Amazon Replaces Fire Tablets With Premium Alexa Tablet Lineup

Amazon has launched a new premium lineup of Alexa Tablets, effectively replacing its budget-friendly Fire tablet series. The new devices, available in 8-inch, 11-inch, and 12-inch models, range in price from $229.99 to $549.99. In a significant strategic shift, the company abandoned its proprietary Fire OS in favor of Google's Android operating system, providing users with full access to the Google Play Store.

The hardware features aluminum unibody designs and high-resolution displays. The top-tier Alexa Tablet 12 Pro includes a Nanomatte anti-glare screen developed in partnership with Corning Inc. The devices are centered on the Alexa+ AI assistant, which introduces On-Screen Intelligence for shopping and contextual help. While executives acknowledged that a global memory shortage made premium design challenging, the company denied that these price surges drove the higher cost of the new lineup.

Shipping begins October 14, 2026, in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan, followed by a European rollout on October 19. Amazon has ceased manufacturing the Fire tablet series but committed to supporting the discontinued lineup for four years after the final shipment.