Technology

New Amazon Alexa tablets – UK pricing and details

Ryan Brothwell 7 min read
New Amazon Alexa tablets – UK pricing and details

Key Points

  • Amazon launches Alexa Tablet 8, 11 and 12 Pro in the UK
  • Tablets ship in the UK on 19 October
  • Select accounts get 30% off, with prices from £139.99
  • All models run Android with Play Store access and Alexa+
  • 12 Pro adds Nanomatte display option, Pro Pen and Pro Keyboard

Amazon has launched its Alexa Tablet range in the UK, with select accounts able to buy from £139.99.

Amazon said the new line-up comprises the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, Alexa Tablet 11 and Alexa Tablet 8, with all three models built around an aluminium unibody design.

Unlike previous Amazon Fire tablets, the new Alexa Tablets run Android and come with full access to the Google Play Store.

This gives users apps including YouTube, Netflix, Gmail and Google Docs alongside Amazon’s own Prime Video, Kindle, Audible, Amazon Music, Amazon Quick and Amazon Luna apps.

The tablets go on sale now and will start shipping in the UK on 19 October.

Amazon is offering the range at 30% off its recommended retail prices for selected customer accounts, with UK pricing and full specifications for each model as follows:

Specs Alexa Tablet 12 Pro (Nanomatte) Alexa Tablet 12 Pro (Standard) Alexa Tablet 11 Alexa Tablet 8 Notes
Discounted UK price £349.99 £314.99 £202.99 £139.99 30% off RRP for select accounts only
UK RRP £499.99 £449.99 £289.99 £199.99 Standard price without the discount
Configuration priced 8GB RAM, 128GB storage 8GB RAM, 128GB storage 8GB RAM, 64GB storage 4GB RAM, 64GB storage Prices apply to the entry configuration of each model
Display 12-inch, 2,800 x 1,840, 3:2 aspect ratio, 120Hz, 280 PPI, 500 nits, Nanomatte LCD 12-inch, 2,800 x 1,840, 3:2 aspect ratio, 120Hz, 280 PPI, 500 nits, LCD 11-inch, 2,560 x 1,600, 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz, 276 PPI, 500 nits, LCD 8.7-inch, 1,340 x 800, 5:3 aspect ratio, 60Hz, 180 PPI, 400 nits, LCD Nanomatte version adds an anti-glare finish
Processor and RAM MediaTek Dimensity 8400 with 8GB or 16GB of RAM MediaTek Dimensity 8400 with 8GB of RAM MediaTek Dimensity 8189 with 8GB of RAM MediaTek Dimensity 8189 with 4GB or 8GB of RAM 16GB RAM available on the Nanomatte model only
Storage 128GB (UFS 3.1) or 256GB (UFS 4.0) 128GB (UFS 3.1) 64GB or 128GB 64GB or 128GB Faster UFS 4.0 storage on the 256GB Nanomatte model only
Battery and charging 9,000mAh (16 hours video playback, 20 hours Kindle mode), 27W charging 9,000mAh (16 hours video playback, 20 hours Kindle mode), 27W charging 6,500mAh (15 hours video playback, 20 hours Kindle mode), 18W charging 4,600mAh (14 hours video playback, 19 hours Kindle mode), 18W charging 12 Pro models charge at 27W, the rest at 18W
Cameras 8MP front, 13MP rear 8MP front, 13MP rear 8MP front, 8MP rear 5MP front, 8MP rear Highest-resolution rear camera on the 12 Pro models
Extras Wi-Fi 6E, USB 3.2 Gen 1, DisplayPort, fingerprint sensor, IP52, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos Wi-Fi 6E, USB 3.2 Gen 1, DisplayPort, fingerprint sensor, IP52, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos Wi-Fi 6, USB 2.0, fingerprint sensor, IP52, dual speakers with Dolby Atmos Wi-Fi 6, USB 2.0, IP52, dual speakers Tablet 8 has no fingerprint sensor or Dolby Atmos
Colours Graphite Graphite Matcha, Amethyst, Graphite Rosette, Teal, Graphite 12 Pro models come in Graphite only

Alexa+ included

Amazon built its Alexa+ assistant into every tablet, and users can call it up by saying “Alexa” or tapping the Ask Alexa button.

The assistant appears over whatever the user is doing and can answer questions, suggest next steps and control smart home devices without opening a separate app.

A feature called On-Screen Intelligence lets Alexa read what is on the screen and help based on its content. Amazon gave the example of asking Alexa to add every date from a sports fixture list to a calendar, with Alexa flagging any clashes.

Live sessions allow a continuous, hands-free conversation with Alexa without repeating the wake word between questions. Users who have enabled On-Screen Intelligence can also share their screen during a live session so Alexa follows along as they browse.

Amazon said every On-Screen Intelligence feature is off by default and requires users to opt in. Users can switch the feature on or off at any time in Settings, and a visual indicator shows whenever Alexa can see the screen.

The home screen includes a personalised For You feed that pulls together what the user has been watching, reading, listening to and playing. A new Dynamic Tab surfaces content the user is partway through, alongside recommendations and suggestions.

Amazon Alexa Tablet 2

Kindle reading mode

Opening a book in the Kindle app switches the tablet into a distraction-free reading mode for the first time on an Amazon tablet.

The mode silences notifications, reduces blue light and extends battery life to up to 20 hours of reading.

Readers can choose between three display themes: natural colour with subtle warmth, a softened paper tone, or pure greyscale.

Alexa Tablet 12 Pro

Amazon described the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro as the most advanced tablet it has ever built, with a body machined from a single piece of aluminium measuring 6.5mm thin.

It has a 12-inch 2.8K display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 280 pixels per inch and a 3:2 aspect ratio.

A 4nm eight-core MediaTek Dimensity 8400 processor powers the tablet. Amazon said this delivers nearly three times faster processing and nine times faster graphics than any tablet it has previously shipped.

The 12 Pro offers up to 16 hours of video playback, which Amazon said is the longest it has ever put on a tablet.

Other features include quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6E, a fingerprint sensor and a USB 3.2 port with DisplayPort output.

The Nanomatte version adds an anti-glare display that Amazon developed with glassmaker Corning. The process etches a pixel-aligned texture into the glass at the sub-pixel level, rather than sandblasting the surface as conventional matte screens do.

Amazon said this preserves detail and colour accuracy while cutting glare in bright conditions. The Nanomatte model is also available with up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of faster UFS 4.0 storage.

Amazon also launched two accessories designed exclusively for the 12 Pro:

  • Pro Pen: A USI 2.0 active pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt detection, magnetic docking and wireless charging
  • Pro Keyboard: Attaches magnetically to the tablet without Bluetooth pairing and adds a trackpad

The 12 Pro supports multiple windows side by side and separate work and personal profiles. Amazon priced the Pro Keyboard at $149.99 and the Pro Pen at $89.99 in the US.

Amazon Alexa Tablet 3

Alexa Tablet 11

The Alexa Tablet 11 has an 11-inch 2.5K display with a 90Hz refresh rate, 276 pixels per inch and a 16:10 aspect ratio.

An eight-core MediaTek Dimensity 8189 processor and 8GB of RAM power the tablet, with 64GB or 128GB of storage.

It delivers up to 15 hours of video playback and includes dual Dolby Atmos speakers, Wi-Fi 6 and a fingerprint sensor. Amazon offers the Alexa Tablet 11 in Matcha, Amethyst and Graphite.

Alexa Tablet 8

The Alexa Tablet 8 is the most portable model in the range, weighing 329g and measuring 7.95mm thin.

It has an 8.7-inch display with a 60Hz refresh rate and runs on the same MediaTek Dimensity 8189 processor as the Tablet 11, with 4GB or 8GB of RAM.

The tablet offers up to 14 hours of video playback and includes Wi-Fi 6, dual speakers and IP52 dust and water resistance.

Amazon offers the Alexa Tablet 8 in Rosette, Teal and Graphite.

Amazon Kids Tablets

Amazon also launched new Amazon Kids Tablets in 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes, which will ship in the UK on the same date.

Each bundle includes a tablet, a protective case and a year of Amazon Kids+.

Amazon offers separate versions for children aged three and over and those aged six and over. Younger children get a soft bumper case with Paw Patrol and Barbie designs, while older children get a slim hard case with a built-in kickstand.

Amazon Kids+ is also adding Storybuilder, which lets children use their voice to create illustrated stories. A redesigned Parent Dashboard gives parents weekly updates on what their children are exploring and learning.

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