Amazon is a Seattle-based online retail giant that is best known across the world as the "everything store" where you can buy practically anything you want and have it shipped to you in short order. Aside from its retail business, Amazon is well-known for its digital goods marketplace, where it started by selling books, followed by music, movies, TV shows and eventually Android apps through the Amazon Appstore. Amazon offers a lot of this content for free or reduced prices via its Amazon Prime service, which costs $99 per year but has several benefits including free media and free two-day shipping on most items it sells.
In order to support its digital content business, Amazon has used a dual-prong strategy of launching apps for various platforms that can work with its content library, and selling its own first-party hardware that only offers content from its stores. The first hardware effort is the now-famous Kindle line to read books on, followed by the like-named Kindle Fire lineup that replicated a full-powered tablet experience that many had become familiar with via the iPad and other Android tablets. The Kindle Fires run a modified version of Android called Fire OS, have access to the Amazon Appstore rather than Google Play and are generally considered to be popular choices for specific kinds of users.
Branching out further, Amazon launched the Fire TV, which is a media-focused set top box that's essentially a Kindle Fire without a screen. It is a small, yet powerful, box that streams content from Amazon, Netflix, Hulu and dozens of other providers, while also offering access to Android game titles with an optional Bluetooth controller. In the summer of 2014, Amazon also announced the Fire Phone, which completes its Fire OS expansion to all modern platforms — set top boxes, tablets and phones.
Latest about Amazon
Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus vs. Amazon Fire HD 10: Only one way to go
Versus The Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus and Amazon Fire HD 10 look virtually identical, and indeed, they pretty much are, but for a few small but potentially significant differences.
This controller completely changed how I view mobile gaming, and now it's a ridiculous 40% OFF for President's Day
Game on! Just in time for the President's Day sales, Amazon is slashing a straight 40% off the last-gen Razer Kishi Ultra controller.
The CMF Buds Pro 2 are hands down the best budget earbuds, and you can get them for 32% off at Amazon right now
Budget buds The CMF Buds Pro 2 are cheap enough as it is, but this spectacular Amazon deal strikes 32% off the price to deliver a bang for your buck.
The redesigned Galaxy Watch 8 is one of the best Android smartwatches that I've ever used, and now it's 26% OFF at Amazon
Wearable savings For a limited time, Amazon is carving a straight 26% off Android Central's favorite Android smartwatch.
The sleek and versatile Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 just scored a $140 discount at Amazon, and yes, it still comes with an S Pen stylus
Stylus Tablet Deals The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 comes with the S Pen, and specs capable enough to handle most tasks.
Today is your last chance to get the Xreal One Pro at its pre-tariff price before it rises again on Feb 1st!
One pro deal Xreal One Pro is back to its pre-tariff pricing for a VERY short time. Grab them now before prices rise again on Feb 1!
Amazon's newest Fire TV is already a record-smashing 40% OFF, just in time for Super Bowl LX
Fire savings The Big Game is swiftly approaching, which means Amazon is dropping some incredible discounts on its Fire 4-Series smart TVs.
Ends tonight! These cheap Nothing earbuds just scored another 46% OFF for the next few hours
Nothing to see here The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds come with ANC, a charging case, audio customization, and more.
Another grueling wave of layoffs hits Amazon, as the company drops 16,000
Another chunk... gone Amazon announced a second huge wave of layoffs, impacting thousands.
Power up! One of our favorite 10,000mAh power banks is currently 23% OFF at Amazon
Power on the Go Hurry, Amazon says this $20 power bank deal is selling fast.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Lite is 'perfect for streaming, browsing, and more', and now it's 20% off at Amazon
Tablet Savings This value tablet still comes with the popular Samsung S Pen stylus.
Act fast! This 'Fan Edition' Samsung phone just crashed to its lowest price EVER at Amazon
Galactic Phone Deals This "Fan Edition" S25 offers a good, entry-level price point into the Galaxy-verse.
Our favorite cheap Pixel just scored another $100 OFF at Amazon
Phone Deals The Google Pixel 9a boasts excellent battery life, flagship-level cameras, and more
Rad! Amazon just slashed 20% OFF of one of our favorite smart rings
Ring Me Up The RingConn Gen 2 boasts a long-lasting battery, sleep apnea tracking, and more.
Amazon just chopped 20% OFF the price of our favorite color Kindle e-reader - but you better act fast
Unlock Reading in Color Amazon's Kindle Colorsoft is currently $50 off, if you need a color e-reader without ads.
The best earbuds for Pixel users are now 28% OFF at Amazon
They're earbuds, buddy The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer the latest in Gemini AI integration.
This Samsung phone was criminally underrated in 2025, and now it's $411 OFF during Amazon's New Year sale
Second chance Amazon's New Year sale continues with over $400 off one of the best-looking smartphones on the market, no trade-in required!
These powerful noise-cancelling earbuds are still 28% OFF after the Christmas sales
Winter Earbud Deals The Bose QuietComfort earbuds are the perfect pick for noise-cancelling enthusiasts.
