In our comparative Today we are going to put the new compact tablet of Samsung in front of a very complicated challenge, since it is difficult to surpass in relation quality / price to the tablets of Amazon, even when it is not on sale, as it is now. What is the difference in technical specifications that accompanies the price difference? Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017) vs. Fire 8 HD.
Integrated
We have already seen in other comparisons that one of the points that the new tablet of Samsung compared to other mid-range is the one that already comes with a metal casing, something positive to prolong the life of the components (because it dissipates heat better) and to withstand better blows, as well as more elegant (although this is already an aesthetic assessment each). Although plastic predominates in its construction, however, it must be said that the tablet of Amazon it has some pretty good finishes and it is solid.
Dimensions
In the dimension section also wins, as a whole, the tablet of Samsung, which with a screen of the same size is more compact (21,21x12,41 inch against 21,4x12,8 inch) and something finer even (8,9 mm against 9,2 mm). There is, in any case, a point at which victory is for the tablet of Amazon, and it can be important, which is the weight, with a difference in its favor not excessive, but appreciable (364 grams against 341 grams).
Screen
We have already said that the screen of the two is the same size (8 inchs), something easy to deduce also from their respective names, and it is not the only thing they have in common, since the Amazon tablet also uses the same aspect ratio (16:10, optimized for video playback) and achieves also equal to that of Samsung in resolution (1280 x 800).
Performance
Again the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 when we enter the performance section: not only mount a better processor (Snapdragon 425 eight core to 1,4 GHz against MT8163B quad core to 1,3 GHz), but also has a little more RAM (2 GB vs 1.5 GB) and, which for many may be a deciding factor, comes with a much lighter layer of customization and with Android Nougat, further.
Storage capacity
The other section in which they tie, in addition to the screen, is that of storage capacity, since the latest Fire They have improved a lot in this sense compared to the first models: we will not only have them 16 GB that with the Galaxy Tab A 8.0, but we will not lack the option to gain space externally through a card micro-SD.
Cameras
La Fire 8HD It lags especially behind in the cameras section, although it is true that many hardly get to use them on their tablets, so it is a weak point that can be overlooked. In any case, if we are one of those who do use them, we must bear in mind that the advantage of Galaxy Tab A 8.0 is wide, both for the main (8 MP against 2 MP) as for the frontal (5 MP against 0,3 MP).
Autonomy
Unfortunately, there is not much we can say about which of the two will offer us greater autonomy, because Amazon it does not provide the battery capacity data and, in any case, it must be borne in mind that consumption is just as important and difficult to predict accurately. We will have to wait and see what the independent tests say when there are comparable data to be able to judge.
Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017) vs Fire 8 HD: final balance of the comparison and price
As we have seen, the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 It is really going to give us a plus in several sections and has an important advantage in its favor that is simply to arrive with a recognizable and quite updated version of Android (Nougat). From a design point of view, in addition, it is also possible to appreciate that it is a higher level tablet.
It should be noted, however, that for less intensive types of users, the Fire 8HD is at the height of the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 in two key points, which are screen and storage capacity, and it is to be expected that there will be a notable price difference in its favor: we are still waiting for its official price for Spain, but it is to be expected that the tablet of Samsung cost us around $200 initially, while the Fire 8HD can be obtained from $110 (In addition to occasions like this, in which it is available discounted for 80 euros).