Amazon Fire 7 Kids vs. Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids: which is the best kids' tablet?
At first glance, they look pretty similar – but aside from the extra inch of screen size, what sets the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids apart from its predecessor, the Amazon Fire 7 Kids?
By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated Dec 20, 2023
Like them or loathe them, kids' tablets can be extremely useful from a parent's perspective - from boosting your child's learning and development to giving you some much-needed peaceful moments. We're not saying you should crack them out at every family meal, but during long journeys, lengthy waiting room stays or even just for staving off a 4pm danger-nap in the buggy, they can be a lifesaver. And, particularly if you're looking for a first tablet for very young children, you can't go too far wrong with an Amazon Fire (especially if it's on offer!)
But which Amazon Fire kids' tablet is the best? As a long-time owner of the Amazon 7 Kids, I was interested to see how it measured up to its newer, whizzier upgrade, the Amazon Fire HD 8. Both are listed as best buys on our guide to the best tablet for kids, both are named frequently on the Mumsnet boards as good, reliable options for children as young as two and both are rated highly by technology experts across the internet.
But which tablet has the best battery life? Which has better storage capabilities? Which one would I be more comfortable handing over to my perpetually-sticky four-year-old son, who, despite said stickiness, has a tendency to accidentally drop things onto hard surfaces within three seconds of handling them?
Let's find out.
Amazon Fire 7 Kids: at a glance
Price on writing: £115 | Buy now from Amazon
Key Specs
Size: 201 x 162 x 28mm | Weight: 429g | Age suitability: 3 - 7 (enjoyed by older too!) | Screen size: 7" | Screen resolution: 1024 x 600 res, 771 ppi, SD playback | CPU: Quad-core 2.0 GHz | Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Internal storage: 16GB or 32GB | RAM: 2GB | Camera: 2 MP, front- and rear-facing | Kid-proof case: Included - red, purple, blue | Audio: Integrated speaker, 3.5mm stereo jack | Parental controls: Yes | Included perks: 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ | Ports: USB-C (2.0) | Warranty: Two years
What we love
User friendly
Great starter tablet for kids as young as two
Budget-friendly (and often there are deals – we bought ours for £65 back in 2019)
Grown up profile easy to access, make changes, etc
What to know
Some apps don’t work when there’s no WiFi
Storage can fill up quickly, particularly if you like video content
Battery doesn't last as long as the 8
What Mumsnet users say
"We have had ours for 3 years and honestly no problems at all with it. It’s been dropped loads of times and yet still in good condition. We haven’t had issues downloading games or anything. I don’t know if we have just been really lucky but have been pleased with it." (Recommended by Mumsnetter PinkJam)
"We got 3 last year for our DCs, they love them and do everything they want." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user AliceMck)
Read next: As we head into the summer holidays, check out our guides to the best travel games to keep them occupied on journeys, the best board games to play on rainy days and the best online tutoring to keep learning forefront while school's out.
"I like really like the range of games on the tablet, my favourite ones are the ‘My Town’ games where you control a character and get them to go places and do things. There are some educational ones too, they helped me with how to write my numbers when I was little."
- L, age 9
The Amazon Fire 7 Kids: Our Verdict
Rating: 4/5
We bought our first Amazon Fire 7 Kids (9th generation) when our eldest child was around four or five, and were so impressed with it, we bought a second for our middle child a few years later. They are now primarily used by our four- and six-year-old for long journeys, waiting rooms and camping trips.
As a parent, the tablet is easy to set up and you can easily access an adult profile (I definitely recommend setting a PIN) to change settings and manage your child’s content. It comes with a one-year free subscription to Amazon Kids+ which means access to hundreds of games, apps, video and learning content from brands including LEGO, Marvel, Harry Potter and Nickelodeon, all tailored to your child’s age and/or stage of development. After this runs out, it costs £38 per year for Prime members and £68 for non-Prime (or £3.99 per month/ £6.99 per month). We chose to carry on our subscription and have never looked back - it just means you know that the content they're accessing is age-appropriate and that they can't download anything that's not free.
You can create up to four separate child profiles per tablet and set their age range so the content is automatically tailored to be appropriate and fun for each one.
That's not to say the Fire 7 is completely without flaws – the biggest issue we've had is that a lot of games/ apps don't seem to work without WiFi access, particularly with the older of our two Fire 7 tablets. You can get round this by using your mobile phone as a hotspot tether, but this of course will eat into your data allowance and battery life, so isn't the best solution when out and about. I would still recommend the Fire 7 for any households with kids aged three and over (and it's worth noting that even though Amazon says the age suitability is three to seven, our nine-year-old still plays with her old one on occasion!)
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids: at a glance
Price on writing: £150 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Size: 222 x 180 x 27mm | Weight: 518g | Age suitability: 3+ | Screen size: 8" | Screen resolution: 1280 x 800 res, 189 ppi, HD playback | CPU: Hexa-core 2.0 GHz | Battery life: Up to 13 hours | Internal storage: 32GB or 64GB | RAM: 2GB | Camera: 2 MP, front- and rear-facing, 720p HD video recording | Kid-proof case: Included - red, purple, blue | Audio: Integrated speaker, 3.5mm stereo jack, advanced audio port design in case | Parental controls: Yes | Included perks: 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ | Ports: USB-C (2.0) | Warranty: Two years
What we love
User friendly
Excellent HD screen
Plenty of storage capability (great for video content)
Battery lasts far longer than the 7
What to know
Can be pricey if no deals on (currently at £150)
Sometimes needs a tether to mobile phone network to enable downloading
What Mumsnet users say
"Both my DC (9 and 12) have used it a lot since we received it. My son has been using it a lot, especially to find new books for his school reading. They've also really enjoyed some of the recommended apps and I really like the fact they can have whichever app they like, provided I approve it, of course." (Tried and tested by Mumsnetter SanFranBear)
"It is amazing! Performed really well, and is a great introduction to tablets for younger children. She found it really easy to use, and keeps showing me new things she has discovered. I highly recommend it." (Recommended by Mumsnet user cliffdonville)
Related: Discover our age-related bespoke guides to the best toys here: the best toys for four-year-olds, five-year-olds, six-year-olds, seven-year-olds, eight-year-olds, nine-year-olds and ten-year-olds as rated by Mumsnet parents.
"Overall we are very happy with it and I would certainly recommend it to anyone with children in that age range, especially if they are towards the younger end of the range, as they can get the best use out of it as they get older and can move through the different content selections."
- Mumsnet user ahagwearsapointybonnet
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids: Our Verdict
Our rating: 5/5
When I first got hold of an Amazon Fire 8 HD tablet to compare it to our trusty 7s, I couldn’t actually tell the difference at first glance. However, once I took a closer look I soon realised that the screen quality was loads better (that’ll be the HD) as well as being larger. Longer use reveals that the storage capabilities are greater (though you can buy an SD card for both tablets for extra storage and, although our 7s only have 16GB internal storage, you can buy them with 32GB).
Comparing the two tablets, Amazon Fire HD 8 far outstrips the Fire 7 Kids in terms of performance - not only does the superior screen display everything in far better quality, the audio is better thanks to the dual speakers. The battery also lasts far longer on the Fire 8, which can be a game-changer for long-haul holidays or camping trips, and it doesn't seem to have the same glitches in terms of certain apps and games not working when there's no WiFi to be had.
Overall, this tablet is pretty impressive - particularly when compared to our oldest 7 model - and it's easy to justify the extra cost when it comes to superior quality and functionality. On the other hand, will a three-year-old really care if they're bathing an animated kitten in high-definition with dual integrated speakers?
Amazon Fire 7 Kids vs Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids: FAQ
What age is the Amazon Fire 7 Kids for?
According to Amazon, the Fire 7 Kids is aimed at children aged 3 - 7, however you can use the parental controls to set the content for children as old as 12 (our nine-year-old still enjoys hers on occasion). You may find that its lower storage capabilities, lack of HD and shorter battery life span make it a better fit for younger children.
Can you get Netflix on Amazon Fire 7 or Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids?
Yes, but you will need to add Netflix via the parent dashboard. It's worth noting that some older Fire 7 Kids tablets only allow Netflix streaming rather than download, which can be a pain if you're looking to download video content to watch offline. The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids does allow downloading of Netflix content, however.
Amazon Prime members also should have access to all Amazon Prime video content on their kids' tablets, which should be downloadable to view offline as well as online.
Is there a difference between Amazon Fire and Amazon Fire Kids?
In terms of hardware, there isn't a difference between the Amazon Fire tablets and their counterpart Fire Kids tablets. The difference in price (with the kid's tablet often coming in around £50 more expensive) is due to the 'Kid-Proof' case (which, trust me, is a must) and the subscription to Amazon Kids+ as well as the warranty, which is two years for a kids' tablet and one year for the standard fire tablet.
How do I set up my Amazon Fire kids' tablet?
When you set up your kids' tablet, you'll have the option to add a child's profile or import any existing child profiles from a previous tablet. You can set up a pin or password at this stage to stop your child changing their settings. If you haven't already, you'll also have the option to set up your Amazon Kid+ account (both the Amazon Fire 7 Kids and the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids come with a year's free subscription to this).
You can then access your child's profile to customise content for their age group and interests.
Is Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids worth it?
It really depends on what you're looking for from a kids' tablet. If you're looking for a first tablet for a younger child, the Amazon Fire 7 Kids is a great option. If you're shopping for a slightly older child or simply want a bit more battery life, a higher definition screen and more storage space for movies and games, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids is a good investment.
The price of both tablets can vary according to Amazon deals, but usually it's around a £50 difference.
Final Verdict: Which Amazon Fire Kids' Tablet is Best?
In terms of performance, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids is better than the Amazon Fire 7 Kids. Its tech specs are all an upgrade to the 7, the playback quality is better, the storage will hold more and the battery life lasts longer. However, I think the decision on which Amazon Fire Kids' Tablet is best for you really comes down to the kid rather than the tablet.
If you're buying for an older child who will appreciate high-definition playback, decent dual speakers and a large capacity for storing games and apps, go for the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids. It's an upgrade to the Amazon Fire 7 Kids in almost every way and will always out-perform it in terms of tech specs.
However, if the thought of handing over a brand new, £150 piece of tech to your child gives you butterflies in your stomach, perhaps you'd be better off with the Amazon Fire 7 Kids. It may cost less and store less and run out of battery sooner, but it's still one of the best kids' tablets currently available (and definitely one of the cheapest!) It holds its own in terms of playback quality and speed, it is easy to navigate for toddlers as young as eighteen months, and, as our family can attest, the tablet itself lasts a long time. Amazon doesn't even make the oldest version we own anymore but it's still going strong in our household. And, thanks mostly to the rubber 'Kid-proof' case, I'm more than happy to hand it over to my youngest and clumsiest when needs must.
Having said that, and particularly since trying out the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids, I will certainly be keeping an eye out for deals on the newer version - particularly with Prime Day just around the corner and Black Friday on the horizon.
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All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet Talk boards. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.
About the author
Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy care and child play content pages.
Before joining the content team at Mumsnet, Jenny worked as a journalist for newspapers, radio, TV and b2b trades magazines for over a decade. She is also a bestselling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.
As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in buyers' guides and reviews such as this one, as well as sourcing expert advice on all things pregnancy and child play related.