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Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024) review: A cheap tablet hampered by outdated software
- The Amazon Fire HD 8 is an affordable tablet that offers some decent features and new AI functionality. It's lightweight, compact and comes with 32GB or 64GB of storage built-in. While the hardware specifications aren’t top-notch, it remains workable for basic functions such as web browsing and gaming.
- The tablet still runs on Fire OS, an Android 11-forked operating system that uses a custom app store and promotes Amazon's proprietary apps and services. The problem is that the app store is lacking some applications including all Google apps.
- The tablet's display isn't all that great, with the same old LCD panel Amazon has been using in previous tablets. The resolution isn't great, making text and images less sharp, and colors more muted. The speakers aren't that loud, and the camera quality is brutal.
- The tablet has a headphone jack, Bluetooth connectivity, and its battery life lasts up to 13 hours, which is great for most people.
- The AI features that are available on the tablet include an automated wallpaper creator, a writing aid, and webpage summaries in the Silk Browser. These are nice-to-have additions but not game changers.
- While there's value to be had with the Amazon Fire HD 8, buyers have to deal with the unfiltered Amazon-ness of Fire OS, pushing Amazon's apps and services onto users. Amazon's software annoyances and the lack of support for Google apps make it difficult to see this tablet as anything but a way to get users onto Amazon's hardware ecosystem on the cheap.
- Fire OS basically nickel-and-dimes users, stuffing plenty of content suggestions and links to sponsored apps, movies, music, and other paid services on its homepage, giving the impression it doesn’t have users' best interests at heart.
- For those looking to buy a budget tablet with a bit more power and a better display, the Fire HD 10 might be a better option.
- Ultimately, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is ideal for casual media consumption, and the value that it offers makes it worth it for those who are looking for a cheap tablet.
- However, with restrictions on which apps are available and Amazon's ad-pocalypse, the tablet is a flawed product that feels more like a tool to get buyers to subscribe to Amazon's services at a cheaper price point than a tool for thoughtful, personal use.
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