This tablet is a great value, even if Android apps still aren't great on a big screen.

Amazon has long followed the same formula for its tablets. Fire tablets are known to be cheap, durable devices good for watching video and doing casual tasks like browsing, playing basic games and checking out Facebook. They're more limited than the average Android tablet, without access to the Google Play Store and its wealth of apps. Amazon's own app store has received plenty of support from developers over the years, but it's still missing plenty of crucial options like Whatsapp and YouTube, just to name a few.

This year, however, Amazon is changing up its strategy. Its new series of Alexa tablets may highlight the company's services and assistant first and foremost, but they're also full-fledged Android tablets with plenty of Google's own apps and access to the Play Store. The Alexa Tablet Pro 12 is easily the most intriguing of the new lineup (which also includes non-pro 8- and 11-inch options). While Fire tablets have always focused on media consumption, the Tablet Pro 12 is clearly squaring off with the iPad Air and Pro. At first glance, it looks nearly identical to Apple's tablets, with a fairly thin bezel surrounding a lovely and large display, and an aluminum unibody design that's relatively thin (6.5mm) and light (1.21 pounds).

Its optional keyboard and stylus accessories complete the look and signify that the Alexa Tablet Pro 12 isn't just meant for watching videos. This is a tablet meant for getting things done — and while it isn't quite as capable as Apple's iPad lineup, mostly due to software limitations, its $499 starting price means it's much easier to forgive the places it falls short.

Source link