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Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet Review: The Pros and Cons

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet is a cheap tablet that supports hands-free Alexa (virtual assistant). It is an upgraded version of the 2018 model with faster processor and increased RAM. The Amazon Fire tablet has ads on the lock screen and Amazon charges $15 to remove the ads. It has a base model of 32GB and a 64GB upgrade. In this Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet review and buying guide, you will discover all you need to know about the tablet, including the designs, the Pros and Cons.

Design

The Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet is made of plastic and has a durable feel. It has a rectangular shape that measures 7.95 x 5.39 x 0.38 inches and weighs 355grams. Mounted at the back is a 2MP camera and the Amazon logo. The front-facing camera is placed at the middle of the left side corner of the tab if placed in a portrait mode but in a landscape mode, the camera is located just at the center of the top screen.

The 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C port, volume control buttons and the power button are all located at the top edge of the tab. The volume buttons might get a little bit confusing because they work in reverse manners in landscape and portrait mode. I.e, the right button turns up the volume and the Left button reduces the volume in portrait mode but in landscape mode, the left button turns up the volume and the right button reduces the volume.

Display

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet has a 8 inches LCD display, 800 x 1280 pixel screen resolution at 189ppi density which is low for the screen size considering the fact that smaller phone sizes have the same resolution. The display is bright enough to be used outdoors under direct sunlight.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet-1 (2)

Performance and Battery life

The Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet ships with Quad-core 2.0 GHz processor and MediaTek MT8168 (12nm) Chipset designed for cheap tablets. It offers 2GB of RAM, 32GB/64GB of storage space which is expandable up to 1TB with the use of Micro SD card.

The Chipset is slow so you would have a hard time playing games without it frequently crashing. It comes with a 2MP camera in front and at the back. It also has dual speakers that support Dolby Atmos located at the top of the tablet.

The battery life on the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is estimated to last up to 12hours of music playback, reading, browsing, and watching video according to the manufacturer. It charges fully in under 5 hours with the use of the included USB-C charging adapter and cable.

Features

  1. It has a plastic build.
  2. It has a 2MP rear and front-facing camera.
  3. It has a USB Type-C port.
  4. 3.5mm audio headphone jack.
  5. 720p video recording.
  6. It is available in four colors (White, Black, Twilight Blue, Plum).
  7. Up to 12 hours of battery life.

Specifications

OS: Fire OS 7, Android 9.0
Chipset: MediaTek MT8168 (12nm)
CPU: Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
Display: 8 inches LCD screen,
800 x 1280 pixel resolution at 189ppi density
RAM: 2GB
Storage Option: 32GB, 64GB
Dimensions:7.95 x 5.39 x 0.38 inch
Weight:355g
Camera: 2MP
COMMS: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: USB Type-C, 3.5mn headphone jack
Sensors: Accelerometer
Battery:Up to 12 hours
Color: White, Black, Twilight Blue, Plum

Pros

  1. It is faster than the previous version.
  2. It has a better front camera placement.
  3. Alexa voice assistant.
  4. It has a clear and detailed display.

Cons

  1. It is locked to Amazon’s ecosystem.

How much is the Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet?

The Amazon Fire HD is a budget tablet sold at £89.99 for the 32GB model and £120 for the 64GB model.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet-1

Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet available series

Below is a list of the Amazon Fire tablet available series;

  • Amazon Fire 7
  • Amazon Fire HD 8
  • Amazon Fire HD 8 plus
  • Amazon Fire HD 10
  • Amazon Fire HD 10 plus
  • Amazon Fire 7 kids
  • Amazon Fire 7 kids pro
  • Amazon Fire HD 8 kids
  • Amazon Fire HD 8 kids pro
  • Amazon Fire HD 10 kids
  • Amazon Fire HD 10 kids pro

Buying Guide

The Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is a cheap tablet with a slow processor and it is packed with Amazon software and ads you have to pay for before it can be removed. Although it is a welcome upgrade from the Amazon Fire 7 tablet, it’s still slow and you shouldn’t buy it unless you really need an android tablet or a replacement for your much older version. 

Is Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet worth buying?

Yes. The Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is an inexpensive tablet with Quad-core processor, headphone jack and dual speakers that you can use for basic everyday activities like reading, listening to music, browsing, shopping and you also have Alexa control.

Conclusion

The Amazon Fire HD 8 is not a huge upgrade from its 2018 predecessor, with only a few adjustments, so unless you think you need the extra storage space, there is really no other difference but if you are replacing a much older version of android tablet, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is a good choice.

FAQ – Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet Review

Q1 – What are the differences between the new Amazon Fire HD 8 and the old one?

Answer: There aren’t any major changes except for the improved performance, increased RAM and longer battery life. You will be able to read more books, watch movies or play games while using the device. 

Q2 – Is the Amazon Fire HD 8 good enough for my needs?

Answer: Yes! If you want something simple then go ahead and buy it. 

Q3 – How long does it take to charge the Amazon Fire HD 8?

Answer: It takes about 5 hours to completely charge the tablet.

Q4 – Does the Amazon Fire HD 8 support fast charging?

Answer: No, it doesn’t.

Q5 – Can I connect external speakers to the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet?

Answer: Yes, you can do that. Just plug them into the audio port located at the top edge of the tablet.

Q6 – Will the Amazon Fire HD 8 work offline?

Answer: Yes. All the content stored on the tablet is saved locally without internet connection.

Q7 – Which operating system comes pre-installed on the Amazon Fire HD 8?

Answer: Android 9.0

Q8 – Are there any other accessories included with the Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablets?

Answer: Yes there are some additional items such as USB cable and power adapter.

Q9 – How much memory does the Amazon Fire HD 8 have?

  Answer: 2GB RAM 32GB/64GB internal storage space.

Q10 – What is the weight of the Amazon Fire HD 8?

Answer: Around 355 grams.

Q11 – How big is the screen size of the Amazon Fire HD8?

Answer: 8 inches display size.

Q12 – What is the resolution of the Amazon Fire HD?

Answer: 1280 x 800 pixels.

Product Image Gallery

Fintie Slim Case for Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet (7th and 8th Generation Tablets, 2017 and 2018 Releases), Ultra Lightweight Slim Shell Standing Cover.

Price: $49.18
as of October 11, 2021 9:38 am
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Fintie Silicone Case for Amazon Fire HD 8 (Compatible with 7th and 8th Generation Tablets, 2017 and 2018 Releases) - Honey Comb [Corner.

Price: $52.76
as of October 11, 2021 9:38 am
Best Price Online
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Price History

Fintie Case for All-New Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet and Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet (10th Generation, 2020 Release) - Lightweight Trifold Slim Shell Stand.

Price: $39.72
as of October 11, 2021 9:38 am
Best Price Online
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Price History

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Zeeshan Yousaf

Zeeshan is the founder of the Tech Guru Guy blog. He writes articles about the latest technology gadgets such as laptops, smartphones, home security, tablet devices, headphones, and much more. He has been at the forefront of technology for the past 10 years, working diligently to create quality content for his audience. He is addicted to reading books and watching movies, but not as much as he loves posting content on his blog. He loves playing cricket and table tennis. You can always contact Zeeshan via Tech Guru Guy's contact page.

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