Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus review: A Versatile Tablet for Budget Tablet Users!

(Image credit- Tech Radar) Amazon updated its Fire HD 8 tablet portfolio this spring with better specifications, additional color options, and a new high-end model called the Fire HD 8 Plus. Beyond the usual variations in color or storage, this was the first time the corporation had differentiated devices within the same product range. When the company's other high-end tablet, the Fire HD 10, is up for a refresh, it will be interesting to see if this two-tiered strategy is still in place, or if this was just a way for Amazon to test out some new features before attempting to roll them out more broadly across the product line.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus- Cost and Availability

In May 2020, Amazon revealed the tablets Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition together with the Fire HD 8 Plus. Along with the regular White and Black options, the Fire 8 Plus is folded in the same new colors as the standard model, Plum, and Twilight Blue. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image credit- Digital Trends[/caption] The Fire HD 8's price started at $110, and although it has seen some sales since its release, the tablet is still available for purchase for that price.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus- Storage and Ports

The device outperforms the other Fire HD 8 in two important areas: its faster charging times and its larger RAM (3GB vs. 2GB). Better memory management and more fluid gameplay are touted to be the results of the former, while the latter's 9W wired USB-C charging brick is supposed to save at least an hour of charging time. You don't have to think about turning on Amazon's Show Mode each time you placed the tablet on the stand because it is enabled by default in the settings. Amazon Show Mode effectively transforms Fire tablets into smart screens similar to the Echo Show. When you slide down from the top of the screen to get the quick settings menu, there is a toggle for turning this off right at the top. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1136"] Image credit- Business Insider[/caption]

Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus- Screen and Speakers

The experience of using the tablet is the same as that of the Fire HD 8. For basic content consumption, the speakers and screen perform admirably, and even in Show Mode the sound quality is quite sufficient. Even though it doesn't have the same depth of sound as Nest Hub Max or any of the dedicated Echo smart speakers, overall the sound quality isn't too poor. You should never, ever use a 2MP camera for significant, long-lasting photography. The Fire HD 8 Plus's pricing and place in Amazon's portfolio are the two things you need to be concerned about. The cost of the product is not expensive in overall terms because it is still significantly less than some tablets made by Apple and Samsung. Also read: Samsung Internet update delivers optimizations to tablets & foldable It's that, at least when you go all-out with the wireless charging dock and any other supplemental accessories, it costs substantially more than the standard Fire HD 8 and almost the same amount (or more) than the Fire HD 10.