Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)
High-definition quality
$90 at Amazon
Pros
- Higher HD resolution
- Dual stereo speakers
- Longer battery life than Fire 7
- USB-C charging port
Cons
- Heavier than Fire 7
- More expensive than Fire 7
- Doesn’t have wireless charging feature of more premium HD 8 Plus
The Fire HD 8 is just a little bit more than the Fire 7 in almost every way. Its screen is slightly bigger and sharper, it has dual stereo speakers instead of a mono speaker, it has twice the RAM and nearly twice the battery life, and yes, it weighs a little bit more. All that being said, it is almost twice as expensive as the Fire 7.
Amazon Fire 7 (2019)
Thin, light, and durable
$50 at Amazon
Pros
- Powerful tablet for a small price
- Hands-free Alexa is finally included
- Light and thin
- Durable
Cons
- Lower resolution screen
- Only mono speaker
The Amazon Fire 7 tablet is undoubtedly one that will be an excellent gift for someone who’s looking for a tablet that isn’t too pricey but without it being terrible in the process. Its inclusion of hands-free Alexa will also win over a few individuals. Though, if you’re planning to use the tablet for mobile gaming, then RAM and Amazon’s app store may be enough to put you off.
Which one will suit you best?
The two Fire tablets are very much alike, but the Fire HD 8 has some significant upgrades for that extra $40 asking price. For starters, there’s a higher resolution display, and though not a massive increase in PPI, it looks noticeably better than the 7-inch model. There’s also more RAM, a second speaker, and a fairly significant boost in battery life over the smaller one.
For media lovers, the Fire HD 8 is also going to deliver better audio, with stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos support for an all-around better experience watching video content or listening to music. The HD 8, like the HD 10, also supports Show Mode, which, with the optional dock, turns your tablet into essentially an Echo Show you can then take outside with you. However, the HD 8 is not able to utilize the wireless charging dock that it’s more premium HD 8 Plus model can.
Here’s the thing, though. The Fire 7 is a better choice for a tablet to give to your young ones. At $50, it’s verging on impulse buy territory, and the new model has a better screen and dual-band Wi-Fi support to boast over its predecessor. For someone looking for the cheapest tablet possible that isn’t garbage, the Fire 7 is still the one we recommend, especially for young ones.
| Display | 8-inch | 7-inch |
| CPU | asdfasdffs | Quad-core 1.3 GHz |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 (189 ppi) | 1024 x 600 (171 ppi) |
| Storage | 32 or 64 GB (expandable by up to 1 TB) | 16 or 32 GB (expandable by up to 512 GB) |
| Battery | Up to 12 hours | Up to 7 hours |
| Platform | Fire OS | Fire OS |
| Connectivity | Dual-band Wi-Fi | Dual-band Wi-Fi |
| Audio | Dual speakers, built-in microphone | Mono speaker, built-in microphone |
| Colors | BlackTwilight BluePlumWhite | BlackTwilight BluePlumSage |
| Alexa Enabled | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | adsfasfdasf | 7.6″ x 4.5″ x 0.4″ (192mm x 115mm x 9.6mm) |
| Weight | 355g | 286g |
As you can see, both of these tablets are excellent low-cost options, and both have their pros and cons. Both are Alexa-enabled, for example, and both have Fire OS as their platform. Heck, both also come in child-friendly Kids Editions.
Yet, if you’re looking for a decent, low-cost tablet to consume media, browse the web, check your email, and even play some games on, the Fire HD 8 is the one to get. The $40 difference is small enough that the improvements you get are well worth the extra investment.
Amazon Fire 8 HD (2020)
High-def with improved sound
$90 at Amazon $90 at Best Buy
Long-lasting and spacious
The Fire HD 8 makes the right tradeoffs in screen, storage, and price to make it a great entertainment tablet. It has a 30% faster processor than the previous version, increased battery life, and updated color options.
Amazon Fire 7 (2019)
Inexpensive alternative
Durable and for all
$50 at Amazon $50 at Best Buy
With hands-free Alexa, multiple fun colors, and access to tons of great content, the Fire 7 Tablet is a fun gadget to have around for all ages.
