

One of the main reasons people buy a tablet like the Amazon Fire HD 8 is to watch TV and movies – in bed, in the kitchen, on the sofa, while travelling – with maximum portability and minimal fuss. That said, while it feels solid enough, this is certainly not a rugged tablet, so we'd still recommend getting a protective case.

It's also stronger than before: Amazon claims it's twice as durable as the iPad mini (2021). If you've used an earlier version of the Amazon Fire HD 8 then it's worth noting that compared with its predecessor, this version is thinner (down from 4 inches to 3.7) and lighter (down from 355g to 337g). That said, you'll probably want a case to protect it, ideally with a kickstand to prop it up when watching movies or making video calls. In the box it comes with a charger, so you don't need to buy anything more to use it. But at the same time, it looks fine, it does the job, and you can't say fairer than that.

In short, there's nothing particularly fancy about the design of the Amazon Fire HD 8: it certainly won't attract 'oohs' like the latest iPad Pro. At the bottom, there's a microSD slot, which takes up to a 1TB card. At the very top, there are two vents for the left and right speakers. On the right side, you'll find an on-off button, volume rockers, a charging slot, a Kensington slot, and a headphone jack. Holding the tablet in landscape model, there's a selfie camera at the top, in the centre, and another camera for taking pictures on the back, at the top right. The design of the Amazon Fire HD 8 is pretty basic: a black rectangle with sizeable bezels and screen in the centre.
