The Kindle experience on the new Alexa tablets really does look 'rad'

Amazon’s new Alexa tablets have a neat trick up their sleeves, transforming into distraction-free reading devices when you open a book in the Kindle app. And if Panos Panay’s demo is anything to go by, the company sure does have something special in store for Kindle fans.

The Amazon Devices chief has shared a clip showing off the new Kindle experience on the recently announced Amazon Alexa Tablets, calling it “rad,” and it really does look the part. The feature, which Amazon calls “Kindle Mode,” changes the tablet’s display and settings automatically to make reading feel more like using a dedicated e-reader.

When you open a book, Kindle Mode on the new Alexa tablets will automatically turn off notifications, activate battery optimizations for up to 20 hours of reading, and enable an adaptive display and blue light filter.

The hardware also plays a role here. Amazon says the 12-inch Alexa Tablet 12 Pro’s 3:2 aspect ratio provides more usable screen space, allowing readers to see more of a page at once. The tablet also offers an optional Nanomatte display, designed to reduce glare while preserving detail and color accuracy.

Amazon is positioning this as more than just another setting in its Kindle app. Instead, opening a book triggers a broader change in the tablet experience itself.

The new Kindle experience is part of Amazon’s broader Alexa tablet lineup, which includes the 12-inch Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, the 11-inch Alexa Tablet 11, and the compact Alexa Tablet 8. All three run Android, include Alexa Plus and offer access to the Google Play Store, alongside Amazon’s own apps and services.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro starts at $499.99, while the Alexa Tablet 11 starts at $329.99 and the Alexa Tablet 8 at $229.99. The new tablets are available to order in the US, Mexico, and Canada, with shipping scheduled to begin on October 14.