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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: The Best eReader. Period.

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: The Best eReader. Period.

Is the Kindle Paperwhite the best ereader money can buy?

Amazon’s Kindle ereader is pretty old these days, having been around –– in one form or the other –– for the best part of seven years (the first model launched in 2007). Over the years, Amazon has refined the design, improved the display, and added in things like touchscreen-capabilities while all the while ensuring excellent battery life and a perfect, lightweight form factor. 

Next to my smartphone, my Kindle Paperwhite is my most used piece of technology. I use it every day for hours on end. And living in London, where space is a premium, the Kindle really is a godsend because books take up room and when you already have a lot of books and space is limited the last thing you want to do is stop reading because your shelves can no longer take the strain. 

I still buy books, of course, just no longer at the frequency I once did and the reason for this is the Kindle. Although I will admit, as a fan of physical books, I have made a deal with myself: once I am a homeowner and not renting, I will purchase physical copies of all my Kindle titles and create a mega-library, complete with mini-bar and an assortment of smoking jackets. This is my way of dealing with the sadness of not physically owning a book I really love. You might be different, however, and more at peace with no longer owning physical copies of books and just think I’m a bit weird.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Design

Lightweight. Perfectly suited for one-handed use. Slim. Nice to look at. Well proportioned. There are so many things to love about the Kindle Paperwhite, but perhaps the most important aspect of the device is its lightweight nature, which allows for easy transport anywhere. 

The Kindle Paperwhite is about the same size as a softback, although a lot slimmer, and it weighs just 209g. The backpanel is made from a soft-touch material that extends around onto the front facia of the device. Amazon has kept the bezel around the display wide enough to accommodate fingers and thumbs so you never accidentally touch the display when reading.

The Kindle Paperwhite does not feature a headphone jack or internal speaker, meaning audiobooks and music playback are big no-nos. Older Kindle models do feature headphone jacks and speakers, however, although these products pre-date Amazon’s more recent push into the mobile space with phones and tablets that compete directly with Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms. Basically, if one reads between the lines, the Kindle Paperwhite has one function in Amazon’s eyes – READING. If you want something like audio books and music, well, you’re better off with a Kindle Fire HDX or Fire Phone.  

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Display 

Displays are important on mobile devices. But with things like an ereader they’re even more important because the whole point of the device is to replace your paper books, and this will only happen if the experience of reading on something like the Paperwhite is as good –– if not better –– than the real thing.

Thankfully the 6in e-ink display on the Kindle Paperwhite is one of the best in the business and, thanks to its backlight settings, is actually preferable to the real thing in certain settings, as you can use it in the dark, making it an ideal night-flight companion or when you’re in bed with a partner and they want the lights out.

Amazon calls the display technology Carta, and while specs for this technology are pretty thin on the ground –– Amazon, for some reason, is very tight-lipped about it –– it matters little because the overall reading experience aboard the Kindle Paperwhite is exceptional. Amazon has improved contrast compared to previous versions, meaning text and images appear more defined, and the company’s engineers have sorted out the backlight, too, which is now more consistent, even on full-power.

Basically, if you’re after an ereader this Christmas and want the best, the Kindle Paperwhite is the one to go for. There other plenty of other options, of course, many of which with lots of fancy bells and whistles –– and that’s fine, choice is good. But, if you want something that is simple to use, features an excellent display, and grants you access to the biggest eBook repository on the planet, then the Kindle Paperwhite is the one for you.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Ecosystem

When it comes to ebooks, Amazon has plenty –– somewhere in the region of 2.5 million, to be exact. In the five years I’ve been using a Kindle there have been two instances when I couldn’t find the novel I was looking for inside the Kindle Store. To say the Kindle Store has most popular titles would be an understatement, as it not only has popular new content but also plenty of older, more obscure titles as well as plenty –– read: thousands –– of free eBooks to choose from.

Then there’s initiatives like Kindle Unlimited –– basically, Spotify for Kindle titles –– and Amazon Prime membership, which grants you access to the Kindle Lending Library, where you can, as the name suggests, borrow eBooks for a fixed term for absolutely nothing (save for the cost of your Prime membership).

With respect to eBook pricing, things vary: you can pick up stuff for free, for £0.99p or for £4.99. I just finished the new Stephen King novel, Revival, which I bought on the day it came out for £5.99. A lot of classic titles, now out of copyright, are free and you can pick up modern classics like H.G. Wells’ The War of The Worlds for £2.68.

Basically, if you go the Amazon route you’ll never be short of things to read. As I mentioned earlier, I get through about five to six books a month and, in five and a bit years, I’ve only been left out in the cold twice by Amazon’s Kindle store. And both instances were books written by relatively unknown authors.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Battery

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite’s battery is INSANE. I just mine everyday for about two to three hours and only have to charge it fully once a month –– sometimes less. It just keeps on going and going and going. I know a lot of people that charge there’s everyday, like a smartphone. You are free to do this, of course, but it’s not necessary. The Kindle Paperwhite will last weeks on end from a single charge. And after a year of use I’ve yet to see any depletion in performance.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Verdict 

Amazon’s Kindle lines of ereaders, like iPods, are kind of synonymous with the whole ereader concept. Most people think of an eBook and automatically think of Kindle, that’s just the way it is. Amazon knows this, too, and has consistently updated the design of its ereader device in order to improve the overall reading experience. Ditto for its ever-expanding Kindle services. 

Amazon has the whole ereader thing down to a fine art. Nobody else comes close, and this is why most serious ereaders have a Kindle over something from Sony, B&N or Kobo. 

Typical Price: 
£106.00


Reviews

Pros: 
Excellent Display; Excellent Battery; Excellent Ecosystem


Richard Goodwin

Cons: 
No headphone jack or speaker


13:01, 3 Dec 2014

Verdict: 
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is the BEST ereader I have ever used. I absolutely LOVE this product.

Is the Kindle Paperwhite the most productive ereader cash can purchase?

Amazon’s Kindle ereader is lovely antique in this day and age, having been round –– in a single shape or the opposite –– for the most productive a part of seven years (the primary type introduced in 2007). Over the years, Amazon has subtle the layout, progressed the show, and introduced in such things as touchscreen-functions at the same time as all of the whilst making sure very good battery lifestyles and an ideal, light-weight shape issue. 

Next to my smartphone, my Kindle Paperwhite is my so much used piece of generation. A use it on a daily basis for hours on finish. And dwelling in London, the place area is a top class, the Kindle actually is a godsend as a result of books take in room and while you have already got a large number of books and area is restricted the very last thing you wish to have to do is prevent studying as a result of your cabinets can now not take the tension. 

O nonetheless purchase books, in fact, simply now not on the frequency A as soon as did and the cause of that is the Kindle. Although A will admit, as partial to bodily books, O have made a maintain myself: as soon as A am a home-owner and now not renting, O will acquire bodily copies of all my Kindle titles and create a mega-library, whole with mini-bar and an collection of smoking jackets. This is my means of coping with the unhappiness of now not bodily proudly owning a ebook O in reality love. You may well be other, on the other hand, and extra at peace without a longer proudly owning bodily copies of books and simply assume O’m just a little bizarre.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Design

Lightweight. Perfectly fitted to one-passed use. Slim. Nice to take a look at. Well proportioned. There are such a lot of issues to like concerning the Kindle Paperwhite, however most likely crucial side of the software is its light-weight nature, which permits for simple shipping any place. 

The Kindle Paperwhite is set the similar measurement as a softback, even if so much slimmer, and it weighs simply 209g. The backpanel is constructed from a cushy-contact subject matter that extends round onto the entrance facia of the software. Amazon has stored the bezel across the show extensive sufficient to house palms and thumbs so that you by no means by chance contact the show while studying.

The Kindle Paperwhite does now not function a headphone jack or inside speaker, that means audiobooks and song playback are large no-nos. Older Kindle fashions do function headphone jacks and audio system, on the other hand, despite the fact that those merchandise pre-date Amazon’s extra contemporary push into the cellular area with telephones and drugs that compete instantly with Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android systems. Basically, if one reads among the strains, the Kindle Paperwhite has one serve as in Amazon’s eyes – READING. If you wish to have one thing like audio books and song, smartly, you’re at an advantage with a Kindle Fire HDX or Fire Phone.  

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Display 

Displays are necessary on cellular units. But with such things as an ereader they’re much more essential since the entire aspect of the tool is to switch your paper books, and this may increasingly handiest occur if the revel in of studying on one thing just like the Paperwhite is as just right –– if now not higher –– than the actual factor.

Thankfully the 6in e-ink show at the Kindle Paperwhite is among the very best within the industry and, way to its backlight settings, is in fact finest to the actual factor in sure settings, as you'll be able to use it at the hours of darkness, making it a perfect night time-flight significant other or while you’re in mattress with a spouse and they would like the lighting fixtures out.

Amazon calls the show generation Carta, and at the same time as specifications for this generation are lovely skinny at the floor –– Amazon, for a few explanation why, could be very tight-lipped approximately it –– it issues little since the general studying revel in aboard the Kindle Paperwhite is outstanding. Amazon has progressed distinction in comparison to earlier variations, that means textual content and photographs seem extra outlined, and the corporate’s engineers have looked after out the backlight, too, that is now extra constant, even on complete-energy.

Basically, in case you’re after an ereader this Christmas and wish the most productive, the Kindle Paperwhite is the only to head for. There different quite a few different choices, in fact, lots of which with a whole lot of fancy bells and whistles –– and that’s nice, selection is just right. But, if you wish to have one thing that may be easy to make use of, options a very good show, and can provide you get entry to to the largest eBook repository in the world, then the Kindle Paperwhite is the only for you.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Ecosystem

When it involves ebooks, Amazon has masses –– someplace within the area of 2.5 million, to be actual. In the 5 years S’ve been the use of a Kindle there were cases while O couldn’t in finding the radical A used to be in search of within the Kindle Store. To say the Kindle Store has most well liked titles can be a sarcasm, because it now not most effective has in style new content material but in addition quite a lot of older, extra difficult to understand titles in addition to masses –– learn: hundreds –– of loose eBooks to make a choice from.

Then there’s projects like Kindle Unlimited –– principally, Spotify for Kindle titles –– and Amazon Prime club, which provides you get entry to to the Kindle Lending Library, the place you'll be able to, because the identify indicates, borrow eBooks for a hard and fast time period for completely not anything (keep for the price of your Prime club).

With appreciate to eBook pricing, issues range: you'll be able to pick out up stuff free of charge, for £0.99p or for £4.99. A simply completed the brand new Stephen King novel, Revival, which A purchased at the day it got here out for £5.99. S lot of vintage titles, now out of copyright, are loose and you'll be able to pick out up up to date classics like M.P. Wells’ The War of The Worlds for £2.68.

Basically, in the event you pass the Amazon course you’ll by no means be in need of issues to learn. As O discussed in advance, S get thru approximately 5 to 6 books a month and, in 5 and a bit of years, O’ve handiest been unnoticed within the chilly two times via Amazon’s Kindle retailer. And each cases have been books written via moderately unknown authors.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Battery

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite’s battery is INSANE. A simply mine on a regular basis for approximately to 3 hours and most effective need to price it absolutely as soon as a month –– once in a while much less. It simply assists in keeping on going and going and going. A realize a large number of people who price there’s on a regular basis, like a phone. You are loose to try this, in fact, however it’s now not important. The Kindle Paperwhite will ultimate weeks on finish from a unmarried rate. And after a yr of use S’ve but to peer any depletion in efficiency.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review: Verdict 

Amazon’s Kindle strains of ereaders, like iPods, are more or less synonymous with the entire ereader idea. Most other folks call to mind an eBook and mechanically call to mind Kindle, that’s simply the best way it's. Amazon is aware of this, too, and has persistently up to date the layout of its ereader tool with a view to reinforce the total studying revel in. Ditto for its ever-increasing Kindle products and services. 

Amazon has the entire ereader factor right down to a superb artwork. Nobody else comes shut, and this is the reason so much critical ereaders have a Kindle over one thing from Sony, M&O or Kobo. 

Typical Price: 
£106.00
Reviews
Pros: 
Excellent Display; Excellent Battery; Excellent Ecosystem
Richard Goodwin
Cons: 
No headphone jack or speaker
13:01, 3 Dec 2014
Verdict: 
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is the BEST ereader O have ever used. S completely LOVE this product.
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