Amazon launches 3 upgraded Fire HD 8 tablets for families
Amazon announced new versions of its Fire HD 8 tablets on Wednesday with prices starting $10 higher than the previous generation but still much cheaper than an iPad.
The e-commerce giant’s lineup will now include the “all-new” Fire HD 8, Fire HD 8 Plus and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition. All three are available for preorder and will begin shipping on June 3. But there is an Easter Egg: Amazon baked in a new Game Mode that lets you focus on your game without interference from notifications.
Other than that, the devices look sleeker than before with battery life improvements and faster processors than the 2018 models.
The new Fire HD 8 has enhanced performance and 32GB of internal storage. The Fire HD 8 Plus has wireless charging woven in, and the kid’s version still comes with a child-friendly case and a new adjustable stand.
❚ Fire HD 8: The base model has the same 8-inch high definition screen but packs 30% faster performance and 2GB RAM, Users can get up to 12 hours of battery life and access to a long list of entertainment apps for $89.99.
The previous version of the Fire HD 8 launched with a $79.99 sales price. Even with the $10 price increase, Amazon’s tablets are a steal. For comparison, Apple’s latest 7.9-inch iPad Mini starts at $399.
❚ Fire HD 8 Plus: For $20 more, you can get the premium version with 3GB of RAM and wireless charging capabilities. Amazon is also throwing in a 9W in-box USB-C charger for faster charging. The Fire HD 8 Plus comes with six months of Kindle Unlimited, Amazon’s service that allows you to read as much as you want.
❚ Fire HD 8 Kids Edition: The $139.99 kid’s version with parental controls is bundled with one year access to Amazon FreeTime, which offers thousands of content titles for children ages 3 to 12. The service includes over 20,000 kid-friendly books, Audible books, videos, educational apps and games.
And Amazon is also tossing in a two-year warranty if the device breaks.