The tablet’s front- and rear-facing cameras feature 1080p resolution.
David Carnoy/CNET
A case for the keyboard and stylus bundle
You can get a keyboard case for the Fire HD 10, but the Fire Max 11’s design includes a set of pogo pins to attach Amazon’s new Keyboard Case ($90) to the tablet magnetically. The new Amazon Stylus Pen ($35) also adheres magnetically to the side of the tablet. As noted earlier, you can buy the Fire Max 11 in a bundle with the Keyboard Case and Stylus Pen for $330 or $25 less than what the items would cost if purchased separately.
The Keyboard Case may not be quite as good as some of Logitech’s keyboard cases for the iPad, but it’s slim, comfortable to use (the keys are pretty tactile) and also has an integrated touchpad for mouse support. Since it’s so slim, it’s easy enough to bend a bit, so it’s more suitable to use while sitting on a desk or hard surface than in your lap.
Meanwhile, the Stylus Pen is powered by a replaceable AAAA battery that Amazon says lasts up to six months with moderate use. As for the tablet’s battery life, it’s rated to get up to 14 hours of reading, browsing the web, watching videos and listening to music on a single charge. It charges via its USB-C port but does not have a wireless charging option like the HD 8 Plus or HD 10 Plus.
With earlier Fire tablets, Amazon touted how they offered hands-free Alexa, so you can control them with your voice like an Echo speaker, which you can also do with the Fire Max 11 (while it has only two microphones vs. the array of microphones found on Echo speakers it still managed to pick up my voice well). But with the arrival of the stylus, Amazon is now highlighting how handwriting recognition works with certain apps and how you can write a URL in the web browser address bar and have it convert into text. You probably wouldn’t bother with that if you had the Keyboard Case, but some people really like to use their styluses.
As I said in the intro, if you’re thinking of using the Max 11 as a cheap laptop replacement, the keyboard case and stylus bundle is the way to go. Ultimately, the value proposition here is that for around the price of the entry-level iPad, you’re getting not only a competent and sturdy tablet (the Fire Max 11 is “three times as durable” as the iPad 10.9-inch, Amazon says), but you also get a keyboard case and stylus. Apple’s Magic Keyboard Folio costs $249 and an Apple Pen (2nd generation) lists for $129.
Amazon Fire Max 11 final thoughts
In our review of Lenovo’s Duo 3 Chromebook ($379), which has an 11-inch screen with 128GB of storage and includes a detachable keyboard, former CNET editor Dan Ackerman describes the Duo 3 as “one of the best computers you can buy for under $400,” but is a “better secondary or travel laptop than a primary device.” The same can be said for the Max 11 (with its keyboard case attached).
The advantage of Chromebook is that while it runs Google’s Chrome OS, you can also download and run Android apps on it using the Google Play Store. But so long as you sideload the Google Play Store onto the Max 11, you can get a pretty similar experience for about $50 less along with easy access to plenty of Amazon’s “free” content for Prime members.
As standalone tablet, you would probably compare this to something like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A8, which is currently on sale for $230 with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM with what appears to be a very similar screen to the Max 11’s. I haven’t reviewed that model, but I think the advantage you get with the Fire Max 11 is a faster processor and overall zippier performance.
Like the Kindle Oasis and Scribe, I wouldn’t expect the Max 11 to be regularly offered at a steep discount, even during Black Friday or Prime Day sales. However, you might find some small sales on it, or perhaps Amazon will offer a better deal on the productivity bundle, which seems like it has some room for discounting.
Like other Fire tablets, the Max 11 is a good value at its list price — and a very good budget tablet that looks and feels more expensive than it costs. My only reservation in recommending it is the lack of the Google Play Store to access those apps that are missing from Amazon’s App Store. But that shortcoming can be overcome if you follow the steps to install it yourself.
Fire Max 11 key specs, according to Amazon
- 11-inch touchscreen made out of strengthened alumino-silicate glass
- 2,000×1,200 resolution with 2.4 million pixels. Fire Max 11 has 410 nits (typical) brightness with 213 ppi pixel density, 70% (typical) NTSC color gamut, 1,000:1 (min) and 1,400:1 (typical) contrast ratio
- 64GB or 128GB of internal storage with support for microSD cards up to 1 TB for additional storage
- Mediatek MT8188J octa-core processor
- Arm G57 MC2 integrated graphics
- 4GB of memory
- 17.3 ounces (490 grams)
- Up to 14 hours of battery life; fully charged in under 3.5 hours with a 15-watt adapter
- 8-megapixel front- and rear-facing cameras with autofocus and 1080p video recording
- Dual speakers with Dolby Atmos, USB-C audio and external volume controls
- Dual-band 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) wireless
- Bluetooth 5.3 BLE with support for A2DP stereo headphones, speakers, microphone and LE accessories
- Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, hall effect and fingerprint sensor
- Optional accessories: Keyboard Case ($90), Made for Amazon Stylus Pen ($35) and Slim Cover ($50)
- Third-party Bluetooth and wired keyboards can be connected. Third-party USI 2.0 styluses are compatible, though will have some limited functionality compared to Fire Max 11’s MFA stylus pen
- Hands-free Alexa (you can enable always-on Alexa voice assistant)
- Show Mode (full-screen Alexa experience)
- Starts at $230 with 64GB of storage. Productivity bundle with Keyboard Case and Stylus Pen starts at $330