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The title of this review might surprise you, especially if you’re used to thinking of the Amazon Fire 7 as a tablet. actual Best cheap Android tablet. But I’d argue that the improvements Amazon has made to the Fire HD 8 over the past couple of years have actually been enough to dethrone the Fire 7.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022): Price and Availability
The Amazon Fire HD 8 was announced in September 2022, along with the updated Fire HD 8 Plus and Fire HD 8 Kids tablets. Following the announcement, the Fire HD 8 was officially released in October 2022, with a starting retail price of $99 for the 32GB variant and $129 for the 64GB storage. Additionally, Amazon offers the Fire HD 8 in three different colors – Black, Denim and Rose – and you can buy the tablet with or without Lock Screen Ads.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022): What you like
How about a slightly improved but similar tablet? The Fire HD 8 serves a purpose in that it’s a solid and affordable Android tablet with a “good enough” screen to enjoy the endless amount of streaming content at our disposal.
One could argue that Amazon doesn’t even need to update the Fire HD 8, but as we all know, technology is cyclical, and if the company can find a reason to release an “updated” device to help make more money, what will it do. Cynicism aside, the Fire HD 8 is probably the best tablet for those who want more than the traditional Amazon Kindle has to offer and don’t mind not having access to the Play Store.
Battery life is as good as you’d expect, with an advertised battery life of 13 hours easily. That’s a bit of a surprise considering the screen and processor have both been upgraded, but the software remains the same, so it won’t be as power hungry as something like the Galaxy Tab S8.
Of course, your mileage will vary depending on whether you plan to use Amazon Luna for game streaming, watching videos, or both. But it will easily last you through the day and maybe a little longer if you don’t use it regularly.
Speaking of watching videos, another thing I’m glad Amazon stuck with is the ability to use a microSD card with its various Fire tablets. Expandable storage is one “feature” that shouldn’t be left out of the best Android phones or tablets, and while you can get a 1TB microSD card for the same price as the Fire HD 8, there’s no denying it. save a lot.
In the same vein, there are two different configurations as you can choose between 32GB or 64GB with the Fire HD 8, which is still plenty on its own. But if you want to enjoy watching some movies without streaming, you can always throw a microSD card in your tablet.
I’m also a big fan of the Fire HD 8’s decision to include Show mode. As I mentioned in my recent Fire TV Cube (2022) review , what I found with the Google Nest Alexa Skill made it easy to check myself. Various security cameras without the Nest Hub on my desk in the home office.
Show Mode gives you the same experience you’d find using an Echo Show 8, but on a tablet. It’s probably more like what you’d expect to see from a Pixel Tablet, seamlessly switching between a tablet and a smart home display depending on your current needs.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022): What you don’t do
Even high-end tablets like Amazon’s Fire HD 10 aren’t really designed for super performance, and even though the company slapped a new processor on it for “30% faster performance,” it’s still a cheap Android tablet. . The new “hexacore” processor in the Fire HD 8 won’t win any awards or blow anyone away, and that’s fine, at least most of the time.
It gets the job done, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least point out that it’s a little frustrating that the interface feels a little sluggish at times. It’s not something most people will notice, but at one point I fired up the Luna and tried to play a bit of Dirt 5, only to find that the tablet was overloaded with too many things at once. It was a one-off event, but it’s still something to watch out for given how popular cloud gaming has become.
As for the aforementioned game, these tablets need an easy way to install and use the Play Store. Or at least it would be nice to play nice with Google and Amazon so that I don’t have to buy multiple versions of games just so I can use the Amazon App Store instead of the Play Store. Unfortunately, that ship has long since sailed and it’s really annoying. Amazon is improving its App Store, apparently with the ability to install Android apps on Windows, but I’d still like all my apps to come from one centralized “store” for everything, like GOG for Windows games. .
Finally, we’re happy to have USB-C on board for charging, but the Fire HD 8 doesn’t have “fast charging”. Amazon claims it takes about 5 hours to go from 0-100%. I expect to see future Fire tablets with faster charging capabilities than iPhones with a Lightning connector. Unlike the Fire HD 8 Plus, you can’t use the Fire HD 8 with a wireless charger, so you’ll probably want to plug in at night when the Fire HD 8 runs out of juice.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022): Competition
At first glance, the Fire HD 8 (2022) might not seem to have much competition other than Amazon’s own Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 Plus. The first is that you shouldn’t consider it unless you really want the cheapest of the cheap. But the latter is more interesting, as the Fire HD 8 Plus includes wireless charging (great for Show Mode), more RAM, faster wired charging, and costs only $20 more.
The next closest competitor has to be Walmart’s .onn 8-inch Tablet, which offers the same screen size, the same storage options, and more colors, all for $20 less. Plus, you’ll enjoy a traditional Android experience with access to the Play Store, unlike the Amazon App Store.
Aside from these two specific options, if you’re after an 8-inch tablet that won’t break the bank, keep an eye out for other cheap Android tablets for sale. . Lenovo’s Tab M8 is getting a bit long in the tooth, but can be had for around $100, just like the Fire HD 8, while the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite has a larger 8.7-inch screen, but gives you a much more premium build, and is on sale for $110 .
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022): Should you buy it?
You should buy this if:
- You want the cheapest Android tablet.
- You want a tablet that doubles as an Alexa smart display.
- You need a tablet with long battery life.
- You don’t care that you won’t be able to access the Google Play Store.
You should not buy this if:
- You want to multitask.
- You’re looking for a tablet that includes wireless charging.
- You want to access your library of content purchased from the Google Play Store.
Reading this review, it might sound like I’m not too excited about the Fire HD 8, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. For me, the Fire HD 8 has replaced the Fire 7 as the cheapest Android tablet around, even if you’re on a tight budget under $50.
Since it doesn’t have access to the Play Store, the “improvements” are minor at best. But it’s certainly a better overall tablet than Amazon’s cheapest option, and a great choice for those who want a media consumption device that can be tossed in any bag.
While you may think of the Fire HD 8 as being in the shadow of the Fire HD 8 Plus, which is only $20 more than a tablet and offers even better value, not everyone cares about a tablet turning into a smart display. That’s where the Fire HD 8 fits in, and it does so well in a market filled with mostly outdated products or brands you don’t know.
The new champion of cheap
Amazon’s latest Fire HD 8 (2022) tablet doesn’t have much to impress. But it has replaced the Fire 7 as the cheapest Android tablet.
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