Amazon replaces Fire tablets with Alexa Tablets that run Google Play, starting at $229.99

Amazon is retiring the Fire name on its tablets. The company has announced the Alexa Tablet lineup, three new models plus two kids versions, and the biggest change is not the hardware. Every Alexa Tablet ships with the Google Play Store, which means the full Android app catalog is available on an Amazon tablet for the first time without workarounds. The tablets go on sale in the US on October 14, with prices starting at $229.99.

What Amazon announced

According to TechCrunch and Engadget, both of which covered the launch on October 8, the new family includes the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, the Alexa Tablet 11 and the Alexa Tablet 8. Quartz reports that the lineup replaces the Fire tablet line Amazon has sold for more than a decade. An Amazon spokesperson told TechCrunch that these are an all new product line with new hardware and a new operating system, not a simple rebrand of Fire tablets.

All three models share an aluminum unibody design, Alexa+ built into the system, and a preinstalled set of Amazon apps. Engadget lists Kindle, Prime Video, Audible, Amazon Music, Amazon Quick and Amazon Luna among them.

Alexa Tablet 12 Pro

The 12 Pro is the flagship and the clearest sign that Amazon wants a piece of the premium tablet market. It has a 12 inch screen at 280 pixels per inch, a 120Hz refresh rate and a 3:2 aspect ratio, which suits reading and documents more than a wide movie screen does. Engadget reports a 4nm 8 core chip with up to 16GB of RAM, and Amazon claims three times faster processing and nine times faster graphics than any tablet it has shipped before.

Other details from the two reports:

• Quad Dolby Atmos speakers and Wi-Fi 6E
• Up to 16 hours of video playback
• A body 6.5 mm thick, according to TechCrunch
• $499.99 for the standard screen with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage
• $549.99 for the Nanomatte version, an anti glare etched display developed with Corning

Amazon is also selling a Pro Pen and a Pro Keyboard. Engadget puts the pen at $90 and the keyboard at $150, and says the keyboard attaches magnetically with no Bluetooth pairing. The pen is designed to add a bit of writing friction on the Nanomatte screen, which is a feature people who take handwritten notes tend to care about.

Alexa Tablet 11

The Alexa Tablet 11 is the entertainment model. It has an 11 inch 2.5K display at 90Hz in a 16:10 shape, an 8 core processor, 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, dual Dolby Atmos speakers and up to 15 hours of video playback. It costs $329.99 and comes in Graphite, Amethyst and Matcha.

Alexa Tablet 8

The smallest model has an 8.7 inch display, measures 7.95 mm thick and weighs 329 grams, according to Engadget. It uses an 8 core processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It starts at $229.99 in Graphite, Rosette or Teal.

Why the Alexa Tablet move to Google Play matters

For years, buying an Amazon tablet meant accepting a trade. You got a cheap device, but it ran Fire OS, a forked version of Android, and it was limited to the Amazon Appstore. Engadget notes that Amazon tablets have run their own fork of Android since the original Kindle Fire in 2011. Plenty of popular apps were missing or arrived late, and owners who wanted Google apps had to sideload them.

That trade is gone. The Alexa Tablet still runs Amazon's custom Android, but with full access to Google Play. TechCrunch points to apps like YouTube, Netflix and Gmail as available at launch. Engadget adds a practical benefit that is easy to overlook: developers usually ship updates and bug fixes to Google Play first, so Alexa Tablet owners should get those at the same time as other Android users.

The other half of the story is price. Fire tablets were known for low prices, and Engadget notes that Amazon's past Fire Kids tablets regularly started at $100. The new lineup starts well above that. Amazon is clearly aiming higher, and the 12 Pro sits in the same conversation as Samsung's latest big tablets, like the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra that just went on sale in the US.

What Alexa+ adds

Alexa+ is built into the core of each tablet. TechCrunch says you can say "Alexa" or tap an Ask Alexa button to get answers or control smart home devices. If you already have a few connected devices at home, a tablet that doubles as a control screen is handy. Our smart home starter guide covers how to build that kind of setup without wasting money.

A feature called On-Screen Intelligence lets Alexa+ answer questions about whatever is on the display. TechCrunch's example is asking which hike in a list of trails is the best one. Engadget reports that this feature is off by default and requires you to opt in, which is the right call for anything that reads your screen.

Reading also gets attention. Opening a book in the redesigned Kindle experience silences notifications, reduces blue light and cuts battery use, according to Engadget, with three display themes that include a soft paper tone and pure grayscale. TechCrunch says battery life in this mode can reach up to 20 hours.

The kids versions

Amazon is also releasing the Amazon Kids Tablet 8 and Kids Tablet 11, which match the sizes of the regular models. Engadget reports prices of $230 and $330. Each bundle includes a protective case and a year of Amazon Kids+, the company's ad free subscription for books, shows and games.

There are two case styles. Versions for children 3 and up get a soft bumper case with a handle, in designs such as Paw Patrol and Barbie. Versions for ages 6 and up get a slim hard case with a folding kickstand. Because these are Android tablets with Google Play, kid friendly apps from the Play Store are available too, so parents should spend a few minutes on the parental controls before handing one over.

Who should care

If you own a Fire tablet and mostly use it for Prime Video and Kindle books, nothing forces you to upgrade right now. None of the reports we read included details about future software support for older Fire models, so it is worth watching for an update from Amazon on that.

If you skipped Amazon tablets because of the app store, this lineup deserves a fresh look. Google Play access removes the biggest complaint people had.

If you are shopping for a work tablet, the 12 Pro with the keyboard and pen is a real option, though at roughly $790 for the full kit at Engadget's accessory prices, it competes with small laptops. Our guide on how to choose a laptop without overpaying can help you decide which form factor fits how you work. Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra shows how far the high end has moved in the other direction.

What to watch next

The tablets reach the US, Mexico and Canada on October 14, and the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain on October 19. Hands on reviews and battery tests will show whether the 12 Pro's performance claims hold up.

The timing is also interesting. Apple is holding an event on October 13, a day before the Alexa Tablets ship, and is expected to focus on home devices. We covered the details in our look at Apple's October 13 launch. Both companies want a screen in your living room that runs their assistant, and October is when that competition gets real. For more launches like this one, see our gadgets coverage.

Frequently asked questions

When can I buy an Alexa Tablet?

The Alexa Tablets go on sale in the US, Mexico and Canada on October 14, 2026. They arrive in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain on October 19.

How much does the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro cost?

It starts at $499.99 with the standard display and $549.99 with the anti glare Nanomatte display. Engadget reports the Pro Pen at $90 and the Pro Keyboard at $150.

Do Alexa Tablets have the Google Play Store?

Yes. All three Alexa Tablets and the Kids models include full Google Play access, unlike older Fire tablets that were limited to the Amazon Appstore.

Is Amazon still making Fire tablets?

Quartz reports that the Alexa Tablet lineup replaces the Fire tablet line. Amazon told TechCrunch the new tablets are an all new product line rather than a rebrand.