Amazon Discontinued Fire Tablets: What Alexa Tablets Mean for Yours (2026)
On October 8, 2026 Amazon announced a new tablet line called Alexa Tablets — and with it, the end of the Fire tablet. The new models run full Android with the Google Play Store instead of Fire OS and the Amazon Appstore. If you own a Fire 7, Fire HD 8, Fire HD 10, Fire Max 11 or one of the Kids editions, you probably have three questions: does my tablet still work, how long will it get updates, and should I upgrade?
Short answers: yes, for years, and probably not yet. Here are the details.
What Amazon actually announced
According to Amazon’s announcement, the new line has three models plus two kids’ versions. All of them come with the Google Play Store and Alexa+ built in. Amazon’s developer documentation lists Android 16 as the operating system.
| Model | Screen | RAM / storage (base) | US launch price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexa Tablet 8 | 8.7″ | 4 GB / 64 GB | $229.99 |
| Alexa Tablet 11 | 11″, 2.5K, 90 Hz | 8 GB / 64 GB | $329.99 |
| Alexa Tablet 12 Pro | 12″, 120 Hz | 8 GB / 128 GB | $499.99 |
| Amazon Kids Tablet 8 / 11 | 8.7″ / 11″ | 4 GB / 8 GB RAM | Same as the 8 and 11 |
Prices are Amazon’s announced starting prices at launch; check the current price before buying. The Tablet 8 and 11 show lock-screen ads, and several outlets report removing them costs $20. US shipping started October 14, 2026; the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain followed on October 19.
The important part for existing owners: Amazon described the line to TechCrunch as “an all-new product line… rather than a rebrand of Fire Tablets”, and multiple outlets (citing CNBC and WIRED) report that Amazon has stopped making Fire tablets.
Will my Fire tablet stop working?
No. Nothing changes on your tablet today. Your apps, books, videos, Amazon Kids profiles and the Amazon Appstore keep working exactly as before. Amazon has not announced any end date for the Appstore on Fire tablets.
The real question is security updates, because that’s what decides how long a tablet stays safe to use online.
How long will my Fire tablet get updates?
Amazon publishes guaranteed security-update dates for each Fire model on its Fire tablet security updates page. For the most recent models:
| Fire tablet | Security updates guaranteed until at least |
|---|---|
| Fire HD 8 / HD 8 Plus / HD 8 Kids (2024) | December 31, 2029 |
| Fire HD 8 / HD 8 Kids / HD 8 Kids Pro (2022) | January 28, 2029 |
| Fire HD 8 Plus (2022) | July 30, 2029 |
| Fire 7 / Fire 7 Kids (2022) | December 31, 2029 |
| Fire HD 10 / HD 10 Kids / HD 10 Kids Pro (2023) | December 31, 2029 |
| Fire Max 11 (2023) | July 31, 2030 |
Amazon’s page also says that a device bought new from Amazon gets at least four years of updates from the purchase date if that’s later. Not sure which generation you have? Go to Settings → Device Options → About Fire Tablet.
Older models (2021 and earlier) have earlier dates on the same page. If yours is already past its date, it still works, but we’d avoid using it for banking or shopping.
What you lose by staying on Fire (and what you don’t)
- You keep: everything you have now — Kindle, Prime Video, Amazon Kids+, your installed apps, Alexa on the tablet.
- You won’t get: new hardware, and over time some developers may stop updating their Fire versions now that new Amazon tablets use Google Play. Amazon hasn’t said anything about the Appstore’s long-term future on Fire.
- If yours is acting up: our troubleshooting guides still apply — won’t turn on, won’t charge, stuck on the Amazon logo, running slow.
Should you upgrade to an Alexa Tablet?
It depends on what’s bothering you about your Fire tablet.
Upgrade makes sense if…
- You constantly hit missing apps (no Google Play is the #1 Fire complaint). The Alexa Tablets run the full Play Store, so YouTube, Gmail, Chrome and most games install normally.
- Your Fire tablet is a 2021-or-older model and is slow or out of security updates.
- You want a bigger, sharper screen — the Alexa Tablet 11 has a 2.5K, 90 Hz display, a clear step up from any Fire HD.
Wait (or don’t bother) if…
- You mainly read, stream and browse. A 2022–2024 Fire HD 8 or HD 10 does that fine and is supported until the end of 2029.
- Price matters. The cheapest Alexa Tablet launched at $229.99 — well above what Fire tablets usually sold for. If you need a budget tablet, a Fire on clearance or an Android alternative from our best tablets under $100 list is still the cheaper route.
For kids
The new Amazon Kids Tablet 8 and Kids Tablet 11 come with a case and one year of Amazon Kids+. Parents approve each Google Play app. One thing to check before buying: reviewers at BGR and FoneArena list a 1-year limited warranty, while the old Fire Kids tablets came with a 2-year worry-free guarantee. If your kid’s Fire Kids tablet is still inside that guarantee, keep using it.
Which is right for you?
| Your situation | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Fire HD 8/10 from 2022–2024, works fine | Keep it — supported to 2029 |
| Want Google Play, mid budget | Alexa Tablet 8 |
| Want the best screen for video | Alexa Tablet 11 |
| Work and note-taking | Alexa Tablet 12 Pro (pen and keyboard sold separately) |
| Google Play on a tighter budget | Lenovo Tab M11 or Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ |
Selling or passing on your old Fire tablet
Before you give it away, remove your Amazon account and wipe it: follow our Fire tablet factory reset guide. If it’s a kids’ tablet, remove the child profile first — see how to remove Amazon Kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amazon still selling Fire tablets?
Reports say Amazon will sell remaining stock but isn’t making new ones. Availability varies by country; in Germany, for example, only used and refurbished Fire HD units were listed a few days after the launch.
Do Alexa Tablets use the Amazon Appstore?
No. They use Google Play. Amazon’s developer FAQ asks app makers to publish through Google Play, with Amazon Kids+ apps as the exception.
Will my Fire tablet get Android 16 or Google Play?
No. Fire tablets stay on Fire OS. Amazon hasn’t announced any upgrade path to the new software.
Is Alexa+ free on the new tablets?
Alexa+ is built in, but Amazon’s announcement doesn’t spell out pricing and news reports disagree on whether a Prime membership or a subscription is needed. Check the product page before you buy.
Last updated: October 2026. Specs and dates are from Amazon’s announcement, developer documentation and security-update page; we’ll update this page as Amazon publishes more details.