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Amazon's newly announced Alexa Tablet lineup, including a top-tier 12 Pro model, will include the Google Play Store out of the box rather than relying solely on Amazon's Appstore. The 12 Pro also offers an optional Nanomatte display finish designed to cut down on screen glare.
Amazon has retired the Fire tablet brand after 15 years, launching three new Alexa Tablets that run full Google-certified Android with Play Store access, departing from the closed Fire OS approach. The lineup includes the $230 Alexa Tablet 8, $330 Tablet 11, and a $500 Tablet 12 Pro with a sharper 120Hz display, more powerful chip, and optional keyboard and stylus accessories.
Amazon has transitioned its Fire tablet lineup into Alexa-centric devices that now feature more premium designs and higher prices. These new tablets are notable for their ability to run all apps available on the Google Play store, marking a significant shift from previous models. The rebranding emphasizes Alexa integration as a key selling point.
Amazon announced new Kids editions of its Alexa Tablets, available in 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes, featuring colorful protective cases and kid-friendly software. The tablets include a one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription, with content tailored to children’s ages, and are designed with all-aluminum bodies and long battery life. They will be released on October 14 at prices of $230 and $330, respectively.
Amazon announced that its latest Alexa Tablets will now include full access to the Google Play store, expanding beyond the company's own app ecosystem. The new models, including the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, 11, and 8, will be available in multiple countries starting mid-October. Previously, Amazon tablets only supported the Amazon Appstore, limiting app choices.
Amazon has introduced the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, a new device replacing its Fire tablet line, with starting prices of $499 for the base model and $549 for a premium version. The tablet features a 12-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Atmos speakers, and a MediaTek Dimensity 8400 processor, aiming to compete with the iPad Pro. Amazon emphasizes deep Alexa integration and a focus on delivering a premium experience at an affordable price point.
Amazon has unveiled a new line of Android tablets equipped with advanced Alexa capabilities, including live conversations and visual recognition. These features, previously unavailable, aim to enhance user interaction with the assistant for tasks like shopping, information retrieval, and object identification. Amazon's VP of devices indicated these innovations address previous product limitations, but declined to comment on potential smartphone development.
Amazon has introduced a new series of Alexa Tablets replacing its Fire lineup, featuring aluminum bodies and official Android 16 OS with access to Google Play. The lineup includes three models: 12 Pro, 11, and 8, priced from $230 to $500, with kids' editions available for the smaller devices. Shipping begins October 14, and Amazon commits to four years of software updates.
Amazon consumer electronics chief Panos Panay told Bloomberg that the company is phasing out its Fire tablet line in favor of new Alexa Tablets running standard Android with full Google Play Store access, unlike Fire OS devices which lacked native Google apps. Amazon will continue providing security updates for existing Fire tablets but will not release new hardware for the line, and Panay indicated more hardware announcements are planned for the fall, excluding any Amazon-branded computer or laptop.
Amazon has introduced new Kids Tablets that run Android and include access to the Google Play store, alongside features for parental management. The devices come in two sizes, with protective cases and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus, which offers ad-free content from major brands. A new AI-powered Storybuilder feature is also included to help children create custom stories and comics.
Amazon announced a new lineup of tablets called Alexa Tablets, departing from its traditional Fire branding. These devices run full Android with Google Play access and feature a complete redesign focused on hardware quality, with three models announced for release on October 14th. The flagship Alexa Tablet 12 Pro aims to compete with iPad Mini and standard iPads, emphasizing both performance and versatility.
Google has published a Viewer app on the Play Store built for its upcoming Googlebook laptops, offering combined viewing and editing of images, videos, audio and PDFs. Android Authority tested the app on an Android tablet, finding tools such as annotate, text, resize, crop and rotate for images, plus text, annotation and signature features for PDFs. The Googlebooks themselves went up for pre-order last month and are set to begin shipping soon.