Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 4 hrs ago
Amazon’s new Alexa tablets switch to Android and Google Play
Amazon has introduced a new family of Alexa tablets that run Android and include Google Play.
The launch replaces the Fire tablet line, which Amazon has sold for 15 years.
The devices target people who want tablets for entertainment and work, with prices above the older, budget-focused Fire models.
The 12-inch Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has a glare-reducing screen and a 120Hz refresh rate; a review found its display impressive but noted Amazon software and hardware trade-offs.
Alexa+ can respond to questions about what is on screen, as part of Amazon’s effort to make AI a selling point.
The shift comes as tablet sales are under pressure: global shipments fell 12.3% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, amid higher memory-chip costs.
Amazon aims to compete again with major tablet makers, though it has not given a sales target.
Amazon has introduced a new Alexa Tablet family that runs Android and supports the Google Play Store.
The tablets replace the company’s lower-cost Fire models and are aimed at entertainment and productivity.
The lineup includes models priced from $229.99 to $679.99 in The Verge’s account, while Expansión reports prices from 229 to 670 euros.
The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has a 12-inch, 2800 x 1840 display with Amazon’s anti-glare Nanomatte technology.
Amazon is also promoting its Alexa+ assistant, which can respond to questions about what is shown on a tablet’s screen.
- Who
- Amazon has introduced the new tablets. Eric Saarnio, vice president of Amazon Devices, discussed the strategy.
- What
- Amazon’s new Alexa Tablets use Android and offer access to Google Play. They also include Alexa+.
- When
- The launch was reported on October 14 and 15, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Amazon says Android can offer a balance of entertainment and productivity. The company also aims to compete with other tablet makers and promote Alexa+.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Amazon was ranked fourth in the global tablet market, behind Apple, Samsung and Huawei, according to Expansión.
Global tablet shipments fell to 33.6 million units, down 12.3% from a year earlier, according to IDC figures cited by Expansión.
The Verge published its review of the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro.
Expansión reported on Amazon’s launch of the Alexa Tablet family and its shift to Android.
- Operating system
- Android 16
- App store
- Google Play
- Alexa Tablet 12 Pro display
- 12 inches; 2800 x 1840 resolution
- Alexa Tablet 12 Pro price
- $549.99 for The Verge’s review unit
- Reported lineup price range
- $229.99 to $679.99 in The Verge; 229 to 670 euros in Expansión
- Tablet shipments
- 33.6 million worldwide in the second quarter of 2026, according to IDC figures cited by Expansión
3 sources
What people are saying
We have been analyzing Android for a long time. And when you look at the latest version, Android 16, there are a number of features that we think offer a fantastic experience.
Right now we are simply focused on creating a fantastic experience that we think customers will love and, if history is any guide, I think we will sell a lot.
The future of tablets for us, without a doubt, is tablets with Alexa.