Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and 8 Plus tablets fix some common problems from previous generations. They are still very affordable compared to the competition (their main attraction) but now they also have a much more refined design.
Along with those two tablets, Amazon has also presented the FIre HD 8 Kids Edition. It is a Fire HD 8 tablet with software specially adapted for the little ones and it is a very good candidate for entertainment tablets for the little ones, especially if we do not want to give it something very expensive in case it breaks.
A well thought out design
The FIre HD 8 Kids Edition is slightly more expensive ($ 139.99) than the Fire HD 8 and 8 Plus. But in return it includes some very desirable features. The most obvious is a soft plastic protective shell that makes it much easier for small hands to hold and makes the tablet better withstand bumps and drops. It also serves as a lectern to keep the tablet upright.
On top of that, you get a two-year warranty. If your son or daughter steps on it, hits it, or throws it into the pool, Amazon replaces it for free. You'll need to ship the damaged device, so it doesn't cover loss or theft, but the peace of mind that if it breaks, Amazon will replace it without asking questions, it's a nice extra.
Finally, it comes with a one-year subscription to Amazon's FreeTime Unlimited service, which includes parental controls to limit when and what can be done on the tablet, as well as access to selected applications, books, podcasts and videos for the little ones.
Otherwise, the design of the tablet itself is the same as that of the new Fire HD 8, which is good news (they are the same tablet, after all). It does not have the wireless charging of the Fire HD 8 Plus model but it does have a USB-C port.
Not powerful, but you don't need it
The Fire HD 8 is not as powerful as an iPad and this model for children, therefore, neither. But honestly, in many cases it is not needed. If it's going to be used to watch videos and play some simple games, it's more than enough.
The price certainly makes up for this lack of power. Amazon even has a pack of two for $ 209.98, which is frankly theft if we consider the features of the device and the two-year warranty included in the price. You can buy the tablet already on Amazon.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of article posting.