If you have Amazon Fire HD 8 or HD 10 tablets released in 2017 or later, you can turn them into Echo Show. When you ask Alexa to enable Show Mode or enable manually by tapping in the quick setting tray, your tablet displays the same screen as Echo Show. Letters are bigger and bolder so you can see them from a distance. And Amazon’s official accessory, Show Mode Charging Dock automatically enables Show Mode when you place your tablet into the dock.
Specifications of the dock for Fire HD 8
- Dimensions: 8.6” x 5.3” x 0.9” (219 x 134 x 23 mm)
- Weight: 16.1 oz. (457 g)
What’s in the box of the dock for Fire HD 8
- Show Mode Charging Dock for Fire HD 8 (case and stand)
- 1.5m USB 2.0 charging cable
- Amazon 5W power adapter
- Quick Start Guide
Specifications of the dock for Fire HD 10
- Dimensions: 10.5” x 6.5” x 0.9” (267 x 165 x 23 mm)
- Weight: 17.9 oz. (507 g)
What’s in the box of the dock for Fire HD 10
- Show Mode Charging Dock for Fire HD 10 (case and stand)
- 1.5m USB 2.0 charging cable
- Amazon 9W power adapter
- Quick Start Guide
Please note that Fire HD 10 require 9W power adapter while Fire HD 8 does 5W. If you buy HD 8, HD10, and both docks, make sure to use 9W adapters for both of the docks. One is included with Fire HD 10 tablet, and the other is included with the dock for HD 10. In this way, you can dock the HD 10 tablet on either dock without worrying about slow-charging.
How does it work?
The dock consists of two main parts, case, and stand. The case fits your tablet and has a micro USB connector that plugs into a charging port of the tablet. Electrical wires run internally through the case from the connector to two metal contacts on the back of the case.
The stand also has the two metal contacts that mate the contacts on the case when docked. Built-in magnets help them aligned and kept in the right position. Electrical wires run internally through the stand from the contacts to a micro USB port on the back of the stand. The port receives power from the outlet using a micro USB cable and AC adapter, which is included in the box.
The tablet enables Show Mode automatically when docked. If not, check the settings.
- Open Settings
- Tap Show Mode in Device section
- Find Automatic Mode Switching and tap to turn on
For some reason you don’t want Show Mode enabled automatically, you can leave it off here. And please note that Automatic Mode Switching requires Show Mode Charging Dock to work. Connecting a micro USB cable directly to a charging port of the tablet doesn’t enable Show Mode.
Things to consider before you buy Show Mode Charging Dock
- Although Show Mode allows you to use your Fire tablet as Echo Show, a microphone and speakers aren’t as good as Echo Show. You can use external speakers, but you have to use a microphone on the tablet. Unlike Echo Show or other Echo devices, the microphone of Fire tablet doesn’t have the technology of far-field voice recognition to catch your voice from a distance. So, while streaming music or in a noisy environment, it’s very difficult to wake Alexa.
- As long as your tablet is HD 8 or HD 10, released in 2017 or later, you can use Show Mode without Show Mode Charging Dock. What the dock does exclusively is to enable Show Mode automatically when docked. Without the dock, you can easily enable Show Mode by asking Alexa or tap on the quick setting tray.
- Other cases or covers including even Amazon’s official a full-cover case are not compatible with Show Mode Charging Dock. All these have to be removed and replaced with the case come with the dock.
- The case doesn’t have a kickstand. The stand is very good quality. It’s the sturdy and adjustable angle. However, when you pick up the tablet from the dock and use it elsewhere, you may need another stand because the case doesn’t have a kickstand or anything to make it stand up.
Conclusion
Show Mode Charging Dock is a very good quality tablet stand. It has a unique feature that automatically enables Show Mode when docked. If you want to see Show Mode all the time while charging and also frequently use as a tablet (reading e-books, playing games, etc.) the dock will make it a lot easier for you to handle your Fire tablet. Click here to see the latest price.