Bluetooth on amazon fire hd 8 8th generation install#

And while Amazon doesn't encourage it, you can install the Google Play store by following some instructions on the internet. The tablet runs on Amazon's latest Fire OS, a customized version of Android P, which was released in the fall of 2018. You won't find apps for Vudu or HBO Max, for instance (though HBO Max may be coming).

Bluetooth on amazon fire hd 8 8th generation for android#

You can also watch other streaming video services such as Netflix and Hulu, but the selection of apps in the Amazon Appstore has always been limited compared with what's available for Android and iOS, especially when it comes to games. The Fire HD 8 has always been a handy tablet for consuming Amazon video content, ebooks and music, and it's still particularly useful for Prime members. But you wouldn't be able to wirelessly charge the tablet at the same time. You could get a cover with a built-in stand - Amazon sells plenty of those, including its own nicely designed but expensive covers - and create the same setup for watching videos with either the HD 8 Plus or standard HD 8. Like the Fire HD 10, the HD 8 now has a picture-in-picture mode for watching video in a small window in the corner of the display while using the tablet's other applications, such as using a browser to look up recipes. There happens to be a Spectrum app that gives me all my channels on the Fire HD 8 or HD 8 Plus so long as I'm on my home network (you get a reduced number of channels when you're away from your home network). I put the dock in my kitchen and used the HD 8 Plus as a mini TV because I have Spectrum TV as my cable provider. The standard Fire HD 8 is available in white and other color options. But some people are looking for a smaller, lighter tablet and the HD 8 is a significant bump up from Amazon's cheapest tablet, the Fire 7. When that model goes on sale for $100, it's probably the best value in tablets.

Bluetooth on amazon fire hd 8 8th generation 1080p#

That said, the eight-core processor and GPU - the graphics processor - are faster in the 10-inch Fire HD 10, which also has a sharper 1080p display. It isn't as responsive as an entry-level iPad, which is often on sale for about $250, but it's overall pretty smooth and I didn't have any problem running games like Asphalt 9: Legends. At 355 grams, the new Fire HD 8 weighs a touch less than its 363g predecessor.Ī few years back, the HD 8 seemed sluggish, but its performance has steadily improved and now it's pretty zippy (Amazon says the new HD 8s are 30% faster than the 2018 HD 8 thanks to the new processor and software optimization). It's fine for watching videos but it's not nearly as sharp as the screen you get with, say, an iPad, which is why you're paying a lot less for this.

Bluetooth on amazon fire hd 8 8th generation 720p#

The screen is technically HD but it's basically 720p and not 1080p. David Carnoy/CNETīoth new Fire HD 8 models have the same 1,280x800-pixel resolution display as the previous HD 8. The Fire HD 8 now features USB-C charging. The USB-C charging does help reduce charging times by about an hour from the previous HD 8, with the HD 8 Plus charging even faster. The standard HD 8 has 2GB of RAM - that's up from 1.5GB - and the HD 8 Plus has 3GB of RAM, which is where you get the performance boost. Both models are improved over the previous 2018 Fire HD 8 version with a faster processor, USB-C charging, better Wi-Fi performance and a bump from 16GB to 32GB of storage in the base model. But apart from the white version, they all have a black bezel around the display. The HD 8 Plus is only available in a slate color while the standard HD 8 is available in black, white, plum, twilight blue and slate. The two models look identical on the outside. HD 8 Plus offers nice step-ups for just a bit more moneyĭisplay is HD but not 1080p (could be sharper)Īmazon Appstore is limited compared with Google Play and Apple App Store