Amazon just announced the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and calls it the most advanced tablet it has ever built. The obvious question is how it holds up against Apple’s iPad Air with the M4 chip.
We compared the specs of both tablets side by side. The goal is to see whether either one deserves a spot in our best tablet round-up.
Alexa Tablet 12 Pro vs iPad Air M4: Price and Availability
You can buy the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro today in the US, Mexico, and Canada. It starts at $499.99. If you live in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, or Spain, you can pre-order it now. It launches there on October 19, and the UK price starts at £449.99.
The iPad Air (M4) is on sale worldwide. It starts at £749 in the UK and $749 in the US. That is a much higher price than the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro. In the US, the gap is $249.01.
Alexa Tablet 12 Pro vs iPad Air M4: Android vs iPadOS
The biggest difference between these two tablets is the software they run. The iPad Air uses Apple’s iPadOS and supports the newly released iPadOS 27. The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro runs Android.
That gives the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro two advantages. It links to your Amazon accounts, so Amazon Music, Prime Video, and Kindle work right away. It also gives you the full Google Play Store, so you can install YouTube, Netflix, Gmail, and other apps.
You may also like: Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, 11, and 8 Price and Specs
The tablet also comes with Alexa+, Amazon’s updated voice assistant. You can ask it questions and get personalized answers. A new feature called On-Screen Intelligence lets Alexa see what you are doing on the display and offer help.
The iPad Air takes a different route. Apple’s App Store includes many desktop-class apps, and you also get Apple Arcade. Third-party apps like Kindle, Prime Video, and other streaming services work too. The iPad Air also includes the full Apple Intelligence toolkit, with photo editing tools, writing help, and Genmoji.
The most useful Apple Intelligence feature is probably Siri AI, a rebuilt version of Apple’s voice assistant. Apple says it is more personal and more natural than before. Like Alexa, it can answer questions, control your devices, and browse the web when you ask.
Siri AI is a step forward. Still, Alexa remains one of the most practical voice assistants you can use, especially if you own smart home gear like video doorbells, smart lights, and security cameras.
Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro Refresh Rate
The two tablets differ in screen size, thickness, and display quality. The iPad Air comes in 11-inch and 13-inch versions, and the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro comes in one size, 12 inches.
The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is also slightly thicker. It measures 6.5mm, while the iPad Air measures 6.1mm in both sizes.
You may also like: Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ and Ultra Specs Leak Ahead of Launch
The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has the better display on paper. Its screen refreshes at 120Hz and has a density of 280ppi. The iPad Air tops out at 60Hz and 264ppi, so scrolling and animations look smoother on the Alexa.
The missing high refresh rate on the iPad Air is hard to excuse. Apple’s ProMotion technology has now reached the iPhone 17, and the iPad Air is not a cheap tablet. At $749, you would expect it.
Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro Battery Life
Battery life is another area where the two tablets split. Apple rates the iPad Air at about 10 hours of web browsing. That covers a normal workday before you need to plug in.
Amazon claims more. The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro runs up to 16 hours of video playback on a single charge. In Kindle mode, it can last up to 20 hours.
Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro Display Option
Apple gives you one screen choice on the iPad Air: a standard glossy display. The iPad Pro offers more options, but the Air does not. Apple does add an anti-reflective coating, and in our testing it handles glare well.
The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro gives you two options: a standard screen and a Nanomatte screen with anti-glare treatment. Nanomatte is exclusive to the 12 Pro. Amazon says it cuts glare sharply while keeping detail and color accurate.
You may also like: Lenovo Yoga Tab Review: Worth Buying in 2026?
To make it, Amazon worked with Corning, the company behind Gorilla Glass. Their process etches a precise texture into the glass, aligned with the pixels.
Amazon calls the result a first-of-its-kind cinematic viewing experience. The company also says the screen stays easy to read both indoors and outdoors.
Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro acts like a Kindle
If you like the idea of a Kindle but would miss having other apps and the Google Play Store, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro makes a good alternative. Open a book in the Kindle app, and the tablet switches into a reading mode. It silences notifications, cuts blue light, and stretches the battery to as much as 20 hours.
The Nanomatte display adds to this. It gives the screen a more paper-like feel and sharper text. Both display options let you pick a reading theme, from a warm, natural-color look to pure grayscale.
The iPad Air can run the Kindle app too. You can turn on Do Not Disturb or a Focus mode to block notifications while you read. What you won’t get is the extended battery life or a matte screen.
Early Verdict
The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro looks like a strong step up from Amazon’s older Fire tablets. It costs less than the iPad Air, gives you the Google Play Store, and promises a high-end display. Together, those points make it a credible alternative to Apple’s more expensive tablet.
