Amazon is Reportedly Working on High-End Android Tablet

Amazon is reportedly working on a high-end Android tablet that’s running the open-source version of Android instead of the company’s Android-based Fire OS. According to a report from Reuters citing six people familiar with the project codenamed “Kitthawk,” Amazon’s first Android tablet could be released next year and priced around $400.

“If Kittyhawk is successful, Fire tablets could be more desirable for consumers who crave compatibility with other Android devices, the people said. They cautioned that Kittyhawk could be delayed or cancelled over financial or other concerns,” the report reads.

Amazon managed to make a dent in the tablet market with cheap devices that are regularly discounted. With its optional keyboard case and Stylus pen, the $229.99 Fire Max 11 (pictured above) is Amazon’s current top-of-the-line tablet, but it’s limited by its 4GB of memory, Fire OS, and the lackluster Amazon App Store.

The tablet market has been dominated by Apple’s iPad for years, and even a company like Samsung can hardly compete with the good-enough $349 entry-level iPad. A €400 price tag for Amazon’s Android tablet sounds a bit high, especially if the device doesn’t come with the Play Store and the Google services most consumers take for granted.

The Reuters report also mentions that Amazon is “planning to roll out some lower-priced tablets with its Linux-based Vega operating system now in some Fire TV devices.” Vega OS is Amazon’s replacement for its Android-based TV OS, but to my knowledge, the first streaming device running Vega OS isn’t expected to be released until later this year (https://www.thurrott.com/amazon/319899/report-amazon-to-release-first-streaming-device-running-vega-os-later-this-year). In other words, it’s probably best to take this part of the Reuters report with a grain of salt.