Amazon has just announced its latest lineup of tablets, building on the original Fire roster with Amazon Alexa-branded devices spanning 8-inch, 11-inch, and 12-inch options. Crucially, though, it's also opened up to the world of Google Play Store. This is the first time Bezos's releases have allowed for additional app support from Android's biggest marketplace. That means more reliable updates and access to a much wider range of apps, all sidling up with Amazon's own Prime software.
Amazon Fire devices have always been the tablets we have at home. Restricted by their reliance on Amazon's own app system, even the slickest slab has always felt second to devices with more comprehensive app systems. We've consistently rated the Fire HD 10 among the best gaming tablets for its budget-friendly accessibility, but there's always been that heavy compatibility caveat hanging over any recommendation. With a price tag falling just under average across the rest of the competition, Amazon's new device could double down on this proposition.
The Amazon Alexa Tablet starts life at $229.99, for a 64GB version of the smallest 8-inch model. That's... with lock screen ads (classic). Without those, you're looking at $249.99 for the base model, moving up to $549.99 for the top-range Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro Matte.
99, because picking up a $20 cheaper lockscreen-ad option doesn't exactly feel worthwhile. That puts it in line with sale prices on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ and Lenovo Idea Tab, two entry-level MediaTek-touting slabs, one with a newer Dimensity 7300 chipset and the other running with Dimensity 6300.
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