Looking for an affordable tablet for entertainment, browsing, or light productivity? The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) and Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite are popular contenders in the budget tablet space. But which one offers the best value for your money?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite edges out the Fire HD 8 thanks to its more versatile Android experience, slightly better performance, and expandable storage. However, the Fire HD 8 remains a compelling choice for those deeply invested in the Amazon ecosystem and prioritizing media consumption.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 66 |
| EDGE | N/A | - |
| GPRS | N/A | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 21 | 2021, May 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 21 | Available. Released 2021, June 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame, plastic ends |
| Dimensions | 201.9 x 137.4 x 9.6 mm (7.95 x 5.41 x 0.38 in) | 212.5 x 124.7 x 8 mm (8.37 x 4.91 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | No | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 337 g (11.89 oz) | 366 g (Wi-Fi), 371 g (LTE) (12.91 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 800 x 1280 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~189 ppi density) | 800 x 1340 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~179 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.0 inches, 185.6 cm2 (~66.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 8.7 inches, 214.9 cm2 (~81.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT8169A | Mediatek MT8768T Helio P22T (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EE MC2 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 11, Fire OS 8 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | 1080p | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 2 MP |
| Video | 720p | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO - cellular model only |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Accelerometer, compass |
| | Alexa natural language commands
Text-to-Speech English-language content reader | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 15W wired |
| Talk time | Up to 13 h | - |
| Type | - | Li-Po 5100 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Denim, Rose | Gray, Silver |
| Models | KFRAWI | SM-T225, SM-T220, SM-T225N, SM-T227U |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.68 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.64 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)
- Affordable price
- Excellent integration with Amazon services
- Long battery life
- Lightweight and portable
- Improved display over previous generations
- Limited app selection (Amazon Appstore)
- Less powerful processor
- Basic camera
- No expandable storage
- Fire OS can feel restrictive
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
- More versatile Android experience
- Slightly better performance
- Expandable storage via microSD
- Access to Google Play Store
- Better display resolution and color accuracy
- Slightly more expensive than the Fire HD 8
- Plastic build feels less premium
- Camera quality is still mediocre
- Performance isn't flagship-level
Display Comparison
Both tablets feature 8-inch displays, but the Tab A7 Lite boasts a slightly higher resolution (800x1280 vs 1280x800 on the Fire HD 8). This results in a sharper image on the Tab A7 Lite. The Tab A7 Lite also has a slightly better color accuracy. The Fire HD 8's display is adequate for media consumption, but the Tab A7 Lite offers a more visually pleasing experience.
Camera Comparison
Neither tablet excels in the camera department. The Tab A7 Lite has a slightly better main camera (8MP vs 5MP on the Fire HD 8), but image quality remains mediocre in both devices. Don't expect to take stunning photos with either tablet.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite's MT8768T Helio P22T chipset and octa-core CPU provide a noticeable performance boost over the Fire HD 8's MT8169A and hexa-core processor. Apps launch faster, multitasking is smoother, and gaming is more enjoyable on the Tab A7 Lite. The Fire HD 8 is sufficient for basic tasks, but struggles with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both tablets offer similar battery life, typically lasting around 8-10 hours of mixed usage. Charging speeds are identical at 15W wired.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)? Users heavily invested in Amazon's ecosystem (Prime Video, Kindle, etc.) and seeking a simple, media-focused tablet. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite? Users wanting a more versatile Android tablet with access to the Google Play Store, expandable storage, and a slightly more powerful processor.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can I use Google Play Store on the Fire HD 8?
No, the Fire HD 8 uses Amazon's Appstore, which has a more limited selection compared to Google Play Store.
❓ Does the Tab A7 Lite support expandable storage?
Yes, the Tab A7 Lite has a microSD card slot, allowing you to expand storage up to 1TB.
❓ Which tablet is better for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is better for gaming due to its more powerful processor and smoother performance.
❓ Are the tablets 5G capable?
No, neither the Fire HD 8 nor the Tab A7 Lite support 5G connectivity. They both offer Wi-Fi connectivity.
