The Alexa Tablet 8 is appealing because it makes a small Amazon tablet useful beyond Amazon's own services. Google Play brings the usual Android app library to an 8.7-inch screen. Its size is a better reason to choose it than any promise about what a voice assistant might do in the future.
In depth
Amazon Alexa Tablet 8 review
Published
Best forreading, streaming, and using Android apps on a tablet you can hold in one hand.
At a glance
- Screen size
- 8.7 inches
- Panel technology
- IPS LCD
- Processor
- MediaTek MT8189
- Storage
- 64GB128GB
- Operating system
- Alexa Tablet 8 · 4 GB / 64 GB / Alexa Tablet 8 · 4 GB / 128 GB / Alexa Tablet 8 · 8 GB / 128 GBAndroid 16 with Google PlayKids ages 3–5, soft bumper case / Kids ages 6–12, slimmer standing caseAndroid with parent-managed Google Play access
Pros
- Compact aluminum body
- Google Play alongside Kindle and Amazon video services
Cons
- Limited room for two apps side by side
- Kids packages include a time-limited subscription
Display & Design
- 8.7 inches
- 1340 × 800
- 60 Hz
Amazon lists a weight of 329 g for the standard tablet. It is a practical size for a novel, a train timetable, or one video on a tray table. Illustrated pages and full-size PDFs are harder choices. Enlarging the lettering on a small screen also shortens the line, which can mean more scrolling through a long document.
Software
Google Play makes it worth checking the exact apps your household wants, especially if you used an older Fire tablet and ran into an app-store limitation. The Kindle reading experience can silence notifications. That is a small feature with a clear use when a tablet serves as both a book and a messaging device.
During five days with the adult Tablet 8, Double Tap’s Chris Cooke connected a USB-C braille display and a Bluetooth keyboard. He sometimes had difficulty moving TalkBack focus between two on-screen columns in landscape. Families evaluating accessibility in the Kids interface should try that interface separately. 1
Family Features
The Kids Tablet 8 packages pair the compact screen with parental controls, a protective case, and a year of Kids+. The bumper for younger children and the slimmer case for older ones change how the tablet feels in small hands. Decide whether the subscription library is worth keeping once the included year ends.
Alternatives
The Alexa Tablet 11 trades portability for a larger, higher-resolution display. It makes more sense for shared films and illustrated homework. A dedicated e-reader is worth considering if almost everything you do is read books.
Verdict
The 8 is the easiest Alexa tablet to justify as a companion to a larger screen already at home. Choose it for a portable mix of books, apps, and video.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- Double TapAmazon Alexa Tablet 8 Review: Android, TalkBack and Alexa for Blind Users (opens in a new tab)https://doubletaponair.com/amazon-alexa-tablet-8-review-android-talkback-and-alexa-for-blind-users/
Five days with TalkBack, a USB-C braille display, and a Bluetooth keyboard on the adult Tablet 8.