Amazon Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite: is it worth spending more?

Date:
Tue, 20 Jul 2021 13:05:31 +0000

Description:
Amazon's budget and mid-range Kindles have a lot of similarities and a lot of differences.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

There are a few different Amazon Kindle ereaders to choose from, and while each of them is great for reading, they've all got different features.

But which one to choose? If youre not after an all-out deluxe flagship of an ereader then really it comes down to either the basic Amazon Kindle or the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite .

These two reading machines have plenty in common, but there are a number of key differences as well. Weve highlighted these below, so you can make the right reading choice. Amazon Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite design Both Kindles have a plain plastic back. (Image credit: TechRadar)

When it comes to the design of these two devices there isnt a huge amount of difference. In fact, the most obvious difference is potentially just the color, as while both ereaders come in black, the basic Amazon Kindle is also available in white, whereas the Kindle Paperwhite doesnt give you any color choice - though both models have a selection of colorful cases available for them.

Otherwise, the look is similar, with both sporting a fairly plain plastic
body and large bezels around the screen. In the Kindle Paperwhites case
though those bezels are flush with the screen, whereas theyre raised on the basic Kindle. This leads to the Paperwhite looking and feeling slightly
higher end. The Paperwhite's bezels are flush with its screen. (Image credit: Future)

Dimensions and weight also differ between the two, with the Amazon Kindle coming in at 160 x 113 x 8.7mm and 174g, while the Kindle Paperwhite is 167 x 116 x 8.2mm and 182g (or 191g if you opt for a version with cellular connectivity). So the Paperwhite is slightly taller, wider and heavier but
not quite as thick.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite also comes with water resistance. Its IPX8
rated, meaning it can survive being submerged up to 2 meters deep in fresh water for up to 60 minutes. So you can safely read on the beach or in the bath. The basic Kindle comes with no such reassurances.

In terms of buttons and ports, both have a power button and micro USB port on the bottom edge, and that's it. Everything else is handled by the
touchscreen. It's a shame there's no USB-C port on either model, but even the Kindle Oasis lacks that. Amazon Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite display The Kindle's screen isn't as sharp as the Paperwhite's. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Both the Amazon Kindle and the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite have a 6-inch
display, and in both cases its designed to be glare-free. The main difference is how sharp it is, as while the basic Kindles screen is 167 pixels per inch, the Paperwhite is 300 pixels per inch, so text looks crisper and closer to
how it would appear printed on paper.

The difference is most noticeable when reading comics and the like though. If youre just looking at text the higher resolution wont usually make a big difference.

Both screens also have a front light, so you can read in the dark without needing an external light source, but the Paperwhites can get brighter, as it uses 5 LEDs, while the basic Amazon Kindle uses 4. Amazon Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite specs The Paperwhite is better for podcasts. (Image credit: TechRadar)

There are two main differences in the specs of these ereaders. The first is that the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite comes with far more storage, as you can get it with 8GB or 32GB, while the basic Amazon Kindle only comes with 4GB.

This neednt be a major problem, since ebook files are usually tiny and if youre buying from Amazon they can be stored in the cloud when youre not actively reading them anyway.

However, the storage space becomes more of a concern if you plan to listen to audiobooks through Audible. Thats a feature both ereaders support, but its
far more viable on the Paperwhite - though arguably a smartphone is a better choice for this than either of them.

The other major difference is that as well as Wi-Fi you can get the Kindle Paperwhite in a Wi-Fi and cellular flavor (with free 3G and 4G connectivity), whereas the basic Kindle only supports Wi-Fi.

For most people this again shouldnt be a big deal, but cellular data does
mean you can buy and download books any time, anywhere, whereas youre a bit more limited with just Wi-Fi.

Most other things are similar or the same, including their software and battery life, with both models offering weeks of life on a single charge with typical usage. Amazon Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite price The Paperwhite is substantially more expensive. (Image credit: TechRadar)

The Amazon Kindle starts at 69.99 / $89.99, but thats a version with adverts on the lock screen. If youd rather not have adverts youll have to pay 79.99 / $109.99. In Australia you can only get a version without adverts, which costs AU$139.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite on the other hand starts at 119.99 / $129.99 for the 8GB Wi-Fi version with adverts, but there are more options here.

For 129.99 / $149.99 / AU$199 you can get the same version without adverts, while for 149.99 / $159.99 you can get a 32GB Wi-Fi model with adverts, and for 159.99 / $179.99 / AU$249 you can get that one without them. As before, Australia only has the ad-free versions.

At the top end theres a 32GB cellular version for 219.99 / $249.99 / AU$369 - theres no option to get this one with adverts.

While those are the standard prices, at the time of writing Amazon sells
these ereaders at a discount in the US and UK, which brings the starting
price down to $59.99 / 59.99 for the Amazon Kindle, and $84.99 / 84.99 for
the Kindle Paperwhite. It's not clear whether these price cuts are permanent or not though.

In any case, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is substantially more expensive, starting at close to twice the basic Kindles price before discounts. Takeaway

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is quite a lot more expensive than the basic Amazon Kindle, but its still reasonably affordable and comfortably undercuts the likes of the Kindle Oasis.

The extra money that youd have to spend for the Paperwhite gets you a sharper screen, more storage, a slightly higher-end design, water resistance, a
better front light, and potentially cellular connectivity. Whether those things are worth it will largely depend on when, where, what and how much you plan to read. Best Kindle : which Amazon ereader should you buy?



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/amazon-kindle-vs-kindle-paperwhite/


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)