The Fire Max 11 tablet by Amazon is the company’s latest offering and boasts a larger size and more powerful features. However, despite these improvements, it falls short in meeting the needs and expectations of consumers. Departing from their usual ultra-budget hardware, Amazon has created a tablet that could pass as a mid-level Android device if it ran the latest version. Unfortunately, it runs Amazon’s Fire OS, which is a heavily modified version of Android that is now over two years behind Google’s mobile operating system.
Priced at $230, the Fire Max 11 is expensive considering its limitations. Even during sales events like Prime Day, where Amazon usually offers discounts on their Fire tablets, the cost of the Fire Max 11 is still not justified. It simply cannot compete with other tablets available in the market, even those in similar price ranges.
The Fire Max 11 is primarily designed for consuming Amazon content. It excels in this aspect right out of the box, but when it comes to doing anything beyond that, it falls short. For an extra $100, customers can opt for the Productivity Bundle, which includes a keyboard, cover, and stylus. However, at this price point, there are many other tablets available with superior software experiences.
It’s important to note that this critique of the Fire Max 11 is not a reflection of a pretentious dislike for Amazon’s hardware. In fact, the author of this review is currently using a Fire 10 tablet with a Finite keyboard as their main writing tool. With slight modifications using the ADB developer tool, the Fire 10 has proven to be capable of serving their writing needs. In terms of value, the Fire 10, priced at $100 during sales, offers a great deal considering its capabilities.
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Given the positive experience with the Fire 10, the author was initially excited to try out the Fire Max 11. The tablet offers some promising features, including a larger 11-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 2,000 x 1,200 pixels, a metal build, and a fingerprint reader integrated into the side power button. The inclusion of a microSD slot for expanding storage and a keyboard that connects via pogo pins are also welcome additions. The Fire Max 11 supports Wi-Fi 6 and features front and rear 8-megapixel cameras, enhancing its usability for video chats.
Underneath the screen, the Fire Max 11 houses 4 gigabytes of RAM and comes with either a 64-gigabyte or 128-gigabyte SSD. The tablet is powered by a MediaTek MT8188J chip, which utilizes an 8-core processor. These specifications place the Fire Max 11 in the middle range of Android tablets. While it is more powerful than other Fire tablets, it still falls short compared to devices like the OnePlus or Pixel Tablet.
Unfortunately, despite these improvements, the Fire Max 11 fails to deliver as expected. The 16:9 aspect ratio of the screen signals a focus on consuming movies rather than productivity. To fully utilize its potential, Amazon needs to update Fire OS to access tools and features available in the latest version of Android, such as Android 12L, which is optimized for tablets. However, Fire OS is based on an outdated version of Android, resulting in a lack of tablet-friendly features.
In conclusion, while the Fire Max 11 is undoubtedly the best Fire tablet Amazon has ever made, it still falls short in terms of meeting consumer expectations. Its high price, combined with the limitations of Fire OS, makes it difficult to justify purchasing the tablet. Consumers seeking a tablet for productivity or a superior software experience would be better off exploring other options available in the market. Despite its improvements, the Fire Max 11 is simply a tablet that falls behind the competition.
