A suitable tablet for older kids
The $139.99 Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro, like the $139.99 Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids, is based on Amazon’s standard $99.99 Fire HD 8 tablet. It includes a six-month Amazon Kids+ trial subscription, a two-year, worry-free replacement guarantee, robust parental controls, and a thin protective case. The tablet has a full day of battery life, but its screen is only so-so, and it doesn’t have the power needed to run advanced apps and games. It’s fine for the price, but if you’re willing to increase your budget, the $189.99 Fire HD 10 Kids Pro has more to offer, as it comes with a bigger and better screen, along with the power needed to run the apps and games older kids will want to use. Design: A Less Bulky Case
Amazon makes two kid-specific versions of its Fire HD 8 tablet: The HD 8 Kids is for ages 3 to 7 and the HD 8 Kids Pro is for ages 6 to 12. The biggest differentiator between the two is the case and the content. The Kids model comes with a large foam case appropriate for young kids and content, with content to match, while the Kids Pro has a slimmer plastic case and content that’s better suited to a slightly older age group. Both models have the same two-year warranty that allows you to return a broken tablet for a new one free of charge with no questions asked.
The Fire Kids tablets are available in three sizes. The Fire 7 Kids starts at $99.99 for 16GB, the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro starts at $139.99 for 32GB, and the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro starts at $189.99 for 32GB. The Fire 7 and Fire 10 come with a year of Amazon Kids+, while the Fire 8 comes with six months. After the Amazon Kids+ trial ends, the service costs $5.99 a month or $48 a year if you’re an Amazon Prime member. For non-Prime members, it’s $7.99 a month or $79 a year.
The Kids Pro’s hardware is the same as that of the Fire HD 8, aside from the fact that it’s enclosed in a large, colorful, kid-friendly case. It measures 8.3 by 6.4 by 0.7 inches (HWD) and weighs 17.9 ounces with the case, which is bigger and heavier than the tablet by itself (7.94 by 5.40 by 0.37 inches, 11.88 ounces), but smaller and lighter than the Kids Edition (8.7 by 7.1 by 1.1 inches, 18.3 ounces). The Fire 7 Kids is smaller and lighter still (5.5 by 8.0 by 0.7 inches, 15.8 ounces), while the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is the largest (7.5 by 10.1 by 0.7 inches, 23.21 ounces).
The case is available in several different styles, including Discovery, which has a picture of the Earth; Hello Teal, which has a plain teal design; Jungle Cat, which pairs a pink exterior with a multicolored lion; and Marvel Avengers, which is black with red lining and a group picture of said superheroes. I received the Marvel Avengers version, which is pictured in this review. The cases cost $34.99 if purchased on their own. The Avengers case has a red handle and stand that you can use to prop up the tablet. The hinge makes a satisfying clicking sound when it locks into various positions. It does take some force to move the hinge, though older kids should be able to do it on their own.
The power and volume buttons are protected by plastic, but there are cutouts for the microphone, the USB-C charging port, and the 3.5mm headphone jack. A selfie camera sits on the right side of the screen for landscape-mode video calls, while an opening for the rear camera is placed at the upper left side of the tablet.
The Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet doesn’t have an IP rating, so make sure to keep it away from water.
The compact 8-inch screen has a resolution of 1,280 by 800 pixels, which lands in the middle of Amazon’s tablet lineup.
