Amazon announced its new Alexa Tablet line on October 8, 2026 — three sizes (8, 11, and 12 Pro), priced from $229.99 to $550, with two firsts for the line: Alexa+ built in, and the Google Play Store, so the app catalog is no longer limited to Amazon's own store. They started shipping October 14. With the hardware this close in spirit, the decision really is about size — and size is about where the tablet spends its day.
Buy for the room it lives in, not the spec sheet: kitchen, couch, or desk each want a different screen.
The 8: the everywhere tablet
- Best for: reading, recipes in the kitchen, smart-home control, travel, and kids.
- Why: it's the one you'll actually carry room to room. Small enough for one hand, cheap enough not to baby.
- Skip it if: split-screen or long video sessions are the main job — the screen gets crowded fast.
The 11: the balanced middle
- Best for: streaming, video calls, and everyday apps — the couch tablet most households will use most.
- Why: noticeably more room for video and the Play Store's apps, still comfortable to hold for a full show.
- Skip it if: you know the tablet will live on a desk with a keyboard — then the Pro earns its name.
The 12 Pro: the desk tablet
- Best for: split-screen work, bigger video, and anyone treating the tablet as a light laptop alternative.
- Why: the largest screen makes side-by-side apps genuinely usable, and Alexa+ is at its best with room to show answers, lists, and controls at once.
- Skip it if: it will mostly be held one-handed — size and price both work against casual use.
The simple rule
- Mostly reading, kitchen, and control? Get the 8.
- Mostly video and everyday apps? Get the 11 — it's the default recommendation for most homes.
- Mostly desk work and split-screen? Get the 12 Pro.
Whichever size you pick, the headline is the same: Alexa+ plus the full Play Store makes these the most flexible tablets Amazon has sold under the Alexa name. Size just decides how happily you'll use them every day.
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