Amazon Unveils Alexa Tablets With Google Play Access

Three new Android tablets put Alexa+ at the center of Amazon’s lineup while opening its devices to Google Play apps.

Amazon has unveiled three Alexa Tablets that run Android and offer full access to the Google Play Store, a departure from the restricted app selection on its earlier Fire tablets. The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, Alexa Tablet 11 and Alexa Tablet 8 also build in Amazon’s Alexa+ assistant. They go on sale October 14 in the United States, Mexico and Canada, according to TechCrunch.

Table of Contents
  1. A new approach to Amazon tablets
  2. Three sizes, with Alexa+ throughout
  3. What it could mean for work and apps
  4. Sources

A new approach to Amazon tablets

Google Play access means owners can download apps beyond those in Amazon’s own store. TechCrunch reports that Amazon describes the devices as a new product line with new hardware and a new operating system, not a rebranding of Fire tablets. Wired goes further, reporting that Amazon plans to stop shipping Fire tablets within the next month or two and support them for four years after their last shipping date.

The tablets retain a strong Amazon presence. The Verge reports that Amazon apps come preloaded and that the interface offers quick routes to its content and shopping. Wired says the devices will launch with Android 16 and receive at least four years of software updates.

Three sizes, with Alexa+ throughout

The smallest model, the Alexa Tablet 8, has an 8.7-inch display and starts at $229.99, according to TechCrunch. The Alexa Tablet 11 starts at $329.99 and has an 11-inch, 2.5K display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The larger Alexa Tablet 12 Pro starts at $499.99, or $549.99 with a Nanomatte anti-glare display.

Reports differ on the Pro’s exact screen size: TechCrunch and Engadget describe it as 12 inches, while The Verge reports a 12.5-inch display. They agree that it has a 120Hz refresh rate and a 3:2 aspect ratio. Amazon also offers a pen and keyboard for the Pro; Engadget puts their prices at $90 and $150, respectively.

Alexa+ can respond to voice requests or be opened through an on-screen button. Its On-Screen Intelligence feature can use what appears on the display to answer questions or help with tasks. Engadget reports that users must opt in before that feature can view their screens. All three tablets also have a Kindle reading mode that silences notifications and reduces blue light.

What it could mean for work and apps

Amazon is positioning the Pro for more than reading and streaming. The Verge reports that Amazon hardware chief Panos Panay hopes people will use its keyboard-equipped version as a secondary or even primary computer, while Wired describes support for arranging multiple app windows. Those are ambitions, rather than evidence of how well it will perform as a work device.

For app developers, the change in distribution may be more immediate: Engadget notes that Google Play access lets Alexa Tablet users receive the updates and bug fixes developers release for other Android users. The reports list no launch date for Israel.

Sources

This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.