Amazon unveils Alexa tablets with Alexa+ built in and Google Play access

Amazon introduced a new tablet lineup called Amazon Alexa Tablets on October 8, 2026. It has three models: the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, the Alexa Tablet 11 and the Alexa Tablet 8. All three come with Alexa+, the company's next-generation AI assistant, built in. The tablets run Android and include full access to the Google Play Store, so apps such as YouTube, Netflix, Gmail and Google Docs can be downloaded directly. Amazon apps including Prime Video, Kindle, Audible, Amazon Music, Amazon Quick and Amazon Luna come preinstalled.

Amazon's Fire tablets have used Fire OS, the company's own Android-based operating system, and offered apps through the Amazon Appstore; Google Play was not officially available on them. The announcement does not say whether the new lineup replaces the Fire tablets or what happens to the current Fire models.

Alexa+ reads the screen to help in context

According to Amazon's announcement, Alexa+ is built into the core of every tablet. Saying "Alexa" or tapping the "Ask Alexa" button brings the assistant up instantly without leaving the open app; it answers questions, suggests next steps and controls smart home devices. From the moment a user signs in with an Amazon account, the assistant knows their content, preferences and smart home setup.

The most notable new feature on the tablets is On-Screen Intelligence. Users can ask Alexa to look at what is on the screen. In Amazon's example, someone browsing hiking trails asks which one suits them best; Alexa reads the page, pulls out the key details and helps plan based on what it knows about the user. With a game schedule open, users can ask Alexa to add every date to their calendar, and it flags conflicts along the way.

In a mode called live sessions, there is no need to say "Alexa" before each question; tapping the Alexa icon starts a continuous, hands-free conversation. If On-Screen Intelligence is on, users can also share their screen so Alexa follows the changing content in real time. Amazon's examples include pulling the key details from a recipe on Pinterest and finding a product seen in a TikTok video on Amazon.

On privacy, Amazon says every On-Screen Intelligence feature is off by default and requires a deliberate opt-in. Users choose when Alexa listens, when it sees the screen and what it remembers. A visual indicator is always present when Alexa is active, and any feature can be turned off in Settings at any time.

Three models and a Pro version aimed at work

The top model, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, has a 6.5 mm single-piece aluminum body, a 12-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 3:2 aspect ratio, a 4nm 8-core chip and up to 16GB of RAM. Amazon says it delivers nearly three times faster processing and nine times faster graphics than any tablet the company has shipped before. The display also comes in an anti-glare matte option called Nanomatte, developed with Corning. With the Pro Pen (USI 2.0, 4,096 pressure levels) and the magnetic Pro Keyboard, both made for this model only, the tablet can run several windows side by side and switch between work and personal profiles.

The Alexa Tablet 11 has an 11-inch 2.5K display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 8GB of RAM, and is aimed at streaming, gaming and reading. The smallest model, the Alexa Tablet 8, has an 8.7-inch display, weighs 329 grams and has 4GB of RAM. On all three, opening the Kindle app silences notifications and reduces blue light, and according to Amazon reading time reaches up to 20 hours on a single charge.

Amazon also announced Amazon Kids Tablet bundles on the same day. Available in 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes, they come with a kid-proof case and a year of Amazon Kids+, with separate versions for ages 3+ and 6+. Kids+ is adding Storybuilder, a tool that lets children create illustrated stories with their voice, along with a redesigned Parent Dashboard.

Shipping dates and countries

According to the announcement, the tablets are available to order now and ship on October 14, 2026, in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Shipping starts in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain on October 19, and the Kids Tablets also ship in Japan on October 14. Besides Amazon.com, the devices will be sold at retailers including Best Buy and Target. Current prices are on Amazon's site.

The announcement does not say which Android version the tablets run or how many years of updates they will receive. It also gives no detail on the countries and languages where the Alexa+ features will work on the tablets. Amazon's speed comparison is measured against the company's own earlier tablets. Since On-Screen Intelligence lets Alexa see what is on the screen once enabled, it is worth reviewing the privacy settings during setup. For a fuller picture, follow evaluations from independent researchers as well.

Sources: Amazon: New Amazon Alexa Tablets with Alexa+ built in.