Amazon has launched the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, which it calls its most advanced tablet yet.
We gave the Amazon Fire Max 11 an excellent rating, so how does the new model stack up? If you own the older Fire tablet, should you upgrade?
We compared the specs of the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and the Fire Max 11 to show you the key differences.
Alexa Tablet 12 Pro vs Fire Max 11: Price and Availability
The Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is on sale now. The version with the standard display starts at $499.99.
Amazon no longer sells the Fire Max 11 directly. You can still find it on third-party sites, where prices run from as low as $130 up to about $250, which was its original retail price.
Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and Google Play Store
One of the biggest differences between the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and the Fire Max 11, and maybe the best reason to upgrade, is Google Play Store access.
The newer tablet has it. You get built-in Amazon apps like Prime Video, Kindle, and Amazon Music, and you can also download millions of other apps, including YouTube, Netflix, and Gmail.
The Tablet 12 Pro also has a clever Kindle feature. When you open the Kindle app, it silences notifications, reduces blue light, and extends battery life to up to 20 hours. That removes the need for a separate e-reader.
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The Fire Max 11 is more limited. It is technically an Android tablet, but it runs Amazon’s Fire OS and has no Google apps or services.
You do not get YouTube, Gmail, or Drive, and you must use Amazon’s equivalents instead. That is restrictive if you are used to Google’s apps. You can still use Netflix, Disney Plus, and social apps like TikTok and Facebook.
Games are where the Fire Max 11 misses out most. A few options like Roblox and Gardenscapes are available, but you cannot play titles like Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact.
Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with a bigger display
The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has two display options, but it only comes in one size: 12 inches. The Amazon Fire Max 11 is slightly smaller, with an 11-inch panel.
You can buy the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro with a standard finish or a Nanomatte finish, which is an anti-glare display.
Amazon designed Nanomatte with Corning. It is different from a conventional matte screen. Instead of coating the surface, it etches a precise texture into the glass, aligned with the pixels at the sub-pixel level. Amazon says this preserves detail and color accuracy.
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Whichever finish you pick, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has a 120Hz refresh rate and a 3:2 aspect ratio.
The Fire Max 11 uses an IPS LCD display. It does not have the vivid colors of OLED alternatives, but its 2K resolution gives a sharp, detailed picture with excellent contrast. It is not the brightest tablet. We found it does a good job for the price.
Alexa Tablet 12 Pro comes with a built-in Alexa+
Alexa+ is a headline feature of the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro. It is an upgraded version of Amazon’s voice assistant, and it promises more natural, free-flowing hands-free conversation. You can use it to control paired smart home devices, ask for advice, set reminders, and more.
The tablet also supports on-screen intelligence. You can ask Alexa to look at what is on your screen and give you real-time help.
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The Fire Max 11 does not support Alexa+ at the time of writing. Amazon says it plans to expand Alexa+ “to more devices this year,” but we do not know yet whether the Fire Max 11 will be included.
For now, the Fire Max 11 uses the older Alexa, which is still one of the more reliable voice assistants. You can control the tablet with your voice, but you miss out on the more natural conversations.
Alexa Tablet 12 Pro vs Fire Max 11: Supported Accessories
If you want a laptop replacement, both the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and the Fire Max 11 are good choices. Keep in mind that the Fire Max 11 may lack some of the apps you would expect on an Android tablet. Each tablet also has its own accessories that turn it into a makeshift laptop, including a keyboard and a pen.
The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro works with the new Pro Keyboard, which attaches magnetically and gives you a functional workspace. The Fire Max 11 also has a magnetic keyboard case, and it needs no pairing.
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Both tablets support a stylus for handwriting and sketching. The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has an edge here, because its Nanomatte display gives you a smoother surface to write on.
Alexa Tablet 12 Pro vs Fire Max 11 Verdict
A few things could decide the choice between the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and the Fire Max 11. The most obvious is price. The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro costs much more, which may make the older tablet the easier pick right away.
Keep in mind that the Fire Max 11 has a very limited app store and no Google apps. If you plan to use it for work, you may struggle. It also lacks a Nanomatte display, though the panel is still pretty decent for the price.
In the end, your decision comes down to three things: your budget, what you plan to use the tablet for, and whether you want the new Alexa+.
