iPad mini (2021) VS Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022): features, differences and prices

The sub-10 inch tablet market isn’t what it used to be; Smartphones have ever larger screens and have gradually taken their place. However, there are brands that continue to bet on them. The most representative example might be Apple with its 6th generation iPad mini, but there’s also Amazon with its Fire HD 8 that tends to go unnoticed. We put both tablets side by side to learn more about their features, differences, and pricing.

With iPad mini (2021) and Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)

• design: The iPad mini (2021) has the same design as the rest of Apple’s tablets, which translates into thin and straight edges, a minimalist borderless front and aluminum as one of the main construction materials. The Fire HD 8 (2022) doesn’t have any physical buttons on the front either, but its looks aren’t as flashy as Apple’s suggestion: it is made of plastic and the edges are significantly thicker. Adopts the concept of previous generations.

• Screen: There are many differences between the iPad mini (2021) and the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022), and one of the biggest is the screen. Although both are eight inches, the quality is of that of the iPad mini is significantly higher due to its resolution (1488 x 2266 pixels vs. 1280 x 800 pixels), wide color space and True Tone technology.

• Processor, RAM and storage: There is also a big difference in performance; Performance is much better on the iPad mini (2021) with the A15 Bionic chip with 4GB RAM. Amazon doesn’t specify what the processor is, just that it’s a 2GHz hexa-core with 2GB of RAM. There is one positive point for the Fire HD 8 (2022) when it comes to internal storage: the option to expand the storage to up to 1 TB via microSD.

• cameras: Also in this point the iPad mini (2021) wins with its 12 MP cameras and center framing on the front for high-quality video calls. Those of the Fire HD 8 (2022) are 8 MP and the video recording resolution is 720p. They are designed for sporadic use or video calls.

• battery: While the iPad mini achieves up to 10 hours per charge according to Apple, Amazon promises a runtime of around up to 13 hours with normal use Internet surfing, video playback and reading.

• operating system: Apple tablets use iPadOS 16, a customized version of iOS with special features for them. The Fire HD 8 (2022) features Fire OS, a forks Android with Amazon services and not those of Google, so there is no access to the Play Store and its catalog of applications is not as extensive as that of the Google Store.

• connectivity: Amazon Tablet can connect to the Internet Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and features Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless accessories and USB-C 2.0 for charging the battery and microSD slot for expanding the memory. In the iPad mini (2021) we find Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and USB-C 3.1, achieving significantly faster transfer speeds and DisplayPort connectivity.

• Other: the iPad mini (2021) is Compatible with 2nd generation Apple PencilIt has a Touch ID fingerprint sensor and there’s a version with 5G connectivity (which you have to pay for). The Fire HD 8 (2022) doesn’t offer these “add-ons” but is a simpler tablet designed for consuming multimedia content and browsing the web.

• Price: and we end with another of the big differences. The iPad mini (2021) starts at 649 euros, the Fire HD 8 (2022) at 114.99 euros, if we agree with the advertising.

iPad mini (2021) VS Fire HD 8 (2022), which one to buy?

Two very different tablets in terms of screen quality, performance, features… and price. As we mentioned, 8-inch tablets are rare and there’s a huge gap between the iPad mini (2021) and Amazon’s Fire HD 8 (2022).

The latest generation of Amazon’s eight-inch tablet has as I claim a 30% faster processor and that it was designed for entertainment. But mainly for the consumption of multimedia content through platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney +. Since we must also take into account that it uses a personalized version of Android called Fire OS and does not have Google services, therefore it does not have a Play Store and the range of applications is much more limited. In fact, it doesn’t have HBO Max, for example.

The iPad mini (2021) also has an eight-inch screen and there the similarities end with the Amazon tablet, since the quality of the panel is significantly higher. But not only that, its processor is much more powerful, the quality of its cameras is very good both for video calls and for leisure, the autonomy is a little behind but not bad at all and the connectivity options They are interesting.

The price of Apple’s proposal is its major downside, since it starts at 649 euros and is quite expensive compared to the Fire HD 8 (2022) at 114.99 euros. But we’re dealing with two very different ranges and the price of 114.99 euros is only achievable if you accept advertising on the screensaver and 32GB of internal memory (although they are expandable by microSD).

The small tablet from Apple is suitable both for consuming multimedia content and for playing games, thanks to the Apple Pencil even for the productivity of certain types of users. Who is the Fire HD 8 (2022) for? However, for users who base the tablet mainly on video consumption, web browsing and reading, it is necessary to take into account that the resolution is not Full HD. And if you want to use it to play games, its processor does not make it the best option, which would not be possible with titles of the likes of Call of Duty or Genshin Impact since they are very demanding, but it can be used for simpler titles like Candy Crush or Clash of Clans, although Minecraft and Roblox are also advertised.

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