Amazon has introduced the latest version of the Fire HD 8 tablet, as well as the Fire HD 8 Plus. The new tablet is actually a notable upgrade from the previous generation introduced in 2018, but it also costs $10 more, at $89.99.
For that price, you get a new quad-core processor clocked at 2.0GHz, promising 30% faster performance than its predecessor. It also has 2GB of RAM, an upgrade from the 1.5GB of the previous model, and the internal storage has doubled, with the choice between 32GB or 64GB. That can be expanded with a microSD card up to 1TB, too.
The battery life has also improved, and it now promises up to 12 hours of mixed usage scenarios, including browsing the web, watching videos, and listening to music. Plus, it now charges with a USB Type-C connector. The display is still the same 1200 by 800 resolution, however.
On the software side, there"s a new Game Mode, which blocks out notifications while gaming.
If that"s not enough performance, though, Amazon is also launching the Fire HD 8 Plus, which has 3GB of RAM. This model also supports wireless charging, and you can get it bundled with a wireless charging dock that also props up the tablet to be used in Show Mode. The Fire HD 8 Plus costs $109.99 on its own, and $129.99 if you add the wireless charging dock.
As usual, there"s also a Kids Edition of the Fire HD 8, which is the standard configuration with 32GB of internal storage, paired with a Kid-Proof Case to make sure it doesn"t break. It also adds one year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, which offers apps, games, videos, and more content tailored for children. It costs $139.99, which includes the Kid-Proof Case and two-year warranty.
All of the models are available to pre-order today, with shipping starting on June 3. The Fire HD 8 comes in Black, Plum, Twilight Blue, or White color options, and you can get it here. The Fire HD 8 Plus only comes in a new Slate color, and it can be had here. The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition has three different-colored cases - Pink, Blue, and Purple - and you can get it here.