Amazon's New Alexa Tablets Get the Google Play Store, Led by a $499.99 12 Pro
Three tablets and two kids models run Android with Google's app store and Alexa+ built in. Prices start at $229.99, and sales open on October 14 in the US.
Amazon has announced three Alexa Tablets that include the Google Play Store, ending years of Fire tablets that depended on Amazon's own app shop. The range is led by the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro at $499.99, and the tablets went on sale on October 14 in the United States (TechCrunch, GeekWire).
The lineup and prices
Amazon's announcement, written by devices vice president Kevin Keith, lists three models plus two Kids Tablets.
| Model | US price | RAM / storage | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexa Tablet 12 Pro | $499.99 | 8GB / 128GB | Graphite |
| Alexa Tablet 12 Pro Nanomatte | $549.99 | 8GB / 128GB | Graphite |
| Alexa Tablet 12 Pro Nanomatte (top) | $679.99 | 16GB / 256GB | Graphite |
| Alexa Tablet 11 | $329.99 | 8GB / 64GB | Graphite, Amethyst, Matcha |
| Alexa Tablet 8 | $229.99 | 4GB / 64GB | Graphite, Rosette, Teal |
| Kids Tablets (8.7-inch / 11-inch) | $229.99 / $329.99 | Not specified | Include a case and a year of Amazon Kids+ |
A Pro Keyboard costs $149.99 and a Pro Pen $89.99, so a base Nanomatte model with both comes to nearly $790 (Android Authority).
The flagship in detail
The 12 Pro has a 12-inch, 3:2 display at 2,800 by 1,840 pixels and 120Hz, which Amazon puts at 280 pixels per inch, in a body 6.5mm thin. Notebookcheck lists a MediaTek Dimensity 8400, a 4nm eight-core chip, and 500 nits of brightness. Amazon says the Nanomatte display was developed with Corning. The tablet has quad Dolby Atmos speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera.
Battery capacity is 9,000mAh, with up to 16 hours of video playback according to Amazon, a rating that has not been independently tested. The Pro Pen supports USI 2.0 with 4,096 pressure levels and tilt detection.
The smaller models
The Alexa Tablet 11 has a 2.5K display at 276 pixels per inch, 90Hz and a 16:10 shape, with dual Dolby Atmos speakers and up to 15 hours of video playback. Android Authority lists a 6,500mAh battery and a MediaTek 8189 eight-core chip. The Alexa Tablet 8 has an 8.7-inch screen, weighs 329 grams, is 7.95mm thin and promises up to 14 hours of video, with a 4,600mAh battery in Android Authority's listing.
Android Authority's figures for the 11-inch Kids Tablet battery are inconsistent, so we are not repeating a number for it. Android Authority also reports that the Tablet 11 and Tablet 8 come in versions with lock-screen ads, which Amazon's page does not mention. Buyers should check which version they are ordering.
Software and the Play Store
All models run Android with Google Play Store access and have Alexa+, Amazon's generative AI assistant, built in, plus up to 20 hours of Kindle reading on a charge, Amazon says. A reading mode in the Kindle app mutes notifications, reduces blue light and extends battery life. It is a clear break from the Fire tablet line, which runs Fire OS and relies on the Amazon Appstore (PhoneArena).
Availability
Amazon says the tablets and Kids Tablets went on sale on October 14 in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the Kids Tablets also reaching Japan that day. The UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain follow on October 19. They are sold through Amazon.com, Best Buy and Target. Germany's Giga reports a price of €499.99 for the 12 Pro. No Indian price or launch has been announced.
How the range stacks up
At $499.99 for the base 12 Pro, Amazon is entering a price bracket it rarely occupied with Fire tablets, and the 120Hz screen, 8GB of RAM and stylus option show the aim. The $229.99 Tablet 8 sits where Amazon has traditionally competed. Whether the Play Store and Alexa+ are enough to win buyers from established Android tablets will depend on performance, software updates and the Android version the tablets run, none of which the announcement details.
What to watch next
Watch for independent reviews, especially battery life against Amazon's ratings and how the Dimensity 8400 handles sustained load. Watch for confirmation of which models carry lock-screen ads and what removing them costs, and for Amazon's update policy.
