In a world of escalating prices, low-cost electronics are important. It’s necessary to do not forget that ‘low-cost’ and ‘good worth’ are two various things, although. Some low-cost merchandise merely aren’t ok to be advisable no matter how little they value. Low cost merchandise which might be really good worth and subsequently recommendable are few and much between.
That’s an space wherein Amazon’s Fireplace vary of tablets has often excelled. They’re not merely low-cost, however they’re really good – and imagine us after we say that there are only a few tablets about which we are able to say the identical factor.
Right here, we’re trying on the Fireplace HD 8 which – spoiler alert – is one of the best performance-per-pound mannequin within the vary.
Worth
Pricing for the Amazon Fireplace HD 8 begins at £100 / $100 (round AU$190). That value is subsidised by adverts that seem on the lock display screen. Truthfully, we don’t discover the advertisements to be notably intrusive, however you possibly can pay an additional £15 / $15 (round AU$30) for an ad-free mannequin for those who desire.
This entry-level mannequin comes with simply 32GB of inside storage, however the machine helps microSD playing cards of as much as 1TB capability, so including extra storage is simple and cheap – to an extent that makes the 64GB version of the pill appear superfluous.
As with all of Amazon’s personal gadgets, the Fireplace HD 8 is often discounted, and never simply throughout the firm’s massive gross sales occasions corresponding to Black Friday – although at these occasions you possibly can just about assure a giant drop. We’ve seen the entry-level mannequin drop as little as £55 / $75, and at something approaching that stage it’s an absolute discount.
Design
As you’d anticipate, the Fireplace HD 8 options a number of plastic. It’s thinner and lighter than the earlier model, but it nonetheless feels fairly sturdy total. The display screen additionally options ‘strengthened aluminosilicate glass’, and Amazon claims that the machine is “twice as sturdy because the Apple iPad Mini (2021)”. That’s necessary for a transportable that will nicely find yourself within the palms of kids.
The stereo audio system face upwards if you’re holding the pill in panorama orientation, in order that they’re not blocked by your palms, and the front-facing 2MP digicam is in the course of the highest edge, which is the fitting place for many video calling. There’s additionally a 5MP digicam on the rear, which is predictably nothing to jot down residence about, and alongside one of many brief edges you’ll discover the facility and quantity controls in addition to a USB-C port and correct 3.5mm headphone jack.
Options
Powering proceedings is a 2.0GHz hexa-core processor backed up by 2GB of RAM. That’s hardly going to get you a next-gen gaming expertise, but it surely is sufficient to present a reasonably fluid and snappy person expertise and is sufficient to satisfyingly run the types of video games which might be widespread on Amazon’s personal App Retailer.
Amazon Fireplace HD 8 (2022) tech specs
Display screen 8 inches
Decision 1280 x 800 (189 ppi)
Storage 32GB or 64GB (SD card expandable)
RAM 2GB
Weight 337g
Digicam 2MP entrance, 5MP rear
Battery life as much as 13 hours
Talking of which, it’s price noting that whereas Amazon’s pill working system is predicated on Android, the Google Play Retailer isn’t supported and Amazon’s personal App Retailer is rather less well-appointed. For these of us who’re most occupied with a tool corresponding to this for watching films and listening to music on the transfer, most bases are coated, together with massive hitters corresponding to Netflix, Disney+ and, in fact, Amazon Prime Video, in addition to the entire UK’s essential catch-up apps plus Now and Sky Go. Spotify, Tidal and Amazon Music are all on board, too. Nevertheless, Apple TV and Apple Music apps are lacking, as is Discovery+ (the brand new residence for BT Sport). There are many different, much less fashionable apps which might be lacking from the Amazon App Retailer, too, so if there are any that you just should have entry to, it’s price checking whether or not they’re supported earlier than you go forward and purchase.
Amazon quotes a battery lifetime of 13 hours of fixed use, and we’re given no motive to doubt that determine throughout testing. A charger is included within the field and can take the battery from empty to full in round 5 hours.
The display screen is what we’re most occupied with. Because the identify suggests, the Fireplace HD 8 has an 8-inch display screen with an HD decision (it isn’t really on fireplace, although). Mentioned decision is 1280 x 800, which provides the pill a pixel density of 189 pixels-per-inch (ppi). That’s a small however important improve on the 171ppi density of the smaller Fireplace 7 however a big lower on the 224ppi of the Fireplace HD 10. iPads, in the meantime, have a pixel density of 264ppi in all instances besides the iPad Mini, which has a disproportionately excessive pixel density of 326ppi.
Image
The Fireplace HD 8 prices nearly twice as a lot because the Fireplace 7, which is itself superb for the cash, but it surely rapidly turns into clear that the HD 8 is nicely price the additional.
The additional inch clearly makes a giant distinction at this type of dimension, making the film expertise extra partaking all spherical. It’s additionally sharper and brighter, reproducing the inexperienced patterns on the shows of the Insurgent base’s briefing room in Rogue One in considerably punchier style.
Black ranges actually aren’t inky deep from both pill, however the HD 8’s are higher they usually’re good for a backlit machine that prices so little. There’s loads of shadow element from the HD 8, too. The one actual subject with darkish scenes is that the display screen is reasonably reflective, so the motion may be arduous to make out for those who’re watching outdoors or in a well-lit room.
The additional brightness of the HD 8 over the Fireplace 7 means there’s further distinction, and this combines with elevated sharpness to make Ok-2SO’s metallic physique extra reflective and strong – basically extra realistically droid-like. Colors are impressively pure, too – the stability is a contact cooler than the Fireplace 7’s, however there’s nonetheless authentically cinematic heat to the HD 8’s presentation and pores and skin tones are precisely reproduced and pretty subtly shaded. There’s good pop to vibrant objects such because the solar over Jedha, too.
The Fireplace HD 8’s image efficiency is clearly a good distance behind that of an iPad, but it surely will get the fundamentals proper and at this value, there’s basically nothing (apart from the overly reflective display screen) to complain about.
Sound
It’s beautiful to make use of a tool that has a correct 3.5mm headphone socket, and for those who use it to attach a pair of headphones to the Fireplace HD 8 you’ll be rewarded with an impressively balanced and grown-up supply. There’s no apparent exaggeration to any a part of the frequency vary, no harshness to treble and no ballooning within the bass. It’s all very composed – cleaner on the prime finish and weightier than the Fireplace 7, too.
A bit of extra element and drive can be good, however the HD 8 actually doesn’t sound boring. Quite the opposite, it’s a reasonably partaking pay attention that – as with the image efficiency – will get the fundamentals proper and makes no apparent errors. That’s a giant deal at this value.
Listening by way of the audio system is a predictably massive downgrade, however the audio system aren’t too dangerous in their very own proper. For starters, there are two of them and, if you’re holding the pill in panorama mode, they’re on the highest edge, so don’t get blocked by your palms. They sound pretty clear as nicely, so you possibly can preserve monitor of dialogue even when Rogue One’s soundtrack will get thrilling.
Then again, there’s little or no bass and never a lot of a diffusion of sound to the left or proper. A bit of extra ahead projection can be good, too.
In brief, you actually ought to pay attention by way of headphones at any time when that’s an choice, however listening out loud actually isn’t the horror present that it may be with moveable gadgets.
Verdict
There are many folks on the market who would love an iPad however merely can’t justify the £499 / $449 / AU$749 value of entry. For these folks, an Amazon Fireplace pill is the plain alternative – but it surely’s additionally the fitting alternative.
It is a vary of tablets that ship on the fundamentals, with balanced, managed and always-enjoyable image and sound high quality. The HD 8 is, on a performance-per-pound foundation, the decide of the bunch – a giant enchancment on the super-cheap Fireplace 7 however usefully extra reasonably priced and extra compact than the HD 10, which is due to get replaced quickly anyway.
In brief, this is a superb purchase. Not simply low-cost, however nice worth.
SCORES
- Image 5
- Sound 4
- Options 5
MORE:
Learn our evaluate of the Amazon Fireplace 7
Learn our Apple iPad (2022) evaluate
Finest tablets: prime tablets for films and music
