Amazon Hearth HD 8 (2022 Unlock) Assessment

Amazon is following the new refresh of its super-affordable Hearth 7 pill ($59.99) with a 2022 replace to the moderately better and more expensive Hearth HD 8. This straightforward 8-inch slate has a larger, sharper show than the Hearth 7, however most commonly helps to keep the specifications and function in test to achieve a $99.99 worth (with commercials). So whilst it’s not a powerhouse whatsoever, it provides simple get entry to to gobs of media at a worth that almost all competing 8-inch pills can not fit. However regardless of the Hearth HD 8’s attraction over the gradual, low-res Hearth 7, the Hearth HD 10 ($149.99) stays our Editors’ Selection winner for reasonably priced pills due to its complete HD show and peppier efficiency.

Hearth HD 8 Pricing and Fashions

Amazon markets the Hearth HD 8 at $99.99, however that isn’t 100% correct. You’ll be able to purchase the pill at that worth, positive, however you’ll be able to be compelled to take a seat via commercials at the lock display. The commercials seem as wallpaper and you’ll be able to come across them each and every time you flip the pill on. You need to pay $15 additional (throughout all Hearth pills) to get an ad-free enjoy. That implies the ad-free worth of the Hearth HD 8 is in fact $114.99. It is as much as you to come to a decision if that worth differential is essential to you. We normally assume it is definitely worth the $15 to get the ad-free enjoy.

It is usually price noting that Amazon provides a Hearth HD 8 Plus with extra RAM and quicker charging for $119.99 (with commercials). There is additionally the Hearth HD 8 Children, which contains child-focused options reminiscent of a protecting case and a subscription to Amazon Children+ for $149 (with out commercials).

A First rate Display for the Value

Amazon does not pay a lot consideration to pill design rather then most likely the way it serves capability, because of this you will not to find fancy fabrics or top-notch construct high quality right here. The Hearth HD 8 is a elementary, no-frills pill that is not overly sexy. It is available in 3 colours: Black, Denim, or Rose. Our evaluation unit is Black, which amplifies the simplicity of the design.

As its title implies, the Hearth HD 8 has an eight-inch show that simply slightly meets the definition of top definition with its 1,280-by-800-pixel display. The 16:10 facet ratio is ok, even though the 189ppi pixel density is a little bit low. The display nonetheless manages to seem sharp and vibrant sufficient—Amazon does a just right activity optimizing it to make it glance nicer than the numbers would recommend—however it falls smartly wanting higher-priced fare. That mentioned, the less expensive Hearth 7’s display provides simply 1,024 via 600 pixels and has lackluster brightness, making the Hearth HD 8 a substantial improve.

(Credit score: Dave LeClair)

The rear panel is roofed with a plastic subject material that very a lot draws fingerprints. It is simple sufficient to wipe blank, however when you plan to let little ones play with the Hearth pill, be ready to peer the proof left in the back of every time.

When held vertically (portrait orientation), you’ll be able to to find near to the entire controls and ports at the height edge. The ability button and quantity rocker are nearer to the highest left nook, whilst the USB-C 2.0 charging port and three.5mm headphone jack are nearer to the highest proper. The microSD card slot is hidden via a rubber flap at the left fringe of the pill. Given the pill’s restricted 32GB/64GB garage choices, you could need to price range for a just right reminiscence card (as much as 1TB). The stereo audio system are at the left edge, whilst the ground is freed from buttons or controls. When observing video, it is best to tilt the pill to the precise so the audio system and selfie digicam are situated at the height edge.

At 7.94 via 5.40 via 0.37 inches and 11.88 oz., the Hearth HD 8 is not a large pill. It does not really feel a lot heavier than a big smartphone, which makes the usage of it near to anyplace really feel relaxed.

Restrained Efficiency, Cast Battery Lifestyles

Efficiency is at all times the largest problem of reasonably priced pills. On the subject of the Hearth HD 8, you get a hexa-core ARM MT8169A processor with 2GB of RAM (the Hearth HD 8 Plus and the Hearth HD 10 support that to 3GB). Graphics are treated via a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. The Hearth 7 drops two processor cores, whilst the Hearth 10 HD provides two.

The benchmark effects are not lovely, however you should not be expecting them to be. Geekbench 5, for instance, may not even run with out crashing. We did organize to get the PCMark 3.0 take a look at to run, which is a great indicator of the way the pill can care for day-to-day duties like photograph enhancing, internet surfing, and so forth. It controlled to attain 4,980, which is best marginally higher than the Hearth 7’s ranking of four,409. Whilst it isn’t an ideal consequence, the Nuu Tab 10, which sells for round $300, scored 3,864 at the identical take a look at, so the Hearth HD 8’s consequence is not as unhealthy because it may well be.

The pill is not constructed for top-level gaming studies. Seeking to run Genshin Affect at medium settings and 60fps is uneven and just about unplayable. Even with the graphics grew to become down all of the means and the sport set at 30fps, it is nonetheless now not nice. Easy video games like Alto’s Odyssey, on the other hand, run simply superb. This falls in step with our expectancies.

Relating to on a regular basis usability, the Hearth HD 8 is gradual. It isn’t so gradual that it is unusable, however when you personal a slightly new smartphone, the Hearth HD 8 is prone to really feel like a downgrade in efficiency. That is the place we remind you that the pill prices $99.99 and is a minimum of purposeful.

(Credit score: Dave LeClair)

Battery lifestyles, then again, is lovely just right. To check battery lifestyles, we circulate a YouTube video over Wi-Fi with the display set to the utmost brightness. The Hearth HD 8 lasted 10 hours and three mins, which is lower than the 13 hours claimed via Amazon, however maximum pills we now have examined common 8 hours or much less, striking the Hearth HD 8 firmly in above-average territory.

Amazon markets the Hearth HD 8 as a media intake system, because of this audio high quality is essential. The stereo audio system right here sound in reality just right for one of these small tool. The bass reaction on our take a look at observe The Knife’s “Silent Shout” is first rate for the scale, or even with the amount grew to become up, Gojira’s “Stranded” does not distort within the slightest.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 are the one connectivity choices. So far as the Wi-Fi is going, we examined the pill in opposition to an iPhone 14 Professional Max to peer how smartly it used to be in a position to hook up with a Wi-Fi 6 router at more than a few distances. When in the similar room because the router, the Hearth HD 8 averaged obtain speeds of 128Mbps, whilst the iPhone greater than doubled that with 326Mbps. Transferring around the condominium with more than one doorways and partitions in between, the pill reached obtain speeds of 56Mbps, whilst the iPhone were given 98Mbps. Regardless of the decrease speeds, the Hearth HD 8 maintained a powerful sufficient connection to be completely usable.

Do not Be expecting A lot From the Cameras

The cameras are an evident position for Amazon to stay prices down; in spite of everything, pills are nonetheless moderately taboo as pictures units.

The Hearth HD 8 features a lowly pair of 2MP cameras, one at the entrance and any other at the again. So far as cameras cross, they paintings, however you might be a lot at an advantage the usage of nearly another digicam in case you have one to be had.

Footage captured with the Hearth HD 8 are appropriate in just right lights, however the rest darker than sunlight results in lovely unhealthy effects.

Each cameras are able to recording 720p video at 30fps. You’ll be able to use the front-facing digicam for video chats; it a minimum of works smartly sufficient on this context.

Amazon’s Restricted Appstore

One of the vital greatest problems confronted via all Amazon Hearth pills is the loss of get entry to to the Google Play Retailer. The Play Retailer is host to greater than 2.5 million Android apps and video games. Your collection of apps at the Hearth HD 8 is (type of) restricted to what is to be had at the Amazon Appstore, which is fewer than 500,000. Possibly most significantly, essential Google-made apps are not to be had, together with Gmail, Google Calendar, and YouTube.

(Credit score: Dave LeClair)

Sideloading Android apps from third-party assets is an choice, however it isn’t for beginners (i.e., maximum attainable Hearth HD house owners). Now not best is sideloading an inconvenience, it opens up the tool to safety threats. In different phrases, this is not a user-friendly option to get extra apps. That implies you might be most probably restricted to what you’ll be able to get without delay from Amazon.

Masses to Watch and Learn on Hearth OS

Whilst Amazon calls its Hearth units pills, they are basically intended to function media intake machines for Amazon content material. That implies they are nice for studying books, observing Top Video, paying attention to Audible, or streaming Top Tune. The Hearth HD 8 is best for all of this.

(Credit score: Dave LeClair)

There is not any scarcity of content material introduced at the Hearth HD 8, and Hearth OS (model 8.3, according to Android 11) makes it simple sufficient to get entry to the entirety. Your Kindle books, apps, video games, Top Video lists, and Audible books are entrance and middle at the Library web page. The House display allows content material discovery, and the For You web page highlights steered content material to be had throughout Top services and products.

Whilst we desire inventory Android over Hearth OS, we get that Amazon’s model of Android has a spot available in the market, specifically for somebody in search of a simplified enjoy that simply directs you to all to be had content material and lines.

Must You Purchase the Hearth HD 8?

The Hearth HD 8 is a transparent step up from the entry-level Hearth 7. Whilst the Hearth 7 has an interesting $59.99 worth, its low-resolution display and gradual processor are sufficient causes to transport as much as the Hearth HD 8. Sure, the Hearth HD 8 remains to be a little bit gradual, its cameras are mediocre, and its display is not as sharp as costlier units. However while you imagine how reasonably priced it’s, it turns into an interesting choice for Amazon Top subscribers, first-time pill patrons, or somebody in search of a powerful spare slate to hold on adventures. If you are eager about efficiency or display high quality, on the other hand, the Hearth HD 10 is quicker and has a sharper, brighter display, and thus keeps our Editor’s Selection award.