Apple's 2022 iPad is $30 off right now
At $419, the tablet is even cheaper than it was on Black Friday.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus
79
Engadget Review
Amazon’s new Fire HD 8 Plus has all of the improvements that the regular Fire HD 8 has: a sleeker design, a faster processor, USB-C charging and a solid battery life. To make it “Plus,” Amazon added an extra gigabyte of RAM, wireless charging capabilities and 9W AC adapter for faster wired charging. While those are nice features on paper, they don’t make a huge difference in the day-to-day experience of using the tablet. You’re better off pocketing the extra $20 and getting the standard Fire HD 8.
There’s a lot to like -- even more if you’re an Amazon super-fan.
Valentina PalladinoJune 12, 2020
Pros
- New USB-C charging
- Decent performance
- Long battery life
- Extra 1GB of RAM
- Comes with 9W adapter for faster charging
- Wireless-charging capable
Cons
- Still no Google apps
- Some lag time when switching between programs
- Most useful for those who use a lot of Amazon products/services
- Not worth the extra money
Amazon
Fire HD 8 Plus
Engadget
79
Critics
8 reviews81
AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE
Users - Not yet scored
N/A
AVERAGE USER SCORE
View All Critic & User Reviews
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus
- Critic Reviews (8)
- 81AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE8 ReviewsCNET80Amazon's affordable Fire HD 8 Plus seals the deal with some valuable extrasI think you'll end up using the tablet more because it does double duty as an Echo Show; it's basically always charged and ready to go when you want to use it outside the dock. So for me the HD 8 Plus with the dock bundle is the way to go, especially if it goes on sale. I do wish the screen was 1080p, but you apparently can't have everything at this modest price.Pocket-Lint90Wireless charging adds to the appealThe Fire HD 8 Plus is an affordable tablet that's substantially built, with the convenience of wireless charging giving the potential for use as an Echo Show if you buy the additional dock, making it a convenient affordable home tablet. It's not the most glamorous tablet, but it's hard to beat it for value for money.Tech Advisor80Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus reviewThe standard HD 8 has the same Show Mode and can be used in the same way. The Plus' performance isn’t noticeably better, either. If not the Plus, then, is the Fire HD 8 a good buy? Yes, especially if you’ll use it mainly for entertainment. It’s a good option for kids, too, and has decent battery life. It has just enough RAM for performance to be better than the Fire 7, which remains the best only option for those on a really tight budget.The Verge70The Amazon applianceUsing it for anything more than just navigating your way to a video app or a Kindle book. Even browsing the web can feel like a chore on the Fire HD. If you can afford it, even the lowest-end iPad will get you a bigger and nicer screen, a massive library of great apps, and performance that runs circles around the Fire HD.TechRadar70Amazon's 8-inch slate now ships with added firePhysically indistinguishable from the cheaper Fire HD 8, the Plus offers a slightly swifter but otherwise identical tablet experience. Wireless charging is the most significant difference, with the optional Dock making it a viable Echo Show alternative. The Plus is the smarter choice for owners of the 2018 version, but with an unchanged display and similar skills, the standard model is an equally capable entertainment slate for new Prime subscribers.CNBC80Amazon's $110 tablet is the best budget alternative to the iPad but you get what you pay forIt has good battery life, I love the added wireless charging and fast charging, and it’s perfect if you shop a lot on Amazon and read Kindle books. To be clear: It’s not as good as an iPad. But you’ll save a lot of money if you just want a tablet for watching movies, reading and playing some games.Expert Reviews100Should you spend more?Aside from the unloved screen, the Fire HD 8 Plus is almost the complete package. It’s an affordable tablet which massively improves on previous generations in the hardware department and manages to boost stamina by a considerable degree.TrustedReviews80The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is a slightly souped-up version of the HD 8The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is great for families or just anyone who won’t use a tablet enough to justify even splurging on the cheapest iPad. Of course, this tablet isn’t for everyone. If you don’t use, and have no intention of using, any of Amazon’s services then you’re better off looking elsewhere. The benefits of the Plus model are few, though the extra RAM and wireless charging mean it’s the model I would choose. It’s probably the only model Amazon should really sell.
Key Specs
FORM FACTOR
Tablet
OPERATING SYSTEM
Other
SCREEN SIZE
8in
STORAGE TYPE
Internal, Memory card
CAMERA (INTEGRATED)
Yes
MAXIMUM BATTERY LIFE
Up to 12hr
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