Amazon Discontinued Fire Tablets: What to Buy Instead

What Amazon announced

On October 8, 2026, Amazon announced the Alexa Tablet 8, Alexa Tablet 11 and Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, and retired the Fire tablet name after about 15 years. The change is more than a rebrand. Fire tablets ran Fire OS, Amazon’s own version of Android, with the Amazon Appstore instead of Google Play. The new Alexa Tablets run full Android (Android 16 at launch, with Android 17 promised for early 2027) and include the Google Play Store, so apps like Gmail, YouTube and Google Docs install the normal way.

Every model also has Alexa+, Amazon’s newer generative assistant, built in. On the home screen it shows up as a “Dynamic Tab” in the top-left corner and an expandable “For You” panel. There is also a Kindle mode that silences notifications, reduces blue light and stretches battery life for reading. Amazon quotes up to 20 hours of reading on a charge.

Amazon says US orders ship on October 14, 2026, and orders in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain ship on October 19. The tablets are sold at Amazon, Best Buy and Target.

What happens to the Fire tablet you already own

Nothing changes right away. Amazon told CNBC that production of new Fire tablets has ended but that it plans to keep supporting the ones people already own. Coverage relaying CNBC’s report says that support runs for four years after the final shipment, and that owners can keep using their tablets as they do today.

Your Fire tablet won’t turn into an Alexa Tablet with a software update. The new software and Google Play come with the new hardware. Apps and books you bought from Amazon stay tied to your Amazon account, so Kindle books, Audible titles and Prime Video work on the new tablets too.

Fire model → replacement

Amazon didn’t publish an official “this replaces that” chart, so this table matches each Fire tablet to the Alexa Tablet with the same screen size and role. The launch prices are Amazon’s announced starting prices.

Scroll sideways to see every column.

The picks, tier by tier

Small and cheap: the Fire HD 8 tier

The 8-inch model keeps the Fire HD 8’s size but moves up in build and price. Its 1340 × 800 screen is the lowest-resolution panel in the lineup. That’s fine for video and kids’ apps, but text looks noticeably softer than on the 11 or 12 Pro. Amazon’s developer documentation also lists an 8GB / 128GB version. The $229.99 launch price is for 4GB / 64GB.

Non-Amazon alternative: Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A11 (opens Amazon in a new tab) is also 8.7 inches with a 1340 × 800 screen. Launch coverage lists a 90Hz refresh rate, a microSD slot and a 5,100 mAh battery. It’s the pick if you want expandable storage or would rather not have Alexa on the home screen. We couldn’t confirm an official US launch price, so check the current listing.

The middle: the Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tier

For most people coming from a Fire HD 10, this is the one to get. It keeps the 16:10 widescreen shape that suits video, adds a 2.5K, 90Hz display and doubles the RAM. Amazon’s developer specs list a MediaTek MT8189 chip with two performance cores and six efficiency cores. It’s a step up from the Fire HD 10, but it’s still a mid-range chip, not a flagship one. If you play demanding games or keep dozens of apps open, look at the 12 Pro.

Non-Amazon alternative: the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ (opens Amazon in a new tab) launched in the US at $249.99 in January 2026, less than the Alexa Tablet 11. It has an 11-inch 90Hz LCD, up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, a microSD slot that takes cards up to 2TB, a 7,040 mAh battery and Android 16. SamMobile reports Samsung promises seven Android OS upgrades. Its screen is lower-resolution (1920 × 1200) than the Alexa Tablet 11’s, but if you care most about price, storage and a known update policy, it’s a strong pick.

The new top tier

There was never a Fire tablet like this. The 12 Pro has a taller 3:2 screen that’s better for reading pages and documents, a 4nm chip and an optional keyboard and pen. Amazon is clearly aiming it at the iPad Air, so we compare the two in Alexa Tablet 12 Pro vs iPad Air. For everything else, including the Nanomatte question, see our full Alexa Tablet 12 Pro guide.

Non-Amazon alternative: Apple’s 11-inch iPad Air with M4 (opens Amazon in a new tab) launched at $599 with 128GB of storage and 12GB of memory. It costs $100 more than the 12 Pro, has a smaller 60Hz screen and comes with Apple’s app ecosystem and long software support.

The price jump, explained

The biggest change for Fire owners is price. Engadget puts the base Fire HD 10 at about $155 list, with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The cheapest Alexa Tablet is now $229.99, and the 11-inch model, the true Fire HD 10 successor, launched at $329.99. Amazon has effectively left the under-$150 tablet market, at least for now.

You do get more for the money: aluminum bodies instead of plastic, sharper screens, more memory, Google Play and Alexa+. But if you bought Fire tablets because they were cheap, the honest answer may be a budget Samsung (see the Tab A11 and A11+ above) or a sale on a remaining Fire tablet while stock lasts.

If you have a Fire Kids tablet

Amazon also announced new Amazon Kids tablets in 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes. Each bundle includes a kid-proof case and one year of Amazon Kids+. The Pre-K version (ages 3+) gets a soft bumper case, and the 6+ version gets a slimmer hard case with a kickstand. Amazon’s announcement doesn’t list their prices or full specs, so check the current Amazon Kids tablet listings (opens Amazon in a new tab). We’ll cover them properly in an upcoming best-tablet-for-kids guide.

Should you upgrade now?

Upgrade if your Fire tablet is slow, out of storage, or you’re tired of side-loading Google apps. Getting Google Play on a Fire tablet always meant a workaround, and the Alexa Tablets fix that for good. Upgrade too if you read a lot and want Kindle mode, or if you want a keyboard and pen setup (12 Pro only).

Wait if your Fire tablet still does what you need. It will keep working and, per Amazon, keep getting support. Full reviews of the Alexa Tablets haven’t been published yet, so battery life, Alexa+ in daily use and long-term performance are still based on Amazon’s claims and early hands-on impressions. Waiting a few weeks costs you nothing.