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Amazon has been the leader in tablets for children for several years. Not only are the devices offered at affordable prices, they also have the widest library of kid-friendly content and fantastic parental controls. So, can the new Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro live up to that standard, or is this a downward trend for the company? The hardware is improved over previous models, Amazon Kids+ is improved, and fun, new cases are part of the equation – so yeah, it’s still fantastic.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) Review: Price and Availability
Amazon has announced the latest Amazon Fire HD 8 line, including children’s models, in September 2022. Both the standard Fire HD 8 Kids and Pro versions retail for $149.99. The tablets are available through Best Buy, Kohl’s, Amazon and more. The device is black, but its colors stand out. The regular Fire HD 8 Kids variants are Blue, Purple, Disney Princess and Disney Mickey. As for the slim body of the Pro model, the choices are: Cyber Sky, Rainbow Universe and Hello Teal.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) Review: What’s Good
As the best Android tablets for kids, Amazon’s Fire tablets excel in many ways. Exceptional in price, content, parental controls and warranty. As a parent of two young children, it’s always a balancing act to allow them to explore technology and protect them at the same time. For three years now, the amazing Amazon Fire Kids tablets have been a must-have for my family.
Last year I reviewed the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro and it was one of Amazon’s first kids devices. Pro nickname. While the Pro models don’t offer any difference in hardware compared to the regular variants, they do have significant differences for both kids and parents depending on the situation. If you want to know about them, I will explain these differences in more detail here.
Amazon continues to offer the best experience for kids and parents with its Fire Kids tablets.
Entering the new Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro is basically the same device as before. It has received some upgrades in the internal hardware to offer improved performance. While most kids using these tablets aren’t looking for a drop in performance, they will appreciate the reduction in hiccups while playing games and other tasks.
New exciting moments will be noticed. When Amazon introduced the Kids Pro models last year, they offered a mature and sensual look. Until now, Amazon’s only official cases for children’s pills were super-protective, bulky foam boxes. The Pro cases are much slimmer, but still protective and offer an interesting design on the back. The 2022 models get all new designs with Cyber Sky, Rainbow Universe and Hello Teal. My son and I were sent to Rainbow Universe for testing.
| Specs | Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) |
|---|---|
| Display | 8″ HD |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 (189 ppi) |
| Storage | 32 GB, expandable up to 1 TB via microSD card |
| CPU | Quad core 2.0 GHz |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Charging time | 5 hours with the included 5W USB-C charger |
| Wireless charging | Do not |
| Cameras | 2MP front and rear with 720p HD video recording |
| Weight | 17.9 oz |
| Dimensions | 8.3″ x 6.4″ x 0.7″ (212mm x 162mm x 17mm) |
| Colors | Cyber Sky, Rainbow Universe and Hello Teal |
| the connection | 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| 3.5 mm audio jack | ✔️ |
My oldest has been using the 10-inch Pro model since last fall, while my 7-year-old has been using the standard 2020 8-inch model. So he was excited to try the newer model. Even though his excitement was mostly new, it quickly became real as he got used to it.
When asked what he liked about the new Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022), he told me about the light body and how things are laid out on the screen. The difference in UI layout is due to the fact that the tablet is in “Pro” mode. This layout is more similar to the models that adults are familiar with.
The mature layout on the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) looks great and my son quickly appreciated it.
Provides better defined categories for titles in the Pro model UI. As my son’s reading skills improve, he doesn’t like the screen being cluttered with all the content he likes from Amazon Kids+. Grouping into categories gives her more control over finding what she wants. However, the interface still does a great job of bringing titles that might interest it.
In addition to the interface and case difference, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) has access to an even wider library of content. With the introduction of Pro models last year, Amazon also began offering a new web browser experience that lets kids browse pre-selected sites and allows parents to whitelist specific sites. However, since the tablet is connected to Amazon Kids+, parents still have plenty of options to set up the device in the best way for their children.
This guide has a complete breakdown of what Amazon Kids+ has to offer, but a quick explanation is that it’s a software layer that unlocks more than 20,000 apps, games, videos, books, and more. Parents can select the age range of their children and the software will automatically suggest titles in that range.
Along with content, there are multiple levels of parental control, not only which apps your child can access, but also how and when they can access them. For example, you might require 30 minutes of reading before being allowed to play games. You can set a Do Not Disturb mode and also a time limit for using the device.
Another thing my son told me was that he liked having lots of games to play. It may seem like it, but the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) offers the same library as its older model, but as part of the Pro family, it provides a different way of discovery.
Another benefit of buying an Amazon Fire Kids tablet is that you get a free year of Amazon Kids+. After the first year, the service costs $7.99 per month for non-Prime members and $4.99 for existing ones. If you go the annual route, it’s $79/year or $48/year. In addition to the discounted Amazon Kids+ program, the tablet comes with a very valuable two-year worry-free warranty. This means that if the tablet becomes damaged or malfunctions for any reason, Amazon will replace it.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) Review: What’s Not So Good
As with previous Amazon Fire Kid tablets, there’s not much to dislike here. Instead, the same complaints are still there. Basically no Google Play services. While most young kids, even those ready for the Pro edition, won’t care, most will be familiar with apps like YouTube and some games that are only available on the Play Store. However, with Amazon Kids+, as a parent, you can allow access to YouTube and your child can access it through a web browser.
Another feature of the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) and other Fire Kids tablets is that Amazon only offers 32GB of internal storage. Of course, you can get a really good microSD card to expand the storage. But it seems silly not to offer at least a 64GB model for the Pro versions.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) Review: Competition
It’s sad to say, but when it comes to affordable tablets for kids that offer a large library of kid-friendly content and have great parental controls, there isn’t much competition beyond the Amazon Fire.
If your child would benefit from a larger device, you can choose the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids or Pro model if your child is ready for it. If you’re looking to save some cash, check out the new Amazon Fire 7 Kids that I reviewed earlier this year. It’s a fantastic entry-level device that offers the same Amazon Kids+ benefits as the more expensive models, but at a lower price.
While there are options outside of Amazon, most of them offer poor performance in a similar price range. Not to mention anywhere near the same size library or level of parental control for kids. Samsung recently announced its first tablet made for kids, the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite Kids Edition (opens in new tab).
While there are options outside of Amazon, most of them offer poor performance in a similar price range. Not to mention offering the same size library or level of parental control for kids. Samsung recently announced its first tablet made for kids, the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite Kids Edition (opens in new tab). But it’s exclusive to AT&T and the features and functionality still need to be evaluated.
Google has partnered with several brands to offer kids a safe tablet exploration environment called Kids Space. In my testing this is a good option. But Amazon Kids+ isn’t as comprehensive as it offers in terms of content or parental controls. I’ve heard that Google is continuing to build this platform and may become a competitor in time. But now Amazon is the clear leader in the kids’ tablet space.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) Review: Should You Buy It?
You should buy this if…
- Your child is six or older and ready for a mature interface on their tablet.
- Your child is using an old device that is slow.
- You want a tablet with great content and parental controls for your child.
You should not buy this if…
- Your budget is tight.
- You need a device to offer Google Play services.
- You don’t want to buy a microSD card for extra storage.
As I said in the review section, there’s nothing better than Amazon’s line of kids tablets. The Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) continues this legacy with improved performance and runs almost any demanding application. A more mature body and UI layout will satisfy even the most experienced kid. Thanks to Amazon Kids+, there are tons of titles for kids of all ages, and safety controls give parents peace of mind.
But the tablet is not cheap. So, if you are on a tight budget, then you can opt for the Fire 7 Kids. The lack of Google Play Services can be surprising in certain situations, but Amazon’s content library is much better than it was a few years ago. While the tablet only offers 32GB of internal storage, it’s nice to add a microSD card. So if you have a kid who isn’t ready for a big 10-inch display, but is ready to handle a “big kid” tablet, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) is just the ticket.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022)
Amazon has followed a tried and true strategy for the new Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022). The size is right in the middle so almost anyone can hold it. Improved performance allows it to run more applications. With new cases, it’s the perfect device for a toddler who’s ready to step up to big-kid status.
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