The Fire HD 8 will be updated by Amazon and go on sale starting on October 4. The updated version upgrades to a 2-megapixel front-facing camera with 720p video, a microSD card slot that can allow up to 400GB of additional storage, and hands-free, always-on Alexa functionality. The price stays at $80 (£80), and the improvements are minor.
The 32GB Fire HD 8 Kids Edition ($130 or £130) has also been updated, according to the firm, and now comes with a protective case, a two-year free replacement guarantee, and one year of FreeTime Unlimited. As soon as we have access to review samples, which should be right before it ships on October 4, we’ll post a thorough review of both. Sometimes, kids and tablets go together like bulls and china stores.
We have seen devices with broken screens, sticky buttons, and a thin film of grime, food, and who knows what else. And that’s before you even consider all the objectionable apps and websites that children might access on a tablet. The $130 asking price for the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is routinely reduced. To find out if it’s now on sale, check out our list of Amazon device offers.
With starting prices for iPads falling from $500 to $329 over the past few years, giving an iPad is less of a nerve-wracking experience than it once was, but that’s still a lot of trust to place in small hands that might not realize just how delicate these devices can be. Children’s tablets and computers have been around for a while, but they have typically been low-end devices that perform basic tasks slowly. Others are about as entertaining to use as a bad Black Friday doorbuster, while some are locked into a small number of preloaded no-name apps.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids review: Design and display
The screen, which remains at an 8-inch, 800 x 1280 pixel LCD display, is one of the features that hasn’t changed from the previous Fire HD 8 Kids Edition (or the previous Fire HD 8); while it isn’t the best in the world, it serves its purpose. You can purchase an iPad Pro if you want a super-sharp, super-bright, gorgeous-looking panel; if you want something for the kids to play with, there is this.
It is flawless, and the same can be said for the tablet’s overall design. The switch to USB-C is welcome because there are now significantly more USB-C chargers and cables than there were in the past. You get exactly what you pay for, which is a cheap and reliable tablet for the kids, so it doesn’t really matter that the bezels are a little on the thick side for 2020 standards.
One of the best features of this tablet is its thick, rubbery casing, which is the most noticeable design difference when purchasing a Kids tablet. Yours will come in blue, pink, or purple. It can withstand all types of bumps and drops, prevents children from touching the hardware directly, and has an incredibly helpful built-in kickstand.
If your children manage to break your tablet during the first two years, Amazon is still making the extremely kind offer to replace it for free, no questions asked. Although it would take a lot of effort to succeed in breaking this, the guarantee provides additional assurance. Overall, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition’s design is once again difficult to criticise.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids review: Features
The case also has cut-outs for the tablet’s micro USB power port, the stereo speakers running along the bottom edge, the power button, the volume rocker, and the back camera. A screen protector is one of the accessories that the Kids Edition is missing. Most of the time, the case does a fantastic job of protecting the tablet’s display, but there is still a chance of direct hit with anything like a sharp wooden toy or something.
This exclusion is not only unexpected but also a little disappointing given the additional cost compared to the regular Fire HD 8. At least the HD 8 Kids Edition comes with a hassle-free two-year guarantee from Amazon. Another feature that would allow the tablet to be propped up on a table or the floor is a kickstand. I’d like to think that Amazon would try something similar in the future. The EE Robin accomplished this with a clever folding carry handle.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids review: Performance
The tablet worked flawlessly and without a hitch when used with Amazon Kids+ features (games, books, and movies). Its battery life is also surprisingly long, lasting up to 12 hours. It’s also great for long car rides because there is so much offline content available and the battery drains so gradually, even though we haven’t been able to get the full 12 hours out of it.
My son’s school-related video lessons are also watched on the iPad. I can add this one website to his list of permitted websites using Amazon Kids+’s parental controls, which also disable all other browser features and prevent him from visiting any other websites.
The Fire tablets’ integrated Silk browser, however, has some drawbacks. Although it’s a little sluggish and awkward, it works for my son’s school movies. The majority of my performance problems are with page navigation, however using the browser to stream has worked just well.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids review: Durability
A rubberized bumper case that covers the entire Fire HD 8 Kids device shields it from knocks and drops. It’s big, but for good reason unless your smaller child hits the tablet with a baseball bat or submerses it in water, they won’t be able to really harm it.
Even then, you’ll be able to acquire a replacement without having to ask if it breaks within two years of purchase according to Amazon’s two-year “worry-free guarantee.” And your tweens and older children can choose the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro, which has a much cooler-looking, slimmer, and thinner case.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids review: Price and availability
In September 2022, Amazon unveiled its most recent Amazon Fire HD 8 lineup, which included children’s models. Retail prices for the Fire HD 8 Kids and Pro models are at $149.99. The tablets are offered by numerous retailers, including Amazon, Kohl’s, and Best Buy.
Although the device is black, the colours of the case show out. For the standard Fire HD 8 Kids, there are four different case options: blue, purple, princess, and mickey. There are three options for the Pro model’s thinner case: Cyber Sky, Rainbow Universe, and Hello Teal.
Final Words
As we mentioned in the section on competitors, Amazon’s selection of children’s tablets is unmatched. The Fire HD 8 Kids Pro carries on that tradition with enhanced performance that allows it to run almost any programme. Even the most seasoned child will be satisfied by the more sophisticated casing and UI style. Numerous books for children of all ages are now available thanks to Amazon Kids+, and the safety measures give parents piece of mind.
The tablet isn’t cheap, though. So, if money is tight, you might think about buying the Fire 7 Kids. In some situations, the absence of Google Play Services might be a disappointment, but Amazon’s content selection has improved significantly since even a few years ago. Although the tablet’s internal storage is limited to 32GB, adding a microSD card is convenient. The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro is ideal if you have a child who isn’t ready for a large 10-inch display but is capable of handling a “big-kid” tablet.
