Amazon has officially commenced the shipment of its new Alexa Tablets across the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, with deliveries starting on October 19. Following their initial launch on October 8, these devices made their way to customers in the US, Canada, and Mexico by October 14.
These tablets operate on Android, granting users access to the comprehensive Google Play Store. The pricing for the Alexa Tablet 8 begins at 9.99, with additional models priced as follows:
- Alexa Tablet 8: 9.99 (4GB RAM, 64GB storage)
- Alexa Tablet 11: 9.99 (8GB RAM, 64GB storage)
- Alexa Tablet 12 Pro: 9.99 (8GB RAM, 128GB storage)
- Nanomatte 12 Pro: 9.99 (anti-glare screen)
For those looking to enhance their experience, the Pro Keyboard is available for 9.99, while the Pro Pen can be purchased for .99, specifically designed for the 12 Pro model.
In a notable shift from its previous offerings, the new tablet line marks a departure from Amazon’s Fire tablets, which utilized the company’s proprietary Fire OS and relied on the Amazon Appstore for applications. As reported by GeekWire, the new devices do not carry the Fire branding, and Amazon’s announcement notably omits any mention of Fire altogether.
Panos Panay, Amazon’s head of consumer electronics, indicated to Bloomberg that the company plans to phase out the Fire brand, acknowledging that the previous line “wasn’t giving customers what they were asking for.”
Each model comes equipped with Alexa+, responding to voice commands or via an Ask Alexa button. Users can enjoy a variety of applications from the Play Store, including popular platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Gmail, and Google Docs, alongside Amazon’s own offerings like Prime Video, Kindle, and Audible. Notably, the Kindle app is designed to silence notifications and extend battery life for up to 20 hours of reading.
The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro features a 12-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 3:2 aspect ratio, while the Alexa Tablet 11 boasts an 11-inch screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. The Alexa Tablet 8, with its 8.7-inch display, weighs in at a lightweight 329g. All three models are powered by MediaTek chips.
Additionally, Amazon has introduced Amazon Kids Tablets in both 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes, which come bundled with a protective case and a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+.
What it means for you
For new buyers, this marks an opportunity to acquire an Amazon tablet equipped with the full Google Play Store—a feature previously unavailable on Fire tablets. Currently, prices are listed exclusively in US dollars, with shipments to European countries commencing today.
Existing Fire tablet owners can rest assured, as an Amazon spokesperson confirmed that their devices will continue to function, retaining access to apps and content. Furthermore, Amazon commits to providing at least four years of support following the last sale of Fire tablets, including ongoing security updates.
The new tablets are available for purchase directly from Amazon.com and through retail partners such as Best Buy and Target.
Sources:
- The MTE Letter
- Practical tech reads, once a week.
