The new Kindle Paperwhite e-reader has replaced physical books for millions of people. It features a larger 7-inch display than its predecessor, has the same 300 ppi resolution as the Scribe, and turns pages approximately 25% faster. Since it features a front-lit display, you can read comfortably outside in bright daylight or in your dimly lit bedroom, as well as while soaking in a hot tub, thanks to its IPX8 water-resistant rating that protects against submersion.
An e-reader perfect for voracious readers and casual bookworms
Reading time per charge stretches up to 12 weeks with the front light at level 13 and wireless turned off, assuming about half an hour of reading each day. The reader charges via USB-C, and a short 10-minute plug-in provides enough charge for a few hours of reading, which is useful for grabbing a charge before walking out the door.
Seventeen LEDs behind the screen deliver illumination that remains consistent across the entire display, with no edge patches that appear brighter or dimmer than the middle. You can adjust the tone from warm light to cool white to amber using a slider, and the auto-adjusting sensor optionally matches brightness to the ambient light in the room. So your screen will ramp up the brightness at noon outdoors and dim under a bedside lamp.
Submersion to 2 meters of fresh water for an hour is well past anything a clumsy beach drop or accidental tub plunge would produce, which means the IPX8 rating really just translates to “stop worrying about water.” Sand, splashes, the rare drop into the pool, none of that ends a reading session. A quick wipe and the Kindle is back in the rotation.
The Paperwhite has 16 GB of storage, which is enough for thousands of books. You can pair your Kindle with wireless headphones via Bluetooth so you can listen to an Audible title without being near your phone. Additionally, the Kindle Store has millions of titles available for download, and a Kindle Unlimited account gives you access to a huge collection of eBooks for a flat fee.
Page turns on the latest Kindle Paperwhite are much snappier than those on the older model. In addition, since the screen is now 7 inches, more text will be displayed when turning pages. This will add up over time if you are reading lengthy novels, since you won’t have to turn the page as often to reach the next paragraph.
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite normally rings up at $160, but is currently $135 in the bundle that ships with the Kindle, the USB-C charging cable, and a quick-start guide, the complete kit needed to set up an account, download a book, and begin reading on the same evening it arrives.