Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet is back down to its lowest price ever today – Ars Technica

Today’s Dealmaster is led by a one-day discount on Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet, bringing it down to $50. While we’ve seen it hit this price multiple times before, it’s still a $30 drop and tied for the lowest price we’ve seen to date. Amazon says the offer will last through March 17 only.

This version of the Fire HD 8 has been on sale since late 2018, so it is getting somewhat long in the tooth. Viewed strictly as a cheap outlet for casual Web browsing and video viewing, though, it remains a decent, if not spectacular, value at this $50 price point. Its 1.3Ghz Mediatek chip and 1.5GB of RAM aren’t really great at anything beyond lighter tasks and games, its all-plastic design makes it feel like a budget tablet, and Amazon’s default lock-screen ads are an annoyance. Amazon’s Fire OS still can’t run Google apps or the Play Store without some legwork. Still, the 16GB of storage here can be expanded with a microSD card, the 1200×800 resolution display is sharp enough for an 8-inch slate, and the roughly 10-hour battery life is fine.

We’d recommend paying up for an iPad or at least a Fire HD 10 if you need a tablet for more than the basics; the more vibrant displays and faster internals on those will make a difference over time. For small children who’ll chuck whatever they get their hands on, Amazon’s Fire Kids Edition slates are better equipped to withstand wanton abuse. But most of those devices come at a higher cost. For $50, the Fire HD 8 is still a decent buy for older kids or those who just want to keep a tablet around for tinkering purposes.

If you don’t need a new tablet, though, we also have deals on Roku’s Streaming Stick+ and Nvidia’s Shield TV, a $10 discount on the excellent Doom Eternal, offers on Anker chargers and speakers, and more. You can have a look at the full list below.

Note: Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.

Top 10 deals of the day

• Amazon Fire HD 8 (16GB, ads) tablet for $49.99 at Amazon (normally $79.99).
• Roku Streaming Stick+ 4K HDR media streamer for $39 at Amazon and Google Shopping (normally $49).
• Nvidia Shield TV 4K HDR media streamer for $129.99 at Amazon and Google Shopping (normally $149.99).
• Pre-order: Doom Eternal (PS4, XB1) for $49.94 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $59.99).
• Anker PowerPort I USB desktop wall charger – 60W total, 30W USB-C PD, 4x USB-A for $30.99 at Amazon (clip $2 coupon – normally $49.99).
• Anker Soundcore Flare portable Bluetooth speaker for $37.41 at Amazon (normally $55).
• TP-Link Kasa HS200 (3-pack) smart light switch for $49.99 at Amazon (clip $10 coupon – normally $69.99).
• New users only: Amazon Music HD 3-month membership for free at Amazon (normally $45).
• 27-inch Dell S2719DGF gaming monitor – 1440p, 144Hz, TN, FreeSync for $260.20 at Dell (use code: EXTRA17 – normally $299.99).
• Microsoft Xbox One X (1TB) + Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order + Xbox Game Pass 1-month membership + Xbox Live Gold 1-month membership + EA Access 1-month membership for $299 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $349).

Laptop and desktop PC deals

• Dell XPS 13 (7390) laptop – Intel Core-i5-10210U, 13.3-inch 1080p, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 256GB SSD for $829.99 at Dell (use code: EXTRA17 – normally $999.99).
• Alienware m15 gaming laptop – Intel Core i7-9750H, 15.6-inch 1080p 144Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GeForce 1660 Ti 6GB for $1,199.99 at Dell (use code: AWM15R1AFF – normally $1,749.99).
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (7th gen) laptop – Intel Core i7-10710U, 14-inch 1080p IPS, 16GB DDR3 RAM, 1TB SSD for $1,399 at Lenovo (use code: THINKBONUS – normally $1,699).
• Dell G5 Inspiron 5090 gaming desktop – Intel Core i5-9400, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB for $650.71 at Dell (use code: EXTRA17 – normally $783.99).
• Intel Core i5-9400F desktop processor – 6-core/6-thread for $119.99 at Amazon and Google Shopping (normally $149.99).
• 27-inch Dell S2719DGF gaming monitor – 1440p, 144Hz, TN, FreeSync for $260.20 at Dell (use code: EXTRA17 – normally $299.99).
• 27-inch Acer Nitro VG271 gaming monitor – 1080p, IPS, 144Hz, FreeSync for $199.99 at Amazon (normally $239.99).
• WD Easystore (12TB) external desktop hard drive for $189.99 at Google Shopping (normally $279.99).

Video game deals

• Dragon Ball FighterZ (Switch) for $19.99 at Amazon (normally $29.99).
• Xbox Live Gold only: Resident Evil 2 (XB1, digital) for $19.99 at Microsoft (normally $29.99).
• Borderlands 3 (PS4, XB1) for $20 at Amazon (normally $24.99).
• Kingdom Hearts III (PS4, XB1) for $19.99 at Walmart (normally $24.99).
• Deadly Premonition Origins (Switch) for $31.95 at Amazon (normally $39.99).
• Slay the Spire (PS4, XB1) for $7.99 at GameStop (normally $14.99).
• Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (Switch) for $19.99 at Walmart (normally $24.99).
• Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (Switch) for $35 at Amazon (normally $44.99).
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (XB1) for $19.99 at Amazon (normally $29.99).
• Dark Souls Remastered (PS4) for $16.99 at Amazon (normally $19.99).
• Shenmue III (PS4) for $27.49 at Amazon (normally $37).
• Pre-order: Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, XB1) for $49.94 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $59.99).
• Pre-order: Doom Eternal (PS4, XB1) for $49.94 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $59.99).

Gaming deals

• Microsoft Xbox One X (1TB) + Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order + Xbox Game Pass 1-month membership + Xbox Live Gold 1-month membership + EA Access 1-month membership for $299 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $349).
• Sony PlayStation Plus 12-month membership card for $37.99 at eBay (normally $59.99).
• Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for $59 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $69).
• HORI Fighting Commander wired fighting game controller for PS4/PS3 for $24.97 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $34.99).

TV and home entertainment deals

• Roku Streaming Stick+ 4K HDR media streamer for $39 at Amazon and Google Shopping (normally $49).
• Nvidia Shield TV 4K HDR media streamer for $129.99 at Amazon and Google Shopping (normally $149.99).
• Sonos Playbase wireless TV sound base for $578.98 at Amazon (normally $699).
• Anker Nebula Mars II portable projector – 300 ANSI lm, 720p, dual 10W speakers for $369.99 at Amazon (normally $499.99).
• 65-inch Samsung Q80 (2019 model) 4K HDR QLED TV for $1,298.99 at Google Shopping (use code: DWTZGK – normally $1,747.99).
• 65-inch Samsung RU8000 (2019 model) 4K LED TV for $699.29 at Google Shopping (use code: MYKNYG – normally $797.99).

Electronics deals

• Amazon Fire HD 8 (16GB, ads) tablet for $49.99 at Amazon (normally $79.99).
• Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition (16GB) tablet for $59.99 at Amazon (normally $99.99).
• Anker Soundcore Flare portable Bluetooth speaker for $37.41 at Amazon (normally $55).
• Microsoft Surface Headphones Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones for $199.99 at Microsoft (normally $249.99).
• TP-Link Kasa HS200 (3-pack) smart light switch for $49.99 at Amazon (clip $10 coupon – normally $69.99).
• SanDisk Extreme Plus (64GB) microSDXC card – V30, U3 for $19.99 at Best Buy (normally $34.99).
• OnePlus 7T unlocked smartphone – 8GB RAM + 128GB storage for $499 at OnePlus (normally $599).
• Bose SoundLink Color II portable Bluetooth speaker for $99 at Walmart and Amazon (normally $129).

Accessories and miscellaneous deals

• New users only: Amazon Music HD 3-month membership for free at Amazon (normally $45).
• Anker PowerPort I USB desktop wall charger – 60W total, 30W USB-C PD, 4x USB-A for $30.99 at Amazon (clip $2 coupon – normally $49.99).
• Anker PowerPort Cube USB power strip – 3x USB-A, 3x AC, 5ft. extension cord for $16.99 at Amazon (clip 15% coupon – normally $19.99).
• Anker PowerWave Pad and Stand Qi wireless charger bundle – 10W Galaxy/5W iPhone, no AC adapter for $20.99 at Amazon (use code: DMA32524 – normally $28.99).
• Prime only: Aukey PA-Y18 USB-C wall charger – 18W USB-C PD for $10.79 at Amazon ($11.99 without Prime, clip 20% coupon – normally $14.99).
• RAVPower FileHub Plus wireless travel router + portable battery – 2.4GHz, 6000mAh, SD for $24.99 at Amazon (clip $5 coupon and use code: WD030E3U – normally $41.99).