If you want to be a little stronger, also Fire HD 8 Plus ($150). The extra RAM is welcome, but the difference here isn’t as noticeable as with the 10-inch Fire HD Plus. If you want to get real work done, you can do it on the 10-inch Fire HD, but neither of the Fire HD 8 models are right for you.
Along with the Plus model, Amazon has quite a few other packages, like Fire HD 8 Kids Model, has a protective case, some additional software and content packs, and parental controls. There is also a game pack comes with a Luna Controller ($169)although given the limitations of Fire OS, I can’t imagine this would appeal to many gamers.
Therein lies the main problem with the Fire tablet—the Amazon software.
What’s going on
Out of the box, Amazon’s Fire tablet offers an experience that reminds me of the supersaturated world of advertising democracy.
From the moment you try to unlock the Fire HD 8, you’ll be faced with an onslaught of ads and dark patterned designs designed to keep you clicking content, especially if you choose to. ad-supported models. Just don’t. Spend an extra $20 to free yourself from some ads. Don’t worry, you’ll still have Amazon content pushing you through every time you look at the Fire HD 8. As they say, this is the price of admission. Want a cheap tablet? You will get a tablet that feels like it needs to earn more from you every turn.
Fire OS, Amazon’s fork of Android, has been updated to use Android 11, still two full versions behind stock Android. Aside from the app switching screen and a few minor theme details, I couldn’t tell much of a difference. Fire OS still offers the same basic experience, which isn’t necessarily bad, but is limited by its app store.
Out of the box, the Fire HD 8 tablet doesn’t offer any Google apps or any access to the Google Play store. The selection in the Amazon app store is what you might call a lack. Want to watch YouTube? Chat on Slack? No, it doesn’t happen. Even if you wanted to argue that this is a tablet primarily for consumption and doesn’t need much in the Google Play Store, YouTube is still a glaring omission. My suggestion is that if you have specific apps you want to use, browse Amazon’s app store before you buy to make sure what you want is available (if you have an Android device you can can be downloaded and browsed through Amazon’s app store here).
What about “sideloading” on Google Play? We have a guide about How to Install Google Play Store on Amazon Fire Tablet, but unfortunately that tutorial doesn’t work for this model. Or at least, it doesn’t work with the current version of Fire OS. Some Reddit user those who received the software update for Fire OS 8.3.1.3 claim that they were able to install and use Google Play. My review unit so far is stuck at Fire OS 8.2.1.2, I can confirm that it installs the Google Play Store on its own but won’t let you sign in and install any apps from there. I’ll update our tutorial with how-to info once I can confirm it works. At some point, you could install the Play Store, but it’s not currently possible.
Amazon’s 2022 Fire HD 8 still works well for what it’s designed to do: stream Amazon content. If you’re a Prime subscriber and want a small, affordable device to use on the couch, in the kitchen, or even have a stand to mimic the Echo Show, the Fire HD 8 isn’t bad. But if you can afford it, 10 inch model offers a much better overall experience and remains our top pick. If you really want to strike a deal, wait for the next Official Day, when, typically, Amazon’s Fire tablets can be sold for half the price.
