Amazon's Alexa tablets will finally support the full Google Play store
Amazon announced that its new Alexa Tablet lineup will give users unrestricted access to Google Play, ending the reliance on the Amazon Appstore.
Amazon is expanding its tablet portfolio with three new Alexa Tablet models - the 12 Pro, 11 and 8 - that retain the company’s custom Android skin and a suite of Amazon services such as Kindle, Prime Video, Audible, Amazon Music, Quick and Luna. The key difference this time is full compatibility with the Google Play store, granting users access to the entire Android app ecosystem rather than the limited Amazon Appstore.
This move should improve app availability and speed up developer-issued updates, bringing the experience closer to that of Samsung’s devices. The devices will be sold in the United States, Mexico and Canada starting October 14, with a rollout in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain on October 19.
How this was covered
- Coverage peaked at 7 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
Consumers gain far more app choices and quicker updates on Amazon's tablets, narrowing the gap with other Android devices.
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