What’s particular concerning the Kindle Paperwhite? Revisiting our evaluation forward of Stuff Your Kindle Day. – Go Well being Professional

Desk of Contents

Confession: I’ve completed a startlingly low variety of books since I completed highschool.

It is not that I dislike books or battle with comprehension or something like that. As an alternative, my specific model of ADHD makes it troublesome to seek out the motivation to start out and focus once I do, plus I simply do not like holding books in my arms that a lot. Relying on their measurement, each paperbacks and hardcovers can simply be a bit of cumbersome to deal with, particularly when you like studying one-handed like I do.

I am joyful to say the 2021 version of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is practically good for folk who’d like to learn extra if not for all of the little annoying issues about studying. Each the ad-supported $140 mannequin (which I used for this evaluation) and the ad-free, $190 Signature Version function greater 6.8-inch shows that look implausible beneath any lighting, weeks-long battery life, and a flawless type issue match for lazy one-handed readers like myself.

And with Prime Day and different buying holidays, the sticker value will virtually definitely go down. Amazon discounted the Paperwhite by $55 a 12 months in the past, however solely by $15 for Prime Day 2024. We’re hoping to see greater value drops sooner or later. Nonetheless, I suppose $15 off is best than nothing.

Even with some value and efficiency considerations, Amazon’s newest Kindle can, uh, re-kindle your curiosity in studying.

Kindle Paperwhite value and specs

In its first Paperwhite replace since 2018, Amazon did not stray too removed from its earlier efforts. Each the cheaper Paperwhite and the Signature Version function virtually similar specs:

• 6.8-inch show with 17 LEDs and 300ppi (up from 6 inches on the 2018 mannequin)

• New USB-C charging port with as much as 10 hours of battery life on a full cost

• Signature Version helps wi-fi Qi charging

• 8GB storage on the bottom $139.99 mannequin, 16GB for $149.99, and 32GB on the $189.99 Signature Version

• IPx8 waterproof score, may be totally submerged

Amazon managed to bump the display screen measurement up by practically a full inch with out making big weight sacrifices. At 205g (208g within the Signature Version), it is solely marginally heavier than the 182g mannequin from three years in the past, maybe as a result of dramatically thinner bezels across the display screen

Higher than books

As I discussed earlier than, a part of the rationale I do not learn as usually as I ought to is that I am lazy and like to lounge round with one hand free. Some precise books simply do not accommodate that way of life attributable to their measurement and weight distribution. This Kindle Paperwhite is simply heavy sufficient to not really feel low-cost and flimsy, with out being a hindrance on the one-handed readers amongst us.

It is a totally touch-driven Kindle with no buttons for turning pages. A easy faucet or swipe does the trick. Tapping the highest of the display screen whereas studying brings up a fast toolbar with choices for going again to the house display screen, altering font sizes and types, and enabling a easy page-turn animation. Swiping down from the highest pulls out one other menu for turning on Bluetooth for listening to Audible audiobooks, adjusting display screen brightness and heat, and turning darkish mode on or off.

Highlighting passages, wanting up the definitions of phrases, and bookmarking pages are all right here, too. All of these nifty options are secondary to studying books, nevertheless, and the wonderful Paperwhite show makes {that a} delight.

Textual content is sharp even when holding the system proper as much as your face. The glare-free display screen is immensely legible and pleasing to the attention in every kind of lighting. I’ve learn Frank Herbert’s meandering epic Dune (what can I say, I’ve acquired sandworm fever) on the brand new Paperwhite each outdoor within the shining solar and indoors at night time with the lights turned off. In each eventualities, it was as comfy as studying off an precise web page with a lightweight shining on it. Even at excessive brightness, the display screen did not harm my eyes, both. You’ll be able to actually take the brand new Paperwhite with you anyplace and have an excellent time studying it.

I would be remiss to not point out the small however essential addition of a USB-C charging port. As we transfer additional and additional right into a USB-C world, this can be a godsend and was in all probability overdue, seeing because the how 2018 mannequin did not have it. It sits on the underside of the system subsequent to the facility button, which is the one button you will discover right here.

It ought to go with out saying at this level that I cherished the whole lot concerning the new Kindle Paperwhite’s bodily design. This is a perfect e-reader for me when you even have a e-book able to go on the display screen. Sadly, attending to that time may be considerably troublesome.

Gradual and principally regular

Amazon would not got down to make iPad-level powerhouse tablets with the Kindle Paperwhite line. You utilize these units to learn or hearken to books, and that is about it. Amazon promised higher general efficiency and responsiveness with the newest Paperwhite, and whereas my expertise with it was principally superb, I did run into a few technical blemishes.

Merely navigating the Kindle’s simple menus is typically extra of a chore than it must be as a result of this display screen was solely designed to show nonetheless textual content. Scrolling up and down via lists of books or settings is jittery and sluggish quite than easy such as you would anticipate from virtually every other touch-based system launched in 2021. It is responsive sufficient that you may accomplish no matter you are attempting to perform, be it looking for a brand new e-book or altering display screen brightness, with out an excessive amount of problem. However you will not have a lot enjoyable doing it.

I completely get that Amazon designs these Kindles to be actually good for studying books on the expense of doing, nicely, the rest. The great type issue and top-notch show outweigh these small efficiency hurdles for me as a result of, once more, I am not anticipating an iPad or perhaps a Hearth HD pill right here. Even with these low expectations in thoughts, although, it nonetheless feels a bit of behind the instances.

It would not assist that, on one event, the Paperwhite froze and have become fully unresponsive in the midst of studying Dune. I waited a number of minutes for it to un-jam itself and that did not occur. Holding the facility button down for 40 seconds or so exhausting reset the system and I used to be in a position to get again to studying after that, however nonetheless, I felt this wanted to be famous.

Except for that one anomalous freeze, efficiency on the Kindle Paperwhite was no less than constantly at that a-little-too-slow stage in my time with it. I respect consistency as a result of no less than I do know what to anticipate.

One last facet of the efficiency to notice is battery life. Amazon charges the brand new Kindle Paperwhite for as much as 10 weeks of battery on a full cost. I solely had the system for rather less than per week, so it was not doable for me to totally confirm that. With that in thoughts, although, the battery drained by a mere 10 % or so in that timeframe. Perhaps you will not get 10 weeks out of it when you learn for hours each day, nevertheless it’ll final an excellent, lengthy whereas regardless of the way you shake it.

Massive leap to do away with adverts

I can study to stay with the Kindle Paperwhite’s laggy efficiency and even the odd lock-up from time to time. Every part else about really utilizing the system is basically glorious and truly acquired me, an individual with extreme consideration span issues, to willingly sit all the way down to learn a dense sci-fi screed about faith and feudalism. The one factor that really offers me pause in recommending it to individuals is the worth.

At $140, I really feel that the usual 2021 Kindle Paperwhite is perhaps a bit of too dear, however avid readers will get their cash’s value. It is the Signature Version, which bolts on an additional $50 for the privilege of not seeing adverts, getting some further space for storing, and with the ability to have the Kindle routinely regulate brightness primarily based on the sunshine stage within the room that bothers me. Tying storage and bonus options to a value hike is normal fare in tech, however the advert factor is simply slimy. Does not Amazon make sufficient cash already?

Is the Kindle Paperwhite value it?

The excellent news is that these aren’t your solely Kindle choices. The entry-level Kindle is $99.99 and can in all probability do the job if all you need is a reliable e-reader. For those who can afford to pay further for the Paperwhite, nevertheless, you will not remorse it. This little e-book pill’s huge battery, attractive and versatile show, and maximal hand consolation made me take pleasure in studying extra within the a number of days I spent with it than I had in a number of years prior.

And when you’re as severely Dune-pilled as I’m proper now, that is a lot better than hauling round a large e-book.