With the Amazon Fire Tabs dead, good cheap Android tablets are now impossible to find

A 15-year era for Amazon's low-cost Android tablets has come to an end, leaving a significant gap in the market for affordable large-screen devices. The brand was once the leading name in the race to offer the cheapest Android tablets, with its Fire 7 (2026) selling for just $60 as recently as this year. However, the company has replaced these budget slates with pricier Alexa tablets, leaving a hole for affordable large-screen devices.

The new Alexa Tablets include models with 8, 11, and 12-inch screens, each borrowing the slim, limited-bezel design from Apple's iPad line, but lacking the budget-friendly plastic shells and distinct features. The Alexa tablets run on a more standard Android system, support a first-party stylus and keyboard attachment, and use Google's Play Store instead of Amazon's walled-off Fire OS app store.

Despite these upgrades, the new devices are significantly more expensive, with the 8-inch model priced at $230, the 11-inch at $330, and the 12 Pro at $500. Reports indicate that the Alexa line is replacing the Fire line, meaning existing models will continue to receive updates, but no upgrades are expected. The era of sub-$100 Amazon Fire Tablets is now a thing of the past, and it's unlikely they'll return.

For general buyers, these tablets once offered simplicity and affordability, appealing to technophobes, seniors, families, and even screenwriters. While other brands like HMD, TCL, and Samsung offer low-cost options, none can match Amazon's success in the budget tablet market. As such, buyers now face a sea of unfamiliar, potentially less reliable options when searching for an affordable Android tablet.