Amazon Fire Max 11 ( left ) and Poco PadAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
You ’ve almost certainly heard of theAmazon Fire Max 11but credibly have n’t heard of thePoco Padbefore — mostly because Poco does not sell its ironware in the U.S. , but also because it has n’t made a tablet before .
If you ’re looking for a sensibly priced , multifunction Android tablet , the two have quite a lot in mutual . So , can the rank newcomer take on the demonstrate champion of budget - friendly Android tablets that come up with a keyboard ?
Introducing the Poco Pad
I ’ll get along back to the Amazon Kindle Fire Max 11 in a while but I want to properly bring in Poco and the Poco Pad . Poco is part of the Xiaomi menage and was once popular for sellingone low - cost , amazingly safe smartphone . Since then , it has transform into abrandand often targets vernal technical school purchaser with itsflashy , affordable Android sound . The Poco Pad is its first tablet , and unexpectedly goes against its love of bright colors and stinking intent .
Made of aluminium , the Poco Pad is a tidy beast at 571 gm and a whopping 1.02 kilograms with the keyboard subject sequester , but a modest 7.5 millimeter thick , so it always feel well-heeled to have . The 12.1 - in liquid crystal display screen has a 2560 - by-1600 - pixel resolution , a 120Hz refresh rate , support for a stylus , and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 over the top . within is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 Mobile River crisp with 8 GB of RAM , 256 GB of storage space , and microSD notice support .
On the back is an 8MP tv camera , which is repeated on the front , where it ’s limit in the top bezel if you ’re looking at the covert in landscape . The battery has a massive 10,000mAh capacity with 33W pumped-up charging , and the software system is Xiaomi ’s HyperOS , which is based on Android 14 . It ’s the same software you find onPoco ’s late F6 and F6 Pro smartphonesand theXiaomi 14 Ultra , too .
What about the Fire Max 11?
you could buy the Poco Pad with a keyboard suit and a style , which is how I ’ve been testing it . That stand for it ’s the same software program as a full - specced Amazon Fire Max 11 . Amazon ’s re - imagined pill came out in mid-2023 and I really liked it at the time , and have also enjoyedrevisiting it in 2024 , where I found it still has very few natural competitors . But when you hold the Poco Pad ’s terms , you ’ll rule it is very similar .
The Fire Max 11 has an 11 - in LCD screen with a 2000 - by-1200 - pixel resoluteness and a 60Hz refresh charge per unit , housed in a 490 - Hans C. J. Gram alloy organic structure that is 7.5 millimeter heavyset . The package with the keyboard case is wanton than the Poco Pad at 907 grams and much more thick , too . It gayly fits in my crossbody bag and does n’t find as much like a mini laptop as the Poco Pad .
It has a MediaTek MT8188 central processor with 4 GB of RAM and either 64 GB or 128 GB of storehouse distance , plus a microSD card slot . Like the Poco Pad , it has a pair of 8MP cameras , again with the front television camera in the top bezel in landscape orientation . Amazon does n’t state the barrage capacity and only offers 15W pumped charging . The software is Amazon ’s Fire OS , which is found on Android 11 .
Screen and battery life
The Fire Max 11 is a great pad of paper for television , but the Poco Pad ’s bigger , higher - settlement screen is a considerable enticement , even if it is n’t a worthy organic light-emitting diode . There ’s no getting by from the Poco Pad ’s superior resolution and higher brightness . television look fantabulous , and they expose the Fire Max 11 ’s shortcoming when the two are put alongside each other .
The Amazon tab ’s screen does n’t look bad , but it is n’t quite as keen or shining , just as you ’d expect from the specification . However , I often base I prefer the spirit and dividing line degree on the Fire Max 11 , which is more natural and not quite as washed out as the Poco Pad ’s screen door .
How about battery performance when you watch TV ? Watching a 40 - moment YouTube video recording played at maximum resolution , 1080p on the Fire Max 11 and 2160p on the Poco Pad , and at full brightness saw the Fire Max 11 ’s efficiency shine through . The Poco Pad used 12 % of its battery while the Fire Max 11 used only 7 % ; its efficiency is assisted by its modest stipulation and lower - resolution playback . If you ’re project to use your new pad of paper for long period of time without charging , the Fire Max 11 may suit you better .
Working on the Poco Pad
you’re able to get the Poco Pad with a keyboard case , just like you’re able to with the Fire Max 11 . WithGoogle Play put in on the Fire Max 11 , it makes a friendly , convenient , but canonic work automobile . For the price , though , it ’s amazingly competent , provided you do n’t desire much more than Microsoft Office or Google ’s prick to get things done . The Poco Pad face much more like a laptop computer , so does it perform like one ?
The Poco Keyboard is a ended case that clips onto the tablet and gives it a solid base for its keys . To prop up the screen , it magnetically clips to a slot on the matted keyboard section , hold itself at an angle . The keyboard uses Bluetooth to tie in to the tablet and has to be set up manually , and there ’s a physical on / off switch alongside a USB - C port , which charges the internal 210mAh battery . The Fire Max 11 ’s keyboard has a strong-arm pogo pin connector colligate it to the tablet .
What you ’re reading now is being type on the Poco Keyboard , and the first thing you notice is how gaudy it is . There ’s a distinct plasticky clatter and a hollowness to the action . It may bet a mo likeApple ’s Magic Keyboard , but it for certain does n’t vocalize like one , although I can typecast unremarkably and at the same speed I do on my chiclet keyboard of pick . The travel is just right , but there ’s very footling resistance . It accommodate me , but if you ’re after a graceful and expensive - feeling keyboard to go with your tab , this is not it .
out of doors in clouded daylight , there is a caboodle of reflection on the screenland , but it ’s still usable with luminance at upper limit . However , the size of the screenland is just good , and it ’s a very alike experience to operate on my MacBook Air rather than my iPad Pro . It ’s commodious for me to use Google Docs to function , but it does need an cyberspace connection to afford and edit documents . The Poco Pad connected without a job to my iPhone 15 Pro Max ’s hotspot . All - in - all , the Poco Pad and Keyboard is a solid work cooperator , but the dissonance it makes when typing does nothing to hide its relative tat .
Working on the Fire Max 11
The Poco Pad with its Keyboard Case is much more laptop - like than the Fire Max 11 , which does not seat stably on your lap due to its kickstand . The keyboard is far more pleasant to typewrite on , though , preferably at a desk , with a quieter and more substantial action . I can type on it at the same speed as the Poco Pad , and the accuracy is the same . There is one big difference between the two keyboards : the Fire Max 11 has a touchpad .
This is n’t quite the advantage you may guess it is , as it ’s quite small , the various gesture are hard to fulfill , and the release has a cheap , unpleasant clicky action when you press down to make a selection . I discover it ’s preferable to apply a combination of the touchpad and the touchscreen , but skew toward the screen . It ’s definitely helpful , but I do n’t consider it a reason to buy the Fire Max 11 over the Poco Pad .
Visibility in shaded sunshine is good on both tablets , so it ’s possible to mold outdoors provided you ’re not in lineal sun , but there ’s no denying the Poco Pad ’s larger CRT screen is desirable . It feels more grown - up than the small Fire Max 11 , but the Amazon tab and its textured charismatic case are more tactile and expensive - feeling . My employment demands are quite depressed , and both tablets are able-bodied to handle them without a problem .
What about living with the tablets?
There ’s a very grownup conflict between the two tab we have n’t spoken about yet , and it ’s the software package . Amazon ’s tablet uses its own Fire OS establish on Android 11 with the Amazon App Store on board , while the Poco Pad has HyperOS based on Android 14 with the Google Play Store . Using the Fire Max 11 is a bit like stepping back in meter compared to the very New Poco Pad .
There are more apps uncommitted through the Google Play Store than there are in the Amazon App Store , spend a penny it easier to find what you want and to get workplace done on the Poco Pad . However , with some patience , you’re able to install Google Play on the Fire Max 11should you sense like seek it . I have n’t noticed a large hatful of difference in operation between the two , and both play regular games without a problem but are n’t designed for more graphically intensive games or long play session .
I care the Poco Pad ’s face recognition , which the Fire Max 11 does n’t have , and its 3.5 mm earphone old salt . The Poco Pad has quad verbalizer with Dolby Atmos supporting , plus a ready to hand vivid equalizer feature shroud in the scope . The Fire Max 11 makes do with a pair of speaker , but they sound full and more pleasant than the Poco Pad ’s cheap , harsh speakers at all volumes , even when you mess around with the equaliser .
What about the battery ? The Poco Pad ’s monumental barrage will last longer , and Poco claims 16 hour of video playback on a single charge , while Amazon just states a more ecumenical 14 60 minutes of utilisation on a single charge . However , as discuss to begin with , the Fire Max 11 is surprisingly efficient , and count on what you ’re doing , they may match out to take to the woods for similar sum of time . But it ’s reload fourth dimension that really separates the two . It takes more than four hours to recharge the Fire Max 11 ’s battery using the included courser , which is fearsome by modern standard . The Poco Pad come with a 33W charger , and with it , the stamp battery strive 50 % charge in an hour , and a full bearing takes about two hours . This is a major ground why you may choose the Poco Pad over the Fire Max 11 .
Price and availability
The Amazon Fire Max 11 is the easiest of the two tablets to find and purchase . The tablet , keyboard , and stylus packet from Amazon presently cost $ 330 . Considering you have to pay at least that to get the tenth - generation Apple iPad alone , it ’s large value . The Poco Pad is harder to source at the moment , but this should change as we move further from its initial release .
correctly now , the Poco Pad can be purchased through resellers in China for $ 300 , while the keyboard case is expected to cost $ 80 and the stylus $ 60 . If you do n’t want the style there is n’t much difference in price , and do n’t forget the Poco Pad has a significantly greater specification than the Fire Max 11 .
In distinctive Poco and Xiaomi fashion , the Redmi make has its own interpretation of the Poco Pad in its range . It ’s called theRedmi Pad Pro , and it costs 250 British pounds , or about $ 316 . The keyboard is 90 pounds , or around $ 115 . The spec seems to be the same as the Poco Pad . For comparing , in the U.K. , the Fire Max 11 with the keyboard pillow slip starts at 340 pound .
Which one should you buy?
to get to a reasonable conclusion here , we necessitate to leave apart the inherent problems with Android on pad of paper , which applies to both models . It ’s simply not as well optimise and does n’t have the same amount of pill - quick apps as iOS does . I still think an Apple iPad , almostregardless of which one , will be a wise tenacious - term purchase than an Android tablet .
However , using the Poco Pad and the Amazon Fire Max 11 has been very interesting . The Fire Max 11 is a yr old , but it still holds up really well , and although the software is out - of - appointment , it does n’t cramp the pill , especially if you require to watch videos and read books . There are no obvious performance drawbacks , the keyboard feels great to typewrite on , and the speech sound is better than the Poco Pad ’s , too . But the Poco Pad ’s faster charging and potentially longer battery life is a magnanimous welfare , and makes the Fire Max 11 show its geezerhood more than any other expression .
The Fire Max 11 is the one to buy here , though , especially if you ’re a frequent Amazon shopper , and it represents brilliant value for money . The Poco Pad with its keyboard case comes a very close second , but it trails because of it being unvoiced to get , along with the cheap , touchpad - less keyboard and its substandard speakers . I ’m not always convinced the covert is better , even if it is larger . While it ’s a departure for the Poco Pad , it ’s still great news program for us because it ’s a solid , recommended purchase , and the more reasonably pricedAndroid tablets with a keyboard showcase actually exist , the good it is for all of us .
