Amazon is cornering the budget tablet market with its Fire devices. Launched in June, the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) is the latest in the series, with Alexa integration and great battery life for an affordable price of $ 90. Follow in the footsteps of last year’s Fire HD 10 (2019) tablet, which offers a larger, sharper screen and faster processor for an additional $ 60. But which one is better for you? Fire HD Tablet 8 vs. Fire HD Tablet 10 – We pit them into six categories and look at their screen performance, cameras, price, and more, to help you decide which Amazon Fire tablet is for you.
specs
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Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019)
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Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)
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| Dimensions | 262 × 159 × 9.8 mm
(10.3 × 6.3 × 0.4 inch) |
202 x 137 x 9.7 mm (7.95 x 5.39 x 0.38 inch) |
| Weight | 504 grams (17.8 ounces) | 355 grams (12.5 ounces) |
| Screen size | 10.1 inch | 8 inches |
| Resolution | 1,920 × 1,200 pixels (224 dpi) | 1,280 x 800 (189 dpi) |
| Operating system | FireOS, custom Android | FireOS, custom Android |
| Storage | 32GB and 64GB | 32GB, 64GB |
| MicroSD slot | Yes, up to 512GB | Yes. Spend 1 TB |
| Tap-to-pay service | Not | Not |
| Processor | Octa-core 2 GHz | Quad-core 2 GHz |
| RAM | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Camera | 2 MP rear and front | 2 MP rear and front |
| Video | 720p | 720p |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 (To be confirmed) | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack | USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Fingerprint sensor | Not | Not |
| Waterproof | Not | Not |
| Battery | More than 12 hours of mixed use | More than 12 hours of mixed use |
| App store | Amazon Appstore | Amazon Appstore |
| Net | Not | Not |
| Color | Plum, Twilight Blue, Black, White | White, Black, Twilight Blue, Plum |
| Price | $ 150 Dollars | $ 90 dollars |
| Availability | Amazon | Amazon |
Performance, battery life and charging
Compared to Apple devices and other Android offerings, the Amazon Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets are underpowered. Both come with 2GB of RAM, while the HD 10 packs an octa-core MT8183 processor, in contrast to the HD 8’s quad-core MT8168 alternative.
Anyone used to high-end tablets will notice the difference in performance almost immediately, as apps take time to load on both devices and games occasionally run slower than usual.
That said, the eight-core processor in the Fire HD 10 means that it is not as slow as the chip in the HD 8, despite not being the Usain Bolt of tablets.
The Fire HD 8 and HD 10 come with 32GB of internal memory as standard, with the option to purchase 64GB models. You can use a MicroSD card to upgrade this storage to 1 TB for the HD 8, although the HD 10 only grows to 512 GB.
In terms of battery power, Amazon claims that the two tablets provide an average of 12 hours of mixed use. Through testing, we found that the two devices can last a bit longer, so the time it grants is an area where both are better gear than their price tags suggest.
Knowing the information in detail, we declare this round a draw. The Fire HD 10 is a bit faster, but the HD 8 supports higher storage capacities, so it depends on what your priorities are.
Winner: tie
Design, display and durability
There isn’t much to say about the Fire HD 8 or Fire HD 10 if you’ve owned tablets from Amazon in the past. They both feature basically identical designs, with the same bezels that have skirted touchscreens for years.
The HD 8 is remarkably small and light. This can make it more comfortable to hold for long periods. The Fire HD 10 has the upper hand when it comes to the display. It has a 10.1-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, which is equivalent to 224 pixels per inch (dpi).
The Fire HD 8 offers a resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels, which is equivalent to 189 dpi. This difference is noticeable in practice, as the Fire HD 10 provides a screen that is bright, sharp and vibrant enough to enjoy movies and play video games. It is compared to more expensive devices, while the 8-inch equipment betrays its price a bit.
Neither device comes with an official IP rating, so don’t expect either device to survive submersion in water. Their plastic casings should provide a good degree of durability in the event of drops and bumps, although it would be advisable to purchase a cover.
This round is a win for the Fire HD 10, given that the screen is tangibly clearer and sharper than that of its little sister.
Winner: Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019)
Camera
The Fire HD 8 and HD 10 feature the same 2 megapixel selfie and rear camera lenses, which support 720p HD video recording. Compared to your cell phone, neither lens will allow particularly detailed or dynamic photos, although the front cameras can be used perfectly for video calls.
Based on our HD 8 and HD 10 reviews, both tablets take photos with a similar level of quality. This round is therefore another draw, with basically nothing to differentiate the two devices.
Winner: tie
Software and updates
All Fire tablets run FireOS, Amazon’s custom version of Android. It doesn’t come with the Google Play Store, so owners of these devices must settle for the Amazon Appstore and its more limited selection of apps. Despite this shortcoming, it is still easy and intuitive to use, so users of both devices won’t have much to complain about.
A nice touch with the Fire HD 8 and HD 10 is that Amazon Prime members will be able to access TV shows, movies, books, music and other media on their tablets for free.
This may not be very appealing to users who aren’t regular Amazon customers, but again, being an Amazon customer is probably one of the main reasons people start looking at an Amazon Fire HD tablet in the first place. .
It is tempting to declare this round a draw, given the use of identical software. On the other hand, Amazon Fire HD 8 may support updates for a longer time, as it is the newer device. However, this is mostly speculation, so we will be left with a draw in this case.
Winner: tie
Special features
Fire HD 8 and HD 10 support Alexa hands-free functionality. This means that users can ask Alexa to play a song, start a movie, or search for a recipe, just like they would an Amazon Echo. It also allows you to link any tablet to other smart devices and control them with Amazon’s smart assistant.
Other than that, there is not much that is particularly special about any of the tablets. The Amazon Fire HD 8 has the distinction of being a tablet that costs less than $ 100, although this may not be especially significant for anyone who can afford the price of the $ 150 HD 10.
Winner: tie
Price and availability
The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) costs $ 90 at Amazon, which is also where you can buy the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019), starting at $ 150.
Overall winner: Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019)
There isn’t a big difference between the two tablets, but the inclusion of a faster processor and a thinner screen means that the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019) is the better device.
Slightly better performance and a sharper screen make it comparable to other more expensive Android tablets, while the Fire HD 8 (2020) struggles to keep up with annual improvement standards.
However, if you want an inexpensive tablet for everyday use and lighter, the Fire HD 8 is still a good device. This is particularly the case if you are an Amazon Prime customer.