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Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)
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7.8/10
Informr score
The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) currently has an Informr score of 7.8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 23 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Inexpensive
  • Long battery life
  • Great for Amazon users
  • Multiple user profiles
  • Excellent parental controls

What's bad

  • So-so display
  • No Google Play access
  • Ad heavy
  • Limited app store
  • Sluggish

At a glance, the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) looks like nearly every other options in Amazon’s budget-conscious tablet series. What has actually changed and is it worth the price?

Design

Nothing has changed much from the Fire HD 8’s predecessors. It features a matte plastic back which reviewers found grippy and the 8 in the name refers to the size of the tablet -- which reviews described as a comfortable handful. The color options available include black, blue, purple, and white.

Display

The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) has an 8-inch screen but without the resolution you might expect from a 2020 release. Reviews noted the screen is not sharp. You won't be able to make out subtle details in movies or games. But what it lacks in definition it makes up for in brightness. Just don’t take it outdoors, reviewers found outdoor use difficult.

Laptop Magazine stated, “Despite the Amazon tablet’s rival-defeating brightness, I found the screen to be a bit dim when I used the Fire HD 8 outside.”

Performance

Reviewers found the Fire HD 8 (2020)’s performance underwhelming but fair for the price point, nothing sluggish and jittery multitasking and long load times. The tablet is best for media consumption. As long as you don’t mind a less defined picture, it plays movies and shows just fine.

Software & Storage

As with previous Amazon tablets, the software is heavily gated towards Amazon services. Underneath that shell is a modified version of Android 9 Pie which does not offer support for Google apps and services. So you won’t be able to access Gmail, YouTube, and other popular apps natively.

Cameras

The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) comes with two cameras -- one on the front and one on the back -- and both are 2MP. Review note they produce okay pictures but are nothing you would upload to social media. One change which pleased reviewers is how Amazon has moved the camera on the back of the tablet to now work in landscape instead of only allowing for portrait.

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the few ways that the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) impressed. With light usage and utilizing the standby mode, some reviewers stated they only had to charge the tablet once every couple of days. Watching media -- both local videos or streaming services -- takes more out of it though, bringing it to more like 10 to 13 hours of battery life.

Tom’s Guide said, “The Amazon Fire HD 8 provides shockingly long battery life — going even longer than the 12 hours that Amazon claimed it would last.”

Audio

The speakers on the Amazon Fire HD 8 are located on the top ridge rather than the back panel. Audio for this device was acceptable and had clear tones but some reviewers wished they could turn the speakers up more.

Specs at a Glance

  • Matte plastic chassis
  • 8-inch LCD display
  • 2 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT8168 processor
  • 2GB of RAM
  • Fire OS 7
  • 16GB/64GB internal storage with MicroSD support
  • Front and back 2MP cameras
  • 4,850mAh battery

Bottom Line

The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) performed as expected for a low budget tablet. The features are there and it’s usable, but reviewers felt a large portion of the tablet’s value lied in whether you signed up for Amazon’s Prime service. Without it, there was little point in owning one except as a cheaper option to keep your kids happy.

Android Police states, “The main problem here is still Fire OS. It's better than it used to be, but every aspect of the system is still an advertisement for Amazon products.”

Tom’s Guide says, “For casual TV watching and music listening, the Fire HD 8's screen and speakers prove it to be a solid device for all the basics.”

Laptop Magazine adds, “I would highly recommend the Fire HD 8 for one specific audience: Prime subscribers and frequent patrons of Amazon platforms such as Kindle and Audible. If you fall into this category, you’ll love the Fire HD 8.”


Fire OS
Operating system
Operating system
Fire OS
2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2 GHz
8"
Screen Size
Screen Size
8"
2+ MP
Camera
Camera
2+ MP
4850 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Android Central
Android Central

The Amazon Fire HD 8 won't blow anyone away, but it's not supposed to. It's designed to be durable, affordable, and flexible for individuals or families, and it gained the necessary features to make it a no-brainer upgrade over previous Fire and Android tablets.

- Jeramy Johnson, Android Central
Mashable
Mashable

Amazon's Fire HD 8 tablet is great for Amazon devotees who don't want to break the bank, but as a general purpose tablet, it falls short.

- Alex Perry, Mashable
TechRadar
TechRadar

The Amazon Fire HD 8 is a tablet designed for people who are dedicated users of the company’s entertainment offerings, with the tablet working well as a portable media system. However, it’s not a huge upgrade from its 2018 predecessor, with only a few tweaks, so unless you think you’ll make the most...

- Tom Bedford, TechRadar
Pocket-lint
Pocket-lint

This tablet delivers on its value proposition, but is also a great entertainment prospect. It's a good size, has access to the right content, and its boosted by great speakers to make for an ideal travel companion.

- Chris Hall, Pocket-lint
Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

Once again, Amazon has cooked up a fantastically priced tablet with its newest Fire HD 8. The 2018 model was already a five-star product, so Amazon's decision to boost performance, extend the battery life and add USB-C charging for 2020 was always going to lead to another recommendation. Make no mis...

- Nathan Spendelow, Expert Reviews


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Quick view

Screen Size
8"

The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)'s screen size is 8 inches with 800 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
2 GHz

There is a MediaTek MT8168 Quad-core 2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The tablet runs on the Fire OS 7 operating system (OS).

Camera
2+ MP
You can take photos or capture video with the tablet's onboard 2+ MP camera. There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.
Storage
No

Internal memory is No. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 1000 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4850mAh
Amazon's performance ratings are 12 hours Wi-Fi surfing.

Fire HD 8 (2020) Specs

Overview
Release Date June 3, 2020
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System Fire OS 7

Compare Fire OS Smartphones

Processor MediaTek MT8168 Quad-core 2 GHz
Internal Storage No
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
SAR Unknown
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
Mobile / Cellular Data
No (Option available)
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
No
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
Infrared No
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 1000 GB)
NFC No
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Main Camera Info
Effects, Self-timer
Video Recording Formats
MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 800 x 1280 pixels
Pixel density 189 pixels
Size 8 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Motion / Accelerometer
Backlit Illumination Yes
Zoom / Magnification Yes
Screen Orientation Lock Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touchscreen
Power & Battery
Battery Capacity 4850 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Battery Charge Time 5 hours
Video Playback Time Up to 12 hours
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 12 hours
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Material Plastic
Colors Black, Plum, Twilight Blue, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 20.3 x 13.7 x 1 cm (8 x 5.4 x 0.4 in)
Weight 355
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Touchscreen Yes
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Physical keyboard No
Text-to-Speech Yes
Screen Reader Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock Yes
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Amazon Fire HD 8 (10th Gen)
Related Links Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) Reviews
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