Are Samsung Galaxy Tabs better than Amazon Fire tablets?

For most use cases beyond basic streaming, yes. Across the reviewers we read, Samsung's Galaxy Tab line runs full Android with the Google Play Store, faster chips, and S Pen support, while Amazon Fire tablets run Fire OS, which mainstream press (including PCMag and Engadget) repeatedly criticize as cluttered and limited on app access. Fire tablets win on price and value for video, reading, and casual use.