Contents
- What changed from the Fire tablets
- Is the Google Play Store really on these things?
- Models, specs, and prices
- What Alexa+ actually does on these tablets
- Should you upgrade, or wait?
- FAQ
- What's still unknown
- Sources
Amazon just announced a new tablet lineup, and the biggest change isn’t the hardware. The Fire branding is gone. The new devices are called Alexa Tablets, they run Google-certified Android, and they have access to the Google Play Store.
That last point matters if you’ve avoided Amazon tablets for years. But some details — including whether the Play Store is preinstalled and where these tablets will actually sell — are not fully confirmed yet. Here’s what’s known, what isn’t, and what it means for your wallet.
What changed from the Fire tablets
For roughly 15 years, Amazon sold Fire tablets — budget devices running Fire OS, a modified version of Android that downplayed Google entirely. Apps came from Amazon’s own Appstore. According to Ars Technica, Amazon shut down that app store last year (the exact date isn’t confirmed in the sources available).
The new Alexa Tablets differ in three ways:
- Google-certified Android. Full Android devices with the Play Store, not Fire OS devices with a workaround.
- New hardware design. All three models use aluminum unibody construction. Previous Fire tablets were plastic, per Android Police.
- Alexa+ built in. Amazon’s AI assistant is positioned as the core of the experience, not an add-on.
One official clarification: an Amazon spokesperson told TechCrunch that these are an all-new product line with new hardware and a new OS, not a rebrand of the Fire tablets. Take that with the usual grain of salt about corporate messaging, but it is the company’s stated position.
There’s also a split worth knowing about. Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks have moved away from Android to Vega OS, a custom Linux-based system. The tablets went the opposite direction — toward Google. Ars Technica highlights this contrast, and it suggests Amazon isn’t abandoning Android company-wide; it’s choosing per product line.
Is the Google Play Store really on these things?
Short answer: yes, according to all three reports — with one caveat nobody has officially confirmed.
TechCrunch says the tablets have “full access to the Google Play Store” at launch, with apps including YouTube, Netflix, and Gmail. Android Police states the tablets “use the Google Play Store for apps.” Ars Technica says they run “full-fledged Google-y versions of Android with the Play Store and all the apps you’d expect.”
What none of the sources explicitly confirm: whether the Play Store comes preinstalled out of the box or requires any setup step. All three reports strongly imply preinstalled — you don’t “sideload” a store described as built-in access — but no official Amazon statement says so in plain words. Treat it as very likely, not officially documented.
This is a genuine break from the old Fire tablet experience, where getting Google apps meant sideloading workarounds that sometimes broke with updates. If the Play Store works as described, that problem is gone.
Models, specs, and prices
Three models were announced on October 8, 2026, with US shipping starting October 14. Prices below are cross-checked between Android Police and TechCrunch (Ars Technica rounds to whole dollars).
| Model | Display | Chip | RAM / Storage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexa Tablet 8 | 8.7″, 1340×800 (180 PPI) | MediaTek 8189, 8-core up to 2GHz | 4GB/64GB or 8GB/128GB | $229.99 |
| Alexa Tablet 11 | 11″, 2.5K (276 PPI), 90Hz, 16:10 | MediaTek 8189 | 8GB / 64GB or 128GB | $329.99 |
| Alexa Tablet 12 Pro | 12″, 2800×1840 (280 PPI), 120Hz, 3:2 | MediaTek Dimensity 8400 | 8GB/128GB or 16GB/256GB | $499.99 |
A few details worth flagging:
- RAM options on the 12 Pro come from Android Police alone. Ars Technica only mentions 8GB. The 8GB/16GB split tied to storage size is a single-source detail.
- The Nanomatte display option (anti-glare) on the 12 Pro adds $50, bringing it to $549.99. Ars Technica and TechCrunch agree on this.
- Accessories for the 12 Pro: a Pro Keyboard at $150 and a Pro Pen at $90 (Ars Technica). The Pen is a USI 2.0 active pen with 4,096 pressure levels, tilt detection, and wireless charging (Android Police).
- Battery life: TechCrunch reports 16 hours of video playback for the 12 Pro and 15 hours for the Tablet 11. No source lists a battery figure for the Tablet 8. There is no number here — inventing one would be worse than admitting the gap.
- Colors: Tablet 8 in Graphite, Rosette, Teal; Tablet 11 and 12 Pro in Graphite, Amethyst, Matcha (Android Police; TechCrunch confirms the 11’s colors).
Amazon claims the 12 Pro delivers nearly 3x the processing performance and 9x the graphics performance of any tablet it has shipped before. That’s a manufacturer claim with no independent verification yet.
What Alexa+ actually does on these tablets
Alexa+ is Amazon’s AI assistant, built into all three tablets. Per TechCrunch:
- You can say “Alexa” as a wake word or tap an “Ask Alexa” button to ask questions, control your smart home, and get answers.
- On-Screen Intelligence lets Alexa see what’s on your screen for contextual help. Amazon’s example: while browsing a list of hiking trails, ask “Which of these hikes is best for me?”
- Expect product recommendations that point toward Amazon purchases. Ars Technica notes this plainly — the assistant will suggest buying on Amazon when possible.
Since these are certified Android devices, you can also use Gemini or any other AI app available on Android (Ars Technica).
Two limits are not confirmed: which countries and languages Alexa+ supports on these tablets at launch, and whether any features are gated behind a subscription. Amazon has previously rolled out Alexa+ gradually, but no source specifies rollout limits for the tablets. If Alexa+ availability matters to you, verify for your region before buying.
Should you upgrade, or wait?
Depends on which of these describes you.
Current Fire tablet users: This is the first Amazon tablet line where the app situation isn’t a compromise. If your current Fire tablet struggles with the apps you want, the Play Store access alone is the upgrade argument. Prices are higher than old Fire tablets, though — the entry point is now $229.99. (Note: past Fire pricing isn’t in these sources; the “more expensive than last Fire Tablets” comparison is from Ars Technica.)
iPad shoppers: Here’s the price math from Ars Technica. The base iPad starts at $450, the iPad Mini at $600, the iPad Air at $750. The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro at $499.99 undercuts the Mini and Air while offering a 120Hz display and keyboard/stylus support. But the base iPad at $450 gets you Apple’s software ecosystem, which is a real trade-off, not a footnote.
The honest catch: Ars Technica points out that despite Google’s repeated promises, there still aren’t many Android apps optimized for tablets. The Play Store gives you access to millions of apps; it doesn’t guarantee they’re designed for a 12-inch screen. If tablet-optimized apps are why you’d pick an iPad, that problem hasn’t gone away.
Outside the US: Preorders are open in the US with October 14 shipping, and Android Police notes you can also order from other regions including Canada and Mexico. Whether these tablets will sell in South Korea or elsewhere in Asia is not confirmed in any source accessible for this article. If you’re outside North America, waiting for regional availability news is the sensible move.
FAQ
Did Amazon discontinue Fire tablets? Amazon dropped the Fire branding for this new lineup and says these are an all-new product line, not a rebrand (Amazon spokesperson via TechCrunch). No source states what happens to existing Fire tablets or whether more will be made.
Is the Google Play Store preinstalled? All three reports describe built-in Play Store access with apps like YouTube, Netflix, and Gmail available at launch. An explicit official confirmation of preinstallation wasn’t found in the available sources — it’s strongly implied, not documented.
How much do the Alexa Tablets cost? $229.99 (Tablet 8), $329.99 (Tablet 11), $499.99 (Tablet 12 Pro), and $549.99 for the 12 Pro with the Nanomatte anti-glare display.
What can Alexa+ do on these tablets? Voice or button-activated Q&A, smart home control, product recommendations, and On-Screen Intelligence — asking Alexa about whatever is currently on your screen. Country and language limits are not confirmed.
Should I buy one now or wait? If you’re in the US, Canada, or Mexico and want a cheaper-than-iPad Android tablet with real Play Store access, preorders are open with October 14 shipping. If you’re elsewhere, or you care about Alexa+ availability in your language, wait — those details are unconfirmed.
What’s still unknown
The Play Store preinstallation question, Alexa+ rollout limits by country and language, Asian availability, the exact date Amazon’s app store shut down, and independent testing of the performance claims. None of these have confirmed answers yet. This article will need an update once reviews and regional availability details land.
For now, the picture is simple: Amazon finally made an Android tablet that doesn’t fight the Play Store, and priced it above the old Fire range. Whether that trade is worth it depends on your apps, your region, and how much you trust Alexa+ to earn its place at the center of the device.
Sources
- Ars Technica: Amazon’s new Alexa Tablets drop the Fire branding but are more Android than ever
- Android Police: Amazon’s new Android tablets pack serious power and the Google Play Store
- TechCrunch: Amazon unveils new Alexa tablets with Alexa+ and Google Play Store access
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