Amazon’s premium 12-inch tablet adds Google Play but has software limits
Amazon’s Alexa Tablet Pro 12 brings its tablet range closer to mainstream Android devices, with Google Play access and a premium design aimed at work as well as entertainment. At a starting price of $499, it offers an appealing alternative to Apple’s iPad Air and Pro, although software limitations still hold it back.
The 12-inch tablet has a 2,800 × 1,840 display, a 6.5mm aluminium body, a fingerprint sensor and a 13-megapixel rear camera. Optional keyboard and stylus accessories support productivity, while the review notes drawbacks including no headphone jack and a screen shape that can feel awkward in portrait mode.
- A premium 12-inch Android tablet starts at $499.
- Google Play access expands beyond Amazon’s older Fire tablets.
- Software limits keep it behind Apple’s iPad range.
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Amazon is entering a part of the tablet market where larger screens and optional keyboards and pens are used for both work and entertainment. Its devices run Amazon’s own software, which has traditionally offered a different app selection from mainstream Android tablets.
Google Play is Google’s app store for Android devices, while Apple’s iPads use a separate system and app store. The iPad Air and Pro are established rivals in this premium category, so app access, software features and accessory support help shape how the tablets compare.
The choice matters to people weighing a tablet against a laptop or another brand’s device. A large screen and productivity accessories may suit some tasks, but the range of available apps and software features can affect how useful a tablet is day to day.
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Originally published by Engadget as “Alexa Tablet 12 Pro review: Amazon’s premium tablet gets almost everything right”.