The $99.99 Amazon Hearth HD 8, refreshed for 2024, features about in addition to it is best to anticipate for the value. It supplies sufficient energy to run fundamental streaming apps and video games and has sufficient battery life to get by means of a day. Nonetheless, its below-average display screen and muddy audio system preserve it from being our high suggestion in Amazon’s lineup. The $139.99 Hearth HD 10 has a sharper show, higher efficiency, and longer battery life, so it stays our Editors’ Alternative for affordable tablets.Design: A Fundamental TabletThere are three variations of the Hearth HD 8: the usual mannequin for $99.99, and the Hearth HD 8 Youngsters and Hearth HD 8 Youngsters Professional, each of which price $139.99. The child-focused variations embody a carrying case, a six-month subscription to Amazon Youngsters+ for age-appropriate content material, and a two-year worry-free guarantee.
(Credit score: Sarah Lord)
At first look, it is tough to inform that the brand new Hearth HD 8 is any completely different from the 2022 mannequin. It measures 7.94 by 5.40 by 0.37 inches (HWD) and weighs 11.88 ounces, making it equivalent in dimension and weight to its predecessor. New colours are the one visible indicator: Emerald (inexperienced) and Hibiscus (pink, pictured on this assessment) be part of black, for 3 completely different choices. The Hearth HD 10 is predictably bigger and heavier (9.69 by 6.49 by 0.34 inches, 15.29 ounces), whereas the $59.99 Hearth 7 is smaller and lighter (7.11 by 4.63 by 0.38 inches, 9.9 ounces).
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(Credit score: Sarah Lord)
When held in portrait orientation, the facility button, quantity rocker, USB-C port, and three.5mm headphone jack are all on the highest fringe of the pill. A slot for a microSD card is positioned on the appropriate facet. Two speaker grilles line the left edge, across the nook from a front-facing digicam for video calls. A small, spherical digicam module sits within the nook on the again. The rear panel is fabricated from textured plastic that does a very good job of stopping smudges and fingerprints, however the pill can nonetheless be a bit slippery to carry.
(Credit score: Sarah Lord)
The Hearth HD 8 has the very same 1,280-by-800-pixel 8-inch LCD because the 2022 mannequin, with the identical pixel density of 189 pixels per inch (ppi). The bezels are reasonably thick. The Hearth 7, which hasn’t been up to date since 2022, has an excellent decrease decision of 1,024 by 600 pixels at 171ppi. Compared, the Hearth HD 10’s 10-inch display screen has a decision of 1,920 by 1,200 pixels with a density of 224ppi, making it the sharpest of the bunch. The Hearth HD 8’s display screen is shiny sufficient to be clearly seen indoors, although it may be tough to see beneath direct daylight because of glare. An anti-reflective coating would go a great distance right here.
(Credit score: Sarah Lord)
Like most different cheap tablets, it doesn’t have an IP score for mud and water resistance, so that you’ll should be cautious when utilizing it round water.A USB-C cable and a 5W charger are included with the pill.Efficiency: Good EnoughThe Hearth HD 8 depends on a six-core, 2.0GHz ARM processor, although Amazon doesn’t specify the producer or mannequin. The pill is on the market with 3GB of reminiscence and 32GB of storage ($99.99) or 4GB of reminiscence and 64GB of storage ($129.99). The outgoing mannequin was supplied with 2GB or 3GB of RAM, so the 2024 mannequin is barely improved in that respect. I obtained the 3GB/32GB mannequin for testing. I discovered that the pill did a good job of powering by means of day-to-day actions. I didn’t discover any lag when switching from app to app, even once I had a number of apps open directly. Some apps did often freeze, together with the digicam, which necessitated a full reboot. This pill is not constructed to run intense video games; it simply doesn’t have the facility to deal with the load. That mentioned, Hungry Shark ran effective, and I did not encounter any points streaming video content material from Amazon, ESPN, Hulu, or Netflix.
(Credit score: GeekBench/PCMag)
On Geekbench 5, a benchmark that calculates fundamental CPU efficiency, the Hearth HD 8 scored 192 on the single-core take a look at and 901 on the multi-core take a look at. These aren’t spectacular numbers, however they signify an enormous enchancment over the 2022 mannequin, which couldn’t run the take a look at with out crashing. The Hearth HD 10 fared higher, with scores of 515 and 1,516, whereas the $229.99 Hearth Max 11, Amazon’s premiere pill, scored 691 and 1,914. Battery and Connectivity: They Get the Job DoneThe Hearth HD 8’s battery ought to final a lot of the day. Amazon doesn’t specify the dimensions of the battery in its units, however the Hearth HD 9 lasted 9 hours and 41 minutes in our battery take a look at, which includes streaming HD video over Wi-Fi with the show at full brightness. The Hearth HD 10 did even higher (10 hours and 18 minutes), whereas the Hearth HD 7 got here in final (9 hours and half-hour).
(Credit score: Sarah Lord)
The pill requires a prolonged 5 hours to recharge for those who use the included 5W charger. When you have a 15W brick useful, the charging time drops to 2 hours. Like most tablets, the Hearth HD 8 doesn’t assist wi-fi charging.The Hearth HD 8 connects to the web and different units utilizing the older Wi-Fi 5 spec and Bluetooth 5.2. Utilizing a Wi-Fi 6 router for testing, I noticed good obtain (318Mbps) and add speeds (22.5Mbps). These are comparable with the outcomes from an iPhone 14 Professional examined on the identical community, although I would favor to see a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E radio on board for futureproofing.
(Credit score: Sarah Lord)
The audio system aren’t spectacular. It was exhausting to tell apart the bass in our take a look at observe, “Silent Shout” by The Knife. Furthermore, the audio system do not produce a lot quantity, although it is best to be capable to hear a TV present in a small room. You’ll need to join some wired or wi-fi headphones for a greater audio expertise. Cameras: Use Your PhoneCameras should not normally a promoting level for tablets, and that’s definitely the case right here. The 5MP rear digicam had a tough time capturing element even in full daylight. The branches on the bushes beneath are darkish and blurry, and it’s inconceivable to make out particular person pine cones.
Primary digicam (Credit score: Sarah Lord)
The 2MP selfie digicam is worse. Images are fully washed out, and particulars are nearly totally misplaced, as you may see within the picture of my canine. Put together to look grainy and pixelated on video calls.
Selfie digicam (Credit score: Sarah Lord)
Software program: Locked In Amazon’s WorldLike all Hearth tablets, the Hearth HD 8 runs Amazon’s Hearth OS. This locked-down model of Android is designed to encourage you to purchase different Amazon services and products. You’ll encounter advertisements on the lock display screen each time you decide the pill up (except you pay $14.99 to take away them), and sponsored content material seems on the house display screen. This is identical throughout all Hearth-branded tablets.
(Credit score: Sarah Lord)
The house display screen consists of two tabs: For You and Residence. The For You tab is populated by many rows of films, video games, and TV reveals that Amazon thinks will curiosity you. Some are free, however many are paid. There’s a separate part for particular affords on subscription providers. The Residence display screen homes your entire apps however prominently encompasses a bar of prompt apps throughout the highest. The primary two ideas are your most lately used apps, however the remainder are sponsored, together with much more books, films, and TV reveals. There’s no strategy to take away or change the sponsored content material, and it seems to be the identical set of suggestions from the For You tab.
(Credit score; Sarah Lord)
Amazon’s Silk browser is your solely avenue to the web, and Amazon’s Appstore is the one place to obtain apps. Most of the hottest streaming providers can be found right here, however Google merchandise (reminiscent of Calendar, Chrome, Docs, and Gmail) are lacking. Well-liked apps like Alto’s Odyssey, Apple TV+, and Marvel Limitless are additionally unavailable from Amazon’s retailer. For studying, you’ll find titles in Amazon’s bookstore and the Kindle app, hearken to audiobooks on Audible, and use the Libby app for library books. You will not be capable to discover studying apps from competing corporations like Apple or Barnes & Noble. Once more, this is identical expertise as on different Hearth tablets from Amazon, and one which primarily directs you to Amazon services and products.
(Credit score: Sarah Lord)
You’ll be able to flip the Hearth HD 8 into a wise show utilizing Echo Present mode. This lets you entry Alexa voice management with out utilizing your palms, and the pill reveals the time, trending matters, climate, and extra. It really works nicely, however I discover it to be of restricted performance. Amazon doesn’t specify what number of software program updates the Hearth HD 8 will obtain, although it’ll get 4 years of safety updates.Verdict: A Minor Refresh of a Respectable TabletThe 2024 Amazon Hearth HD 8 could be new, however it shares most of the similar options and shortcomings as its predecessor (to not point out different Hearth tablets). For less than $100, it is small, quick sufficient to deal with fundamental apps, and has sufficient battery life to make it by means of an extended journey. However its display screen and audio system are solely so-so. For $40 extra, the Hearth HD 10 has an even bigger, sharper show, extra energy, and even higher battery life, so it stays our Editor’s Alternative winner.
Professionals
Reasonably priced
Good battery life
Light-weight
Cons
So-so show
Restricted app assist
Poor cameras
The Backside Line
The 2024 version of the inexpensive Amazon Hearth HD 8 pill has sufficient energy and battery life to observe movies and play video games all day, however its display screen may very well be higher and we want it have been suitable with extra apps.
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About Sarah Lord
Analyst, Cell
I’m a Cell Analyst at PCMag, which suggests I cowl wi-fi telephones, plans, tablets, ereaders, and a complete lot extra. I’ve at all times beloved expertise and have been forming opinions on shopper electronics since childhood. Previous to becoming a member of PCMag, I lined TVs and residential leisure at CNET, served because the tech and electronics critiques fellow at Insider, and commenced my profession by writing laptop computer critiques as an intern at Tom’s {Hardware}. I’m additionally knowledgeable actor with credit in theater, movie, and tv.
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