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Tesco Hudl 2
Arguably the most direct rival to the Amazon Fire HD 10 and HD 8 in the UK is Tesco's second affordable tablet, the Hudl 2.
Its 8.3-inch display sits somewhere in between the two Amazon efforts, but with a 1920 x 1200 resolution it's better for media consumption than both. The Hudl is also better built, and more pleasant to look at and hold.
With a near-stock version of Android on board, Tesco's tablet offers a slicker UI experience, and it also has access to the Google Play Store, and Google's own roster of impressive apps.
The true clincher here is that, at just £99, the Hudl 2 is significantly cheaper than both Amazon efforts.
Read our review of the Tesco Hudl 2
iPad mini 2
Amazon seems keen to compare the Amazon Kindle HD family to the iPad Air 2, but in truth they bear a closer resemblance to Apple's current budget tablet option.
The iPad mini 2 has a 7.9-inch display, so it's more of a direct rival to the Amazon Fire HD 8. However, the fact that its display has a significantly sharper 2048 x 1536 resolution makes it preferable to either, despite its sub-optimal (for movie viewing at least) 4:3 aspect ratio.
With prices starting from £219 / £$269, it's a fair amount more expensive than either, but if you can stretch that little bit further it's a better purchase for most people.
Ultimately, for an £80 premium, you get a much better-built and better-equipped tablet, and access to a much broader range of apps.
Read our review of the iPad mini 2
Google Nexus 9
Google still lists the Nexus 9 at £319 /$399, so we wouldn't typically count it as a truly affordable tablet rival here. However, many retailers are selling it for a little over £200, and under $300, which definitely brings it into contention – especially when you consider what a well-specced tablet it is.
Its 8.9-inch display splits the difference between the Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 8, but crucially it's got the same sharp 2048 x 1536 resolution as the iPad mini 2.
It's also the most powerful tablet on this list of alternatives, with a potent Nvidia K1 chip making it a media-playing powerhouse.
Factor-in access to the Google Play Store and an entirely untouched, up-to-date version of the Android OS, and it's a better tablet than the Amazon Fire HD duo in almost every way.
