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Amazon's New Alexa Tablets: Worth It Over a Fire Tablet or iPad?

Amazon swapped Fire tablets for Android-powered Alexa Tablets with Google Play. What's confirmed, what's marketing, and whether to buy or wait.

Too Soon to Tell6 min readBy HypeGale Content TeamPublished
Editorial illustration for “Amazon's New Alexa Tablets: Worth It Over a Fire Tablet or iPad?”

Amazon has quietly retired the Fire tablet. In its place, announced on October 8, 2026, is a new family called Alexa Tablets: three models that run Android with the full Google Play Store, ship with the Alexa+ assistant built in, and cost noticeably more than the budget Fires they replace. They went on sale October 14 in the US, Canada and Mexico, and October 19 in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

We have not found independent full reviews yet (as of October 21), so here is what is confirmed, what is still marketing, and whether to buy now or wait.

What's Actually Real Here

Google Play is the big change. Fire tablets ran Fire OS and the Amazon Appstore, which meant no official YouTube app, no Gmail and a lot of sideloading workarounds. Amazon says the new tablets are a new line with a new OS, not a rebrand, and that Google Play is available at launch. For many buyers, that alone fixes the main complaint about Amazon tablets.

The prices and specs are on the record. According to Amazon's announcement:

  • Alexa Tablet 8: from $229.99, 8.7-inch screen, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, up to 14 hours of video.
  • Alexa Tablet 11: from $329.99, 2.5K 90Hz screen, 8GB RAM, 64GB storage, up to 15 hours of video.
  • Alexa Tablet 12 Pro: from $499.99 (8GB RAM, 128GB), or from $549.99 with an anti-glare "Nanomatte" screen made with Corning. It has a 12-inch 120Hz display and up to 16 hours of video.

GeekWire reports the 12 Pro uses a MediaTek Dimensity 8400 chip, and that Amazon offers up to 16GB of RAM on it. T3 lists UK prices from £199.99 for the Tablet 8, £289.99 for the 11 and £449.99 for the 12 Pro.

Your old Fire tablet is not dead. Amazon has stopped making Fire tablets but says it will support them for at least four years after the last one is sold, as reported by GeekWire and The Next Web. There is no need to replace a working Fire in a panic.

The privacy setting is sensible. The new "On-Screen Intelligence" feature lets Alexa read what is on your screen, for example pulling dates from a school schedule into your calendar. It is off by default, needs an opt-in, and shows an indicator when Alexa can see the screen.

Where the Hype Outruns the Reality

"Gunning for the iPad" is a claim, not a result. Amazon says the 12 Pro is nearly three times faster at processing and nine times faster at graphics than any tablet it has shipped before. That is a comparison with Amazon's own slow tablets, not with an iPad or a Galaxy Tab. Battery figures (up to 16 hours of video, up to 20 hours in the Kindle app) are also Amazon's numbers. Wait for independent reviews before treating any of them as fact.

The Pro gets expensive fast. The keyboard was listed at $149.99 and the pen at $89.99. GeekWire worked out that a Nanomatte 12 Pro with both accessories comes to nearly $790. At that price you are shopping against established Android and Apple tablets with years of reviews and software updates behind them.

The budget tablet is gone. The Fire line's appeal was a usable tablet for well under $100 on sale. The cheapest Alexa Tablet starts at $229.99. If you want a cheap kids' video screen or a kitchen recipe tablet, this lineup is not built for you.

Alexa+ depends on where you live and what you pay for. Alexa+ is built into every model. In the UK, Alexa+ is free for Prime members, and TechCrunch reported in March that non-Prime users will pay £19.99 a month once the early-access period ends. Amazon has not clearly said how Alexa+ will be offered in Germany, France, Italy and Spain, so check your local Amazon store before you count it as a reason to buy.

Should You Buy One Now or Wait?

Wait for reviews if you are looking at the 12 Pro as a laptop or iPad replacement. Software updates, app scaling on the 3:2 screen and keyboard quality are things only hands-on testing will show. Full reviews should follow now that the tablets are shipping.

Consider the Tablet 11 if you want a mid-range Android tablet for streaming, reading and browsing and you already live in Amazon's world (Prime Video, Kindle, Alexa smart home). Google Play removes the old trade-off, and the screen specs are solid on paper.

Skip it if you want the cheapest possible tablet. A discounted older Fire, while stock lasts, or a budget Android tablet will do basic jobs for much less.

Black Friday is close. New Amazon devices are often discounted during big sales events, though there is no guarantee a brand-new line will be. If you are not in a hurry, waiting a few weeks costs nothing and gets you reviews too.

FAQ

When did Alexa Tablets go on sale? They have been on sale since October 14, 2026, in the US, Canada and Mexico, and since October 19 in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Do Alexa Tablets have the Google Play Store? Yes. They run Android with full Google Play access at launch, unlike Fire tablets, which used the Amazon Appstore.

Is Amazon still selling Fire tablets? Amazon has stopped making them but says it will support existing Fire tablets for at least four years after the last one is sold.

Is Alexa+ free on the tablets? In the UK, Alexa+ is free with Prime; non-Prime users will pay £19.99 a month after early access ends. Check terms in your own country.

Prices mentioned in this article were checked at the time of writing and are given as "from" or approximate figures where possible. Actual prices vary by retailer, region, taxes, plan and promotion, so please do not treat the figures here as final. Check the seller's own site for the current price.

Things change quickly. This article reflects what was publicly known when it was written or last updated, so details such as prices, availability, rules and product specs may have changed since. Always check the official source before you buy or decide.

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