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on July 3, 2017
So far we are quite pleased with our new Fire tablets. They work amazingly well. The only thing which causes any concern is the IOT functionality. I realize this particular area is changing very rapidly, and in most every way the changes are coming through without too much of the old territorial pissing match sort of stuff.
Right now I am particularly interested in hybridizing Alexa and the ITEAD Sonoff line of products. The promises to play nice, have been made by the vendors and seem to be falling into place nicely. I just hope the vendors don't get interested in other bright shiny things, and leave us user/developers out in the tall weeds too long. For example, the wording originally said any device operating or running and using Alexa, and my searches for information are a bit disappointing, but remain to sound promising.
So far, the tablets are excellent, and if the promises made are kept, they will be an absolutely 'Killer Device'.
Right now I am particularly interested in hybridizing Alexa and the ITEAD Sonoff line of products. The promises to play nice, have been made by the vendors and seem to be falling into place nicely. I just hope the vendors don't get interested in other bright shiny things, and leave us user/developers out in the tall weeds too long. For example, the wording originally said any device operating or running and using Alexa, and my searches for information are a bit disappointing, but remain to sound promising.
So far, the tablets are excellent, and if the promises made are kept, they will be an absolutely 'Killer Device'.
TOP 100 REVIEWERon June 9, 2017
If you’re looking for the BEST tablet in this price range, look no further! The NEW Fire HD-8 is absolutely the best tablet you can get for this price. Period.
The box contains the tablet itself, instruction manual, charging cable, and wall outlet.
To begin, the tablet is 8 inches. This is the perfect size in my opinion. I feel that 7 inches is too small, and 10 inches is too big, so 8 inches is just right. This makes the screen the perfect size for watching videos, reading the news, and more. The tablet itself feels very sturdy, and much more durable than the iPad mini in the house. The back is made out of a non-slick material, so I do not ever worry about dropping the tablet. The display on the tablet is very nice as well, considering how inexpensive the tablet itself is. The screen gets plenty bright and even features a "Blue Shade" mode, which gets rid of the blue colors on your screen. These colors have been shown to interrupt sleep and can keep you up at night, so this mode is PERFECT for reading your kindle books, or whatever you choose, before bed.
The tablet is even better if you have Amazon prime, as you can watch your favorites on the tablet through Amazon prime. You can also watch YouTube and much more through the tablet.
For an $80 tablet, this thing moves! Since it has 1.5 gb of ram (most tablets either have 1 or 2), you will easily be able to perform your favorite tasks such as streaming, watching videos on YouTube, etc. It honestly moves just as fast as my iPhone, which says a lot, considering the iPhone was $700.
The Battery life on the tablet is very good. Mine came pre-charged with 80% battery, and has still not gone past 50% through moderate use. Very good! I will post an update on the battery life, should anything change.
The sound quality on the tablet is very good. The tablet features dual speakers that get very loud if necessary. There is also a headphone jack on the tablet should you choose to listen to music quietly. The placement of the speakers if very good. The iPhone and iPad feature speakers on the bottom of the tablet, which is NO GOOD if you're listening to your media with the tablet on your chest, if you're in bed for instance. I really like the placement of these speakers.
The camera on the tablet is OK at best. 2/5 on a good day. It is 2 mega-pixels and isn’t really meant for anything other than skype or similar services. Please refer to the pictures for a sample of the picture quality that this tablet features. While quality does improve while indoors, I find that the camera is very good. Please do not purchase the tablet IF you plan on using it solely for a camera… you will be disappointed. However, for an $80 tablet, you really cannot ask for much more. Older iPads from 4 years ago have a better camera which really says something, however, the price on the Amazon Fire Tablet is definitely preferable!
I really wish this tablet included the Google Play Store. You can get it on your tablet (look up a guide on YouTube), but I really wish the extra effort was not required. Further, I really do not like using the Silk Browser. I'd much prefer Google Chrome or something more familiar. I really don't like that you're stuck with the Silk Browser unless you manually install the Play Store.
The tablet I went with features the ads. I included a picture as to what the ads look like to give everybody an idea of what to expect, should you go with the version that has ads. Honestly, I don't even notice the ads. They are on the lock screen only, and it is hard to justify spending an extra $15 or so to have them disappear.
All-in-all, there’s a lot more to like about this tablet than there is to not like. For $80, you’d really be a fool to not consider the tablet. Although I wish the tablet’s camera was much better, and that you could use Google Play Store (without having to put in extra effort), I think that this tablet is perfect for anybody shopping for a tablet!
The box contains the tablet itself, instruction manual, charging cable, and wall outlet.
To begin, the tablet is 8 inches. This is the perfect size in my opinion. I feel that 7 inches is too small, and 10 inches is too big, so 8 inches is just right. This makes the screen the perfect size for watching videos, reading the news, and more. The tablet itself feels very sturdy, and much more durable than the iPad mini in the house. The back is made out of a non-slick material, so I do not ever worry about dropping the tablet. The display on the tablet is very nice as well, considering how inexpensive the tablet itself is. The screen gets plenty bright and even features a "Blue Shade" mode, which gets rid of the blue colors on your screen. These colors have been shown to interrupt sleep and can keep you up at night, so this mode is PERFECT for reading your kindle books, or whatever you choose, before bed.
The tablet is even better if you have Amazon prime, as you can watch your favorites on the tablet through Amazon prime. You can also watch YouTube and much more through the tablet.
For an $80 tablet, this thing moves! Since it has 1.5 gb of ram (most tablets either have 1 or 2), you will easily be able to perform your favorite tasks such as streaming, watching videos on YouTube, etc. It honestly moves just as fast as my iPhone, which says a lot, considering the iPhone was $700.
The Battery life on the tablet is very good. Mine came pre-charged with 80% battery, and has still not gone past 50% through moderate use. Very good! I will post an update on the battery life, should anything change.
The sound quality on the tablet is very good. The tablet features dual speakers that get very loud if necessary. There is also a headphone jack on the tablet should you choose to listen to music quietly. The placement of the speakers if very good. The iPhone and iPad feature speakers on the bottom of the tablet, which is NO GOOD if you're listening to your media with the tablet on your chest, if you're in bed for instance. I really like the placement of these speakers.
The camera on the tablet is OK at best. 2/5 on a good day. It is 2 mega-pixels and isn’t really meant for anything other than skype or similar services. Please refer to the pictures for a sample of the picture quality that this tablet features. While quality does improve while indoors, I find that the camera is very good. Please do not purchase the tablet IF you plan on using it solely for a camera… you will be disappointed. However, for an $80 tablet, you really cannot ask for much more. Older iPads from 4 years ago have a better camera which really says something, however, the price on the Amazon Fire Tablet is definitely preferable!
I really wish this tablet included the Google Play Store. You can get it on your tablet (look up a guide on YouTube), but I really wish the extra effort was not required. Further, I really do not like using the Silk Browser. I'd much prefer Google Chrome or something more familiar. I really don't like that you're stuck with the Silk Browser unless you manually install the Play Store.
The tablet I went with features the ads. I included a picture as to what the ads look like to give everybody an idea of what to expect, should you go with the version that has ads. Honestly, I don't even notice the ads. They are on the lock screen only, and it is hard to justify spending an extra $15 or so to have them disappear.
All-in-all, there’s a lot more to like about this tablet than there is to not like. For $80, you’d really be a fool to not consider the tablet. Although I wish the tablet’s camera was much better, and that you could use Google Play Store (without having to put in extra effort), I think that this tablet is perfect for anybody shopping for a tablet!
on June 26, 2017
This is the 2nd one I purchased. I am very sorry I got this one. Same problems. Lots of frozen screens. The 1st one died. Frozen screen and then would never come on ever again. That was about one year. Okay I thought anyone can get a bad buy. But I am just into a month and frozen screens almost each time I use it. Time for me to look into a tablet.
on June 15, 2017
Years ago, I purchased my wife a Kindle fire tablet to read books and watch movies. At the time, I never gave tablets much thought but after recently seeing that she still got great use out of the little tablet that could, I decided to get one for myself.
Unfortunately, my device bore little resemblance to hers. Whereas her screen was bright and vibrant, my HD 8 seemed dull and gray in comparison. While her speakers did a great job at projecting audio over the din of kids and home life, I struggle to interpret dialogue without headphones on. Whereas her tablet had been dropped onto hardwood floors by every member of our household without receiving so much as a scratch, my tablet's screen cracked when I placed it on our dining room table. Of course, Amazon's wonderful customer service helped me out immediately, but the fact remains that this isn't a great tablet.
It's neither snappy nor bright. It's neither seamless nor solid in the hands. And Amazon's stubborn aversion to all things Google on the appstore (despite the OS being nearly indistinguishable from android stock) still feels entirely anti-consumer.
But it ain't all bad. The Kindle is a loss leader. It's prices enlist otherwise reluctant consumers into the heady world of impulse ebook purchases and novelty apps. Ultimately, the Kindle isn't meant to compete with the performance specifications of Nvidia or Samsung. It's meant to be accessible without being an unknown entity and in that regard, the HD 8 is a resounding success as evidenced by the glowing reviews written by users who don't care about Snapdragons or Tegras.
Still, the Kindle I bought for my wife for the same price five years ago currently outperforms the latest model... just sayin'.
Unfortunately, my device bore little resemblance to hers. Whereas her screen was bright and vibrant, my HD 8 seemed dull and gray in comparison. While her speakers did a great job at projecting audio over the din of kids and home life, I struggle to interpret dialogue without headphones on. Whereas her tablet had been dropped onto hardwood floors by every member of our household without receiving so much as a scratch, my tablet's screen cracked when I placed it on our dining room table. Of course, Amazon's wonderful customer service helped me out immediately, but the fact remains that this isn't a great tablet.
It's neither snappy nor bright. It's neither seamless nor solid in the hands. And Amazon's stubborn aversion to all things Google on the appstore (despite the OS being nearly indistinguishable from android stock) still feels entirely anti-consumer.
But it ain't all bad. The Kindle is a loss leader. It's prices enlist otherwise reluctant consumers into the heady world of impulse ebook purchases and novelty apps. Ultimately, the Kindle isn't meant to compete with the performance specifications of Nvidia or Samsung. It's meant to be accessible without being an unknown entity and in that regard, the HD 8 is a resounding success as evidenced by the glowing reviews written by users who don't care about Snapdragons or Tegras.
Still, the Kindle I bought for my wife for the same price five years ago currently outperforms the latest model... just sayin'.
on July 17, 2017
Make no mistake. This will never be in the same league as an iPad, Surface, or Samsung Tablet. But then again, it was never designed to compete at that level. And you definitely won't be draining your wallet in the same way either.
Amazon has smartly removed (or degraded) most of what we don't use a tablet for, and instead created a tightly focused tablet that adequately performs the tasks that most of us DO use a tablet for, and at a price that most of us can afford.
Don't expect a huge double digit megapixel camera here or GPS. Amazon assumes most of us have a smartphone for that. They also assume that we use our smartphones for mobile data as well, so WiFi is the only way to connect to the Internet.
What you can expect (especially if you are a Prime user) is an extremely easy way to access music, videos, games and kindle books. Add to this the relative simplicity of uploading your own media, and you have an extremely portable media player that can allow you to surf the web, read the latest books, checkout the latest movies, play most of the latest games and listen to the latest music with very little effort or training. Of course Amazon wouldn't mind if you used it to buy more stuff too. Which is why you are pelted with "special offers" on your "lock" screen and get "notifications" for suggested deals. (Luckily you can choose to disable the latter).
The only thing for me that drops this down a star is Amazon's continued reluctance to support the Google Play Store, and it's almost paranoid refusal to allow other competing services into it's app store (Vudu is one that comes to mind).
Luckily for us, the netizens have already found out a way to easily install Google Play Store without voiding your warranty, and thus allow you to install that vague banking app, or that media app (like Vudu or Google Play Movies) that Amazon doesn't offer in their own App Store.
But since that is essentially a hack, I can't officially credit Amazon for that.
However, if Google Play is not a deal breaker for you, then it's hard to fault this tablet. It's powerful enough to do what it's asked to do, it's inexpensive enough to get one for the kids and you won't break the bank if the kids break the tablet (They do offer "Kid's versions of the 7 and 8 which come with impact resistant cases and a variety of value added apps and functionality specifically catered for young ones. Something Apple, Microsoft or Google have neglected to do).
I purchased this unit to replace my aging HDX 7 which I had to root and install generic Android to support my Vudu app. I was able to side load all the Google Play files within 5 minutes and now my device can fully utilize either app store. This makes me very happy. This was something I couldn't do with the HDX 7. I had to sideload all non app store content on the HDX 7 and it wasn't very enjoyable or secure. With the HD8, once you've downloaded and installed Google Play, you don't have to sideload anymore.
Whether or not this is what Amazon intended, I don't know. Hopefully they won't go out of the way to "fix" this. The addition of Google Play makes this tablet MUCH more valuable, and it's something Amazon should consider adding as stock in the future. Barnes and Noble had their NOOK OS and App Store but it always supported google play as well. Amazon would do well to encourage Google Play/Amazon App Store co-existence and not hinder it.
Amazon has smartly removed (or degraded) most of what we don't use a tablet for, and instead created a tightly focused tablet that adequately performs the tasks that most of us DO use a tablet for, and at a price that most of us can afford.
Don't expect a huge double digit megapixel camera here or GPS. Amazon assumes most of us have a smartphone for that. They also assume that we use our smartphones for mobile data as well, so WiFi is the only way to connect to the Internet.
What you can expect (especially if you are a Prime user) is an extremely easy way to access music, videos, games and kindle books. Add to this the relative simplicity of uploading your own media, and you have an extremely portable media player that can allow you to surf the web, read the latest books, checkout the latest movies, play most of the latest games and listen to the latest music with very little effort or training. Of course Amazon wouldn't mind if you used it to buy more stuff too. Which is why you are pelted with "special offers" on your "lock" screen and get "notifications" for suggested deals. (Luckily you can choose to disable the latter).
The only thing for me that drops this down a star is Amazon's continued reluctance to support the Google Play Store, and it's almost paranoid refusal to allow other competing services into it's app store (Vudu is one that comes to mind).
Luckily for us, the netizens have already found out a way to easily install Google Play Store without voiding your warranty, and thus allow you to install that vague banking app, or that media app (like Vudu or Google Play Movies) that Amazon doesn't offer in their own App Store.
But since that is essentially a hack, I can't officially credit Amazon for that.
However, if Google Play is not a deal breaker for you, then it's hard to fault this tablet. It's powerful enough to do what it's asked to do, it's inexpensive enough to get one for the kids and you won't break the bank if the kids break the tablet (They do offer "Kid's versions of the 7 and 8 which come with impact resistant cases and a variety of value added apps and functionality specifically catered for young ones. Something Apple, Microsoft or Google have neglected to do).
I purchased this unit to replace my aging HDX 7 which I had to root and install generic Android to support my Vudu app. I was able to side load all the Google Play files within 5 minutes and now my device can fully utilize either app store. This makes me very happy. This was something I couldn't do with the HDX 7. I had to sideload all non app store content on the HDX 7 and it wasn't very enjoyable or secure. With the HD8, once you've downloaded and installed Google Play, you don't have to sideload anymore.
Whether or not this is what Amazon intended, I don't know. Hopefully they won't go out of the way to "fix" this. The addition of Google Play makes this tablet MUCH more valuable, and it's something Amazon should consider adding as stock in the future. Barnes and Noble had their NOOK OS and App Store but it always supported google play as well. Amazon would do well to encourage Google Play/Amazon App Store co-existence and not hinder it.
on June 13, 2017
The Kindle Fire HD 8 (2017).
I bought the Kindle fire "WITHOUT" the Advertisements. The Kindle still came with pre-installed Apps and Icons located on the "Home Page" that are really advertisements for Amazon products and services. I was unable to remove or delete them. Also. every page has "Suggestions" for you. They are just more advertisements. I have not found a way to delete any of them. The Help & Users Guide is very light and not designed for someone wanting to customize their Kindle.
Amazon should allow the owner to remove the junk apps and links to their services and advertisements, as well as the "Suggested" or "Just for you" advertisements.
Unless you don't mind your Kindle Fire being a mobile advertisement, I would not recommend this product.
I bought the Kindle fire "WITHOUT" the Advertisements. The Kindle still came with pre-installed Apps and Icons located on the "Home Page" that are really advertisements for Amazon products and services. I was unable to remove or delete them. Also. every page has "Suggestions" for you. They are just more advertisements. I have not found a way to delete any of them. The Help & Users Guide is very light and not designed for someone wanting to customize their Kindle.
Amazon should allow the owner to remove the junk apps and links to their services and advertisements, as well as the "Suggested" or "Just for you" advertisements.
Unless you don't mind your Kindle Fire being a mobile advertisement, I would not recommend this product.
on July 17, 2017
I recently gave up on the tightly controlled ecosphere that is Apple. Nothing against them, in fact I find their hardware absolutely beautiful. That being said, I use tablets for media consumption - movies, Youtube, Spotify and reading the news. For that, this little HD8 gives an iPad a run for its money, normalized for value. An iPad Mini is $399 and this is $79 - 1/5 the price. For the narrow set of tasks that I use a tablet for, this HD is great - the screen resolution is ok for the screen size, I prefer Amazon for purchasing movies, the origami case works better than anything I ever had for my ipad and the widescreen ratio of the screen is great for consuming movies. At this price, I don't have to worry about something bad happening to my tablet - it is just a commodity, not the "my precious" level possession that causes me more concern than provide me utility.
What do I like about it?:
- I like the widescreen ratio on the screen for watching movies
- The price is amazing
- The Amazon origami case is the best I have ever encountered on a tablet
- You can add a card to save more files
- It performs the basics (web browsing, light gaming, Netflix, Facebook and YouTube) impeccably
What I don't like about it:
- It is heavy for the size tablet it is
- The screen could be a bit sharper
- It takes a while to charge up
- You can't easily install apps from the Google Play Store (but I will figure it out)
What do I like about it?:
- I like the widescreen ratio on the screen for watching movies
- The price is amazing
- The Amazon origami case is the best I have ever encountered on a tablet
- You can add a card to save more files
- It performs the basics (web browsing, light gaming, Netflix, Facebook and YouTube) impeccably
What I don't like about it:
- It is heavy for the size tablet it is
- The screen could be a bit sharper
- It takes a while to charge up
- You can't easily install apps from the Google Play Store (but I will figure it out)
on July 2, 2017
Overall, I am satisfied with this affordable tablet. Video quality and playback is excellent. I'd likely buy this tablet again. But I have encountered just a few software problems that Amazon could easily fix.
When the screen is sleeping and you have to swipe to unlock, I have to swipe and swipe and swipe, sometimes 10 times, to unlock. Never encountered this with any other tablet I've owned.
All Google apps/content is blocked. Annoying, but you can install a hack to get around that fairly easily (find it on YouTube).
Don't like not being able to customize my own home screens. It gives you a tab at the top to access each factor-set home screen, which are all Amazon content, when it's simpler to just swipe left and right. And it doesn't appear to support widgets at all.
But by far the most frustrating thing is the touchscreen keyboard. It's not the least bit intuitive, and doesn't seem to be learning with continued use. The auto corrects it makes (which I frequently don't catch before posting) are ridiculous. For instance, I typed something about my grandkids, "the Hook sisters," and it changed it to " the Book sisters. " I typed "you don't care..." which auto "corrected" to "you don't cars". In what instance would anyone ever say "you don't cars"??? Doesn't seem to know standard 2-letter abbreviations for U.S. states. The WORST touchscreen keyboard I've ever encountered.
When the screen is sleeping and you have to swipe to unlock, I have to swipe and swipe and swipe, sometimes 10 times, to unlock. Never encountered this with any other tablet I've owned.
All Google apps/content is blocked. Annoying, but you can install a hack to get around that fairly easily (find it on YouTube).
Don't like not being able to customize my own home screens. It gives you a tab at the top to access each factor-set home screen, which are all Amazon content, when it's simpler to just swipe left and right. And it doesn't appear to support widgets at all.
But by far the most frustrating thing is the touchscreen keyboard. It's not the least bit intuitive, and doesn't seem to be learning with continued use. The auto corrects it makes (which I frequently don't catch before posting) are ridiculous. For instance, I typed something about my grandkids, "the Hook sisters," and it changed it to " the Book sisters. " I typed "you don't care..." which auto "corrected" to "you don't cars". In what instance would anyone ever say "you don't cars"??? Doesn't seem to know standard 2-letter abbreviations for U.S. states. The WORST touchscreen keyboard I've ever encountered.
on July 5, 2017
The tablet is great. Well made, responds well, great price.... Im extremely, beyond bummed that Amazon Underground is NO MORE. You can not see any "actually free" apps anymore and there is no way to even search for them. Please fix this amazon!!!! HUGE letdown.
