Amazon launches first Android tablets, raising prices and incorporating Alexa
AMZN•Amazon unveiled its first Android-based Alexa Tablets, priced from $230 to $550, with Alexa+ access requiring a Prime membership or subscription. The company held 1.9% of the global tablet market in the second quarter, down from 8% a year earlier.
1. Higher-priced tablet lineup
Amazon unveiled several Alexa Tablet models that run on Google's Android operating system and feature its Alexa+ assistant. Prices start at $230 and reach $550; the devices have aluminum cases, replacing the plastic used in Fire tablets. The top model includes 128 gigabytes of memory.
2. Alexa+ access and fees
Alexa+ can perform actions and answer questions using generative AI. Tablet users need a Prime membership or Alexa+ subscription to access it. Prices do not include a one-time fee to remove lockscreen ads; the fee is $20, while the highest-priced model will not have ads.
3. Tablet market share
Amazon's global tablet market share was 1.9% in the second quarter, down from 8% a year earlier, IDC data showed. Global tablet sales fell 12% year over year to 33.6 million units, while U.S. sales dropped 32%.
