# Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro Review: A Legit Tablet or Just Toy Tech?
## Alreet, What’s the Story?
Amazon has been throwing budget tablets at parents for years, and the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro is their recent effort to prove it’s not merely a toy but a genuine tablet for children.
I’ve had my share of disappointments with these devices—sluggish speed, lackluster screens, and lag that makes me want to toss the thing out the window. So, is this one any better, or are we still stuck with a fancied-up Etch A Sketch? Let’s dive in.
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## Design & Build: Leaner and Sturdier
### A Sleeker, Less Bulky Design
The first thing that struck me when I unwrapped the device—it’s significantly less bulky compared to its predecessors. They’ve slimmed it down quite a bit, giving it a more techy appearance rather than a toy-like look. My five-year-old noticed that immediately and felt pretty cool holding it like a “grown-up” tablet.
### Designed to Endure Tantrums
It features sturdy buttons that are simple enough for small fingers to press, along with a headphone jack (remember those?) and a USB-C charging point. There’s no official water resistance rating, though, so don’t let your little one take it for a splash-friendly Netflix session.
### Includes Fun Cases
My review unit came snug in the ‘Hello Teal’ case, which is excellent, but there are also pink Jungle Cat and Marvel Avengers options if your child sees themselves as a little hero. Each case includes a kickstand too, perfect for setting it on a table so you can spare yourself from holding it while they watch CBeebies for the umpteenth time.
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## Screen & Speakers: Good Enough, Not Exceptional
### 8 Inches of So-So
Alright, it’s an 8-inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. It’s suitable for cartoons and educational apps, but don’t expect it to dazzle anyone. The bezels are thick enough to make it sturdy, which I guess is a plus in terms of durability.
### One Solo Speaker
The single speaker actually produces decent audio for a children’s tablet. At max volume, it’s loud enough to drown out your sanity when “Baby Shark” blares for the hundredth time.
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## Performance: As Quick as a Snail on Relaxation
### Basic Specs, Basic Results
Amazon isn’t garnering any accolades for speed here—it’s equipped with a 2GHz Hexa-core processor and 3GB of RAM. While that would be laughable for an adult tablet, for a kid’s version? It does the trick.
### Handles the Essentials… Just About
It’s adequate for streaming videos, playing basic games, and handling school tasks. But god help you if your child starts flipping between multiple apps—this device slows down faster than I do after an intense workout.
### Storage That Won’t Last
It features 32GB of storage, which your child will likely fill up in about a week. Thankfully, you can pop in a Micro-SD card up to 1TB if you prefer not to be deleting apps every few minutes.
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## Cameras: Skip It
There’s a 5MP camera on the back and a 2MP one in the front. Both are less than impressive. Images come out grainy, dim, and as clear as a plastic spoon. If your child wants decent photos, hand them your phone (or even better, buy them a real camera).
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## Battery Life: Surprisingly Good
### 13 Hours? Perhaps
Amazon claims it can last up to 13 hours, and honestly, that’s fairly close to reality. You’ll manage about 10 hours of video or games, which is enough for a lengthy car ride without complaints.
### Very Slow to Charge
The charger provided by Amazon is a weak 5W brick, taking around 4.5 hours for a full charge. If you’re smart, you’ll invest in a 15W plug to cut that down to about 2.5 hours.
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## Software & Apps: Lots for Kids, Clunky for Parents
### No Google Play, Only Amazon Stuff
Runs on Amazon Fire OS, which is basically an odd, budget version of Android without the Google Play Store. This means you’re limited to apps from the Amazon Appstore, which isn’t ideal, but it does include the essentials—Netflix, Minecraft, Disney+, etc.
### Parental Controls are Strong
On the upside, the parental controls are impressive. You can set time restrictions, approve apps, and even stop them from watching YouTube at 2AM when they should be asleep.
### Amazon Kids Plus: Is It Worth It?
It comes with a complimentary year of Amazon Kids Plus, granting access to a variety of books, games, and educational apps. After that, it’s £4.99/$5.99 per month for Prime members, or £6.99/$7.99 otherwise.
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## Price & Value: Fair for What It Is
It’s priced at £149.99/$149.99 on Amazon, which is reasonable for what it offers. You’re primarily paying for Amazon’s child-friendly system and parental controls. If your child is clamoring for an iPad, this is a much less expensive option to keep them satisfied (for now).
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## Should You Get It?
If you’re on the lookout for an affordable tablet that won’t break easily and includes enough parental controls to prevent your little one from accidentally purchasing £500 worth of Roblox currency, this is a solid option.
Just don’t expect it to be quick, flashy, or useful for much beyond kids’ entertainment and learning. If your child is over the age of 10, they’ll likely outgrow this quickly.
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## **Summary: “A Kid’s Gadget That Won’t Driver You Mad”**
Ultimately, the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro does exactly what it claims. It’s a safe, kid-proof tablet that won’t break the bank. It isn’t powerful, it isn’t flashy, and it’s occasionally quite slow—but for younger kids, it fits the bill perfectly.
If you’re holding out for an iPad-like experience, you’re in the wrong place, my friend. But if you need something to keep your child entertained while avoiding concerns about them watching questionable YouTube videos at 3AM, this will certainly meet your needs.
