It's not that the device is expensive in relative terms, as it is still hundreds less than some tablets from Apple and Samsung.
#Amazon fire hd 8 review plus#
The biggest question marks for me with the Fire HD 8 Plus revolve around its price and position in Amazon's lineup. You still can't get the YouTube app on Fire tablets without sideloading, though you can, of course, access it just fine from the web browser or third-party apps. It's not all that difficult for those who are technically proficient to sideload Google apps and services, but I'd say it's still beyond the reach of most of the Fire tablet's customer base.
#Amazon fire hd 8 review android#
We can't have a Fire tablet review on Android Central without mentioning the elephant in the room, which is the fact that Google apps and services are not available without some trickery. I think a better move on Amazon's part would have been to surface those sign-up requests as occasional notifications, or as lockscreen ads on their devices with "special offers." I liken it to setting up a lower-end Android phone that you purchase from a carrier, with all of the splash screens and bloat associated with that process.įor all of the great parts of the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus, the lack of Google Play Store access remains a thorn in the side. Holy heck, I know it's Amazon's walled garden, but that was a major turnoff (and I'm someone who loves most of Amazon's services). Not a deal-breaker, but not what you'd expect from "updated" internals.Īnother thing that struck me when initially setting up this device (as well as on the regular Fire HD 8) was all of the additional services Amazon tries to get you to sign up for. I still noticed some stuttering, or at least intermittent scrolling issues, when browsing websites in Amazon's Silk browser, as well as when moving from screen to screen (though interestingly not while within apps like Instagram or Kindle). And for those tasks, it performed about the same as the HD 8. I suppose if I played more games, that's probably where it would be more evident, but I primarily used the tablet for watching Prime Video, reading my Kindle books, and doing some browsing.
And while I appreciate the additional RAM that this device includes, I have to say that I have yet to notice much of a difference in my usage.
In its promotional materials, Amazon attempts to distinguish the Fire HD 8 Plus from the Fire HD 8 by touting the wireless and fast charging capabilities, as well as improved internals. (Image credit: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central)
0 kommentar(er)
