Amazon’s new Alexa Tablets are an iPad-inspired reboot, complete with the Play Store

9to5google.com Oct 9, 2026

Amazon’s new Alexa Tablets are an iPad-inspired reboot, complete with the Play Store

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 9, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Amazon unveiled a new line of Alexa Tablets, replacing its Fire brand with three models that mimic iPad designs. The entry‑level 8.7‑inch tablet offers 4 GB RAM, up to 128 GB storage and a MediaTek 8189 processor; the 11‑inch version adds 8 GB RAM, a 90 Hz display and the same chipset; the flagship 12‑inch Pro features a 2.8K 120 Hz screen, quad speakers, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB storage and a MediaTek Dimensity 8400 CPU, with optional upgrades to 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage plus an anti‑glare “nanomatte” panel. All three run Android with Google Mobile Services and the Play Store, a first for Amazon tablets. Prices start at $230 for the 8‑inch, $330 for the 11‑inch and $500 for the 12‑inch Pro, with variants costing more.

💡 Why It Matters

· By finally supporting Google Play, Amazon gives its tablets genuine app compatibility, eroding the advantage of competing Android devices that lack native GMS.
· The move also signals Amazon’s renewed commitment to Android, positioning the Alexa line as a credible, lower‑priced alternative to premium tablets.

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Amazon Just Fixed One of The Biggest Issues With Its Tablets

Amazon unveiled its first tablets running Google’s Android OS, abandoning the Fire OS platform and bundling the new Alexa+ assistant. Codenamed Kittyhawk, the Alexa Tablet line ships in aluminum cases at prices from $230 to $550, with the top model offering 128 GB storage. Unlike previous Fire devices, these tablets provide full access to the Google Play store, eliminating the need for developers to maintain separate Fire OS versions. Alexa+ requires an Amazon Prime membership or a standalone subscription and can manage queries, smart‑home controls, shopping, and third‑party services. The move reflects hardware chief Panos Panay’s shift toward higher‑margin products after years of low‑cost devices. It arrives as tablet shipments fell 12 % in Q2, with Amazon’s market share slipping to 1.9 %.

💡 By pairing Android’s app universe with its own AI assistant, Amazon forces developers and shoppers to consider a single device that serves both ecosystems, reshaping competition in a shrinking tablet market.

androidcentral.com · Oct 9

The Amazon Alexa Tablet series runs Android, and turns into a ‘sanctuary’…

Amazon unveiled its Alexa Tablet series, comprising the 12‑inch Pro, 11‑inch, and 8‑inch models, all running Android and featuring Alexa Plus integration. The 12‑Pro offers a 12‑inch 120Hz display in vibrant or Corning‑partnered Nanomatte variants, a 4nm 8‑core chip, quad Dolby Atmos speakers, and up to 16 hours of video playback. Prices start at $499 for the vibrant display and $549 for Nanomatte. The 11‑inch targets cinematic media with a 90Hz screen, while the 8‑inch focuses on e‑reading comfort. All models support Alexa voice commands and screen sharing.

💡 Amazon’s move to embed Alexa deeply into its tablet line signals a push toward AI‑enhanced, multi‑purpose devices, potentially reshaping how consumers interact with mobile hardware. The inclusion of advanced displays and gaming‑grade processors positions the lineup as a serious competitor to established tablet ecosystems.

techcrunch.com · Oct 7

How to find out if Amazon thinks you have ‘flat buttocks’

Amazon’s “Your Shopping Preferences” page reveals personalized assumptions derived from users’ purchase histories, ranging from benign interests to intimate remarks such as “has flat buttocks.” The feature, accessible via the “Hello, [Name]” menu on desktop or the account section in the mobile app, lets shoppers view and edit inferred traits, shoe size, dietary choices, and more. A Threads user discovered the “flat buttocks” label after buying butt‑scrunch leggings, shared the finding, and sparked a viral response with over a million views. Other users reported accurate predictions about hobbies, music tastes, and home‑decor preferences, confirming that Amazon’s algorithms generate detailed consumer profiles based on buying patterns.

💡 The leak exposes how algorithmic profiling can cross privacy boundaries, turning mundane purchase data into personal judgments that users may find invasive.

dig.watch · Oct 5

Amazon pushes new data centre sustainability commitments

Amazon announced a voluntary “Data Centre Commitment” and a $1 billion, five‑year “Built Together” community investment program. The pledge focuses on water‑efficiency, carbon‑free power, and local economic benefits. Amazon claims its data centres use only 13,000 gallons of water daily, far below the 170,000‑gallon average, and that backup generators run 99.9% of the time idle. The commitment includes community‑tailored tax contributions, local hiring, open‑house engagement, and public reporting of energy, water, and carbon metrics. The program will fund free community‑college training for up to 300,000 students and expand modular training centres.

💡 Amazon’s investment signals a shift toward measurable environmental stewardship in tech infrastructure, potentially setting a new industry benchmark for water‑positive operations and community‑centric development.

techcrunch.com · Oct 3

Amazon responds to data center backlash, says it no longer uses NDAs

Amazon Web Services announced it has stopped using nondisclosure agreements with government agencies to gain approval for new data centers. CEO Matt Garman explained the move amid a backlash over data center transparency, citing over 100 moratoriums in the U.S. and New York’s one‑year pause. He countered myths about water use, electricity costs, pollution, and community benefits, noting Amazon’s data centers consume 0.5% of industrial water and that the company has donated more than $1 billion to local communities. The statement aims to ease local opposition and secure permits.

💡 By eliminating NDAs, Amazon seeks to rebuild trust with communities and regulators, potentially smoothing the path for critical infrastructure expansion that supports the growing AI economy.

techcrunch.com · Oct 2

Amazon releases its own Jev clone as decision models flood the web

Amazon Web Services launched Strands Decider 2B, an open‑source decision model inspired by TypeSafe’s Jev, amid a surge of AI tools focused on task selection rather than text generation. The model, built on Qwen3.5‑2B, delivers calibrated choices with confidence scores, enabling low‑latency, cost‑effective workflow steps for agents. It was initially a homebrew project by engineer Marc Brooker, briefly topping the Jevbench ranking, before being refined and released through Strands Labs. The release coincides with OpenAI’s similar offering, reflecting growing demand for specialized decision engines in automation pipelines.

💡 The launch signals a shift toward modular AI components that can be embedded locally, reducing reliance on large LLMs and lowering operational costs for businesses. It also highlights the competitive pressure on major cloud providers to innovate beyond generic models, reshaping how enterprises deploy AI in real‑time decision contexts.