Full Breakdown
Amazon’s Alexa Tablet 12 Pro: A Mid-Range Tablet Built Around a New “Nanomatte” Screen
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Offering and Display Innovation
Amazon’s Alexa Tablet 12 Pro retails for $549.99, positioned between an 8-inch model at $229.99 and a top-spec 12 Pro at $679.99. Its headline feature is a 12-inch, 2800 × 1840 LCD with a proprietary “Nanomatte” coating developed with Corning. The coating reduces glare without the rainbow-shimmer effect of typical matte screens; reviewers note a slight shimmer on light text against dark backgrounds but overall modest reflectivity even outdoors.
Hardware and Performance
The tablet uses a MediaTek Dimensity 8400 processor. Benchmarks place its performance between a flagship Android phone from last year and one from two years ago, while the 13-inch iPad Pro scores about nine times higher in GPU tests. Day-to-day use feels smooth, with occasional stutter in the app switcher. Rear cameras “wash out some colors” but are adequate for video calls. A $149.99 keyboard case provides decent typing but is awkward to detach.
Software, Alexa Integration, and Bloatware
Unlike Fire tablets, the 12 Pro runs full Android with Google Play access and supports Google’s Gemini assistant. Amazon adds its own layer: two non-removable home-screen widgets promote Amazon products, and a slide-over panel offers content recommendations. Preinstalled Amazon apps for browsing, photos, and music are present but not superior to alternatives. The device also includes Alexa Plus, callable in any app; the reviewer suggests switching to Gemini for a better experience.
Market Position and Competitive Landscape
At $550 the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro rivals Apple’s base-model iPad, which offers 256 GB of storage and stronger processing power. While the iPad provides a more polished OS and broader app ecosystem, the reviewer favors the Alexa Tablet for media consumption, citing the “terrific screen” and Kindle-specific display modes (currently limited to the Kindle app).
Why It Matters for Tablet Buyers
The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro shows Amazon’s attempt to stand out with a distinctive display while bundling its ecosystem. For users who want a large, glare-resistant screen below premium iPad prices, it offers solid value for reading and streaming. Those who need top-tier performance, a clean software environment, or robust large-screen app support may prefer the iPad or other Android tablets. The trade-offs—especially the Alexa-centric UI and modest hardware—highlight the tension between feature differentiation and ecosystem integration in today’s tablet market.