Amazon Kindle (2022) vs. Kindle Paperwhite (2021)

• 

  Amazon Kindle (2022)

  Smaller size and more memory

  Amazon’s entry-level Kindle is an affordable way to get into e-reading without sacrificing quality or functionality. This is good enough for most people.

  advantage

  • Compact design and light weight
  • USB-C charging
  • Sharp display makes text clear and beautiful

  shortcoming

  • Not waterproof
  • Can’t adjust warmth or auto-brightness

• 

  Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021)

  Advanced display and customization

  The Kindle Paperwhite comes with a 6.8-inch display, lighting, water resistance and color temperature control – it’s a great device.

  advantage

  • A bigger display than before
  • Bright lighting makes reading easy on the eyes
  • USB-C connection

  shortcoming

  • Page turning is not suitable for left-handers
  • Store and interface a bit slow

The Amazon Kindle range is one of the most user-friendly and powerful range of e-reader devices on the market. The entry-level device, the 11th-generation Amazon Kindle, is a rock-solid reader, especially for its price, and it’s a great way to enter the e-reader world. It’s also a useful upgrade for people with older Kindles. The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a step up, packing more features but at a slightly higher price.

So, which one should you buy? It’s a great question, especially considering the two devices are very similar. We’ll do an in-depth comparison so you know which one makes the most sense for you.

• 	Amazon Kindle Paperwhite	Amazon Kindle (2022)
  solve	300PPI	300PPI
  screen size	6.8-inch e-ink display	6-inch e-ink display
  processor	MediaTek MT8113	MediaTek MT8113
  Memory	512MB	512MB
  Supported formats	EPUB, DOC, DOCX, HTML, RTF, TXT and most image formats	EPUB, PDF, DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT and most images
  connect	USB-C	USB-C
  Battery	10 weeks	6 weeks
  weight	205g (8GB)/208g (32GB)	158g
  Connectivity	Wi-Fi/Bluetooth	Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
  aspect	174.2×124.6×8.1mm	157.8×108.6×8mm
  buttons	power button	power button
  storage	8GB/16GB/32GB	16 GB
  headlight	17 LEDs and adjustable color temperature	4 LEDs

Pricing and availability

Both are inexpensive, but both are widely available

The regular Amazon Kindle retails for $100 for the base configuration, or $120 if you don’t want the lock screen ads. The Kindle Paperwhite starts at $140 for the 8GB model and goes up to $170 for the 16GB model, with no lock screen ads. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition comes with 32GB of storage and costs $190.

Both models are available on Amazon.com and at select retailers like Best Buy and Target. They are fairly easy to find and purchase. The only version that might be a little hard to find is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature version, which is always available on Amazon but may be in short supply elsewhere.

design

Similar design but key differences

The design of both models is noticeably similar. The easiest way to tell them apart is by their size. The Kindle Paperwhite has a 6.8-inch display, while the regular Kindle has an even 6-inch screen. This makes the Kindle Paperwhite about 20mm wider and 20mm taller than its younger sibling. It doesn’t sound like much, but if you hold them in one hand, you’ll definitely notice it.

The Kindle Paperwhite has an IPX8 waterproof rating, which means it can withstand the occasional splash near a pool, bathtub, or beach. The standard Kindle doesn’t have the same waterproofing capabilities.

Other than that, the differences are minimal. The regular Kindle has a black “Kindle” logo on the front, while the Paperwhite’s logo is white. On the back of the device, the regular Kindle has a glossy black Amazon arrow logo, while the Paperwhite has the same color and texture as the rest of the back of the device. The base Kindle’s screen is also slightly recessed compared to the Kindle Paperwhite’s flush front.

Everything else is the same. You get the same soft-touch plastics, multiple color options, and the screens all have the same texture. Aside from the size, the actual feeling of holding and using them is pretty much the same.

exhibit

This is where things start to get interesting

While the specs may look the same on paper, this is where the device experience really starts to change. The basic Kindle has four LED lights to illuminate the screen. You can adjust the brightness, but not the color temperature, so what you see is what you get. The six-inch e-ink display is easy to read in almost all lighting conditions, and you can turn on the lights if the room is too dark.

The Kindle Paperwhite offers all of these benefits, but is 0.8 inches larger and has 17 LEDs (instead of 4). This means the Paperwhite’s lighting is more even because there are more lights to achieve this. LEDs can also be adjusted to a warmer, redder light or a cooler, bluer light. This can help you feel more comfortable while reading at night.

In terms of similarities, both screens feature 300PPI displays, so even with increased font size, text clarity on either Kindle is good enough for most people. Overall, the Kindle Paperwhite has an objectively better screen in almost every way. The only place where the regular Kindle wins is that it’s easier to hold since it’s a smaller device with a smaller screen.

feature

Not much difference here

Essentially, both Kindles offer the same core functionality. They are all designed for reading and can be accessed from the Kindle store. You can also choose to expand your reading options by subscribing to Amazon Kindle Unlimited, or choose Prime Reading if you’re a Prime subscriber.

Both Kindles can also play Audible audiobooks through Bluetooth headphones or speakers. The Kindle Paperwhite comes in three storage options – 8GB, 16GB and 32GB – while the standard Kindle defaults to 16GB. As the amount of storage increases, so does the price. Although larger storage space isn’t always that useful on the Kindle, unless you want offline access to a large number of audiobooks (with larger file sizes). Regular book files are small, so 8GB should be enough for most users.

Software-wise, the two Kindle devices are nearly identical. They all have advanced features like a vocabulary builder as well as basic settings like font size, margin size, and brightness settings. In fact, using these features is the same on both devices. The Kindle Paperwhite’s interface has an additional slider for adjusting the backlight’s cool or warm color.

Both charge via USB-C, eliminating the need to carry extra cables to charge the Kindle.

Battery life and performance

more of the same

Performance-wise, both devices are identical. Both come with 512MB of RAM and the same MediaTek processor. So it should take the same amount of time to turn pages, browse the library, download books, and adjust settings on either device. Buying a more expensive Kindle gets you better backlighting and a larger screen, but not the extra performance.

Somewhat surprisingly, a larger screen doesn’t seem to impact battery life the way it does on smartphones. Assuming 30 minutes of reading time per day and a screen brightness of 13, the base Kindle has a rated lifespan of 6 weeks. The Kindle Paperwhite is rated for 10 weeks under the same conditions. Either way, the battery lasts a long time.

Bottom line: Which Kindle model is best?

For your money, the Kindle Paperwhite will go further. It has long battery life, a larger screen, more LEDs, adjustable color temperature and more storage options. In addition, the IPX8 waterproof function of Kindle Paperwhite alleviates the anxiety of reading near various waters to a certain extent. You’ll have to pay for the privilege, but honestly, the price difference between the 16GB base Kindle and the 16GB Paperwhite is $40. All of the above goodies are well worth the price.

That doesn’t mean the base Kindle is bad in any way. It’s smaller, which means it’s easier to hold with one hand, and it only comes in a 16GB model, which means you’ll have plenty of storage space for your books no matter what. Plus, it has a backlight, and I own one myself, and I can tell you that as long as you don’t turn up the brightness in a dark room, the blue light isn’t harsh at all. Choose the cheaper option to save $40. Just don’t drop it in the bathtub.

No matter which one you choose, the Kindle can carry the world’s reading material in your pocket, making it a great investment. The lighting means you can read in any conditions, making it a great companion in bed or on holiday. It’s all centered around the Kindle Store, though, so keep an eye out for deals on Kindle Unlimited to give you access to even more books.