Amazon Has Finally Given Users A Solid Reason To Buy Its Alexa Tablets
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Amazon has announced its 2026 lineup of Alexa Tablets (via Amazon News). The main selling points for this year's models are the built-in advanced Alexa+ smart assistant and full access to the Google Play Store. Alexa+ is worth paying for on its own, but the inclusion of Google Play access is also a huge reason to buy an Alexa Tablet. If you were disappointed with the slim Amazon App Store offerings in the past, now might be the time to give an Alexa Tablet a real chance.
Previous iterations of Amazon's Fire Tablet line used a custom fork of the Android operating system and only allowed access to the limited offerings in Amazon's proprietary app store. This led to the common sentiment that there's simply no need for an Amazon Fire Tablet. But the new Alexa Tablets promise to provide a true, full-fledged Android experience. Now that Amazon's tablets are officially compatible with Google Play for the first time ever, they can finally serve as a serious competitor to other powerful Android tablets.
Is the 2026 Alexa Tablet actually worth buying?
The new Alexa Tablet comes in three models ranging in price from $229 to $679: the Amazon Alexa Tablet 8, Amazon Alexa Tablet 11, and Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro. The model you choose will determine the tablet's screen size, resolution, storage space, and RAM capacity. But if you're trying to decide between one of these tablets and a different option, it's important to consider how you feel about Amazon's unique features.
The new Alexa Tablets have a distraction-free Kindle reading mode for the first time ever on an Amazon tablet. If you thought that reading on a Kindle beats other devices, the Alexa Tablet might change your mind. Amazon asserts that the Alexa Tablet has a battery life that can last for up to 20 hours of reading, making it a compelling product if you have a growing collection of digital literature.
Additionally, the Alexa Tablet lineup is equipped with Alexa+. If you haven't used it yet on another Amazon device, you might be surprised to know that Alexa+ has cool new features like contextual memory and streamlined automation. It also has an On-Screen Intelligence feature that enables you to ask for more information about anything currently displayed on your Alexa Tablet screen while browsing or playing. It's an intriguing device that's worth buying as an addition to your existing Alexa smart home ecosystem.