Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024) Review: Primetime Budget Tablet

Worth When Reviewed

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Finest Costs Immediately: Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2024)

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The Hearth HD collection has been a recurring and reliable fixture on the Android pill scene ever since Amazon launched its first mannequin again in October 2012. Not a lot has truly modified since then, with every subsequent replace of the pill introducing very incremental enhancements, reminiscent of a bit extra RAM, just a few extra megapixels and a number of other modifications in show measurement and dimensions.

It’s an analogous story with 2024’s iteration of the Hearth HD 8, which (nonetheless) in its twelfth technology has taken among the specs of the now-discontinued HD 8 Plus whereas retaining just about every little thing else you’d count on from the collection. And to be truthful, there’s one thing reassuring concerning the consistency with which Amazon retains to its tried-and-tested components. It allows the retail large to maintain prices down, within the course of making a helpful pill accessible to the overwhelming majority of shoppers.

But the query is, simply how a lot worth for cash does the Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2024) actually supply? We go over its capabilities on this assessment, inspecting its design, show, efficiency and software program, amongst different issues. And we additionally ask the all-important query of whether or not it’s price shopping for should you personal its predecessor, the Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2022).

Design & Construct

• Light-weight and compact
• Headphone jack
• No IP ranking

There are not any prizes for guessing that the Hearth HD 8’s design is nigh-on similar to its rapid predecessors. That stated, it ought to no less than be acknowledged that its rear has the grippier, granular plastic of the HD 8 Plus, slightly than the smoother model we had with 2022’s normal HD 8. This does give it a barely much less low-cost really feel than with earlier fashions and likewise helps forestall slippage.

One of many major promoting factors of the Hearth HD 8 is that it’s light-weight and comparatively small, weighing in at a reasonably lithe 337g. By comparability, the usual 10.9in iPad weighs 447g, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Extremely is available in at a really hefty 718g. And with its dimensions measuring 202 x 137 x 9.6mm, the Hearth HD 8 will match simply in most backpacks, purses, satchels or no matter different baggage you’re prone to have.

Simon Chandler/Foundry

Logistics and practicalities apart, the Hearth HD’s design is uninspiring. It is available in a alternative of three colors, Black (reviewed), Emerald and Hibiscus (principally a pleasant pink). Whereas the latter two are distinctive, there isn’t actually anything to suggest the pill style-wise. Sure, its kind is clear and uncluttered, nevertheless it does look pretty non-premium, particularly the entrance with its sizeable bezels.

It virtually goes with out saying that the pill doesn’t carry an official IP ranking, so that you shouldn’t be going round waving it close to swimming swimming pools or baths. But other than the comparatively fragile glass of its show (no Gorilla Glass for Amazon), the plastic rear ought to face up to a good quantity of neglect.

Display screen & Audio system

• 8in IPS LCD show
• Fingerprint-loving display screen
• Stereo audio system

In case you’ve used one of many more moderen Amazon Hearth HD 8 gadgets earlier than, you’ll know what to anticipate from the 2024 mannequin’s show. At 8 inches and with a decision of 1200 x 800 pixels, it manages to supply 189 pixels per inch. That is the naked minimal to qualify as a high-definition display screen, and whereas it isn’t a lot, it does suffice for watching Prime Video, Netflix and YouTube at house.

Amazon hasn’t shared any specs on common or most brightness, however in my expertise, the gadget does cope properly sufficient with indoor use.

I did discover some films and TV programmes to be a bit darkish on default settings, however ramping up the brightness to most normally solved most of my points. Generally this concerned turning off the adaptive brightness function, which for me had an inclination to make issues too dim (notably with moody motion and horror movies).

Simon Chandler/Foundry

But it surely’s not solely brightness that’s a problem with the Hearth HD 8’s display screen, since the usage of an IPS LCD panel limits its colors and vibrancy. Generally there simply wasn’t sufficient depth and readability to the video, so correct movie buffs might contemplate wanting elsewhere. That stated, the show will maintain informal viewers comfortable sufficient, even when it does have a really sturdy attraction to fingerprints and smudges.

Most can even be comfortable sufficient with the gadget’s stereo audio system, which ship clear audio for the needs of watching TV and movies. For music, nevertheless, the output was maybe a bit skinny, in that it lacked bass and a few additional oomph. Though that is solely to be anticipated at this value level.

Specs & Efficiency

• MediaTek MT8169A
• 3/4GB of RAM and 32/64GB of inner storage
• Storage expandable to 1TB with MicroSDXC slot

Because it does in lots of different departments, the Hearth HD 8 (2024) repeats the specs of its forebears and reuses the MediaTek MT8169A chip. This processor, constructed utilizing a 12nm manufacturing course of, is fairly underpowered in comparison with even the entry-level chips supplied by Qualcomm and different producers. We discovered that with the earlier Hearth HD 8, which ran on solely 2GB of RAM, it actually struggled to do something greater than fundamental duties, with even internet shopping often slowing up.

Issues have improved considerably with 2024’s model of the gadget, which now comes with 3GB of RAM as normal. It’s also possible to pay additional to have the 4GB mannequin, which we think about will enhance issues a bit additional. As it’s, the usual 3GB mannequin does make the MediaTek chip extra in a position, in that apps and internet pages load extra easily. I did discover some momentary pauses and situations of lag, however nothing that might get in the way in which of regular utilization.

Simon Chandler/Foundry

And whereas most individuals shall be most unlikely to (even try to) use the Hearth HD 8 as a critical gaming system, a lot of the informal video games I attempted ran usably properly. Regardless of a really delicate slowdown when loading new screens, Crossy Street was solely playable, for instance, as was Sweet Crush Saga. As such, the Hearth HD 8 does largely fulfil its remit as an off-the-cuff gadget.

Lastly, some customers could also be dissatisfied that, as soon as once more, the Hearth HD 8 comes with a paltry 32GB of storage as normal. You possibly can nevertheless decide to pay the additional £25 to have the 4GB model, which additionally comes with 64GB of storage. Additionally, there’s a microSDXC slot as a way to increase the accessible reminiscence to 1TB, so there are alternatives for individuals who wish to save issues on to their gadgets, slightly than simply operating off the cloud.

On the subject of efficiency benchmarks, the Amazon Hearth HD 8 is notoriously unfriendly to the principle testing apps. I did handle to run Geekbench 5 (not the most recent model), with which it scored a really low 906. To place this in some perspective, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 – priced at £169 (not accessible within the US) – scored 1877.

Cameras

• 5Mp major rear digicam
• 2Mp selfie digicam
• 1080p video

I actually struggled to take respectable photographs with the Hearth HD 8 (2024). Sure, this shouldn’t come as a shock, however on condition that the pill does include a rear digicam, you’d be forgiven for considering that it may generally be of use.

We’ve written many instances earlier than that, as a result of nearly everybody has a smartphone these days, cameras on tablets are normally an afterthought. However nowhere does this grow to be extra obvious than with the Hearth HD 8, which most definitely has the excellence of getting the worst digicam of any pill or cellphone launched this 12 months.

Sure, on clear, sunny days you’ll be able to take panorama photographs that, at first look, look virtually presentable. However should you look carefully at background particulars, you’ll normally discover out-of-focus, barely blurred objects, be they bushes, buildings or lampposts. This makes capturing shareable photographs nigh-on unattainable, and issues solely worsen in much less beneficial circumstances.

Simon Chandler/Foundry

In truth, you must have a really regular hand and plenty of endurance to take even sub-par photographs, for the reason that gadget lacks optical picture stabilisation and every other type of tech which may make issues simpler for informal customers. There’s additionally a Evening Mode, however the concept anybody goes to significantly think about using the pill to take photographs at nighttime is nearly laughable.

Rant apart, just about everybody expects pill cameras to be okay at greatest, and just about everybody is aware of that the Hearth HD collection might be the worst of a foul bunch. In different phrases, nobody shall be shocked by the pill’s poor exhibiting, and most informal customers will solely use the lens right here for photographic reminders.

Battery Life & Charging

• 13 hours of battery life
• 15W wired charging
• No wi-fi charging

Whereas few count on a sub-£100 pill to return with a stellar digicam and state-of-the-art chipset, battery life is one thing that roughly everybody cares about. Fortunately, sufficient, the Hearth HD 8 performs properly on this division, with the gadget largely residing as much as Amazon’s claims that it gives 13 hours of use time between prices.

One of many saving graces of no-frills tablets is that they normally lack the type of particular options (e.g. 120Hz refresh charges) that might sap their batteries prematurely. Save for a minimal gaming mode, this is applicable doubly to the Hearth HD.

Due to this, I used to be capable of make it virtually to the tip of a second day earlier than needing to recharge. And except for turning the brightness all the way in which up and watching Netflix all day, the identical will maintain for many different customers. This comes as welcome information, enabling the Hearth HD to function a dependable journey companion for a lot of of its house owners.

Issues aren’t fairly as spectacular within the charging division, nevertheless. For one, it helps a most of 15W, so recharging is normally a sluggish course of. On prime of this, it drops the wi-fi charging compatibility of 2022’s Hearth HD 8 Plus. This might not be a giant deal for many customers, however on condition that this 12 months’s gadget is principally a repackaging of the latter pill, it’s considerably disappointing.

Software program & Apps

• Amazon Hearth OS
• 4 years of safety updates
• Nonetheless no Google apps

In case you’ve by no means tried a Hearth HD pill earlier than, it’s possible you’ll be forgiven for considering it’s an Android. Certain, its OS (Amazon Hearth OS) is technically an Android pores and skin, however Amazon has remodelled it fairly drastically. Nonetheless absent are the acquainted Google apps that Android and even iOS customers have been accustomed to utilizing for years, and of their place are a modest number of native apps.

These are fairly restricted in scope, encompassing the Amazon App Retailer, Prime Video and Kindle. We additionally get a really small variety of standard third-party apps pre-installed, reminiscent of Netflix and BBC iPlayer, when you can obtain others (e.g. Fb, Instagram, X). This makes the issues you are able to do along with your Hearth HD 8 comparatively restricted, but the main focus arguably helps keep away from bloat and (extreme) slowdown.

By way of how Hearth OS truly operates, it has been whittled right down to a For You and House display screen. This makes the gadget very simple to navigate, with the For You web page’s search bar helpful for locating apps and different issues not seen on the 2 major screens. As we famous above, the gadget can generally be sluggish, even with the additional 1- or 2GB of RAM, though for what most individuals shall be utilizing it for it’s by no means too sluggish.

Simon Chandler/Foundry

On the subject of particular options, there isn’t actually something of specific notice to say, aside from the anticipated presence of Alexa as your voice assistant. There’s a sport mode that disables Alexa and notifications whereas releasing up reminiscence with a view to ‘optimise’ efficiency. Aside from that, you get fundamental stuff reminiscent of a do-not-disturb mode and some accessibility settings, reminiscent of the power to vary font sizes and set shortcuts.

One returning quirk/gripe is that the gadget will deal with you to adverts on its lock display screen, which does appear fairly odd should you’re used to utilizing extra premium tablets. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to pay additional when shopping for the pill to take away them.

Worth & Availability

The Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2024) is available for purchase now on Amazon and begins from £99 within the UK and $99.99 within the US.

That is for the essential model with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (and lock display screen adverts), however you’ll be able to pay one other £25 or $30 to have the 4GB/64GB model. Eradicating the adverts (on both mannequin) will value both £10 or $15.

By way of alternate options, the Hearth HD 8 actually is essentially the most entry-level pill you should buy from a serious producer. Nonetheless, some barely costlier – and usually extra succesful – alternate options embrace the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE, and the Oppo Pad Air.

See extra choices in our information to one of the best funds tablets.

Do you have to purchase the Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2024)?

Whereas the Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2024) has some apparent flaws, these flaws are solely to be anticipated at this value level, so shouldn’t actually matter an excessive amount of in opposition to the gadget. Sure, its efficiency is fundamental, and sure, the digicam is barely usable, however the Hearth HD 8 has by no means actually marketed itself because the type of pill that runs state-of-the-art video games or shoots fascinating pictures.

Reasonably, the pill is an entry-level media gadget that you need to use for watching TV and flicks, enjoying some informal video games, studying e-books, and procuring on-line. It does all of this stuff properly sufficient, particularly for its low value, whereas it additionally supplies respectable battery life and user-friendly software program.

Whereas it’s hardly a step up from the previous fashions, it’s a misapprehension to bracket it with iPads, Samsung Galaxy Tabs and different premium gadgets that attempt to supply real upgrades annually. It’s a Hearth HD, and as a Hearth HD it’s largely successful.

Specs

• 8in IPS LCD (1280×800)
• MediaTek MT8169A
• 3/4GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 32/64GB RAM UFS 2.2 inner storage;
• Cameras:
• 5Mp major/broad sensor
• 2Mp entrance going through
• Wi-Fi 5
• Bluetooth 5.2
• 13 hours battery life (unspecified measurement)
• 15W wired charging
• 202 x 137 x 9.6mm
• 337g