Amazon has made a fairly substantial shift in its tablet lineup. The company has introduced three Alexa Tablets with Android, access to Google Play, and integration with Alexa+. Starting at $229.99, Amazon is looking to move much closer to the iPad’s turf, as reported by MacRumors, especially in apps, productivity, and device design.
An Alexa Tablet 12 Pro to compete with Apple
The star of today’s announcements is the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, which starts at $499.99 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It has a 12-inch 120Hz display and four Dolby Atmos-compatible speakers. Alternatively, you can get the version with a Nanomatte display for $549.99, while the magnetic keyboard and stylus are compatible with both models.
Amazon has also introduced the Alexa Tablet 11 starting at $329.99 and the Alexa Tablet 8 at $229.99. Across the lineup, Google Play gives us access to YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs, and other apps, while Alexa+, fully integrated with the system, offers the most direct way to use Amazon’s AI.
The comparison with Apple is inevitable, and the design similarity to the iPad is hard to miss. The iPad starts at $449 and the iPad Air at $749, so Amazon is mainly competing on price and screen size, while the iPad Pro with M5 chip stands out for its OLED display, its enormous power, and the range of pro apps available in the App Store.
The iPad continues to be the most well-rounded option on the market for those of us looking for power, longevity, and a more integrated experience, but Amazon’s offering is genuinely interesting. And the most interesting thing, as always in cases like this, is what this new competition will drive.
