PERFORMANCE. We evaluate how fast a tablet can perform calculations and see how long it takes to complete different tasks. The Amazon Fire HD 8 2018 (16GB) is slower than most other tested tablets and has fair speeds when running everyday tasks, such as web browsing or email. The time to turn on and load the OS was faster than most, although this will be affected by what apps are installed on your tablet. Copying a set of files was fast.
DISPLAY. We also score the attributes of a tablet's display. This device has a display resolution of 1280 x 800, and produces typical detail at 189 pixels per inch. The very bright screen and its reduced glare will be easy to view when used outdoors or in bright rooms. Testers found the display quality is a bit low contrast but still reasonable. Viewing angles are middling, so you may need to adjust the screen to get an optimal display for a single viewer, but moreso for multiple viewers.
CONVENIENCE. To gauge a tablet's ease of use, we look at the intuitiveness of its controls, as well as how quickly it takes to perform common tasks, such as connecting to a WiFi router or transferring files. The on-screen keyboard had a more comfortable size than on other tablets, and buttons were intuitively placed or easy to use. The touchscreen accurately interpreted touch gestures and it showed little, if any, lag in response. This tablet's initial setup process was quick, but included time to install updates. It was fast in connecting to a wireless network. There may be additional steps when transferring files to and from different computers or storage solutions, such as installing special software. You can only display one app at a time on this tablet, so multi-tasking will be more difficult with less information on the screen.
SPECIFIC TASKS. Looking at how easy it is to perform a set of everyday tasks can show how functional a tablet will be. This tablet scored very good, with some tasks easy to perform. Almost all common file types are supported by default without needing to install additional apps to view them. A video conference app is not included by default, and would need to be installed if you want to make videos calls. The camera video records in HD, good for creating movies for playback on TV. The webcam video records in HD, good for making video calls. Video playback was smooth and had little lag, and sound quality from the built-in speakers is thin but acceptable. Photos produced from the camera were middling, better than some tablets but not as good as others, and videos had some noise, producing somewhat unnatural-looking colors. Text was somewhat clear and was OK to read under various lighting conditions. There were few, if any, issues while using the web browser.
VERSATILITY. The features that are available on a tablet and other physical characteristics can affect its usability. It has no USB port. It has no HDMI port. Without a keyboard, it weighs 0.8 lbs. The tablet has a solid feel, with little to no flex in its construction.
BATTERY LIFE. A longer battery life is important for mobility, whether using it while outside traveling, or even just at home as you carry the tablet between rooms. While browsing the web, the tablet can last 10.6 hours, and while playing back movies, it can last 7.9 hours, shorter than most other tested tablets. After partially charging a drained battery for 30 minutes, the tablet can last 0.8 hours, which was shorter than most other tested tablets. The tablet has a battery-saving mode, but it took testers some time to find and activate it.
