Amazon Fire HD 8 Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Specifications and Design

The Amazon Fire HD 8 is a tablet that combines practicality with affordability, having been announced in September 2015 and released the same month. It features dimensions of 214 x 128 x 7.7 mm and a weight of 311 g, making it a relatively portable device that's easy to manage whether you're at home or on the go. The tablet comes in four attractive colors: Black, Magenta, Blue, and Tangerine, offering some customization to match personal style.

Display

The device boasts an 8.0-inch IPS LCD screen, offering a decent visual experience with a resolution of 800 x 1280 pixels, which translates to a pixel density of approximately 189 ppi. While this may not provide the sharpest display on the market, it is sufficient for everyday tasks such as reading, browsing the web, or watching videos.

Performance

Under the hood, the Fire HD 8 is powered by a Mediatek MT8135 chipset with a quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU. The processing power is complemented by a PowerVR G6200 GPU, providing adequate performance for basic applications and light multitasking. However, with only 1GB RAM, it may struggle with more demanding applications or extensive multitasking.

Storage and Memory

The tablet offers two internal storage options: 8GB and 16GB, both of which come with 1GB RAM. For users who require additional storage, the Fire HD 8 is equipped with a microSDXC card slot, allowing for expanded storage and thus accommodating more apps, media, and files.

Operating System

The Fire HD 8 runs on a customized version of Android 5.1 Lollipop, known as Fire OS 5. Amazon's Fire OS is tailored to prioritize and integrate the Amazon ecosystem, providing easy access to Amazon services and products, although it lacks Google Play Store access.

Camera

The tablet features a single 5MP rear camera capable of recording 1080p video at 30 frames per second, which is sufficient for casual photography and video needs. While it does have a selfie camera, detailed specifications are sparse, but it supports 720p video recording, offering basic functionality for video calls.

Battery Life

A non-removable Li-Ion battery powers the Fire HD 8, offering up to 8 hours of mixed-use battery life. This allows users to carry on with a variety of tasks such as reading, watching videos, and browsing without needing frequent recharges, making it a reliable companion for daily use.

Connectivity

The Fire HD 8 connects to the internet via Wi-Fi, supporting 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band, ensuring a stable and fast wireless connection. It includes Bluetooth 4.0 for connecting with various accessories, but lacks cellular connectivity, making it dependent on Wi-Fi networks for online activities. There is no NFC or radio feature, but it does include a microUSB 2.0 port with OTG support, enhancing its connectivity options.

Sound and Audio

Audio features on the Fire HD 8 include stereo speakers that deliver satisfactory sound quality for media consumption. Additionally, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing for private listening sessions and compatibility with a wide range of audio devices.

Sensors and Additional Features

The device is equipped with an accelerometer and gyro sensor, facilitating a responsive and interactive user experience, especially beneficial for gaming and some applications that require motion input.

Conclusion

Overall, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is a budget-friendly tablet that offers a balanced mixture of features and functionality. Its integration with the Amazon ecosystem makes it an ideal choice for regular Amazon customers who prioritize access to Amazon services over Google services, while its expanded storage option and reasonable battery life add to its practical appeal for everyday use.