Amazon launches two Kids Tablets in 8.7 and 11 inches

Amazon has introduced two Amazon Kids Tablets, offered in 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes and available in models targeted at ages 3+ and 6+.

Hardware and model differences

The smaller tablet is an 8.7-inch model with 64GB of storage and a battery rated for up to 14 hours of video playback. The 11-inch model features what Amazon calls "a beautiful 2.5K display" and includes 8GB of RAM. Amazon ships each tablet with a kid-proof case; the model for younger children has a soft bumper, while the model for older children uses a slimmer hard case. Case designs include licensed characters such as Paw Patrol, Barbie, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Software, parental controls and creative tools

Every version runs Android and ships with a year of the Kids+ subscription, which Amazon describes as curated content from Disney, Nickelodeon, Lego, and Sesame Street, plus "parent-managed access to Google Play", according to the official press release. After the complimentary year, Kids+ is priced at $7.99 per month for Prime members and $8.99 per month for non-Prime customers.

Tablets come preinstalled with the Amazon Kids Parent Dashboard, giving parents control over screen time, content filters, and activity monitoring. The dashboard is available on the tablet and as a downloadable app for iOS and Android.

Amazon also includes an AI-powered creative tool called Storybuilder, which lets children "use their voice to dream up characters, plot twists, and entire worlds - then watch their ideas turn into actual picture books and comic books they can share with their parents." Amazon says Storybuilder is built for children and includes "guardrails that keep the experience age-appropriate and give parents confidence that their children are exploring safely." The company says content and experiences are tailored to a child's age and will evolve "as a child's interests shift - from Bluey to Harry Potter, from coloring apps to homework tools - the experience evolves with them."

Availability and pricing

The Amazon Kids Tablets are available for pre-order now.

• Shipping starts October 14 in the US, Mexico, Canada, and Japan.
• They arrive in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain on October 19.

Amazon lists the smaller model at $229.99 and the larger model at $329.99; the company also refers to the smaller unit elsewhere as the 8-inch model with a starting price of $229.99.