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"The Amazon Fire HD 8 is the only sensible choice in its price range, but there are good reasons for that."

• Amazon integration

• Very affordable

• Good battery life

• Alexa

• Software can feel like an advertisement

• Slow performance

• Below average display

The tablet market is in a strange place. Apple dominates and the iPad is our first choice for those who can spend up to $ 300. However, if you can't (or don't want to) spend that much or just don't like the Apple ecosystem, your options are limited. Amazon is one of the few alternatives that has been offering extremely affordable tablets for years. An updated version of the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet was recently released.

Amazon's new Fire HD 8 isn't fundamentally different from the previous generation Fire HD 8, but it does offer some upgrades. For example, there is now a USB-C connector on the bottom as well as a new chip that offers 30% better performance.

However, the heading is still the price. At an extremely low price of $ 90, the Fire HD 8 may be the best option under $ 100 – also because it's one of the few options under $ 100. But what are the victims?

A basic design with a few quirks

The Fire HD 8 offers an 8-inch display with a half-inch frame around the display. The tablet is available in different colors, which is perhaps the most unique thing about it. These colors include white, black, twilight blue and plum. I checked the white model and it looks good enough – although the more colorful models have more flair.

As someone who normally uses the entry-level iPad for all tablet needs, the Fire HD 8 feels a bit thick at 9.7mm compared to 7.5mm from the iPad. Given the overall size, it's still pretty light. However, once you add a case, it becomes even stronger. Because of this mass, the tablet feels relatively tough. It is largely made of plastic, which does not scratch or dent easily.

The layout of the buttons and ports on the Fire HD 8 could take some work. The webcam is arranged horizontally rather than vertically. When used in the horizontal layout, the volume rocker, the power switch, the USB-C connector and the headphone jack are on the left. In the end, I didn't mind the layout, but it's a little strange to have the USB-C port on top and the power switch and volume rocker on the bottom if you want to use the device in portrait mode. There is a MicroSD card slot on the right to expand the built-in memory.

This is the first Fire HD tablet to have a USB-C port. You won't be charged really fast through this connector, but it is convenient to charge your modern devices with the same cables, and the inclusion of such a connector is somewhat overdue for Amazon.

There is a 2-megapixel camera on the back of the device, which takes mediocre pictures at best. The selfie camera on the front is also 2 megapixels in size. Even if it is suitable for video chatting, a better camera would have been desirable.

Overall, the Fire HD 8 is designed to get the job done. Due to the low price, you have to do without the premium feeling of Apple's iPad for beginners, but this does not make the use of the tablet difficult.

Mediocre display

While the design is okay, the display leaves something to be desired. This is also to be expected from a device in this price range, but it is still important to note.

The 8-inch LCD display has a resolution of 800 x 1,280, which is slightly below average. The maximum brightness is also low. Therefore, in direct sunlight, you may have difficulty seeing what you are doing. The colors are also subdued, making videos less haunting and exciting.

Digital Trends found that the display was somewhat flawed when reviewing the 2018 Fire HD 8 model. It is therefore disappointing that Amazon has not updated it. While the display does the job in most situations, you will have problems using it outdoors, and the films will not look as sharp as on more expensive tablets.

Poor performance, good battery life

It doesn't look much better under the hood. Android devices often work well when you receive them. In the next few years, they will slow down. Unfortunately, this is not the case here. The Amazon Fire 8 HD is ready to use.

This tablet is powered by a MediaTek MT8168 processor with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB or 64 GB storage. If you want to expand this memory, a microSD card slot is integrated in the device.

The specs are undoubtedly modest, and while the tablet performs well in everyday use, if you are interested in mobile games, you will need something with a little more momentum unless you are mainly interested in basic games. This tablet is not suitable for games. However, it should be fine for streaming videos, surfing social media, etc.

While the performance is somewhat disappointing, the battery life is solid. Amazon rated the battery life up to 12 hours, and I found that it could easily stand two days of moderate use. If you don't regularly forget to charge your devices, you'll find that battery life is more than long enough for most.

Amazon forward software

Aside from the price, the main reason someone wants to buy a Fire HD tablet is to integrate with the rest of the Amazon ecosystem. For those who use more stripped-down versions of Android on their cell phones, such as those on Google's pixel cell phones or OxygenOS from OnePlus, the highly optimized Fire OS on the Fire HD 8 looks a bit chaotic – and sometimes a bit dated.

Deep integration with Amazon services can be very helpful for Prime subscribers who already use Amazon's apps and services heavily. Thanks to the instantly installed apps, you get quick and instant access to services such as Audible, Prime Video, Kindle, etc.

Many of these services are also integrated directly into the start screen. Swipe right and you'll have access to your books. Swipe right again and you'll see videos. There are games and apps again. It's an intuitive way to scroll through Amazon's services. However, if you're not using every single Amazon service, these sections of the home screen are for promotional purposes only – in full-screen mode. For example, on the Video tab, you can only view Prime Video content. Even if you download the Netflix app, you shouldn't expect Amazon to recommend content on this tab.

Fire OS does not use Google Play services, so you can only access Google services like Google Drive, YouTube, etc. if you download them. Even then, you won't be able to access the Google Play Store without great effort.

The Amazon Appstore is also limited. There are many gaps in most streaming services, social media apps, and some of the most popular games. For example, you can't download an official YouTube app, and the fitness junkies can't download services like MyFitnessPal.

Then you have the ads. If you take full advantage of Amazon services, you may not care so much about them – but if you choose in general, as most people are likely to do, the ads will get a little much. Every time you see the lock screen, you see a different set of books or shows that Amazon believes you want to read or view, and Amazon regularly fills your notification shadow with other ads.

Alexa is part of the Fire tablet experience and works well. They have all the Alexa functions you need for the Echo, as well as the ability to control certain aspects of the tablet software, such as: B. opening certain apps, playing videos on Prime Video etc.

If you are something like me, you will ultimately have a love-hate relationship with Fire OS. It works great in many situations, but only if you're seriously connected to the Amazon ecosystem – and if not, much of the operating system is just bloatware.

Price, availability and warranty information

The slow performance, bloated software, and limited app selection would be unforgivable if it weren't for the price. At $ 90, however, there is almost no competition for the Fire HD 8. You might find a cheap Samsung or Lenovo tablet that matches the price, but otherwise you'd have to look for no-name tablets that aren't offered to everyone Advantage over the Fire HD 8.

Of course, this tablet is available directly from Amazon. You only get a 90-day limited warranty here, which only covers manufacturing defects.

Our opinion

The Amazon Fire HD 8 is a solid budget option for those who need an entertainment device or are connected to the Amazon ecosystem and are looking for a device that uses it. However, the device is far from perfect. It has a relatively poor performance, the software can feel like a big advertisement, and the display is not great.

Is there a better alternative?

There are no solid alternatives in this price range, as the available options come from no-name brands or are underwhelmed. It may be worth taking a look at a refurbished iPad or saving money for something better, like a cheap Lenovo option or the entry-level iPad – although the entry-level iPad still costs $ 250 on sale.

How long it will take?

You should get a year or two of normal use of Amazon Fire HD 8. Slow performance worsens over time, which you should be aware of as it is not particularly good at first, but if you only really use it when watching videos and browsing social media, this should be fine. Physically, the tablet is strong enough to withstand most everyday use, but you don't want to drop it or get it wet.

Should you buy it

No. Although there is little competition, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is too affordable by itself.

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