Amazon Releases New Range of Android Tablets

The e-commerce giant Amazon has revamped its tablet lineup with a new range of devices that run on official Android and have full access to the Google Play Store. This marks a significant departure from previous Fire tablets, which ran a custom version of Android and had limited app support.

The new Alexa Tablet series consists of three models: the 12-inch Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, the 11-inch Alexa Tablet 11, and the 8-inch Alexa Tablet 8. The prices for these devices are set at $500, $330, and $230 respectively. Interestingly, Amazon is also offering kids' editions of the smaller two devices, which come with additional features such as bumper cases, a one-year guarantee, and a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+.

The switch from Fire tablets to Alexa Tablets is part of Amazon's efforts to provide more seamless user experiences for its customers. The new devices will be supported by at least four years of software updates, starting from Android 16, with the next major update, Android 17, scheduled for early 2027.

The company has announced that it will stop shipping Fire tablets in the next month or two and will provide support for these devices for four years from their last ship date. This move signals a significant shift towards the new Alexa Tablet series, which promises to offer more flexibility and convenience to users.

Preorders for the new Alexa Tablets have officially opened, allowing customers to reserve their devices before they start shipping on October 14.

One notable aspect of these tablets is their design, which bears a striking resemblance to Amazon's latest Kindles. The aluminum build used across all three models gives them a premium feel and sets them apart from other tablets on the market.

Under the hood, the two smaller tablets run on MediaTek Dimensity 8189 chips, while the 12-inch model gets a more powerful boost from the MediaTek Dimensity 8400 chip. This configuration suggests that Amazon is positioning its flagship device as the top-of-the-line option in this series.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro stands out among its peers with two display options: a standard 12-inch LCD screen and a 12-inch Nanomatte display featuring anti-glare and anti-reflective properties.

The Nanomatte display on the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro boasts a unique hexagon-shaped imprint that enhances its matte properties while delivering vivid colors and crisp blacks.

This special screen is reminiscent of those found on devices like TCL's Nxtpaper series, but Amazon's vice president of devices has confirmed that it provides an exceptional writing experience.

The engineers who worked on the Kindle Scribe collaborated with Corning to achieve a paper-like feel on the Nanomatte display, making it ideal for users who prefer writing or note-taking.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro comes with a new pen designed specifically for this device, which features 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt detection. The pen can be magnetically docked to the top of the tablet for charging and pairing.

Amazon also offers an optional keyboard attachment for the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, priced at $150, which connects via pogo pins on the bottom edge without requiring Bluetooth.

The introduction of the Alexa Tablets has sparked curiosity about how they will affect the market share of Amazon's tablet offerings in the US.

A significant proportion of children in the country already use Amazon tablets, which may indicate a shift towards these devices as they become more premium-priced.

One notable feature of the Alexa Tablets is their interface, which has been tweaked to provide an experience distinct from standard Android devices.

The home screen of the Alexa Tablet features a persistent widget called the Dynamic Tab at its top-left corner, allowing users to access Amazon content across various platforms and devices.

This scrollable widget enables users to seamlessly transition between different types of content, such as books on their Kindle or photos stored on Amazon Photos.

Amazon's Alexa-enabled tablets offer users an immersive reading experience that simulates turning pages in a book. This is achieved through a fun page-turn effect that mimics the sensation of flipping through physical pages.

When exiting the app, notifications are automatically reactivated and the screen returns to its normal state. Users can also expect their annotations made with the stylus to sync seamlessly across devices running Kindle apps that support pen input, such as the Kindle Scribe.

The Alexa+ feature is prominently displayed on these tablets, which are available exclusively to paid subscribers or Amazon Prime customers. However, users do not need a subscription to access Alexa+, as Keith explains.

In addition to controlling smart home devices, the On-Screen Intelligence feature allows Alexa to answer contextual questions based on what's currently being viewed on the screen. This opt-in function is indicated by an on-screen indicator and can be triggered by speaking the phrase "Alexa.

The new Alexa-enabled tablets take interaction to a whole new level by allowing users to engage in real-time conversations without constantly saying Alexa out loud. This feature is made possible through an opt-in function that can be triggered with the phrase Alexa", and it provides a seamless way to interact with the assistant.

These tablets are designed to keep users within Amazon's ecosystem, making it easy to browse products on TikTok videos or add items directly to their shopping cart by asking Alexa. The hardware may have improved, but its primary function remains tied to Amazon's retail business model. This integration is a key aspect of what sets these devices apart from other premium Android tablets.