Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, Alexa Tablet 11, Alexa Tablet 8: Specs, Features, Price

Amazon tablets now provide full access to the Google Play Store, removing a significant app limitation of previous Fire tablets.

Amazon is replacing its Fire tablets with a new line of aluminum Amazon Alexa Tablets, which will run official Android and have full access to the Google Play Store. The series includes three models: Alexa Tablet 12 Pro ($500), Alexa Tablet 11 ($330), and Alexa Tablet 8 ($230), with larger display sizes corresponding to higher prices. Kids' editions of the 11-inch and 8-inch models are also available at the same prices, including rugged cases, a one-year replacement guarantee, and a year of Amazon Kids+. The company will cease shipping Fire tablets within two months, offering four years of support from the last ship date. The new Alexa tablets will receive at least four years of software updates, launching with Android 16 and upgrading to Android 17 in early 2027. Preorders are open now, with shipping beginning October 14. The tablets feature MediaTek Dimensity processors, with the 12-inch Pro model offering an optional Nanomatte display with anti-glare properties. An optional Pro Pen and Pro Keyboard are also available for the 12 Pro model, enhancing its productivity features with multiwindowing support.

This pivot to a full Android experience with Google Play Store access marks a significant departure for Amazon's tablet strategy. Previously, the Fire tablets' custom Android OS and limited app store were a primary constraint, hindering their competitiveness against other Android tablets and iPads. By embracing the standard Android ecosystem, Amazon aims to attract a broader user base and offer a more versatile device that can compete on par with other premium tablets, not just as a content consumption device but as a capable productivity tool.

The introduction of features like the Nanomatte display, enhanced pen support, and a functional keyboard dock on the 12 Pro model signals Amazon's ambition to position these tablets as premium alternatives. The integration of Alexa's On-Screen Intelligence also highlights a focus on leveraging AI for contextual assistance, potentially setting a new standard for voice assistant capabilities on tablets. Amazon's continued emphasis on its own content ecosystem, however, suggests a dual strategy of offering a more open platform while still aiming to deepen user engagement with Amazon services.