Amazon revamped its Fire HD 8 devices on Wednesday, promising faster performance and more storage, and upgrading the lineup to USB-C charging.
The Seattle tech giant is looking to rebuild its momentum after slipping to fourth in worldwide tablet market share behind Apple, Samsung and Huawei at the end of 2019, according to research firm IDC. With its devices at the low end of the price range, Amazon is seeking to appeal to parents and kids seeking new content and technology options at home as the global pandemic enters its third month.
Amazon says the new Fire HD 8 is 30% faster and comes with 32 and 64GB storage options. Battery life has been extended to up to 12 hours.
With the addition of a USB-C port, Amazon is adopting an increasingly common standard for devices and enabling the Fire HD 8 to be charged in less than five hours.
Offered in white, black, twilight blue, and plum, the tablet starts at $89.99. A limited-time-only two pack bundle is priced at $159.99.
For $20 more, the Fire HD 8 Plus comes with 50% more RAM than the base model. A wireless charging dock allows for an upright display of the tablet, and a 9W in-box adapter will charge the device in less than four hours. The Fire HD 8 Plus comes in a new slate color, and is bundled for a limited time with six months of Kindle Unlimited, Amazon’s subscription-based e-book service. It’s priced at $109.99.
The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition includes the Fire HD 8 tablet in a kid-proof case and stand. It comes with a year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, which offers access to kid friendly books, videos, apps and games.The Kids Edition has and a two-year guarantee and is priced at $139.99.
All of the new tablets are available for pre-order starting today and will begin shipping on June 3.
