Amazon Fire HD 8 (2024) 32GB Wi-Fi (Emerald)
By Amazon · Tablets · Phones & Computers
- 8-inch HD display, 1280 x 800 (189 ppi)
- 3GB memory, 32GB storage, expandable up to 1TB via microSD
- Octa-core 2.0 GHz processor
- Up to 13 hours of battery life
Price not listed
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Summary
A cheap 8-inch tablet built for Amazon’s own apps and services, with long battery life and a microSD slot for storage. Check two things first: there is no Google Play, and the lock screen ships with ads you pay to remove.
Strengths
- Long battery life for the price; testers measured roughly 10 to 15 hours of video playback.
- microSD support up to 1TB adds cheap storage for films and books.
- USB-C charging replaces the microUSB port of earlier models.
- Light and compact enough to hold in one hand, which suits kids.
- A headphone jack is still included.
- Tight fit with Prime Video, Kindle and Alexa for people already in Amazon’s ecosystem.
Weaknesses
- No Google Play Store, so Gmail, YouTube and Chrome are not native; you use the built-in app store or sideload.
- Lock-screen ads (Special Offers) are built in and cost extra to remove.
- The bundled 5W charger is slow: about five hours to a full charge.
- The cameras are poor; Tech Advisor calls the rear camera nearly unusable.
- The display is dim and low-resolution at 189 ppi, with limited viewing angles.
- Performance is entry-level (Geekbench 5 scores of 192 single-core and 901 multi-core) and struggles with demanding apps.
Verified specifications
| Display | 8-inch HD, 1280 pixels wide, 189 ppi. |
|---|---|
| Processor | hexa-core 2.0 GHz (MediaTek MT8169A). |
| RAM | 3GB. |
| Storage | 32GB, expandable to 1TB via microSD. |
| Usable storage | 25GB of the 32GB. |
| Battery life | rated up to 13 hours; Consumer Reports measured 15 hours of video and 10.7 hours of web browsing. |
| Charging | USB-C with a 5W adapter, about 5 hours to full; a 15W adapter cuts that to about 2 hours. |
| Cameras | 5MP rear with 1080p video, 2MP front. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). |
| Bluetooth | 5.2. |
| OS | Fire OS 8 (based on Android 11). |
| Security updates | four years guaranteed. |
| Headphone jack | yes. |
| Speakers | stereo. |
| Dimensions | 7.94 × 5.40 × 0.37 in (201.7 × 137.1 × 9.4 mm). |
| Weight | 11.88 oz (337 g). |
| In the box | tablet, USB-C cable, 5W power adapter, quick-start guide. |
| Warranty | 90-day limited. |
| Colors | Emerald, Black, Hibiscus. |
Full research notes and sources
Which model this is
This page covers the 2024 Fire HD 8, the 13th-generation tablet with 32GB of storage in Emerald, ASIN B0CVDS6WFQ. The same tablet also comes in Black and Hibiscus, and a 4GB/64GB variant exists. Don’t confuse it with the smaller Fire 7 or the discontinued Fire HD 8 Plus, which added wireless charging.
Google Play and the app situation
The tablet runs Fire OS 8, built on Android 11, and it has no Google Play Store. Gmail, YouTube and Chrome are not installed, and many apps look like stretched phone apps rather than tablet layouts. You install what Amazon offers, sideload the rest, or use the Silk browser, which reviewers call slow and unreliable. The home screen also carries sponsored content and “For You” recommendations that you cannot turn off.
Battery life and charging
Amazon rates the Fire HD 8 at up to 13 hours of video. Independent testing backs that up: Consumer Reports measured 15 hours of video and 10.7 hours of web browsing on the 4GB model, PCMag recorded 9 hours 41 minutes of local video, and Engadget got 10 to 11 hours in daily use. The bundled 5W adapter is the weak point, taking about five hours to fill the battery; a 15W adapter roughly halves that. Consumer Reports found 30 minutes of charging buys about 2.4 hours of use.
Running costs and upkeep
Lock-screen ads are the one near-certain extra: removing Special Offers costs extra. There is no user-replaceable battery and no official repair program, so a failed battery means professional service or a replacement tablet.
Amazon promises four years of security updates, but the 90-day warranty is short. A membership helps if you lean on Prime Video and Kindle; without one the tablet still works, but you lose some of the point. Cases, screen protectors and microSD cards are sold separately.
Is it worth it?
At this price the Fire HD 8 is good value for one job: streaming and reading inside Amazon’s ecosystem, especially as a secondary or kids’ tablet. If you need Google apps, productivity work or a sharp screen, look at a tablet with Google Play and a higher-resolution display.
Budget for the fee ad removal, and accept that the cameras are for video calls at best.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- No non-Amazon manufacturer link found.
Independent reviews:
Owner reports:
- No exact-model owner threads in the inputs.
