Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024) review: Primetime budget tablet

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 really modified since then, with every subsequent replace of the pill introducing very incremental enhancements, equivalent to somewhat extra RAM, just a few extra megapixels and several other adjustments in show dimension and dimensions.

It’s an identical story with 2024’s iteration of the Hearth HD 8, which (nonetheless) in its twelfth technology has taken a number of the specs of the now-discontinued HD 8 Plus whereas retaining just about every thing else you’d count on from the collection. And to be honest, there’s one thing reassuring in regards to 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 customers.

But the query is, simply how a lot worth for cash does the Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2024) actually provide? We go over its capabilities on this evaluate, 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 in the event you personal its predecessor, the Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2022).

Design & Construct

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

There are not any prizes for guessing that the Hearth HD 8’s design is nigh-on similar to its speedy predecessors. That mentioned, it ought to at the very least 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 customary HD 8. This does give it a barely much less low cost really feel than with earlier fashions and likewise helps stop slippage.

One of many primary 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 luggage you’re more likely to have.

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 (mainly a pleasant pink). Whereas the latter two are distinctive, there isn’t actually the rest to advocate the pill style-wise. Sure, its type is clear and uncluttered, nevertheless it does look pretty non-premium, particularly the entrance with its sizeable bezels.

It nearly goes with out saying that the pill doesn’t carry an official IP score, so that you shouldn’t be going round waving it close to swimming swimming pools or baths. But aside from 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

When you’ve used one of many more moderen Amazon Hearth HD 8 units 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 residence.

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

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

Simon Chandler/Foundry

Nevertheless it’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. Typically there simply wasn’t sufficient depth and readability to the video, so correct movie buffs could think about wanting elsewhere. That mentioned, the show will hold informal viewers joyful sufficient, even when it does have a really sturdy attraction to fingerprints and smudges.

Most will even be joyful sufficient with the system’s stereo audio system, which ship clear audio for the needs of watching TV and movies. For music, nevertheless, the output was maybe somewhat skinny, in that it lacked bass and a few further oomph. Though that is totally 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 provided 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 primary duties, with even net searching often slowing up.

Issues have improved considerably with 2024’s model of the system, which now comes with 3GB of RAM as customary. You too can pay further to have the 4GB mannequin, which we think about will enhance issues somewhat additional. As it’s, the usual 3GB mannequin does make the MediaTek chip extra ready, in that apps and net pages load extra easily. I did discover some momentary pauses and cases of lag, however nothing that may get in the best way of regular utilization.

Simon Chandler/Foundry

And whereas most individuals can be impossible to (even try to) use the Hearth HD 8 as a critical gaming system, many of the informal video games I attempted ran usably nicely. Regardless of a really delicate slowdown when loading new screens, Crossy Highway was totally playable, for instance, as was Sweet Crush Saga. As such, the Hearth HD 8 does largely fulfil its remit as an informal system.

Lastly, some customers could also be disenchanted that, as soon as once more, the Hearth HD 8 comes with a paltry 32GB of storage as customary. You may 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 in an effort to increase the out there reminiscence to 1TB, so there are alternatives for individuals who need to save issues on to their units, slightly than simply operating off the cloud.

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

Cameras

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

I actually struggled to take respectable pictures 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’ll be forgiven for pondering that it may generally be of use.

We’ve written many occasions earlier than that, as a result of just about everybody has a smartphone these days, cameras on tablets are often an afterthought. However nowhere does this turn out to be extra obvious than with the Hearth HD 8, which more than likely has the excellence of getting the worst digicam of any pill or cellphone launched this yr.

Sure, on clear, sunny days you’ll be able to take panorama pictures that, at first look, look nearly presentable. However in the event you look carefully at background particulars, you’ll often discover out-of-focus, barely blurred objects, be they timber, buildings or lampposts. This makes capturing shareable pictures nigh-on not possible, and issues solely worsen in much less beneficial situations.

Simon Chandler/Foundry

The truth is, you need to have a really regular hand and many persistence to take even sub-par pictures, because the system lacks optical picture stabilisation and some other form of tech that may make issues simpler for informal customers. There’s additionally a Night time Mode, however the concept that anybody goes to significantly think about using the pill to take pictures at the hours of darkness is sort of 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 can be stunned by the pill’s poor displaying, 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 come back with a stellar digicam and state-of-the-art chipset, battery life is one thing that kind of everybody cares about. Fortunately, sufficient, the Hearth HD 8 performs nicely on this division, with the system largely dwelling as much as Amazon’s claims that it presents 13 hours of use time between costs.

One of many saving graces of no-frills tablets is that they often lack the form of particular options (e.g. 120Hz refresh charges) that may 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 nearly to the top of a second day earlier than needing to recharge. And except for turning the brightness all the best way 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 homeowners.

Issues aren’t fairly as spectacular within the charging division, nevertheless. For one, it helps a most of 15W, so recharging is often a gradual course of. On high of this, it drops the wi-fi charging compatibility of 2022’s Hearth HD 8 Plus. This might not be an enormous deal for many customers, however on condition that this yr’s system is mainly 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

When you’ve by no means tried a Hearth HD pill earlier than, it’s possible you’ll be forgiven for pondering 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 widespread third-party apps pre-installed, equivalent to Netflix and BBC iPlayer, whilst 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.

When it comes to how Hearth OS really operates, it has been whittled right down to a For You and Dwelling display screen. This makes the system 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 primary screens. As we famous above, the system can generally be gradual, even with the additional 1- or 2GB of RAM, though for what most individuals can be utilizing it for it’s by no means too gradual.

Simon Chandler/Foundry

With regards to particular options, there isn’t actually something of explicit be aware to say, aside from the anticipated presence of Alexa as your voice assistant. There’s a sport mode that disables Alexa and notifications whereas liberating up reminiscence with a view to ‘optimise’ efficiency. Aside from that, you get primary stuff equivalent to a do-not-disturb mode and some accessibility settings, equivalent to the flexibility to alter font sizes and set shortcuts.

One returning quirk/gripe is that the system will deal with you to advertisements on its lock display screen, which does appear fairly odd in the event you’re used to utilizing extra premium tablets. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to pay further when shopping for the pill to take away them.

Value & Availability

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

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

When it comes to options, the Hearth HD 8 actually is probably the most entry-level pill you should buy from a serious producer. Nevertheless, some barely costlier – and customarily extra succesful – 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.

Must you purchase the Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2024)?

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

Quite, the pill is an entry-level media system 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 nicely sufficient, particularly for its low value, whereas it additionally offers 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 units that attempt to provide real upgrades annually. It’s a Hearth HD, and as a Hearth HD it’s largely a hit.

Specs

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