Looking for an affordable tablet for entertainment, browsing, or light productivity? The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) and Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 10.5 (2021) are popular contenders in the budget tablet space. But which one offers the best value for your money?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a more versatile Android experience with better performance and a larger screen. While the Fire HD 8 excels in Amazon's ecosystem and offers a lower price point, the Tab A8's overall capabilities make it the slightly better choice for most users.
| 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, 41, 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, December 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 21 | Available. Released 2022, January 17 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 201.9 x 137.4 x 9.6 mm (7.95 x 5.41 x 0.38 in) | 246.8 x 161.9 x 6.9 mm (9.72 x 6.37 x 0.27 in) |
| SIM | No | Nano-SIM (cellular model only) |
| Weight | 337 g (11.89 oz) | 508 g (1.12 lb) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 800 x 1280 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~189 ppi density) | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~216 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.0 inches, 185.6 cm2 (~66.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 10.5 inches, 319.7 cm2 (~80.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT8169A | Unisoc Tiger T618 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EE MC2 | Mali G52 MP2 |
| OS | Android 11, Fire OS 8 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | 1080p | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 5 MP |
| Video | 720p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS - 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, gyro, proximity, 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 7040 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Denim, Rose | Gray, Silver, Pink Gold |
| Models | KFRAWI | SM-X200, SM-X205 |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 230 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.92 W/kg (body) |
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)
- Affordable price
- Excellent Amazon ecosystem integration
- Compact and portable
- Good for reading Kindle books
- Limited app selection (Fire OS)
- Lower performance compared to Android tablets
- Basic camera quality
- Less versatile than Android tablets
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 10.5 (2021)
- Larger display
- Better performance (Android)
- Wider app compatibility (Google Play Store)
- More versatile operating system
- Slightly better build quality
- Higher price than Fire HD 8
- Samsung's One UI can be resource-intensive
- Camera quality is still basic
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 boasts a larger 10.5-inch display compared to the Fire HD 8's 8-inch screen. Both offer HD resolution, but the Tab A8's larger size provides a more immersive viewing experience for videos and games. The Tab A8 also generally has slightly better color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Neither tablet excels in camera quality. Both offer basic 8MP rear cameras and 2MP front cameras suitable for video calls but not high-quality photography. Image quality is generally adequate in well-lit conditions, but expect noise and limited detail in low light. The Tab A8's camera software might offer slightly more features.
Performance
The Galaxy Tab A8's Unisoc Tiger T618 chipset, featuring two Cortex-A75 cores alongside six Cortex-A55 cores, provides a noticeable performance boost over the Fire HD 8's Mediatek MT8169A. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user interface on the Tab A8. The Tab A8's octa-core architecture gives it an edge.
Battery Life
Both tablets offer similar battery life, typically lasting around 8-10 hours of mixed usage. Charging speeds are identical at 15W wired, so expect roughly the same charging times.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)? Users deeply invested in the Amazon ecosystem, primarily seeking a device for reading Kindle books, watching Prime Video, and basic web browsing. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 10.5 (2021)? Users wanting a more standard Android tablet experience with better performance, a larger screen for media consumption, and broader app compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What operating system do these tablets use?
The Amazon Fire HD 8 uses Fire OS, a modified version of Android optimized for Amazon services. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 uses standard Android.
❓ Can I install Google Play Store apps on the Fire HD 8?
While it's possible to sideload the Google Play Store onto the Fire HD 8, it's not officially supported and can be unreliable.
