Overview
- Amazon, which unveiled the Alexa Tablet lineup on Thursday, said it will stop manufacturing new Fire tablet units and opened preorders for the new models.
- The lineup includes three Android models—the Alexa Tablet 8, 11, and 12 Pro—priced roughly from $229.99 to $549.99 with aluminum bodies, MediaTek Dimensity processors, more RAM options, and an optional Corning Nanomatte anti‑glare display on the 12 Pro.
- All tablets run full Android with Google Play Store access so users can install standard Android apps rather than rely on Amazon’s old Fire OS app store.
- Amazon built Alexa+ and an On‑Screen Intelligence feature into the devices that can analyze what’s on screen and act on requests but require opt‑in privacy settings and either a Prime membership or a paid Alexa+ subscription for full access.
- The tablets begin shipping Oct. 14 in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada with a staggered launch in Europe on Oct. 19, and the company left unresolved whether it will continue maintaining Fire OS and its app store for older devices while higher prices and chip costs raise questions about consumer demand.