works in portraiture orientation , for case . I use LumaFusion to edit videos , but this is not available in the Amazon App Store , and neither is Autotrader or Discovery+ . Stick to watching the telecasting apps that are there or using Amazon ’s apps , and you wo n’t notice these problems . However , you may have spotted I have n’t note YouTube yet . There ’s no app for YouTube ( or any Google app ) , forcing you to watch through the Amazon Silk internet browser , where the experience is poor .
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Apps are a key consideration when considering the Fire Max 11 , but luckily you’re able to check out the computer memory for yourself quite easily . Apps can be search for through the on-line Amazon store , or you could download the App Store itself onto anyAndroid earpiece . It ’s decidedly worth doing this if you have specific apps you want to use on the tablet .
While I like watching videos on the Fire Max 11 , I do miss a high refresh rate covert . It ’s a 60Hz refresh rate here , and it ’s noticeably less smooth than Apple ’s ProMotion screen or any modernistic smartphone with a high-pitched refresh rate screen . However , it ’s not a dealbreaker at this Leontyne Price .
I have it away I would quickly get thwart with the Amazon Fire Max 11 and Fire OS if I force myself ( and it ) to dolots of thing . But by process it as a picture player , magazine lector , einsteinium - book reader , and a way to give even more money to Amazon by shopping in the always - convenient fund , I enjoy using it . Definitely take a moment to think about how you need to use your tablet before purchasing , as it may be a good idea to look atan Apple iPad insteadif you want to on a regular basis do thing outside the Amazon ecosystem .
Working on the Amazon Fire Max 11
Most Amazon Fire tablets have been ripe for television , scant gambling , and shopping in Amazon ’s store — so the Fire Max 11 should be great at all this , and it is . However , you’re able to also buy it with a keyboard and stylus , taking it beyond these basic tasks and turning it into a tablet you could use for work .
The good news is it can be used as a laptop reliever – I have written the absolute majority of this review , and theAsus Zenfone 10review , using it – but there are some serious drawbacks you take to be aware of before honk out your MacBook . On the positive side , the keyboard is very estimable indeed . The amount of fundamental travel is well - judged , and the bound pace is splendid , so you could get a really unspoilt flow conk . It ’s not too noisy , and it does n’t feel plasticky or cheap either .
However , it ’s not upstanding like the iPad ’s Magic Keyboard , so it ’s not really suitable to apply resting on your lap covering , as it awkwardly founder about . There ’s no backlight either . The trackpad below the keyboard is quite modest , is n’t especially precise , and the button has an unpleasant clicky movement . There are some convolute gestures to learn , include some that utilise three finger , which take up most of the trackpad itself — even with my moderately small finger .
The tablet ’s screen is n’t bright enough to be used outside , even in mild sunlight , where the cursor entirely evaporate , and you have to carefully lay the angle of the screen to see anything at all . It ’s fine in the shade and indoors , though , but the smartness is almost always at maximum . This is also something to consider if you desire to read outside , asan e - ink Kindlewill be far more legible .
Where working doesn’t work
But worst of all is the lack of Christian Bible processing software option . The Amazon App Store let you download Microsoft Office , which is great if you use it and bear for the subscription already , but otherwise , you get a three - calendar month test period before you ’ll have to pay up . Obviously , Apple ’s Pages is n’t present , but WPS Office ’s absence is a surprise , and there ’s no Google Docs app , ram you to use the web edition .
This means connecting to the internet , but there ’s no LTE on the Fire Max 11 , so you have to rely on public Wi - Fi or your phone ’s hotspot feature . I ’ve used the Fire Max 11 connected to aniPhone 14 Proand several Android phone , and it has worked dependably enough , but it ’s a little slow to get the connection up and running . All this adds up to it being a comely , wide-eyed work machine , but in realism , it ’s best used inside with a Wi - Fi connection — and by those with an Office 360 history already or who are willing to pay up the subscription .
If you want to work more than observe videos , a ChromeOS two - in - one should be gamy on your listing .
It ’s tempting to conceive the Fire Max 11 is only take on the iPad for effortless work tasks , but it ’s really more likely to take business away from two - in - one equipment thatrun ChromeOS . Lenovo , Asus , HP , and Acer should all be depend at the Fire Max 11 with a degree of fear , as unlike those machines , it ’s bias more towards entertainment than productivity , and that may have wide solicitation . However , if you want to work more than follow telecasting , a ChromeOS two - in - oneora Chromebookshould be higher on your list .
What else does the Fire Max 11 do?
There are a few other things we should refer about the Fire Max 11 . There ’s an 8MP television camera on the front and the back , where it has autofocus , but you ’re not go to want to take many photos with it . Also , be cognizant it saves photos in the annoying HEIF format by default , which can do problems if you want to edit and share them on other devices , so it ’s best to change it to JPEG in the configurations carte . The front television camera is fine for picture call , and apps like Zoom , Skype , and Facebook Messenger are usable in the Amazon App Store .
you may get a stylus for the Fire Max 11 . It has 4,096 level of press sensitivity and is power by a exclusive AAA battery cell , which is included , and it magnetically attaches to the side of the lozenge for prosperous memory . Once the shelling is in spite of appearance , it link to the Fire Max 11 automatically ( and is actually compatible with any gadget that supports USI 2.0 ) , and Amazon gestate the cell to last for about six months .
alas , there ’s no pre - installed art or note - exact app , so you will have to go and find out one in the Amazon App Store . Microsoft OneNote and Picsart are usable , but apps like Google Keep and Evernote are not . There is some lag when you scribble off on the screen , and the pill does n’t immediately recognize when your thenar is against the screen , so it does n’t disable buttons . But it has some weight to it for a pleasant feel , and my handwriting looks amazingly neat . The stylus has a side button that acts as an eraser when pressed .
Fire Max 11’s battery and charging
There ’s a 7,500mAh electric battery inside the Fire Max 11 , and in my experience , it will last for around 10 hour on a single tutelage if , like me , you prioritise picture . Watching for around 45 minutes steals 10 % of the assault and battery , and playing game is about the same . Spend an hour working online with Google Docs through the web browser app using Wi - Fi , and it only conduct a few percent , stand for the Fire Max 11 is quite efficient during universal undertaking . Amazon quote 14 hours of total barrage life on a unmarried charge with motley - enjoyment .
It ’s reload using a USB Type - C connector , and Amazon does include a charging block and cable length in the corner , but it only has 9W of power . This means a disastrous four - hour recharge metre , and it seems it only hold up a maximum of 15W shoot anyway , so even with a more powerful charge brick , the recharge metre is n’t less than about three time of day .
An approximately 14 - hr bombardment life exceeds that of the tenth genesis Apple iPad and theGoogle Pixel Tabletby a few hour . Apple ’s latest iPad tablets , including the $ 44910th genesis model , support 20W chargers and take around two hr to reload , while the Pixel Tablet take in closer to three time of day .
Amazon Fire Max 11 price and availability
The Amazon Fire Max 11 is yours to buy now , and I ’m sure you do n’t necessitate me to assure you where it ’s sell . There are a few unlike choice to select from when you come to buy it , which affects the cost . The 64 GB tablet costs $ 230 with ringlet screen ads or $ 245 without ads . If you require 128 GB of storage distance ( the Fire Max 11 has aMicroSD cardslot too ) , it ’s $ 280 . If you want the whole outfit with the 64 GB tablet , case back , keyboard , and stylus , it cost $ 330 with advert or $ 345 without .
Should you look elsewhere ? TheApple iPad 10th generationis the only iPad that comes near to the Fire Max 11 ’s monetary value , and you do n’t get a keyboard or stylus let in . However , it ’s by far the more various pad due to the App Store and it feels a slew more modern than Amazon ’s tablet too . If you require a cheap tablet that double as a body of work machine , Lenovo ’s Chromebook Duet 3and similar models contend well , but I do think the Fire Max 11 is a serious entertainment machine . It ’s great to see the Fire Max 11 still compete with thebest tabletsand thebest Chromebooks , even a yr after its liberation .
Our verdict on the Amazon Fire Max 11
With the Fire Max 11 , Amazon by all odds saw a bit of the iPad and two - in - one productiveness market and wondered if it could get in on the act without sacrificing the attractive multimedia capacity that makes its other keyboard - less flack models so attractive ( and likely earns it so much money ) . If this was the briefing , Amazon has bring home the bacon .
The Fire Max 11 is just powerful enough to cope with light work tasks , the keyboard is fantabulous , it ’s suitably compact and portable , the figure is subtle , and the price for the whole outfit is very reasonable indeed . The sieve is fantabulous and makes the tablet really enjoyable to watch videos on , and I ’d definitely recommend the rearward covert with its kickstand if you do plan to apply it for television .
The software program and app availability permit it down , and we urge you to make certain the apps you want are easily installed before buying . The more adventuresome may choose to side - load Google Play , but not everyone will want the hassle . Personally , I did n’t rule much use for the stylus , and the wintry charge speed borders on the unforgivable .
These few negative apart , the Fire Max 11 is a well - believe , note value - ride , and truly multi - purpose twist — and an intriguing push in a new centering for Amazon ’s tablet hardware team . It merit your attention .
