As a tech expert and parent, I‘ve tested out many different tablet options for kids over the years. And while Amazon‘s Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is one of the most popular and highly recommended choices, I believe there are several critical drawbacks that make it a poor fit for most families. Here are the top reasons I would avoid buying an Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet for my children or recommending it to others:
1. No Google Apps or Services
My kids‘ school uses Google Classroom, Docs, Gmail and other Google services extensively. So a tablet without access to any Google apps is a non-starter. Amazon‘s Fire HD 8 Kids tablet runs a customized version of Android but does not come with Google Play or any Google services.
While it‘s technically possible to manually install Google Play, this is an unsupported hack that most parents won‘t want to attempt. You‘re better off with a standard Android tablet that includes full Google services out of the box.
The lack of Google apps also means no YouTube Kids app. You‘re stuck with Amazon‘s FreeTime selection of curated kid-friendly videos instead, which is much more limited.
2. Sluggish Performance
The number one complaint I hear from parents about Amazon tablets is how frustratingly slow they are. Despite the "HD" in the name, the Fire HD 8 Kids‘ tablet only has a weak quadcore processor and 2GB of RAM. This leads to sluggish, unresponsive performance, especially once you have a bunch of apps installed.
Jumping between apps involves staring at a lot of loading screens. Games are slow to load. The interface chugs and lags with every swipe and tap. The underpowered hardware can quickly turn playtime into a frustrating experience for kids.
In contrast, even the base model iPad absolutely flies in comparison with its A13 Bionic chip. It may cost more upfront, but a used or refurbished iPad is a much better value in terms of performance per dollar. I‘d much rather hand my kids a snappy tablet that can keep up with their short attention spans.
3. Limited App Selection
The Amazon Appstore has come a long way in recent years, but it still falls far short compared to the iOS App Store or Google Play in terms of selection, particularly for kids apps and educational content. You‘ll find a few big names like Netflix and Disney+, but many popular kids apps are simply not available.
Even Fire tablet-optimized versions of popular apps like YouTube Kids and ZOOM are missing. Most edutainment apps are designed for iOS first and Android second. So your kids will be missing out on a wealth of engaging, high-quality learning games and apps.
Amazon‘s FreeTime Unlimited service tries to make up for the Appstore‘s shortcomings with a manually curated selection of kid-friendly books, videos, and apps. But it still pales in comparison to the endless variety of the iPad.
4. Paltry Storage Space
The Fire HD 8 Kids tablet starts at a mere 32GB of built-in storage (of which only about 25GB is actually usable). That may sound like a lot, but it fills up very quickly once you start installing games and downloading videos for offline viewing.
Unlike most Android tablets, the Fire HD 8 Kids does not have a microSD card slot for expandable storage. So you‘re stuck constantly uninstalling apps and deleting videos to free up space. I suppose that‘s one way to force kids to be selective about their apps, but it‘s an annoying limitation.
Stepping up to the 64GB model costs an extra $30, but I still don‘t think that‘s enough space long-term, especially if you‘re sharing the tablet between multiple kids. An iPad or Galaxy Tab is a much safer bet if you want a tablet that can grow with your family‘s storage needs over time.
5. Fuzzy, Dim Display
Display quality is one area where Amazon clearly cut corners to keep costs down. The Fire HD 8 Kids tablet has a 1280 x 800 pixel screen with a pixel density of just 189 ppi. While that resolution spec may look decent on paper for a budget tablet, the screen is noticeably pixelated and fuzzy compared to an iPad or higher-end Android tablet.
The low pixel density means text looks jaggy and low-res. Videos and games aren‘t as sharp and detailed as they could be, especially if your kids are used to watching HD content on a TV or computer monitor.
The Fire 8 HD Kids also has a low maximum brightness of just 400 nits, so visibility suffers in brightly lit environments. The screen is usable indoors but quickly washes out in direct sunlight, which limits its versatility as an on-the-go entertainment device. Your kids will be squinting and struggling to see the screen clearly during outdoor use.
6. Flimsy Plastic Construction
In photos online, Amazon‘s kid-proof cases for the Fire HD 8 Kids tablet look reassuringly rugged and durable. But in person, I was underwhelmed by how thin and cheap the cases actually feel. They‘re basically just lightweight EVA foam that adds a lot of bulk without much real protection.
Even with the included case, I wouldn‘t trust these tablets to survive a tumble down the stairs or a drop on the sidewalk unscathed. The case is no substitute for proper supervision or teaching your kids to handle electronics carefully. Amazon‘s 2-year "worry free" warranty is nice for peace of mind, but I‘d rather not have to use it in the first place.
Underneath the foam case, the actual Fire HD tablet hardware also feels flimsy and plasticky, with a lot of flex when you apply pressure to the back. The power and volume buttons have a cheap, squishy feel and the tablet body lacks the structural rigidity and premium materials you get with an iPad. Cutting costs on build quality may not matter much to your kids, but it doesn‘t inspire long-term confidence in the tablet‘s durability.
7. Crummy Cameras
Tablets will never be anyone‘s first choice for photography, given their large size and awkward ergonomics. But kids love snapping pics and shooting videos with any camera you put in front of them. So tablets aimed at kids should have halfway decent cameras. The Fire HD 8 Kids falls far short in this department.
The rear camera has a below-average resolution of just 2 megapixels. Photos turn out poorly lit, grainy and lacking in detail. Videos are even worse, with a maximum resolution of 720p standard HD. The front "selfie" camera is also very basic at just 2 MP, so your kids‘ video chats with grandma will look pixelated and fuzzy. It‘s a bare minimum setup not well suited for a child‘s budding creativity.
By comparison, even the entry-level iPad sports an 8 MP rear camera and 1080p FaceTime HD front camera that absolutely runs circles around the Fire HD 8‘s meager lenses. For better or worse, cameras are an essential tablet feature for kids these days and Amazon really dropped the ball here to cut costs.
8. Irregular Software Updates
Amazon likes to advertise that its tablets are "always up to date with the latest software," but that‘s a bit of an exaggeration. The Fire HD 8 Kids does get occasional minor bug fixes and security patches. But don‘t expect regular feature updates or major new versions of its Fire OS Android skin like you‘d see with an iPad or Google-sanctioned Android tablet.
On average, Amazon releases significant software updates for its tablets about once per year, often lagging a year or more behind mainline Android releases. That means your Fire tablet will miss out on the latest Android features, interface improvements and performance optimizations until Amazon gets around to customizing them (or not) for Fire OS.
This slow update pace also means your tablet may have to wait longer for security fixes, leaving you vulnerable to the latest Android exploits and malware. Amazon doesn‘t have the best track record of patching known security holes quickly.
Furthermore, there‘s no guarantee that your specific Fire tablet model will continue to receive software updates long-term. Historically, Amazon has dropped support for its tablets after 3-5 years. Meanwhile, Apple still delivers the latest iPadOS updates even to 5+ year old iPads. So an iPad will enjoy much longer software support.
9. No Facetime, Skype or Zoom
For better or worse, video chatting has become a huge part of how kids connect and interact with long-distance family these days, especially in the era of social distancing. But Amazon‘s Fire HD 8 Kids tablet lacks access to many of the most popular video calling services.
FaceTime is limited only to Apple devices, so it‘s a no-go for any Android tablet. But Google Duo also isn‘t available in the Amazon Appstore. Nor are tablet-optimized versions of Skype, Webex or Zoom. Your only real option for video calling is Amazon‘s own Alexa calling service, which very few people actually use.
That means you‘ll likely end up juggling a second device for the grandparents to FaceTime with your kids. And your kids won‘t be able to easily Zoom bomb your home office video conferences. It‘s an unfortunate connectivity limitation that really makes the Fire HD 8 Kids feel like an island detached from the rest of your family‘s devices and services.
10. Questionable Long-Term Value
The Fire HD 8 Kids‘ most appealing feature is definitely its low upfront price of $139. But I‘d argue that an iPad or higher-quality Android tablet is a better value long-term, especially if you plan to pass it down through multiple kids.
iPads have unmatched build quality, hardware specs, app selection and software update longevity compared to other tablets. So even a used or refurbished iPad will perform well and remain usuable much longer than a Fire tablet. A new iPad looks pricey at $329+ but it will easily last 5+ years so the annual cost of ownership is much lower.
Additionally, an iPad or more vanilla Android tablet like the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite gives you the flexibility to repurpose it for adult use once your kids outgrow it or upgrade to their own devices. Whereas a dumbed-down Amazon tablet will always be a kids toy that most grown-ups won‘t want to use themselves. So you‘re less likely to squeeze the full value out of it as a hand-me-down.
Alternative Kid Tablet Recommendations
So if an Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet isn‘t ideal, what should you get instead? Here are a few of my top picks for kids and family tablets at various price points:
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iPad (8th Gen): The iPad‘s excellent app library, top-notch hardware, and Family Sharing features make it my top pick if you can swing the higher price and don‘t mind living in the iOS walled garden.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite: If you want an inexpensive Android alternative to the Fire HD 8, this Samsung tablet is a great pick with full Google services, robust parental controls, expandable storage, and all-metal build quality for under $200.
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Lenovo Chromebook Duet: This Chrome OS tablet strikes a nice middle ground between iPads and Amazon tablets in price, performance and app selection. It‘s incredibly versatile with a great screen and even comes with a detachable keyboard.
Choosing the right tablet for your family ultimately comes down to your budget, ecosystem preferences, and how much performance and app selection matter to you. But in most cases, I believe your money is better spent on an iPad or regular Android tablet instead of a limited Amazon device.
