Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 review: A great tablet choice - but at a price

Amazon's Fire tablets are, it has to be said, rather good. They tend to offer a decent amount of performance for a sensible price - so when the offer came up to review the 8.9-inch model, we were understandably keen. After all, this is a size where Apple and its iPad tend to dominate.

Android tablets of this size have generally been a bit of a mess, and very few are actually worth owning. We'd count the Samsung Galaxy Tab S in this number, but not many others. So, how does Amazon's offering compare? Well, it has to be said, pretty well.

Thin and light

The dimensions of the Fire HDX 8.9 are pleasing, and without a case to add weight and bulk, it's surprisingly light.

The size is perfect for most tablet use, although those who use their device on the train might find that they prefer the smaller sizes, as they're more pocketable. Even so, the 8.9 Fire isn't massive, and will go in a handbag or small laptop case nicely.

Most importantly, its weight means that using it to play games or watch video isn't too much of a chore. Typing can be a bind with the on-screen keyboard, because the screen size makes it slightly impractical for even two-handed use.

Storage options and 4G

You can buy the 8.9 in either 16, 32 or 64GB variants. The prices are £329, £369 and £409 for the Wi-Fi only model. As with other Fire tablets, you can either have "special offers" or opt out.

Special offers are, if you ask us, a damn cheek. It costs £10 to remove them, and if you don't, you'll get adverts on the lock screen. This is okay on tablets that cost less than £100, but for an expensive device like the Fire HDX range, it's nothing short of cheeky.

If you want to add 4G, you can, but only on the 32GB and 64GB models, priced at £439 and £479 respectively. Again the price to remove adverts is an extra £10, so the top price is £489. You can see why this makes us cross.

There are also no additional storage options, so if you wanted to add extra storage with microSD, you're out of luck. Again, that's a little frustrating on a high-end, expensive device.

Accessories make for a better experience

When Amazon sends out review units, it also tends to send out one of its Origami-style covers. It's easy to see why, because they're actually really great. The big problem is, they're also far too expensive and most people won't bother.

What's good about this case, though, is that it can also accommodate Amazon's keyboard. This little bluetooth device is ideal if you want to work on the Kindle while you're travelling. The Origami case makes an ideal stand, and on a train or plane with a table, the whole thing is a serviceable laptop replacement.

The case we tested is £65, and the Bluetooth keyboard is £55. Both are good, but that's £120 of extra outlay if you want the full flexibility. Amazon has the same problem with Fire TV, which is cheap at £80 - but to game, you need to cough up £35 for official controller. Madness.

The screen is the shining star

There's also something else that Amazon's Fire HDX tablets do well, and that's the screen. It's not just the resolution that matters here, although it plays a huge part.

What seems much better on this tablet than others is the colour. It's not just more vivid, it also looks more accurate than a lot of displays. It's honestly a joy to use for web browsing, gaming and general app use.

When it comes to reading, a bit more caution is needed. The LCD-driven display of the Fire HDX is not great when it comes to auto-brightness adjustment. We found it was always a touch too bright. And even at the lowest settings, it's a bit much in a totally dark room. If you're a reader, spend a little bit extra and get an e-ink Kindle, too. The Fire is good for short bursts, but it's not as nice as the proper Kindle.

Conclusion

The Fire HDX 8.9 isn't the cheapest tablet out there, and the lock-in to Amazon's app store and book/video library is a chore that shouldn't exist in 2014. Even so, the device is hard not to like.

If you've got a lot of video and apps from Google's Play Store, then this device won't be for you. If, however, you have no allegiance, then the HDX really is a great choice.

We have a problem with the requirement to pay extra to opt out of Amazon's "special offers" programme. At these prices, it feels like a really bum deal.

The HDX tablets don't feel as focused on selling you stuff as the Fire Phone did - but even so, this feels like more upselling than is really tasteful.