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Amazon Unveils First Android Tablets Featuring Alexa Plus and Premium Prices
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CNBC TV18•08-10-2026, 20:13
Amazon Unveils First Android Tablets Featuring Alexa Plus and Premium Prices
- •Amazon launched its new line of Alexa Tablets running on Google’s Android operating system, moving away from its homegrown Fire OS.
- •The premium devices feature aluminum cases and are priced between $230 and $550, marking a shift from Amazon's previous focus on budget-friendly gadgets.
- •The tablets prominently feature Alexa Plus, an advanced AI-powered voice assistant that requires a Prime membership or separate subscription.
- •The strategic shift comes as devices chief Panos Panay pushes upscale, despite worldwide tablet sales falling 12% in the second quarter.
- •Unlike previous Fire tablets, the new Android devices grant users access to the standard app ecosystem rather than the limited Fire OS app store.
Key Questions Answered
Amazon's new Alexa Tablets feature starting prices ranging from $230 to $500, with top-end models costing as much as $550.
Amazon transitioned away from its homegrown Fire OS to Google's Android operating system to address long-standing complaints from consumers and app developers who disliked the limited app selection in the Fire OS store.
Accessing the advanced, generative AI-powered Alexa+ voice assistant on the new tablets requires either a Prime membership or a dedicated Alexa+ subscription.
