Which of Amazon’s Fire HD tablets best fits your life?

Amazon’s Android tablets are possibly the best tablets you can buy for the money. When you compare the Fire HD 8 vs. 10, you’re getting incredible affordability and a ton of value in both. They run on Amazon’s Fire OS and get their apps from the Amazon Appstore rather than the Google Play Store. They have full access to Amazon Music, Books, Video, Movies, Alexa, and everything else Amazon does, which, as it turns out, means you can do quite a lot.

Buying one of these tablets is a no-brainer for the budget-minded. The only tough part is deciding which one to choose.

Amazon Fire HD 8 vs. Fire HD 10: Value propositions

As you’d expect, the larger Fire HD costs more than the smaller one, but there’s more to break down here. The Fire HD 10’s display isn’t just bigger, it’s denser with a 1920×1200 resolution versus the smaller HD 8’s 1280×800 resolution. Both offer the same 32GB and 64GB storage options and expand with a microSD card.

Specs aside, the Fire HD 8 and HD 10 offer relatively similar experiences, with both tablets running on Amazon’s Fire OS interface rather than a more traditional build of Android. You get all of your apps from the Amazon Appstore rather than the Google Play Store, which means a much more Amazon-centric ecosystem.

Although similar, these tablets are meant for two different types of consumers. Bigger is better for movies. Get the small one for reading and games.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing; both tablets come with unlimited cloud storage through Amazon, and Amazon hosts a bevy of excellent, exclusive content on its video services.

The OS is fueled by Alexa, who enables you to use voice commands to navigate the software and interact with the thousands of skills available. The digital assistant can now be called upon no matter what state the tablet is in, even if it’s asleep.

Both tablets feature Show Mode, which gives you a visual representation of some of the things that Alexa helps you with. This includes showing the latest news reports, calendar appointments, weather updates, and viewing any smart security cameras you may have connected. However, the new split-screen function in the HD 10 makes multi-tasking a cinch as you can access and view two apps at once, like staying on top of social media updates while reading an article or watching a movie.

Amazon Fire HD 8 vs. Fire HD 10: Which should you buy?

When choosing between the Fire HD 8 vs. 10, you should think about what you’ll be doing most with it. If you mostly want an e-reader for Amazon’s enormous Kindle library, with the occasional video or music playback, the Fire HD 8’s smaller form factor may be the better choice. It’s half the price of the HD 10, and aside from weaker speakers and a slightly slower processor, you’re not missing much.

Buy the HD 8 as an e-reader and light browsing device. Buy the HD 10 as a video streaming device.

If instead, you plan on watching a lot of videos and movies on your tablet, the larger Fire HD 10 is the better choice. The larger, denser display, which is strengthened with aluminosilicate glass, provides a much better viewing experience, and you’ll appreciate the louder speakers. It’s more expensive than the HD 8, but it’s still a bargain compared to virtually every Android tablet on the market. And it’s smaller, lighter, and brighter than the previous-generation 2019 edition HD 10 tablet.

No matter which tablet you decide on, you’ll be getting a surprisingly great device for the money. They’re both great for media consumption and light gaming, whether you’re buying for yourself, your kids, or as a gift.

Best value tablet

Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)

Good performance and price

From $90 at Amazon
$90 at Best Buy
$90 at Staples

The Fire HD 8 is cheaper than the HD 10 and offers a nearly identical experience. The smaller size makes it a great e-reader, and the dual stereo speakers are good enough for playing back audiobooks, music, and movies.

Best Amazon tablet

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)

Among the best under $200

From $150 at Amazon
$150 at Best Buy

If you plan on watching a lot of movies on your tablet, the Fire HD 10 is the clear winner. Its display is larger and higher density than the HD 8, it comes with more onboard storage, and the speakers are louder and clearer.