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Amazon Alexa Tablets are a new three-model lineup that runs Android and builds Alexa+ into the core. On October 8, Amazon announced the tablets. They come in three sizes: the 12-inch Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, the Alexa Tablet 11 and the 8.7-inch Alexa Tablet 8. Prices start at $229.99 in the US, and orders ship October 14.
Of the three, the 12 Pro is the headline model. It also has the most unusual screen, a Nanomatte anti-glare display.
Prices and ship dates for all three Amazon Alexa Tablets
These are Amazon’s US starting prices:
- 12 Pro: $499.99 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or $549.99 for the Nanomatte display.
- Tablet 11: $329.99 with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
- Tablet 8: $229.99 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
The tablets are on sale at Amazon.com, with Best Buy and Target among the retail partners. Shipping starts October 14 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Meanwhile, buyers in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain get theirs from October 19. All prices above are for the US.
Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and its Nanomatte screen
Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is the most advanced tablet we’ve ever built.
From Amazon’s announcement post
The 12 Pro measures 6.5 mm thick and uses a single piece of aluminum. Its 12-inch display runs at 280 PPI and 120Hz with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Inside, a 4nm 8-core chip with up to 16GB of RAM does the work. That, Amazon says, is nearly three times faster at processing and nine times faster at graphics than any tablet Amazon has shipped. However, that comparison is against Amazon’s own earlier tablets, not rival models.
Nanomatte is the standout feature. Amazon worked with Corning on a photolithography process that etches a pixel-aligned texture into the glass. According to Amazon, conventional matte screens sandblast the surface, so they scatter light unevenly. Nanomatte aims to keep detail and contrast in bright rooms and outdoors. It also gives the pen some friction, so writing feels closer to paper.
Two accessories work only with the 12 Pro. The $89.99 Pro Pen is a USI 2.0 pen with 4,096 pressure levels, tilt detection, magnetic docking and wireless charging. Meanwhile, the $149.99 Pro Keyboard attaches magnetically and needs no Bluetooth pairing. In addition, the tablet itself has quad Dolby Atmos speakers, Wi-Fi 6E and up to 16 hours of video playback.
The Alexa Tablet 11 and Alexa Tablet 8
Built for streaming, gaming and reading, the Alexa Tablet 11 has a 2.5K display that runs at 276 PPI and 90Hz, with a 16:10 aspect ratio. In addition, an 8-core processor, dual Dolby Atmos speakers and up to 15 hours of video playback round it out. Colors are Graphite, Amethyst and Matcha.
For people who want portability, the Alexa Tablet 8 is the pick. Its 8.7-inch screen sits in an aluminum body that is 7.95 mm thin and weighs 329 g. Besides the screen, the tablet has an 8-core processor, Wi-Fi 6 and up to 14 hours of video playback. Colors are Graphite, Rosette and Teal.
Amazon also announced Kids Tablets in 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes. Our report on the Amazon Kids Tablets covers those bundles.
Alexa+, Kindle mode and Android apps
All three models run Android with the full Google Play Store. In addition, built-in apps include Prime Video, Kindle, Audible, Amazon Music and Amazon Luna. When you open a book in the Kindle app, notifications go silent and blue light drops. In that mode, battery life stretches to up to 20 hours. Three display themes cover a warm tone, a paper tone and pure grayscale. Annotations also sync across Kindle apps on pen-supported devices and on Kindle Scribe. Readers who want a dedicated device can see Amazon’s new Kindle lineup.
Alexa+ appears through the Alexa wake word or an Ask Alexa button, so you do not need to open an app. On-Screen Intelligence lets Alexa read what is on the display. For example, Amazon says you can pull up a game schedule and ask Alexa to add every date to your calendar. However, the feature is off by default. It needs a deliberate opt-in, and a visual indicator shows whenever Alexa is active.
Live sessions go further with a continuous, hands-free conversation that needs no wake word between questions. If On-Screen Intelligence is on, you can also share the screen, so Alexa follows along as it changes. Finally, Amazon says its tablets will keep getting better over time.
