For 2021, Amazon has refreshed its pill vary making – as ordinary – very minor tweaks right here and there in addition to maintaining the costs the identical as ever.
This implies new Youngsters Version fashions, too. They’re primarily based on the identical {hardware} because the common Fireplace Tablets, however bundle a protecting case, a yr’s entry to Youngsters+ (leisure, apps, books and extra) and a two-year guarantee that provides you a substitute in case your little one manages to interrupt the pill someway.
What’s new this yr is a second vary of children tablets known as Youngsters Professional. Once more, they use the identical pill as the same old Youngsters Version, however include a extra grown-up trying case and new, extra grown-up interface.
You may get a Youngsters Professional pill in all three sizes: 7, 8 and 10in. We’ve bought the ten right here, however Youngsters interface is similar throughout all three sizes.
If you wish to know the way the pill fares for an adolescent or adults, learn our full
Fireplace HD 10 evaluation.
Options & Design
- Slim bumper case
- Good display screen
- Primary cameras
The pill itself exhibits its finances nature with an all-plastic physique, however although it flexes a bit of, it feels sturdy when in its case.
The case, which is available in way more fascinating colors and designs than the plain black one right here, is sensible. It affords safety from drops and tough dealing with, and a built-in stand folds out and clicks into place at a super angle for treating it like a mini TV. It can be used as a carry deal with.
The bezel across the display screen is slimmer than we’ve seen from Amazon in recent times, that means the machine is a bit smaller whereas maintaining the identical 10.1in show as earlier than.
It’s a great display screen: vivid and with vibrant colors. Youngsters gained’t have any complaints about it by any means. The processor is quick sufficient to make the interface really feel good and responsive, but when earlier Fireplace tablets are something to go by, it might properly decelerate as soon as tons of of video games are put in – as children will undoubtedly like to do.
There’s 32GB of storage, which is ok for loads of video games, however you may also pop in a microSD card and have a complete of 1TB if you’d like. Simply keep in mind that some apps can solely be put in to the interior storage and efficiency may be affected for those who purchase a slow-performing microSD card.
The case has little cutouts on the prime and these direct the sound from the audio system in the direction of you. They’re completely loud sufficient for watching movies and listening to music, however there’s additionally a headphone socket and Bluetooth: two choices for silent leisure.
Amazon truly sells a bundle together with the pill, child-friendly Bluetooth headphones and a display screen protector, however this pushes the worth as much as a degree it’s possible you’ll start to surprise for those who ought to simply spend extra on an iPad. And also you’d most likely be proper.
Extra on worth later.
On the rear you get a 5Mp digicam that’s as mediocre as ever (for each photographs and movies) however the 2Mp front-facing digicam is at the very least ok for video calls, if little else.
Battery life is nice: it ought to final 10-12 hours of watching movies, and fewer when taking part in video games. Recharging is sluggish utilizing the bundled 9W charger, however join the USB-C cable to a higher-power adapter and it’ll cost up quicker.
Youngsters Professional interface
- Curated app retailer
- Two net browser choices
- Feels extra like regular FireOS
The important thing function right here is the brand new, grown-up interface. It’s a lot nearer to FireOS than the youthful children’ model. It’s cut up into three panels: For You, the place books, apps, video games, movies and music may be found.
The House display screen has a carousel of lately used apps, plus shortcuts to Movies, Stations, Internet Movies, Books, Internet Browser, Digicam and some different key apps. Under which are all of the apps they’ve put in, or have entry to.
Swipe throughout to the avatar and the kid will see their profile, their remaining display screen time, any targets to realize that day (equivalent to studying for half-hour earlier than they’ll play video games) and content material that had been added to their profile by an grownup. They will additionally change the wallpaper.
On the prime is a common search bar which can ship outcomes for web sites, video games, books and different content material, however solely what’s out there to the kid from Youngsters+ or as a result of a guardian has given entry to particular apps, web sites and different issues.
The net browser affords two modes: hand-picked websites (the mode the youthful children interface makes use of) or an ‘open however filtered’ mode. The latter will solely grant entry to age-appropriate (or topic applicable) websites, however you need to use Amazon’s web-based Father or mother Dashboard to dam sure websites that you just don’t need your little one to entry.
The Dashboard allows you to retains tabs in your little one’s exercise on the pill, but in addition affords distant management so you’ll be able to disable net entry at any time, grant or revoke permission to make use of the app retailer and add content material to the kid’s profile (equivalent to digital books or movies you’ve bought in your Amazon account).
Right here you may also grant permission to your little one to make bulletins by way of Alexa (however not obtain them) and to name authorized contacts utilizing both audio or video. Enabling these places two additional icons on the House display screen however, regardless of the very fact the pill has hands-free Alexa, there’s no manner to make use of Alexa past these two features when utilizing a toddler profile. It’s a disgrace Amazon couldn’t simply allow the kid-friendly model of Alexa you get on the
Echo Dot Youngsters.
Returning to the curated app retailer, children can browse however they’ll’t set up something with out your approval (for those who select this setup within the Dashboard). The issue is that you just don’t get any notifications – you obtain an e-mail containing the request – so the kid will most likely come and ask you earlier than you’ve seen the e-mail. Then you’ll be able to go to the Dashboard (proven under) and select whether or not to allow them to set up it.
The parental controls, as we’ve stated previously, are excellent. You’ll be able to set bedtime, which is the hours between which the kid can’t use the pill.
It’s a disgrace you’ll be able to’t add another durations throughout which entry is blocked, as this is able to add extra flexibility.
You’ll be able to, after all, set a complete quantity of display screen time. As soon as that’s used up, the pill is unusable till the following day.
On prime of that, you’ll be able to set instructional targets which cease the kid taking part in video games till they’ve learn a e-book (or listened to 1 on Audible). Oddly, there are additionally ‘Utilizing apps’ and ‘Watching movies’ targets, however there’s no method to specify which apps or movies they need to watch.
After all, these controls are restricted to Amazon gadgets: they gained’t cease the kid watching Netflix in your TV or utilizing another gadgets they’ll entry.
Amazon Youngsters+
- Plenty of movies, books & Audible books
- Mother and father can approve apps equivalent to Netflix, Roblox and others
Usually, a yr of Youngsters+ prices £48 / US$60 (for a single little one), so you might be getting good worth given the Youngsters Professional pill prices £50 / $50 greater than the non-kids model and also you get the case and guarantee as properly.
When Amazon rebranded the service from FreeTime (Fireplace for Youngsters within the UK) to Youngsters+ it additionally added a complete lot of content material for older children. Now, it’s apparent why: it wanted that for the Youngsters Professional pill.
The precise content material out there will rely on the nation you reside in, however within the UK, there’s a wide variety of common video sequence together with Victorious, The Loud Home, Sam & Cat and others.
It is going to actually rely on what your little one is anticipating to see as to whether or not they’re completely satisfied, however there’s a great deal of content material. You’ll be able to obtain movies, too, however it’s removed from apparent that you need to faucet and maintain on one (as a substitute of tapping to play it) to get the choices menu that features Obtain.
When you’re a Prime subscriber, then kid-friendly movies may also be out there on the pill. Sadly, fairly just a few apparent ones don’t come up in a search, equivalent to Despicable Me, The Lorax and The Gruffalo.
The one workaround could be so as to add the Prime Video app to the kid’s content material, however that’s not within the listing of apps you’ll be able to add. There’s additionally no search perform for that listing, which is a ache.
Worth & Availability
The
Fireplace HD 10 Youngsters Professional prices the identical because the non-Professional model, which is £199 / US$199. You should buy it from Amazon, after all.
That’s £60 / $60 greater than the
Fireplace HD 8 Youngsters Professional which is principally similar aside from a display screen that’s two inches smaller.
If these are greater than you need to spend, it’s value noting that the common Fireplace HD 8 and HD 10 embody the Amazon Youngsters app and parental controls, so you will get an similar expertise minus the case, guarantee and Youngsters+ subscription for lots much less.
Given there are such a lot of free good free apps and that you just may have already got a Netflix or Amazon Prime subscription, it’s possible you’ll properly resolve that there’s no have to get the Youngsters Professional in any respect: that new interface isn’t unique to the youngsters’ model of the pill.
See different suggestions in our roundup of the
finest children’ tablets.
Verdict
Limiting display screen time and making certain your children solely watch, learn and play applicable issues is more and more troublesome nowadays, however a Fireplace pill – whether or not a Youngsters Version or not – can actually assist to implement these limits when you’ll be able to’t supervise the entire time.
The HD 10 Youngsters Professional, as a package deal, is nice worth, particularly in case your little one is 7 or 8 and might get a great few years’ use of it. Even when they’re a bit older, they’ll use the ‘Professional’ interface after which you’ll be able to swap them over to the principle grownup interface once you suppose it’s applicable, and it’s not a children pill.
The one snag, as ever, is that this isn’t an Android pill and there are nonetheless some apps that you just simply can’t get in Amazon’s Appstore (equivalent to YouTube).
Specs
Amazon Fireplace HD 10 Youngsters Professional: Specs
- Show: 10.1in
- Decision: 1920 x 1080 (224 ppi)
- Colors: Black (pill), Numerous case colors
- Processor: Octa-core as much as 2GHz
- Alexa-enabled: Sure, however not in child-mode
- Sound: Dolby Atmos, dual-stereo audio system, microphone
- Storage: 32GB (expandable by as much as 1TB)
- Digicam: 2Mp entrance, 5Mp rear
- Connectivity: Twin-band Wi-Fi
- Battery Life: As much as 12 hours of blended use
- Weight (with case): 25.3 ounces (718 grams)
- Dimensions (with case): 7.4” x 10.1″ x 0.7″