Amazon Fire 7 vs. Fire HD 8: Which should you buy?

At first glance, it looks like the only difference between the Amazon Fire HD 8 and Fire 7 is the screen size, but there's quite a bit more going on here. The Fire HD 8 also has a higher resolution screen, a bigger battery, a faster processor, more default storage, stereo speakers, and a generally more modern appearance. Even so, there is a need for the cheaper tablet for light users and those looking for a good option for kids.

Amazon Fire 7 vs. Fire HD 8: Do you need the bigger screen?

An inch doesn't seem like a huge deal when it comes to screen size but the 8-inch display on the Fire HD 8 feels much more significant thanks to a higher resolution and smaller bezels. Bezels, the black space between the edge of the screen and the edge of the tablet, are much larger on the Fire 7 making the tablet look and feel a bit more dated despite its 2022 release date.

The Fire HD 8 has a screen resolution of 1280x800 compared to the 1024x600 resolution of the 7. Again, the difference isn't too massive but the 1280x800 canvas of the HD 8 can display common 720p video resolutions without the need for scaling. Scaling a video can make it seem blurrier than it actually is.

For HD video viewing, the Fire HD 8 will be a much better experience overall.

Amazon Fire 7 vs. Fire HD 8: How much better is the hardware?

The Fire HD 8 has a faster CPU with a hexa-core CPU that will help it keep up better with modern apps, though both models only come with 2GB of RAM. The Fire HD 8 also comes with double the storage by default at 32GB compared to 16GB on the Fire 4. That being said, both models can be expanded with a microSD card so you can start with the small version and upgrade as needed.

The new hardware also gives both tablets a solid battery life boost. Our Fire 7 review noted impressive battery life with up to 10 hours on a charge. The Fire HD 8 comes in a bit higher with 13 hours on a charge. This stat is even more important when you note that neither tablet supports fast charging. That means four hours to charge the smaller tablet and five hours for the larger model.

Finally, the Fire HD 8 has dual speakers and Dolby Atmos support making it the better pick for watching videos or playing games.

Amazon Fire 7 vs. Fire HD 8: Pick the right version

Amazon gives you a few choices before checkout and they can have a significant impact on your experience. From a technical standpoint, the color of the table is a small issue but if you've got more than one kid, you'll be happy to hear that you can get both tablets in black, rose, or denim colors so your kids can have their own color.

You also get the choice of whether or not you want lockscreen ads. While these ads are not terribly distracting, some people will be happy to know they can buy their way out of them by paying $15 more for their tablet. If you're not sure if you care, you can start with the ad-supported model and remove the ads later on if you wish.

Amazon Fire 7 vs. Fire HD 8: Which should you buy?

If you need more performance than these options can give you, one of the other best Android tablets may be a better pick for you. Still, Amazon's options can't be beaten when it comes to price. If you're buying it for a kid or teen that might lose or break it, the low price will make it hurt a little less.

As you can see, both of these tablets are excellent low-cost options, and both have their pros and cons. You can even get the Fire 7 Kids version with extra protection. If you can only afford the cheaper tablet, it's still a good option that should work well for basic apps and web usage.

Yet, if you're looking for a decent, low-cost tablet to consume media, browse the web, check your email, and even play some games on, the Fire HD 8 is the one to get. While it costs about twice as much, the extra performance and the better screen are worth every penny.