This is a great tablet that is user friendly from the start. Screen is vivid and colors are bright. Camera takes very good quality pics with wide views. Sound is good quality. Very lightweight and compact. Feels good to hold while using.

I've had older versions of Kindle Fire tablets. I actually had the original 1st edition fire tablet,and it was slower than molasses in a snow storm. This tablet is light years better than the original, but it should be due to technology advances. It's a great tablet that has great features and battery life. Once it's set up, and you've made all your personal adjustments, it's really a great value! It runs on its own operating system, (not Android, or Apple) though I personally feel, Android users would feel more at home with this operating system. The Amazon app store is better than when it first launched, but not as deep with apps as you would find on Google Play, or the App store for Apple. Non the less, you should find plenty of variety to choose from, and most apps are free. If you're a Prime member, you will love the ability to watch Prime shows/ movies right from the tablet. If you're an avid reader, then the Kindle reading app is great. I feel the 8 HD probably has the perfect screen size, as it sits right between the size of a larger cellphone, and a smaller laptop. This size tablet also makes it easier to hold, and easy to store when traveling.

This seems to be to be equivalent to the HD 8 Plus from the previous gen. It is fast enough for a basic consumption device (unlike the basic HD 8 from the previous gen, which I found frustratingly sluggish even as an e-reader). The screen quality is just good enough. And I mean that positively. Its actually good enough without being unnecessarily gorgeous like an iPad Mini or something (For comparison, the Fire 7 is NOT good enough, in my opinion). I love the screen size AND the bezel size. I really appreciate that Amazon's designers understand than many of us want a place for our thumbs. Smaller bezels are not always better. Also, having tried both an iPad mini and a Lenovo M9 tablet, the curved edges on the back on the Fire do make it more comfortable to hold than those otherwise more premium devices. Keep in mind that my five-star review is mostly about the balance that Amazon offers regarding quality, usability, and price. If people want a full-featured tablet that can handle more than books, movies, and basic games, then consider an iPad or a more premium Android device. You might not get all the apps you want from the Amazon app store, and not everyone will want to figure out the necessary steps to get other Android apps. Plus, they might slow the device down if you do get them. But for me this is mostly an affordable (especially when on sale) quality full-color e-reader, and I love the look and feel of it.

For their lacking RAM these hold terrific value and one of the best build qualities. Their batteries last a long time. I have had two Fire 8.9" HDX tablets and one still here that still holds its charge. It was expensive for its time but had everything except a micro SD card slot. I have also had the Fire HD 8, and two Fire HD8+. I had a Fire 10 and rarely used it about five years ago. I now have the Fire 11 Max and keyboard case for it, and still have a Fire HD 8+ 2022 version. I also have three Surface tablets, a Go 2 m3, a Surface Pro 7+ LTE, and a Surface Pro 9 i7/1TBSSD/16GB RAM. As well two S9 FE Samsung Galaxy Tablets one 5g model. No I do not do Apple anything. They are fine for less techie types. NO iPads, no iPhones, certainly no Macs without touch screens or SD card storage. I do not want to reconfigure my OS to get the Playstore on my Fire tablets because they then lose updates or updates revert them or brick them. I can change the OS version but why? I can spend a tiny bit more for Android tablets and have it all. I took off one star because they still do not allow the Google play store nor allow Haystack News which I have on my S9 Android tablets, my Pixel 9 phones and my windows computers and tablets. I do have Haystack News on all our Fire TVs but can't download it or get it from the Amazon store. If their 8" tablets are 1280 x 800 (189 ppi) not full HD like the Fire Max 11 I have. I believe if the 8" had full HD at least 1920X1080, 6GB RAM and 32 GB storage with their micro SD card slot, and the Play store and Haystack news I would ditch all my other tablets except my Surface devices and buy HD8 current models.. Now that would be a winner. Do that (Full HD, 6GB RAM, Make a deal with the Google play store, we are not "idjits." Amazon's Tablet UI is Android produced by Google! But with Amazon held back by Amazon. I have seen Chinese tablets with those specs for ~$100.00 - $$125. If Amazon did that with their Fire tablets, especially the 8", I believe they would take over the market. And I love the kid proof sponge cases with the built in stand. When I fall asleep reading and wake up on top of them, none have broken or had any issues. I may end up buying a replacement battery for my old 8.9" HDX, open it up and change the battery. It is a royal PITA with a good chance of screen breakage, or getting a defective battery.

I must have gotten the very first Amazon Tablet ever made. It was afordable and reliable and useful. After all these years every Amazon model increases its Tablet's capabilities while still staying completly reliable and affordable. It is always getting better; this Tablet Increases in speed, with more storage and with a display that keeps looking nicer with every update. When I read Reviews about this Tablet it is always rated not as great as "the other" really expensive tablets for sale. That maybe true, but it does exactly what I need it to do and it performs all task flawlessly with a display thats looks beautiful. I am very greatful for all Amazon has done...