Verdict
With first rate {hardware}, a tricky case and wonderful parental controls, the Amazon Hearth HD 8 Youngsters is the highest pill for younger kids.
Execs
- Based mostly on the most effective price range tablets
- Extremely powerful protecting case
- Nice kid-friendly software program and providers
Cons
- Display screen could possibly be extra vibrant
- Restricted efficiency
- Can’t push content material from Amazon Prime Music or Video with out putting in app
Amazon Hearth HD 8 Youngsters pill drops right down to £69.99
Amazon has chopped a mega 53% off each the Hearth HD 8 Youngsters and Hearth HD 8 Youngsters Professional tablets, making them accessible for simply £69.99 every.
- Amazon
- Save 53%
- Now £69.99
Key Options
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Stable, shock-proof caseWith all that reinforcement and padding, you shouldn’t want the no-quibble 2-year assure -
8-inch HD displayThe bigger dimension and 1280 x 800 decision offers you a crisper, brighter picture than the cheaper Hearth 7. -
Amazon Youngsters software program and Youngsters+ subscriptionThe software program and subscription preserve the youngsters busy with content material, whereas placing mother and father in management.
Introduction
Mother and father will know that kids are obsessive about tablets, however no one desires to let their toddler get their mucky and clumsy palms throughout an costly iPad.
The Amazon Hearth HD 8 Youngsters (2022) is a superb treatment for this subject, with an reasonably priced value level and a sturdy construct designed for reckless younglings aged between 6 and 12. The mannequin reviewed right here even comes bundled with a thick bumper case, and a subscription to Amazon Child’s providers.
These with barely older kids, aged 6 to 12, even have the choice of the Amazon Hearth HD 8 Youngsters Professional (2022). That is primarily the very same pill, however with a slimmer, extra grown-up bumper case and tweaked software program.
So is the Amazon Hearth HD 8 Youngsters (2022) price a purchase to your little ones? Listed here are my ideas.
Design
- Thick protecting case
- Helpful deal with that doubles as a stand
- Single USB Kind-C port for connectivity and charging
Essentially the most distinctive function of the Hearth HD 8 Youngsters must be the chunky case. It provides round 2cm to the peak of the pill in portrait mode and roughly 4cm to the width, whereas the case is over an inch thick (or 2.7cm) across the edges and the corners.
The Hearth HD 8 is already one of many hardest tablets round, however with the case on it’s a problem to hurt it. A great, direct shock to a small space of the display would most likely do it, however in any other case falls to arduous kitchen flooring, down the steps and onto concrete are unlikely to depart a mark. Mainly, your common youngster must put some severe effort in to essentially smash it up, although with no water or dust-resistance, you would possibly wish to keep watch over it if taken within the lavatory or used outside.
Even when your offspring did dish out sufficient punishment, Amazon gives a two-year fear free assure. If the Hearth HD 8 Youngsters really breaks, you possibly can return the pill and Amazon will exchange it free.
One of many longer sides of the pill homes a thick plastic deal with on a really stable hinge, which folds out for carrying functions or to behave as a stand. It’s very stiff and can solely maintain the pill at two angles, however it means you possibly can plonk the Hearth HD 8 Youngsters on a flat floor if its person desires to sit back out and watch CBeebies.
The one draw back of the case is that the cut-outs for the ports and buttons on the pill could be powerful for adult-sized fingers to get into. I can nearly prod the facility button and the quantity buttons on the highest of the pill, however it’s fairly tight, whereas the USB Kind-C port and headphone socket have comparable points. Nonetheless, all however the chunkiest plugs went out and in with none difficulties and, except you’re planning to let the youngsters free along with your Grado or Beyerdynamic Hello-Fi headphones, you’re most likely going to be alright.
Display screen
- 1280 x 800 HD decision
- First rate brightness ranges however boring, flat colors
- Too reflective to be used in vibrant daylight
By the requirements of an iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab S pill, the display on the Hearth HD 8 Youngsters isn’t nice. The decision is proscribed to an HD (not Full HD) 1280 x 800, that means video and images received’t look as crisp and you may see the pixel construction from round a foot away.
What’s extra, whereas the display goes pretty vibrant (I measured the max brightness at 472 nits) there’s not a whole lot of distinction and colors look flat and somewhat boring.
However, hey, are your youngsters all that crucial about this type of factor? Are they going to grump about inaccurate colors or do they simply need one thing that makes their apps, video games, cartoons, YouTube movies and films look adequate to look at?
If the latter, the show on the Hearth HD 8 Youngsters can be high-quality supplied they’re not attempting to look at outside in vibrant daylight or sit with their again to a sunlit window, at which level there’s not sufficient brightness to punch by means of reflections on the display. To be sincere, I watched some Netflix exhibits throughout testing, and it didn’t irk me all that a lot, both. It’s a darn sight higher than the boring, lower-res display on the cheaper Hearth 7 as nicely.
One factor you would possibly discover extra aggravating is the sound. It’s okay at decrease volumes, if a bit tinny, however will get thinner and harsher as you push the quantity up. Some kid-safe headphones is likely to be a good suggestion, each for his or her enjoyment and to your sanity.
Software program and efficiency
- Simple to make use of, child-friendly interface
- Parental dashboard with wonderful controls
- Mediocre efficiency from six-core CPU
The Hearth HD 8 Youngsters runs the identical Hearth OS software program as the usual Hearth HD 8 pill, however with an overlaid software program expertise designed particularly for youthful youngsters. As a substitute of the traditional homescreen with apps, they see a topbar with large sq. buttons for some fundamental apps and content material classes, then a number of rows of super-sized icons protecting current and featured apps in addition to content material Amazon believes they could take pleasure in. It’s an method that makes a variety of apps, video games and movies accessible, whereas additionally making a type of walled backyard that’s below parental management.
Loads of these items comes free with the Amazon Youngsters+ subscription, which is free for the primary yr and £3.99 per 30 days after that, and it consists of a variety of family-friendly films, TV exhibits, music, video games and apps. Mother and father will love the tutorial apps and content material, whereas youngsters can be completely satisfied to see acquainted faces like Whats up Kitty, Horrid Henry, CBeebies plus large names from Disney and the Cartoon Community. In reality, Amazon Youngsters+ is arguably price it only for the vary of apps, video games and books.
You possibly can add any Amazon content material you personal to your youngster’s profile – movies, Kindle books, Audible books or music – however you possibly can’t add content material out of your Amazon Prime Video or Music subscription, which is a bit annoying if there’s one thing you assume your youngster would love however isn’t on Amazon’s present lists. Nonetheless, you possibly can seek for particular Youngsters+ content material and add it by means of the parental dashboard, so you possibly can add issues that method, in the event that they’re accessible by means of Youngsters+.
You’re additionally free to put in any streaming apps that you simply already subscribe to. So far as the stuff native to Amazon Youngsters goes, it’s all gated to the suitable age, however you’ll need to arrange profiles and parental controls on different apps like iPlayer, Netflix or Disney+.
There’s no browser as such operating inside the Youngsters expertise; there are internet hyperlinks that open inside a restricted browser occasion and make it nigh-impossible to go elsewhere.
Because the mother or father you get a sturdy set of parental controls for apps and video games, so you possibly can outline age restrictions and resolve whether or not you need youngsters to have the ability to obtain apps or add-on content material with out your consent.
The reply to that’s most likely no, through which case your youngsters both haven’t any facility so as to add apps, video games, books and DLC, or need to ask you first. The identical goes for any paid-for content material not included with Amazon Youngsters. Choose the approval required choice, and also you’ll get a immediate through electronic mail to request your say so by means of the browser-based mother or father’s dashboard. It’s fast, hassle-free and secure.
So far as efficiency goes, the Amazon Hearth 8 Youngsters isn’t what you’d name a pace demon. The Hearth HD 8 now has an upgraded six-core MediaTek MT8169A ARM CPU and 2GB of RAM, however you wouldn’t wish to run Name of Obligation: Cell or Genshin Impression on this factor. Fortunately, most child-friendly video games aren’t as demanding, and the likes of Sonic Sprint 2: Sonic Growth and Reduce the Rope ran completely nicely. There’s even sufficient welly to run the extra intensive Asphalt 8, although you’ll spot the odd jerk within the body charge right here and there.
Weirdly, I couldn’t persuade Geekbench 5 to run a full cycle for both of the Hearth HD 8 Youngsters tablets, though I managed it on a typical Hearth HD 8 pill, the place it scored 178 (single-core) and 851 (multi). On condition that even fundamental 8-inch tablets just like the Nokia T10 can hit 305 and 1243 respectively, it solely confirms that you simply’re getting the spec you paid for; nothing much less and nothing extra.
Battery life
- Ten to 13 hours of battery life
- Round 5 hours to succeed in full cost
The Amazon Hearth HD 8 is without doubt one of the greatest small-screen tablets round for battery life, and the Hearth HD 8 Youngsters is not any completely different.
Left to stream video for an hour at most brightness, the battery went down by 10%, and you may reduce this to 7% by decreasing the brightness to roughly two-thirds. In different phrases, you’re positively round 10 to 13 hours of helpful battery life, and probably extra.
Video games will hit the CPU and GPU more durable, however you’re not going to need to cost the pill every single day in case you persist with wise ranges of use.
Newest offers
Must you purchase it?
You desire a pill for younger kids:
With its beefy, damage-resistant case and wonderful software program, that is one pill you received’t fear about leaving with youngsters aged 3 to 7. It’s nicely stocked with stuff to teach and entertain them, and the display, efficiency and battery life are match for objective.
You desire a high-end pill:
It’s costlier than the usual Hearth HD 8, so that you’re paying additional for the software program, content material and case. It’s additionally sluggish and the display isn’t all that nice. Even the most affordable iPad is a greater pill, although it’s going to price you much more, particularly with such a tricky case.
Last Ideas
It’s not cool, it’s not quick and the display could possibly be brighter, however as a pill for youthful youngsters the Amazon Hearth HD 8 Youngsters is just about in a category of its personal. True, shopping for an iPad would offer you entry to a wider vary of apps and video games and Apple’s personal curated expertise and parental controls, however it’s going to price you much more and it received’t be wherever close to as strong.
The Hearth HD 8 youngsters offers your offspring quick access to content material that may preserve them entertained – and even studying – whereas providing you with peace of thoughts that they received’t break it and that they received’t come throughout something you wouldn’t need them to. For an additional £50, that’s a discount.
How we take a look at
Not like different websites, we completely take a look at each pill that we evaluate. We use business customary exams to be able to examine options correctly. We’ll at all times inform you what we discover. We by no means, ever settle for cash to evaluate a product.
Display screen examined utilizing a colorimeter
Benchmarked with customary business instruments
FAQs
The one variations between the tablets are the case and software program. The Youngsters pill is geared toward younger kids, whereas the Professional mannequin targets these aged between 6 and 12.
Sure you possibly can. Though a baby would require a mother or father’s permission to be able to obtain the app.
Trusted Opinions take a look at knowledge
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Producer
Display screen Dimension
Storage Capability
Rear Digicam
Entrance Digicam
Video Recording
IP ranking
Battery
Dimension (Dimensions)
Weight
ASIN
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First Reviewed Date
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Jargon buster
GPU
The graphics processing unit is designed to render graphics, which is especially vital for gaming, creating 3D fashions and enhancing video.
