Amazon Replaces Fire Tablets With Android-Based Alexa Tablets, Adds Google Play and Alexa+

What Amazon announced

The new family has three sizes, all built around an aluminum body and an 8-core processor. The Alexa Tablet 8 and Alexa Tablet 11 cover the everyday and family end of the market, while the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro adds an optional pen and keyboard and is pitched at work as much as entertainment.

Engadget described the move as Amazon "transitioning away from Fire tablets to a new, more premium lineup of devices." The positioning is visible in the pricing: the cheapest model now starts at $229.99, and the 12 Pro reaches $549.99 before accessories.

Prices and specs for each model

All prices below are starting prices for the base configuration. Amazon has not published prices for the higher-storage or higher-memory versions.

Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro - from $499.99

• 12-inch display, 280 PPI, 120Hz refresh rate, 3:2 aspect ratio
• 4nm 8-core chip; base model has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, with up to 16GB RAM available
• Nanomatte display version for $549.99
• 6.5mm aluminum unibody, quad Dolby Atmos speakers, Wi-Fi 6E
• Up to 16 hours of video playback; Graphite color

Amazon claims the 12 Pro delivers nearly three times the processing performance and nine times the graphics performance of any tablet it has shipped before. That comparison is against Amazon's own previous tablets, not against rivals.

Amazon Alexa Tablet 11 - from $329.99

• 11-inch 2.5K display, 276 PPI, 90Hz, 16:10 aspect ratio
• 8-core processor, 8GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage
• Aluminum unibody with dual Dolby Atmos speakers
• Up to 15 hours of video playback; Graphite, Amethyst and Matcha colors

Amazon Alexa Tablet 8 - from $229.99

• 8.7-inch display
• 8-core processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage
• 329 g, 7.95mm aluminum body, Wi-Fi 6
• Up to 14 hours of video playback; Graphite, Rosette and Teal colors

Pen and keyboard

The Amazon Alexa Tablet Pro Pen costs $89.99. It is a USI 2.0 active pen with 4,096 pressure levels, tilt detection, magnetic docking and wireless charging. The Amazon Alexa Tablet Pro Keyboard costs $149.99, attaches magnetically without Bluetooth pairing and works only with the 12 Pro.

Android and Google Play replace the Fire walled garden

The biggest change is not the hardware. Fire tablets were tied to Amazon's own Appstore, which meant many popular apps were missing or had to be sideloaded. The Alexa Tablets come with full Google Play Store access, so apps such as YouTube, Netflix, Gmail and Google Docs install the normal way.

Amazon's own services are still preinstalled: Prime Video, Kindle, Audible, Amazon Music, Amazon Quick and Amazon Luna. In practice, Amazon is giving up control of the app store in exchange for a tablet that can compete on what it runs rather than only on price.

Amazon has not said which Android version the tablets run or how many years of software updates they will receive. Buyers who care about long-term support should watch for that commitment before treating these as multi-year devices.

What Alexa+ does on the tablet

Alexa+, Amazon's generative AI assistant, is built into all three models. It can be called with the wake word or by touch, and it powers a personalized home screen with a Dynamic Tab.

• On-Screen Intelligence: you can ask Alexa to look at what is on screen for real-time, in-context help.
• Live sessions: continuous, hands-free conversation with no wake word required between questions.
• Smart home control, calendar and recommendations from the same assistant used on Echo devices.

A Kindle reading mode as the differentiator

Amazon is leaning on its Kindle business to set the tablets apart from other Android slates. A dedicated Kindle reading mode silences notifications, reduces blue light and offers three display themes: natural color, paper tone and grayscale. Amazon rates it at up to 20 hours of reading on a charge.

With the Pro Pen, readers can highlight, underline and write notes that sync across Kindle apps and Kindle Scribe. On the 12 Pro, the Nanomatte display option is meant to give the screen a more paper-like feel.

What happens to existing Fire tablets

According to CNBC, Amazon said it will keep supporting existing Fire tablets but has ended production of new Fire units. Amazon's own announcement does not mention the Fire line at all.

Current owners are not cut off, but the low-cost entry point that defined Fire tablets is gone from Amazon's new lineup. Shoppers who bought Fire tablets mainly on price now face a starting price of $229.99, or will need to look at remaining Fire stock or other brands.

Amazon Kids Tablets

Amazon also announced Amazon Kids Tablets in 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes, in Pre-K (ages 3+) and Kids (ages 6+) versions. Each comes with a kid-proof case and one year of Amazon Kids+, along with a new Storybuilder voice story feature and a redesigned Parent Dashboard. Paw Patrol and Barbie designs are available.

Availability

The Alexa Tablets are on sale now at Amazon.com, Best Buy and Target. They ship October 14, 2026 in the US, Canada and Mexico, and October 19, 2026 in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. The Kids Tablets also ship in Japan on October 14.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the Amazon Alexa Tablets cost?

The Alexa Tablet 8 starts at $229.99, the Alexa Tablet 11 at $329.99 and the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro at $499.99, or $549.99 with the Nanomatte display. The Pro Pen is $89.99 and the Pro Keyboard is $149.99.

Do the Alexa Tablets have the Google Play Store?

Yes. All three models run Android with full Google Play Store access, unlike Fire tablets, which used Amazon's Appstore.

Is Amazon discontinuing Fire tablets?

Yes. Amazon told CNBC that production of new Fire tablets has ended, while existing Fire tablets will continue to be supported.

Is Alexa always listening on the new tablets?

Not by default. The hands-free Live sessions feature, which removes the need for a wake word between questions, is off by default and must be turned on deliberately.

Does the Pro Keyboard work with the smaller models?

No. The $149.99 Pro Keyboard is made for the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro only.

When do the Alexa Tablets ship?

October 14, 2026 in the US, Canada and Mexico, and October 19, 2026 in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Sources

• Amazon newsroom: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-amazon-alexa-tablets-alexa-plus
• TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/08/amazon-unveils-new-alexa-tablets-with-alexa-and-google-play-store-access/
• Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/2281378/everything-amazon-announced-october-2026-alexa-tablet-kindle-fire-tv-ring-lock/
• CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/08/amazon-alexa-tablet-release.html

Key takeaways

• Amazon has replaced the Fire tablet with three Android-based Alexa Tablets: the 8 ($229.99), 11 ($329.99) and 12 Pro ($499.99).
• Full Google Play Store access ends the Fire-era reliance on Amazon's Appstore.
• Alexa+ is built in, with on-screen help and hands-free Live sessions that are off by default.
• A Kindle reading mode and the $89.99 Pro Pen are Amazon's main differentiators.
• Fire tablet production has ended, per CNBC, but existing devices remain supported.
• Shipping starts October 14, 2026 in the US, Canada and Mexico.