Amazon Launches Android-Powered Alexa Tablets With Google Play to Replace Fire Lineup

Amazon introduced a premium lineup of Alexa-branded tablets running standard Android with Google Play Store access, moving away from its budget Fire OS hardware. Priced from $229.99 to $549.99, the new devices feature the Alexa+ generative AI assistant and higher-end hardware, including up to 16 hours of video playback. The strategic shift follows a drop in Amazon's global tablet market share to 1.9% in the second quarter, down from 8.0% a year earlier. Units ship October 14, 2026, across North America.