Amazon's new Alexa Tablets are the first tablets from the company to run full Android with the Google Play Store, and they arrive just in time for the holiday season. The lineup replaces the Fire tablets with three models: the Alexa Tablet 8 at $229.99, the Alexa Tablet 11 at $329.99 and the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro from $499.99. All three began shipping in the US on October 14, 2026, according to Amazon's announcement.
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and Black Friday on November 27. If an Alexa Tablet is on your list for yourself or as a gift, this guide covers which model suits whom, what changed from the Fire tablets, what early hands-on testers liked and flagged, and what to watch for when Black Friday prices appear.
A note before you read: these tablets are only a few days old. Reviewers have had hands-on time at Amazon's launch events, but full reviews with battery and performance tests have not been published yet. Hitechreports does not test products itself; we will update this guide as reviews arrive.
Which Alexa Tablet should you buy?
- For a reader, or a parent who wants a light tablet to carry everywhere: Alexa Tablet 8 ($229.99). It weighs 329g, is 7.95mm thin and is rated for up to 14 hours of video, according to Amazon.
- For streaming, games and browsing on the sofa: Alexa Tablet 11 ($329.99). Amazon's devices chief Panos Panay told Gizmodo it is the one to get if you will mainly use it to watch and read. It has an 11-inch 2.5K screen at 90Hz and dual Dolby Atmos speakers.
- For work, school or drawing: Alexa Tablet 12 Pro ($499.99, or $549.99 with the Nanomatte anti-glare screen). It is the only model that works with Amazon's Pro Keyboard and Pro Pen, and the only one with the matte screen option.
- For a child: the Amazon Kids Tablets in 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes, which come with a kid-proof case and a year of Amazon Kids+, according to Amazon.
The three models at a glance
| Alexa Tablet 8 | Alexa Tablet 11 | Alexa Tablet 12 Pro |
|---|
| Launch price (US) | $229.99 | $329.99 | $499.99 ($549.99 Nanomatte) |
| Screen | 8.7-inch | 11-inch 2.5K, 90Hz, 16:10 | 12-inch 2800 x 1840, 120Hz, 3:2 |
| Memory and storage | 4GB, 64GB | 8GB, 64GB | 8GB, 128GB (up to 16GB with Nanomatte) |
| Rated video playback | Up to 14 hours | Up to 15 hours | Up to 16 hours |
| Speakers | Not stated | Dual Dolby Atmos | Quad Dolby Atmos |
| Pen and keyboard | No | No | Pro Pen $89.99, Pro Keyboard $149.99 |
| Colours | Graphite, Rosette, Teal | Graphite, Amethyst, Matcha | Graphite |
Prices, specs and colours are from Amazon's announcement of October 8, 2026. The Alexa Tablet 11 is $379.99 with 128GB of storage, and both smaller models cost $20 more without lock-screen ads, Android Central reported.
What is new compared with the Fire tablets
Google Play, finally. Fire tablets ran Amazon's own version of Android without Google's apps. The Alexa Tablets are Google-certified Android devices with the Play Store, so YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs, Netflix and the rest install as they would on any Android phone. Gizmodo called it the fix for the biggest problem Fire tablets had for 15 years: apps.
Metal, not plastic. All three are aluminum unibody designs. Expert Reviews found the smaller two "well made", with flat, iPad-style edges.
A reading mode for Kindle owners. Open a book in the Kindle app and the tablet silences notifications, cuts blue light and switches to one of three display themes, from natural colour to a paper tone to grayscale. Amazon rates battery life in this mode at up to 20 hours. Expert Reviews found reading on the Nanomatte 12 Pro "a rather wondrous experience".
Alexa+ built in. Amazon's newer AI assistant answers with "Alexa" or a button, controls smart-home devices and, if you switch on On-Screen Intelligence, can read what is on the screen, for example to pull dates from a schedule into your calendar. The screen-reading features are off until you turn them on, and an indicator shows when Alexa can see the screen, Amazon says.
Why it is a sensible holiday buy
- It costs much less than an iPad of the same size. Ars Technica notes that Apple's iPad mini starts at $600 and the iPad Air at $750; the 12-inch Alexa Tablet 12 Pro starts at $499.99.
- It suits a household already on Amazon. Prime Video, Kindle, Audible and Amazon Music are built in, and the home screen gathers what you were watching, reading and listening to.
- The 12 Pro's matte screen works outdoors. Gizmodo found it still clearly visible with sunlight on it, and not as washed out as a colour e-reader.
- There is a version for every budget in the family, from $229.99 for the Tablet 8 to the Kids Tablets with a case and a year of Kids+ included.
What to know before you buy
- They cost more than Fire tablets did. Gizmodo points out that Fire tablets started at $59.99; the Alexa Tablets start at $229.99. These are mid-range tablets now, not impulse buys.
- Android still has few apps designed for tablets. Ars Technica warns that, despite Google's promises, there are not many tablet-optimised Android apps.
- Alexa will suggest things to buy. Ars Technica notes the assistant will point you to Amazon products where it can.
- Performance is not yet measured. Gizmodo found Android responsive in its demo but said not to expect best-in-class speed until benchmarks are run. Amazon's claim that the 12 Pro is "nearly three times faster" compares it only with Amazon's own past tablets.
- The smaller two are for watching and reading. Neither works with the pen or keyboard, and the Nanomatte screen is only on the 12 Pro.
- Alexa+ beyond the tablet needs Prime or a subscription. TechRadar reports that using Alexa+ across devices costs $19.99 a month unless you have Prime.
Will the Alexa Tablets be cheaper on Black Friday?
Amazon has not announced Black Friday or Thanksgiving prices for the Alexa Tablets. They went on sale on October 8, so any holiday discount would come only weeks after launch. Our advice: note the launch prices in the table above, and treat a Black Friday price as a deal only if it is below them. We will update this guide when holiday pricing is announced.
Where to buy
The Alexa Tablets are sold on Amazon.com, and Amazon says they are also available at Best Buy and Target.
Alexa Tablet questions
Is the Alexa Tablet a new Fire tablet? It replaces the Fire tablet line. Unlike Fire tablets, it runs Google-certified Android with the Google Play Store.
Does the Alexa Tablet have the Google Play Store? Yes, all three models do, according to Amazon.
When did the Alexa Tablets come out? Amazon announced them on October 8, 2026. They shipped on October 14 in the US, Canada and Mexico, and on October 19 in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
When are Thanksgiving and Black Friday in 2026? Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026, and Black Friday is Friday, November 27.
Is the Alexa Tablet available in India? Amazon's announcement lists the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, not India. Indian prices reported elsewhere have not been confirmed by Amazon.
Which Alexa Tablet is best for reading? The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with the Nanomatte screen, which early testers praised for reading. If you want something small and light, the Alexa Tablet 8 weighs 329g.
More on the Alexa Tablets
Published October 18, 2026. Prices are Amazon's US list prices at launch and change often; check the retailer for today's price. Hitechreports does not test products itself. This guide is built from Amazon's announcement and the hands-on reports linked above, and will be updated when full reviews and holiday pricing arrive.
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