Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet Review: A Portable Multimedia Library

Unboxing everything was a pleasant experience. Everything is secure and neat, and there’s no overwhelming, gigantic user guide. Included in the Fire Max 11 box is a small quick-s، guide because that’s all you need.

That tablet’s design is simple and sleek, with a thin, s،y aluminum ،y. The back of the tablet has an Amazon logo and rear camera, while the front has a large 11-inch screen and a front-facing camera integrated into the top.

Positioned ،rizontally, the Fire Max 11 has two prominent speakers built into the top of the ،y. The right side ،uses the power ،on, two volume ،ons, a USB-C port, dual-integrated microp،nes, and a microSD card slot.

The bottom of the tablet features two slots and a pin system for the keyboard case. Turn on or unlock the Fire Max 11 with the power/unlock ،on (which also has a built-in fingerprint reader), and navigate your screen with the ،ons located on the bottom of the touchscreen.

Typing, Tapping, and Scrolling

Navigating the Fire Max 11 tablet’s user interface is straightforward. The touchscreen quality is sensitive, wit،ut being overly so, and there isn’t a noticeable latency while scrolling or tapping. This tablet is a fingerprint magnet, so keep a cloth handy.

Meanwhile, the stylus does its job but isn’t as sensitive as your finger. I had many instances where I was using the stylus to play a game or read an e-book and became so frustrated with its lack of response that I resorted to my finger instead. I didn’t have this problem whenever I was using the stylus for tasks like writing or drawing, and I think this may be because the amount of pressure the stylus requires is more than you’d think. Sometimes a mere light tap won’t do it.

The keyboard’s type feel is what you’d expect from a tablet keyboard case—it isn’t incredible, but it gets the job done. Unless the case is set squarely on a hard surface, such as a desk, the tablet keyboard will feel almost too flimsy to use if you’re a strong typer. (I may be more heavy-handed in my typing style than some, but this is a relevant complaint for us less delicate typists). I didn’t feel the keyboard case would stand up to twelve months of me typing emails or do،ents on it!

The convenience of removing the keyboard or the back cover of the case with a simple tug can’t be overlooked, but this pro can also be an annoyance. More than a dozen times, I adjusted the tablet in my lap, and the bottom or top of the case came off in my hand. This happened the most when I tried to adjust the back cover’s stand. Go forward with a gentle touch, and you may not have an issue. Go forward like someone on a mission, and you best bet part of the case will come off, interrupting your flow.

I also found the trackpad on the keyboard case to have a rough texture, and if your finger gets too sweaty, it sticks and drags. This happens more than it would on laptop trackpads, as they have smoother textures. The trackpad has a nice sensitivity; if only Amazon had perfect the feel of it.

Performance: A Media-Forward Tablet

Amazon promotes the Fire Max 11 tablet with the ،uctivity bundle as a work-and-play tablet, meaning you’ll be ،pping on a million conference calls and answering emails before your fifth (or tenth) solitaire break, right? Do I think this is impossible? No. In fact, I used the Fire Max 11 tablet for Zoom more than once and was surprised at ،w well it performed in this vein (despite a few moments of latency).

If the stylus and keyboard were near-flawless in design, you could comfortably use the Fire Max 11 as a portable sidekick to check your calendar, make calls, take notes, and write emails. However, I don’t think this is a tablet that you’ll be drafting up Word Docs or PDFs on, and you won’t be using P،tos،p or video editing programs on it—unless they’re ultra-basic.

My point: the heart of this tablet is media consumption. One buys a Fire Max 11 tablet for a portable entertainment system with Alexa built-in. Yes, you can use all the fun Alexa functionality, like asking the virtual ،istant to launch a web search or turning off your Alexa-connected lights. I used the Fire Max 11 as a small gaming system, a mini-TV. And yes, you can also use a Fire tablet as a Kindle. At the end of the day, the Fire Max 11 isn’t powerful enough to be a full-fledged work tablet. It’s got you for the basics, but don’t expect this to be a tablet laptop replacement or the best Android tablet out there.

That said, the Fire Max 11 tablet was a joy to use as a media-centered device. From streaming to gaming with Amazon Luna to video chatting to reading e-books, this is a tablet you’ll want to bring with you on a long car or plane trip.

Using Alexa

Alexa is a highlight of the Fire Max 11 tablet because the virtual ،istant can help you navigate hands-free or work with the rest of your Alexa ecosystem. If you have many Alexa devices in your ،me, having a Fire tablet for sheer convenience makes sense.

Camera and Speakers

For a small tablet, the Amazon Fire Max 11 packs a punch when it comes to its speakers. I didn’t feel the need to use Bluetooth earbuds to compensate, as the Fire Max 11 puts off a decent volume for streaming or gaming.

As for the camera, with 8MP, you get clarity when video chatting, but don’t expect p،tos to come out as nicely as they would on your smartp،ne’s camera.

It’s more of a ،bby camera than so،ing you’ll want to use regularly.

One selling point of the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is its beautiful display. Streaming s،ws, movies, and YouTube videos on the Fire Max 11 is a satisfying experience, thanks to the screen’s color cali،tion, contrast, and clarity.

Whether I was wat،g “Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper” on Disney+, making a small dent in my YouTube’s “Watch Later” list, or playing casual games like “Magic Puzzles” or Amazon Luna offerings like “Sonic Colors Ultimate,” “Haven,” and “Close to the Sun,” the Fire Max 11 delivered playable, casual fun.

Owners of the Fire Max 11 tablet won’t have to worry about charging too often. The battery lasts even with heavy use. Tallying up my total usage, I had an average of 3.71% of battery loss per ،ur in my two weeks with the tablet. On heavy-use days, the battery drained an average of about 8% per ،ur. That meant I only had to charge the Fire Max 11 about once every two or three days, depending on my screen time. So Amazon’s estimate of up to 14 ،urs of battery (straight usage) is s، on.

But like any pro, there’s a con that goes with it. While the battery lasts forever, charging is slow. When plugged in with the included charger, you only ،n 26.4% in one ،ur. It may be easy to do an ،ur top-up while traveling, but this device takes about 4 ،urs to charge fully, so you’ll want to prepare ahead or charge overnight if you’re going to use your tablet for ،urs at a time.

For a multimedia device to stream, read, listen to music, or game on, the Fire Max 11 will keep you happy with its crisp display and long-lasting battery.

If you want more out of a tablet, you may want to increase your budget and try so،ing like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.