Amazon launches trio of Fire HD tablets as people spend more time at home, starting at $89.99

E-commerce Amazon just announced a trio of Fire HD tablet models that start at $89.99. The launch comes at a time when people are spending more time at home due to the stay-at-home rules implemented by states across the nation to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Amazon said the new tablets will launch on June 3 and start at $89.99.

The trio of Fire HD tablets include: Fire HD 8, Fire HD 8 Plus, and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition. The announcement of the new models also suggests that Amazon’s electronics supply chain is operational enough for new product launches. The Fire HD 8 entry-level model tablet has a faster processor than before and comes with 32 GB of storage. The upgraded model, the Fire HD 8 Plus, can charge wirelessly with the right charger. It also has more RAM and comes with a six-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited, Amazon’s book rental subscription service, for $109.99.

“The new Fire HD 8 tablets offer the features that everyone in the family wants – great content, more storage, longer battery life – at a price that is incredibly affordable,” said Kevin Keith, Vice President, Amazon Devices. “We’ve made the all-new Fire HD 8 even better with faster performance, 32GB of internal storage, up to 12 hours of battery life, and easier charging with USB-C—all for only $89.99. For only $20 more, the Fire HD 8 Plus packs even more power with 50% more RAM, hassle-free wireless charging, and six months of Kindle Unlimited included. With access to millions of movies, TV shows, books, songs, magazines, Alexa, and more—Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus are the perfect tablets for entertainment,” the company said in a press release.

The Fire HD 8 entry-level model tablet, which starts at $89.99, has a faster processor than before and comes with 32 GB of storage. It also comes with an 8-inch display that features more than 1 million pixels. That means it should be plenty vibrant for light gaming, streaming, reading and web browsing. It runs Amazon’s FireOS, which is a custom version of Android. It provides easy access to Amazon’s services like Kindle, Prime Video and an app store housed inside the core Amazon shopping app.

The Fire HD 8 Plus starts at $109.99. It comes with additional memory (RAM) and some higher-end features. The rest is equivalent to the HD 8. There’s a faster 9-watt charger that comes in the box, which means you can fully charge the Fire HD 8 Plus in less than four hours. The Plus variant also has more RAM inside: 3GB paired with that 2.0GHz quad-core processor. It should deliver a more responsive experience across the device. Amazon also includes six months of Kindle Unlimited for free, a service that regularly costs $9.99 a month. The Fire HD 8 Plus also supports Qi-wireless charging and there’s a bundle that includes an Amazon-approved Wireless Charging Dock for a slightly steeper price of $139.99.

The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition includes a bundled year-long subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, a subscription service for child-friendly books, videos and games. It has all the specifications and features of the core Fire HD 8 with some kid-centric features. It also comes in what’s billed as a kid-proof case that can handle falls and spills. You get your pick of blue, pink or purple. Amazon also provides a two-year worry-free guarantee — so if it breaks, Amazon will replace it. You also get a year of FreeTime Unlimited, which gives you books, apps, games and videos that are all appropriate for kids. There are, of course, parental controls built-in here.