Fire tablet vs Android tablet for 9 year old?

[BenMargoza]

Our child has been using the 7" fire tablets up until now and am wondering how the fire tablets compare--price to what you get--with other tablets? For example there's an 8" 32gb fire tablet for $109 vs a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 32 GB for $229.

 

[pkcable]

If you are deep in the Amazon ecosystem, then its a no brainer, get the Fire. The Samsung is a good option too, and you get a LOT closer to the Android OS, BUT the FireOS (Android underneath) is pretty good, it is very simple and easy to use. Plus its what your child already knows. I'd get the Fire.

 

[Rukbat]

Samsung is becoming Apple, as far as pricing is concerned - you're paying something for the name. But Fire isn't pure (or even close to pure) Android.

I prefer "non-Samsung" for Android. (Unfortunately, Google doesn't make a current tab.)

Another consideration is the child's age - how well does s/he treat his tablets? If s/he's constantly going through tabs, something cheap from Walmart or Big Lots might be your best bet, as long as it's Android. On the other hand, if s/he keeps one tab working for a few years, I'd look for something that would last through middle school, even if it's more expensive.Amortize $300 over 5 years, and it's still a cheap device. (And if someone is maintaining a LineageOS for it, it should be able to run the latest version for 4, or maybe all 5, years.)

But for $229, you can probably find more tablet with less name (and still good quality).

(Then gain, depending on your carrier and your situation, a few carriers give a tablet away when you upgrade your phone.)

 

[BenMargoza]

Pretty careful with tablets, has never broke one; the micro usb ports seem to be a weak spot; but for next tablet going to get the magnetic type cable where the usb port stays in the tablet. From what I see, it looks like the new usb c can plug in either way, if so that will help a lot as I think sometimes child might be trying to plug it in wrong way first, I know I have. The Samsung has usb c, but the Fire 8 and Lenovo still use usb b; not that'd be a deciding factor but definitely a perk. Also not a fan of the embedded Alexa in Fire tabs.
For the $229 price of the Samsung, anyone know of a better tablet for the money?

 

[pkcable]

How about 3 Fire Tablets for 110 dollars! It's the 7 inch and only 16GB size, BUT still that price!

https://www.thrifter.com/amazon-fir...tw_card&utm_content=36109&utm_campaign=social

 

[BenMargoza]

I know, and you can get the 32gb 7" for just a little more. Thing is there are so many little annoyances with the fire tablets, that is worth considering a higher quality tablet.