Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus (2022) Review: Made for Amazon Superfans | Tech Reddy

For years, the Fire HD 8 Plus has been one of Amazon’s best-selling tablets, and I’m not surprised. It has a useful 8-inch display and enough storage (32GB) and RAM (3GB) for apps and games, and even the latest model is relatively cheap. $120.

If you’ve been eyeing a tablet capable of playing your kid’s favorite YouTube videos, controlling your home’s Alexa-enabled devices, or even serving as a digital cookbook, Amazon’s Fire HD 8 Plus is a no-brainer at a fraction of your kid’s price. cheapest iPad ever.

However, unless you’re an Amazon Prime member, the Fire HD 8 Plus — like other Fire tablets — isn’t as much of an impulse buy as Amazon’s constant promotions suggest. For all the reasons to buy the latest tablet, many will look elsewhere. Here is the breakdown.

Technical conditions

Processor	MediaTek MT8168
Display	8-inch 1280 x 800 IPS LCD
RAM	3 GB
Storage	32 GB or 64 GB (up to 1 TB via MicroSD)
Rear cameras	2MP wide
Front camera	2MP
Battery	up to 12 hours
the connection	USB-C
Operating system	Android 11 through Fire OS
Colors	Gray

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What is the design?

Although the Fire HD 8 Plus isn’t designed to withstand the cruelty of children, it is Kids Edition for — it will definitely take a hit or two. Instead of the usual mix of glass and aluminum found on more expensive tablets, the $120 Fire HD 8 Plus is decked out in textured plastic and an 8-inch display that scratches more easily than it cracks.

So you might be surprised to hear that I’m a fan of the plastic design of the Amazon tablet. Consumerism these days has made me so used to my tech products that it’s refreshing to be able to use a Fire tablet without worrying too much about damaging it. My tester came with one stair case It provides an extra layer of protection and functionality, but I felt confident enough to review the HD 8 Plus without it.

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In addition to its otherwise basic design, the Fire HD 8 Plus has plenty of ports and slots to maximize your tablet’s potential, including a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port, and a microSD card slot that can expand base storage. 32 GB (or 64 GB) up to 1 TB. If you plan to use the tablet for streaming shows, browsing the web, and playing apps and games, 32GB should be more than enough. For one more thing, 64GB Fire HD 8 Plus would be most reasonable.

Adequate is the best way for me to describe the display of the Fire HD 8 Plus. It’s not ultra-bright for a comfortable outdoor viewing experience, but 400 nits of brightness is satisfactory for indoor use. To my surprise, the 1280 x 800 panel has admirable viewing angles, with minimal color shift when holding the tablet in different directions.

My biggest gripe with the display is the poor quality oleophobic coating — the composite layer. predicted to return oil and grease. I’ve been testing the tablet for about two weeks now and the screen is absolutely covered in smudges and fingerprints. It’s nothing a screen protector can’t fix, but it’s still a troubling sign for a tablet you’ll be using for years to come.

How does he perform daily tasks?

For $120, you really can’t complain about the performance of the Fire HD 8 Plus. This year’s model sees an extra gigabyte of RAM, and as far as I’ve seen, the tablet is capable of cruising through the usual apps and services like Disney+, Amazon Shopping, Facebook, and YouTube without a hitch. Sure, there might be some input lag when tapping, but if you value the big-screen features of a tablet over, say, how quickly it can open apps, then you’ll be happy with the Fire tablet.

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I’m also hoping that “large display size” is higher on your priority list than “camera quality” because the Fire HD 8 Plus has two mid-range 2MP cameras, one on the front and one on the back. Even in the best-lit environments, the sensors overexpose objects and create a white-out effect that doesn’t produce the best images. Night photography is poor.

Sticking with features that work well on tablets, let’s talk about the one aspect that sells the Fire HD 8 Plus for me: Show Mode, which turns the 8-inch portable into an Echo Show, a slideshow of relevant news articles, and weather. information, timing, and even recipes. It’s a smart way to use your tablet while holding it, just like Samsung did. Frame TV and what Google plans to do with the upcoming Pixel Tablet.

Ideally, Show Mode should be used in tandem with Amazon wireless charging dockbut I found the above mentioned stair case just functional.

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Terms and conditions apply

The Fire HD 8 Plus, like other Amazon devices running Fire OS, runs a stripped-down version of Android. This means the software experience can be pretty limited, including what’s available from the app store.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member that thrives on Amazon’s ecosystem of shopping, video streaming, and smart home services, you’ll find no shortage of choices in the virtual store. But for other things, including YouTube, the web version shortcut is the best you’ll find. It’s not the end of the world. There are only a few limitations with YouTube for the web compared to the official app, which adds up to a shorter user experience.

And then there’s Amazon’s cost-cutting (and money-making) feature: lock screen ads. At the base level, the Fire HD 8 Plus comes with an ad-supported lock screen, meaning every time you press the power button to put the device to sleep, it displays a slideshow of ads for games, apps, and services. It’s not the biggest deal in my eyes – and you can pay in full Another $50 for the ad-free HD 8 Plus — but it’s still an inconvenience.

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Battery and charging

The battery life of the Fire HD 8 Plus is extremely long. Amazon rates the tablet at up to 12 hours, and I got similar numbers from two weeks of testing. This happened when the Show mode was turned on, which makes the screen even more impressive at the time.

Amazon bundles a USB-C cable to charge it the and charging brick, the latter of which is often removed from tablets.

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Bottom line

If you’re wondering what tablet to buy for everyday browsing, mobile entertainment, or even for your kids, and your first instinct is to search Amazon, you’re the perfect customer. Fire HD 8 Plus. At $120, the latest model isn’t the cheapest of the Fire tablet lineup, but it’s certainly an attractive option for its sharp visuals, durable build quality, and exceptional battery life. Downsides include camera quality and app support, as well as lots of ads if you choose the base model. If you (or your child) don’t mind these compromises, then Amazon’s latest tablet is a solid pickup.

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