Amazon replaces Fire tablets with three Alexa models from $229.99

Amazon on 8 October 2026 unveiled three aluminium Alexa tablets that replace its Fire line, running Android with full Google Play Store access and starting at $229.99. The lineup comprises the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro at $499.99, the Alexa Tablet 11 at $329.99, and the Alexa Tablet 8 at $229.99, with kids' editions of the two smaller models at the same prices; orders open on 8 October, with shipping beginning 14 October in the United States, Canada and Mexico.wired.com+1

The rebrand matters because it ends Fire OS, Amazon's custom Android fork with its own limited app store, which had long restricted which apps could run on Fire tablets. The new tablets ship with Android 16 and full Google Play access, bringing a wider app catalogue to Amazon hardware. Amazon commits to at least four years of software updates, with Android 17 arriving early in 2027.

What the new lineup replaces

Amazon says it will stop shipping Fire tablets within the next month or two and will support them for four years from the last ship date. The Fire HD 10's base model cost $155, a price that made it a bargain for buyers who did not need a large tablet. The new models start at higher prices than their Fire predecessors.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro runs a 4-nanometre 8-core MediaTek Dimensity 8400 chip with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It pairs a 12-inch 2800 x 1840 display at 120Hz, 500 nits and a 3:2 aspect ratio with a 6.5mm aluminium body. Wi-Fi 6E, quad Dolby Atmos speakers and a 9,000mAh battery rated at 16 hours of video playback complete the package; the two smaller tablets use the MediaTek Dimensity 8189 chip.engadget.com

A $549.99 variant adds a Nanomatte display, precision-etched glass developed with Corning that reduces glare while reaching 500 nits. Unlike Apple's nano-texture option, which requires a 1TB or 2TB iPad Pro, Amazon's matte finish is available at 128GB of storage. Amazon also sells a $149.99 Pro Keyboard that attaches through pogo pins without Bluetooth pairing, and a $89.99 Pro Pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity that docks magnetically for charging.

How the pricing undercuts Apple

The Alexa Tablet 11 starts at $329.99 with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, offering an 11-inch 2560 x 1600 display at 90Hz; a 128GB version costs $379.99. The Alexa Tablet 8 starts at $229.99 with an 8.7-inch 1340 x 800 display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The 11-inch model undercuts Apple's $449 entry-level iPad, though that device includes 128GB, while the 12 Pro costs less than the $749 11-inch iPad Air.engadget.com

Alexa+, Amazon's AI voice assistant, answers questions and controls smart home devices by voice or touch, with tablet-specific access included. Full access across compatible Alexa devices requires a Prime membership or a separate Alexa+ subscription. An optional On-Screen Intelligence feature lets the assistant respond to what is displayed, with screen access disabled by default and a visual indicator when active. A persistent Dynamic Tab widget surfaces Amazon content across devices.

A Kindle reading mode silences notifications, reduces blue light and extends battery life, offering up to 20 hours of reading on the 11-inch and Pro models and up to 19 hours on the compact model. Panos Panay, Amazon's head of devices, said the tablets were the result of 2.5 years of work, rebuilt from the ground up for "the most premium experience we possibly could" at "an affordable price point." He said the one thing not to compromise was reinventing the screen.

What happens on 14 October

Kids' editions of the 8.7-inch and 11-inch models start at $229.99 and $329.99, including a bumper or slim hard case depending on age, a year of Amazon Kids+ and parent-managed Google Play access. A Parent Dashboard, also on iOS and Android, sets screen-time limits and filters content, and an AI-powered Storybuilder lets children create illustrated stories in their own voices. Each kids' device carries a one-year replacement guarantee if it breaks.

Orders open on 8 October 2026, with shipping starting 14 October in the United States, Canada and Mexico, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain on 19 October. Kids' models also launch in Japan on 14 October. Amazon's move positions the 12 Pro against Apple's $1,199 iPad Pro, which offers a tandem OLED display and an M5 chip, at less than half the price.