I upgraded from a year-old, previous-generation Paperwhite, mostly to gain the new inverted white-on-black screen mode that Amazon insists requires new hardware and to have built-in Audible playback over Bluetooth.
This unit ticks most of boxes, and after some debate I've decided to give it five stars, but there are some imperfections worth knowing about. It's mostly good, though, and often great.
Battery life
No complaints. In several long international flights, I've yet to run it down more than about 30%, either in long reading sessions with the front-light or in lengthy Audible playback sessions over Bluetooth.
Audible content
The Audible player works brilliantly. Excellent sound, simple controls (including playback-speed adjustment). It does work best if you don't have a screen password enabled, though-- that will get in the way if you just want to rewind a few seconds to catch something you missed. Playback proceeds even if you have a case closed, which shuts off the front-light and saves battery charge.
There's no headphone jack-- this is for Bluetooth only. Fine with me. I have Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids (cochlear implants, actually) and it's a true joy to be able to listen to books on this device. Thanks, Amazon.
Screen
The screen is pretty much the same as my previous-generation Paperwhite's, meaning not bad but could use more contrast when reading in a dark room using the front-light. Outdoors or in well-lit areas, it's fantastic and mostly glare-free.
More seriously, the lack of contrast mars the new Paperwhite's valuable ability to invert text to white-on-black. This is a marvelous accessibility feature for those with "floaters", vitreous separation and other vision issues. Unfortunately, when used with the front-light in a darkened room, such as when reading at night or in a darkened airplane, the black background is more of a medium gray. So this new feature is less helpful than it could be. In fairness, poor contrast is characteristic of today's e-ink displays, which provide perhaps 8:1 contrast. If Amazon can significantly improve the contrast, I'd upgrade again in a flash.
The screen is plastic and will scratch. Keep it clean and use a case. Even with a case (I prefer one of the various "origami" cases available here, which allow the Kindle to prop itself upright) it will fit nicely into a pocket.
The touch-screen user interface is the same as the previous-gen Paperwhite's. I'm not a huge fan of it; too easy to touch it when you don't mean to, and end up on the wrong page. But, the earlier button-driven Kindles had sort of the same problem, so whatever. I recommend a simple fix, perhaps as a Settings option: require a double-tap rather than a single-tap. How about it, Amazon?
Connectivity
The 4G/LTE capability is a nice speed upgrade from the previous 3G connectivity. Downloading Audible content requires a WiFi connection as before.
Unfortunately I'm finding that global connectivity with the new 4G hardware is inferior to the previous-gen's 3G radio. For example, my year-old 3G Paperwhite connected without issue in Saigon, but the new one won't.
The user interface for turning Airplane Mode on and off could be improved. As it is, engaging Airplane Mode cuts all connectivity including Bluetooth. So if you're in the middle of listening to a book when the time comes to put your gizmos in Airplane Mode, it will cut your connection. Better to do what the latest iPhones do, and have the device learn if your usage prefers that Bluetooth remain active.
Browser
It's high time for Amazon to replace the minimally-functional "Experimental Browser" with something more useful. I get it that Kindles are all about battery life and browsers can be major energy hogs, but c'mon, it's 2019, and this browser feels like a relic from 1996. Probably is.
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Our thinnest, lightest Kindle Paperwhite yet, with a sleek, modern design so you can read comfortably for hours. Features our signature 300 ppi, glare-free Paperwhite display, laser-quality text, and twice the storage of the previous generation. Plus a single battery charge lasts weeks, not hours.
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With the waterproof Kindle Paperwhite, you’re free to read and relax in more places, including the beach, pool, or bath. In laboratory, Paperwhite is IPX8 rated to protect against accidental immersion in up to two meters of fresh water for up to 60 minutes and 0.25 meters for 3 minutes in seawater. Learn more about waterproof features. |
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Now with Audible, Kindle Paperwhite lets you switch seamlessly between reading and listening via Bluetooth-enabled speakers or headphones. Experience the best of Audible with membership—if you’re new to Audible, sign up for an Audible free trial and get two free audiobooks. With 8 GB of storage, your Kindle Paperwhite lets you store more audiobooks than ever before. Learn more Kindle devices don’t support Immersion Reading, which lets you listen and read along as the text highlights. To see devices that do support Immersion Reading, click here
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Adjust the text size and boldness and read with Kindle-exclusive fonts, hand tuned to provide maximum readability. Whispersync lets you seamlessly switch between reading and listening on your Kindle and Kindle app without losing your place (requires Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + free cellular connectivity).
Wi-Fi
A Kindle e-reader with Wi-Fi is a great choice if you already have a high-speed internet connection and wireless router set up in your home.
Wi-Fi + Free Cellular Connectivity
Wi-Fi + free cellular connectivity uses the same wireless signals that cell phones use but with no monthly fees or commitments—Amazon pays for cellular connectivity. Using wireless connectivity to make other services available, such as wireless delivery of personal documents, may require an additional charge. For more information, see the Connectivity and Availability section of the Amazon Device Terms of Use
Designed by Amazon to perfectly fit your Kindle, these slim, form-fitting covers attach securely and fold back for one-handed reading. They automatically put your Kindle to sleep when closed and wake upon opening, making it easy to get back to your story. Learn more
Technical Details
Kindle Paperwhite
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Display |
Amazon's 6” Paperwhite display technology with built-in light, 300ppi, optimized font technology, 16-level gray scale. |
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Size |
6.6” x 4.6” x 0.3” ( 167 x 116 x 8.18 mm). |
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Weight |
Wi-Fi: 6.4 oz (182 g) Wi-Fi + Free Cellular Connectivity: 6.8 oz (191 g) Actual size and weight may vary by configuration and manufacturing process. |
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System Requirements |
None; fully wireless and doesn't require a computer to download content. |
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On-Device Storage |
8 GB or 32 GB; holds thousands of books. |
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Cloud Storage |
Free cloud storage for all Amazon content. |
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Battery Life |
A single charge lasts up to six (6) weeks, based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 13. Battery life will vary based on light settings, wireless usage. Audible audiobook streaming over Bluetooth will reduce battery life. |
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Charge Time |
Fully charges in approximately 4 hours from a computer via USB cable or fully charges in less than 3 hours with a 5W USB power adapter. |
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Wi-Fi Connectivity |
Supports public and private Wi-Fi networks or hotspots that use the 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n standard with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security using password authentication or Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). |
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Accessibility Features |
VoiceView screen reader, available over Bluetooth audio, provides spoken feedback allowing you to navigate your device and read books with text-to-speech (available in English only). Kindle Paperwhite also includes the ability to invert Black and White, adjust font size, font face, line spacing and margins. Learn more about Accessibility for Kindle |
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Content Formats Supported |
Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX). |
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Documentation |
Learn more about Kindle devices with our Quick Start Guide and Kindle User Guide. |
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Warranty and Service |
1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 1-year, 2-year, 3-year Extended Warranty available for U.S customers sold separately. Use of Kindle is subject to the terms found here. |
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Included in the Box |
Kindle Paperwhite, USB 2.0 charging cable and Quick Start Guide. |
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Waterproofing |
Waterproof (IPX8), tested to withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes. Learn more about the waterproof Kindle Paperwhite. |
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Available Colors |
Black, Twilight Blue, Plum, Sage |
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Generation |
Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation - 2018 release. |
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Software Security Updates |
This device receives guaranteed software security updates until at least four years after the device is last available for purchase as a new unit on our websites. Learn more about these software security updates. If you already own a Kindle, visit Manage Your Content and Devices for information specific to your device. |
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Why I Like Kindle Paperwhite
Dragon Blogger Tech and Entertainment
Why did I purchase this 3G-enabled device?
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2021
Likes: everything that has made this tried-and-true device profile a success for Amazon, from its size, clarity of text at night, to battery life, a solid five stars. So why did I give this particular Paperwhite two stars?Dislike(s): I purchased the latest and greatest model in June of this year with the cellular access chip ($249). It wasn’t long after I started using the device outside of my home’s WiFi network that I began to suspect that the 3G chip (or whatever chip it has) wasn’t working. Amazon advertised that the device’s “Whispersync” would allow me to read the books in my cloud off of WiFi, common on my past travels. Yes called Amazon Kindle tech support shortly after my discovery. The technician was kind enough, suspecting that the device was never registered properly (?), and he assured me that it was now registered and I shouldn’t have any issues. Of course with the pandemic I haven’t made it to many WiFi free zones, but I had a chance to test the device again out of the state later on — still no cellular background processes happening, device’s time has never properly synchronized with even my current time zone on or off WiFi after multiple (sometimes glitchy) restarts, etc.Even longer story shorter, called tech support again today not wanting the one year warranty to lapse since the issue was still clearly ongoing. New, kind technician put me on two long holds to attempt to research/resolve the issue. I was happy to be on hold for a possible resolution, but time is time, right? While the tech came back with some information, it wasn’t until later in the call he told me that my (less than one year old) device will be losing 3G access. I explained to him that I never had the 3G access to lose, yet I paid extra for a Paperwhite with that capability. I asked him about current price of the devices, they’re charging no more than $179, the cost of the device I would have bought if I knew I was never going to have 3G access. Tech said he couldn’t swap me for the newer “Signature”, even though it is on a $239 promotion right now as some measure of thanks for being a LONG time Amazon customer (so many goods purchased since I became what has to be among one of their first customers in Seattle in the mid-90s), at least three Kindles purchases, many Kindle books purchased, many comiXology comics purchased, Audible customer, etc, but instead was offered to swap the device out as it was never properly syncing time, etc. Of course I said yes. So than I later asked how I could be compensated for the difference in the $249 price I paid vs. what I could have paid for the non-3G device (he said $179) and he told me it was too late since I’d agreed to the device swap, plus he told me I only had 30 days to ask for a refund (when I reminded him I wasn’t asking for a refund). LOL.So, why a two-star review? I knew what I was getting for my family’s other two Kindles and they did what I expected, as advertised. This device never did what I paid for, and the new (same model) device I’ll get as a replacement will still not do what I paid for given the apparent retirement of whatever cellular network device these Kindles (supposedly) worked with. So 46 min on the phone with the technician, 15 minutes spent on this review, and six+ months of device use with a device that has never done what it was advertised what it was supposed to do. Two stars because I can still use it as a-non cellular Kindle when the replacement arrives, but -3 because of crap support when I first bought the device (and did Amazon know then that I’d lose cellular support by around the end of the year?), misleading advertising until it sounds like fairly recently, and not standing by a solid customer like me by not compensating me for the difference in cost.I will of course update this review if Amazon gets back to me with a better resolution.
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2021
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