Amazon’s newly announced Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is being touted as the most advanced tablet the brand has ever built, but how does it compare to Apple’s iPad Air (M4)?
We’ve compared the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro’s specs to the latest iPad Air to see if either device has a chance to make the list of best tablets. Read on to find out what sets the two apart and decide which tablet is best for you.
Price and availability
The Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is available now in the US, Mexico and Canada, starting at $499.99. Those in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain can pre-order the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro ahead of its launch on October 19 for an RRP of £449.99.
The iPad Air (M4) is available worldwide now, starting at £749/$749 – a pretty hefty RRP compared to the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro.
Android vs iPadOS
One of the biggest differences between the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and the iPad Air is their respective operating systems. While the iPad Air runs on Apple’s iPadOS and supports the recently launched iPadOS 27, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is powered by Android.
This means that the Alexa Tablet will not only connect to all of your Amazon accounts like Amazon Music, Prime Video and Kindle, but it will also have access to the entire Google Play Store, which allows you to use apps like YouTube, Netflix, Gmail and more.
Additionally, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro will be equipped with Alexa+ – the updated iteration of Amazon’s voice assistant – which means you can ask Alexa questions and get relevant and personalized answers. Additionally, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro introduces on-screen intelligence, which allows Alexa to see what you’re doing on the screen and offer support.
So how does it compare to the iPad Air? iPadOS gives you access to the Apple App Store, which includes many desktop-level apps, access to Apple Arcade, and third-party apps like Amazon Kindle, Prime Video, and other streaming services. In addition, iPad Air includes the full Apple Intelligence toolset, which includes photo editing features, writing assistance, and Genmoji. The most useful Apple Intelligence tool, however, is Siri AI, a revamped version of Apple’s voice assistant. Siri AI promises to be more personalized and natural than ever and, like Alexa, can answer questions, control devices and browse the web.
While Siri AI is a step in the right direction, we have to mention that Alexa is still one of the most usable and actually useful voice assistants out there, especially when paired with smart home devices like video doorbells, smart lights, and security cameras.
The Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has a 120Hz refresh rate
There are some differences between the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and iPad Air screens. First, and most obviously, the iPad Air comes in two sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch, while the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is only available in 12-inch. The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is also thicker, at 6.5mm, compared to the iPad Air, which is just 6.1mm thick, regardless of whether it’s the 11- or 13-inch iteration.
Otherwise, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has a 120Hz refresh rate and 280ppi panel, while the iPad Air runs at 60Hz and 264ppi. It’s annoying that the iPad Air isn’t equipped with Apple’s ProMotion technology, especially since it finally made its way to the iPhone 17 and considering the fact that the iPad Air isn’t a cheap tablet.
Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro promises longer battery life
Promising around 10 hours of battery life for web browsing, the iPad Air will comfortably see you through a normal workday before needing a charge. However, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro promises up to 16 hours of video playback on a single charge.
Not only that, but the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro can stretch up to 20 hours in Kindle mode – more on that later.
The Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has a nanomatte display
While the iPad Pro offers multiple display options, the iPad Air only comes with a standard glossy screen. That said, the display comes with an anti-reflective coating, which we found does a serious job of reducing glare.
In comparison, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro offers two display options: a normal screen and a Nanomatte screen with anti-glare. The nanomatte display found only on the 12 Pro promises to “dramatically reduce” screen glare while maintaining detail and color accuracy. To achieve this, Amazon explains that it’s working with Corning, the brand behind Gorilla Glass, on a process that “etches a precise, pixel-matched texture into the glass.”
Amazon promises that this will result in a “first-of-its-kind” cinema-like viewing experience, and means the tablet will be easy to read indoors and outdoors.
The Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro works like a Kindle
If you like the idea of an e-reader, especially a Kindle, but know you’ll miss the ability to access other apps and the Google Play Store, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro could be a brilliant alternative. When you open a book in the Kindle app, the tablet mutes notifications, reduces blue light, and, as mentioned earlier, extends battery life by up to 20 hours.
Plus, if you opt for the Nanomatte display, you’ll benefit from a more paper-like feel and sharper text. That said, both the standard and Nanomatte options allow you to choose a display theme that best suits your reading preferences, from warm natural colors to pure grayscale.
Note, however, that you can use the Amazon Kindle app on an iPad Air, and you can choose to set the tablet to Do Not Disturb or Focus mode if you don’t want to receive notifications. You just won’t benefit from a dead battery or a duller display.
Early judgment
The Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is a seriously promising device and looks like a huge upgrade over the older Fire tablets. With its affordable price tag, Google Play Store access, and premium display, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro looks like a solid alternative to the more expensive iPad Air.
We’ll be sure to update this after we review the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro.
