Amazon is pitching its hardware directly at premium rivals instead of sticking to the discount bin. The retail giant announced a trio of Android slates headlined by the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, a high-end device featuring an optional anti-glare Nanomatte screen, Dolby Atmos sound, and native access to Google's app ecosystem.
The hardware marks an unmistakable strategy shift. For years, Amazon pushed bargain Fire hardware shackled to its own restrictive app store. The new lineup drops that compromise entirely, shipping with standard Android and the Google Play Store out of the box.
At the top of the roster sits the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro. Its standout configuration swaps standard glossy glass for a Nanomatte finish designed to cut down reflections under harsh light. Amazon claims the panel retains 82 percent of its contrast in bright surroundings. The screen runs at a 120Hz refresh rate and delivers a pixel density of 280 pixels per inch.
Audio remains a focus, with Amazon carrying over Dolby Atmos spatial sound support from its previous releases. For people looking to get actual work done, the slate supports two optional add-ons sold separately: the Tablet Pro Pen stylus and the Pro Keyboard folio.
Software duties fall to Alexa+, woven directly into the operating system rather than sequestered inside a standalone app. Users summon it via voice or a hardware "Ask Alexa" shortcut. The assistant searches across streaming catalogs to pull up video recommendations. It also includes an On-Screen Intelligence feature, which analyzes whatever is currently displayed on your glass to offer contextual help if you grant permission.
Two cheaper companions fill out the rest of the lineup. The baseline Alexa Tablet 8 includes 4GB of RAM alongside 64GB of storage, while the mid-tier Alexa Tablet 11 bumps memory up to 8GB with the same 64GB baseline storage.
Amazon has only detailed UK pricing so far. In that market, the Alexa Tablet 8 starts at £200, while the Alexa Tablet 11 arrives at £290. The flagship Alexa Tablet 12 Pro begins at £450 for a standard reflective display, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Stepping up to the Nanomatte version brings the cost to £500. That bracket puts it in direct competition with Apple's base iPad, which sells for £429 in the UK, and the £599 iPad Mini.
Pre-orders are live in the UK right now, with units scheduled to ship to buyers on October 19.
GDFiled by The Gadgets Desk
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