If you’re considering this, and reading this review, you’re probably considering your first foray into Kindle reading. Good choice. A few things to note about this.
The ads are not pop ups. I know some dead tree fans would have you believe, right in the middle of a tense scene, an ad will interrupt the page. That’s not how this works. What happens is, when you put the device in sleep mode, rather than say the cover or the portrait of a famous author, you see an ad. If you use the physical cover to turn on and off the device, you won’t see much if any of the ads. And yes, you can dog ear a page.
I have no idea why memes keep popping up to say you can’t. Actually, the things you can do with a print book that you can’t with a Kindle book are: Donate them to the library if the library starts taking books again, give used copies to a friend, sell used copies, have a bookmark accidentally fall out, and use them for, well, kindling. Kindle can do everything else. Things you can do on a Kindle and not a print book are: read in the dark, search for text, carry dozens of books in your pocket, create notes of virtually unlimited size (you run out of room in the margin of a print book), pick up a new book nearly anywhere, anytime, and instantly convert your entire library to large print.
Most library systems can send any borrowed e-book directly to your Kindle. And your place and notes are stored in case you borrow the book again or buy a copy. You don’t get that with print.
Amazon recently improved their send to Kindle features with a drag and drop web page that makes moving your own documents to the device extremely simple.
This comes with a USB-C cable, but not a charger (aka wall wort) so if you don’t have one lying around (I think the expectation is most of us do) you will need to pick one up.
16 gig might not sound like a lot, but most books fall under 2K. I’ve seen public libraries (I’m looking at you, Florida) with fewer books than this can hold. Audible eats the memory a bit more, but I find this to be more than enough.
You don’t get cellular connectivity with this, but that’s only with the premium Oasis line now. Scribe even missed out on that. I find it convenient, but I understand wifi is ubiquitous enough these days it’s not a big deal for most users. I have an annoying habit of finishing a book on the crosstown bus, then needing the next in the series. Yes, the cell phone tether works. No, that’s not as convenient as built-in cellular.
It has fewer LEDs than most, but that’s not a big deal. Four lets you read in the dark. The scribe has 35. Guys, it’s an e-reader, not a disco, no one needs that many separate lights on that small a device. The absence of a warm light and auto adjusting lights are a bigger issue here. The warm light makes a big difference when you’re reading before bed.
It doesn’t have the waterproofing, which I thought was a bigger deal when that first came out, but in all the time since I’ve yet to (knock wood) get a Kindle wet. It’s a nice to have, not a have to have.
The size can throw people at first. The screen approximates two things – an index card turned portrait and a mass market paperback page. The occasional “ghosting” mirrors the see-through element of the cheaper mass market paperbacks, except on the device it refreshes quickly, and the ghosting goes away.
There were some studies done that suggest memory is improved from reading from print rather than e-book. I want to point out a few issues and cite my own experience. First, all the studies I could find cite pop ups and other distractions as the primary issue. That is, the test is on a general-purpose tablet, not a single purpose e-reader. When they either do a study on an actual e-reader or compare with pop ups on the tablet vs someone coming over just as often and tossing brochures on their print book I’ll believe it. Unless all factors are equal, the study is inherently flawed. To my experience, my ability to absorb and either use the information (if it’s non-fiction) or retain it over time (if it’s fiction) is nearly identical in both, with the slight advantage of the e-book being able to search back in the text for prior information. It drives me nuts when a quote resurfaces in a print book, and I can’t find the prior mention again. Or when I need to find a code snippet in a shelf full of computer books rather than just search on device and have it in seconds.
So, if you’re comfortable with the mass market paperback format, the size, the quality, then this is a huge step up. If you want to lay your hands on information quickly, then this is a huge step up.
If you want portability, then this is a huge step up. I just had to help an elderly woman move into assisted living and the loss of space cost her nearly all of her much-loved library. I find it comforting that nearly all of mine fits in my purse. No more culling the library for space, then finding you need to buy a new copy. If you delete an e-book from your Kindle, you can download it again for free. I remember, in the dark days before the Kindle was invented, being stuck on a flight from Arizona to New York with nothing to read but the most misogynistic, worst written mystery novel I’d ever encountered. If I had a Kindle, I’d have had at least a dozen better choices at hand, not to mention rereads.
The downside here is twofold. First, Dune and The Great Gatsby look the same size on the reader, so it’s hard to eyeball that one is a super-fast read and the other a meaty novel. It’s also a little too easy to build up a massive TBR pile, given it takes no physical space, the device memory is ample, and Amazon keeps offering free books to Prime members every month, sometimes more than one, and a crazy number of deeply discounted books Prime or not.
If you are concerned about the environment, then this is a matter of economics of scale. On the last study I checked, the magic number was 20. At 20 books the manufacture and transport impact of the e-reader ties the impact of manufacturing and transporting print books. At 21 and beyond, the e-reader has almost no further impact as compared to the printing and transporting of physical books. E-readers have boasted substantial improvements in reducing their carbon footprint since that study, but I can find no more recent information. Even at 20, the worst number, it’s clear that e-readers are a pure win for the environment.
It’s a great device. If you want to go with this one as the entry level, you won’t be disappointed.
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Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Carbon impact
Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were reduced compared to similar products or previous models.
As certified by
Reducing CO2 The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full lifecycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
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Climate Pledge FriendlyProducts with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn morePRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)
Reducing CO2 products reduce their carbon footprint year after year. Certified by the Carbon Trust.
Climate Pledge FriendlyProducts with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn morePRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)
Reducing CO2 products reduce their carbon footprint year after year. Certified by the Carbon Trust.
Climate Pledge FriendlyProducts with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn morePRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)
Reducing CO2 products reduce their carbon footprint year after year. Certified by the Carbon Trust.
Take your story with you
Meet Kindle, now with an upgraded high-resolution display, 2x the storage, USB-C charging, and longer battery life. The built-in adjustable front light, and the newly added dark mode feature, lets you read comfortably indoors and outdoors any time of the day.
Enhance your reading
Enjoy sharper text and images. The upgraded 300 ppi high-resolution glare-free display features more than 3x as many pixels as the previous generation.
Read comfortably in any environment
The glare-free display reads like real paper, even in direct sunlight. Adjust the front-lit display, and now with dark mode easily invert text color for a more comfortable reading experience, day and night.
Distraction-free reading
With no interruptions from messages, emails, and social media, you can lose yourself in the story.
Read for longer
Now with extended battery life. A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 6 weeks. Battery life may vary depending on use.
Massive Selection
Finding new stories has never been easier with Kindle. With Kindle Unlimited, get unlimited access to over 2 million titles, thousands of audiobooks, and more. Prime members have access to a rotating catalog of E-books, audiobooks, magazines and comics with Prime Reading. Enjoy access to Kindle Exclusive titles you won’t find anywhere else. And if you have young readers in your household, you can set up a Kids profile and get unlimited access to a curated library of kid-friendly books with an Amazon Kids+ subscription, starting at $4.99/month.
Better together
Our covers are designed by Amazon to perfectly fit your Kindle, thin and lightweight design allows for hours of comfortable reading. They automatically put your Kindle to sleep when closed and wake upon opening, making it easy to get back to your story. Shop Kindle accessories.
FABRIC COVER
Designed by Amazon to perfectly fit your Kindle, these slim, form-fitting covers attach securely and fold back for one-handed reading. Shop fabric covers.
NUPRO COVER
Slim, lightweight and form-fitted cover helps protects your Kindle.
Shop Nupro covers.
CLEAR CASE AND GLASS SCREEN PROTECTOR
Soft, clear edges help protect your Kindle from scratches and bumps.
Shop screen protector.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is the screen on a Kindle different from a tablet?
Our Kindle devices are designed so you can read comfortably for hours. Kindle has a unique black and white glare-free display that reads like paper even in bright sunlight and enables weeks of battery life. With the display’s distinctive nature, slight shadows of previous text or images can sometimes remain visible on the screen. The display quickly refreshes occasionally to remove these shadows and ensure a high-quality optical experience.
2. Do I need to be a Kindle Unlimited member to read on a Kindle?
No. You do not need a Kindle Unlimited membership to read on a Kindle. All Kindle devices come with instant access to the world’s best eBook store. Kindle Stores worldwide offer millions of titles, including the latest best sellers.
3. How do I setup this Kindle?
You have the option to set up Kindle on the device following its on-screen instructions or with your Kindle app on your phone. When setting up using the phone, just open the Kindle app and enable Simple Setup in settings before you power on your Kindle. If you opted in to link Kindle to your Amazon account for simplified setup at purchase, it will already be registered to you.
Every day is an earth day
We considered sustainability in the design of this Kindle device. Here’s how:
Materials
75% post-consumer recycled plastics in Black device
30% post-consumer recycled plastics in Denim device
90% recycled magnesium in device
Device Packaging
This device’s packaging is 100% recyclable.
Fulfillment center packaging not included.
Part With Purpose
There may come a time when you want to trade in, or recycle your device. Explore options with Amazon Second Chance.
Compare Kindle e-readers
| Price | From: $79.99 | From: $114.99 | From: $189.99 | From: $239.99 |
| Ratings | (18,226) | (54,315) | (25,979) | (6,119) |
| Display Size | 6" glare-free | 6.8" glare-free | 6.8" glare-free | 10.2" glare-free |
| Storage | 16 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB |
| Resolution | 300 ppi | 300 ppi | 300 ppi | 300 ppi |
| Front light | 4 LEDs | 17 LEDs | 17 LEDs | 35 LEDs |
| Writing Capability |
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| Cover | Sold separately | Sold separately | Sold separately | Sold separately |
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| Wifi Connectivity | Wifi | Wifi | Wifi | WiFi |
| Color | Black or Denim | Black | Black | Tungsten |
| Warranty | 1-year limited warranty | 1-year limited warranty | 1-year limited warranty | 1-year limited warranty |
Technical Details
Kindle
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Display |
Amazon's 6” display with built-in light, 300 ppi, optimized font technology, 16-level gray scale. |
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Size |
6.2” x 4.3” x 0.32” (157.8 x 108.6 x 8.0 mm). Size represents total device measurements. |
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Weight |
5.56 oz (158 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 |
16 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 may vary depending on use. 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; Fully charges in approximately 2 hours with a 9W USB power adapter. |
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Wi-Fi Connectivity |
Supports 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz networks with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security using password authentication or Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) wifi networks. |
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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 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; PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX). Learn more about supported file types for personal documents. |
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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 or 3-year Extended Warranty available for U.S customers sold separately. Use of Kindle is subject to Amazon's Conditions of Use and the terms found here. |
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Included in the Box |
Kindle, USB-C charging cable and Quick Start Guide. |
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Generation |
Kindle (11th Generation) - 2022 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. |
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Carbon impact
Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were reduced compared to similar products or previous models.
As certified by
Reducing CO2 The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full lifecycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
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My Genuine Review & Demo of Amazon Kindle Paperwhite.
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Kindle (2022 release) - Watch Before You Buy
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Unboxing and Comparison 2022 Black Kindle vs Paperwhite
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Honest review for kindle paperwhite
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What to know about this kindle before buying!
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Reviews with images
2019 vs 2022: what an upgrade!
I needed to upgrade since my 2019 kindle was having glitches. I read everyday so it’s important to me that my kindle is in optimal condition. I love the Kindle basic over the paperwhite because it’s lighter, smaller (easier to carry it around including my pocket and my hands are small) and I do not care for the waterproof feature.I just got this 2022 version and wow! The upgrade is noticeable from the get go! It is actually even more lighter than the 2019! It is smaller altho the screen size is the same! The e ink is sharper, more defined and now I feel I was reading blurry before LOL. It is faster too. The new Dark mode setting is such a PLUS for night reading.The brightness setting is definitely more defined too, in the pictures, both kindle are at the same setting yet the 2022 version seems brighter.I used to have the without ads version and this time I got the ads version because I didn’t want to pay extra and honestly now I’m loving the ads because it suggests me new books to read based on my reading I like that!The screen in 2022 version does seem whiter than the 2019, it doesn’t bother at daytime and since it now has the dark mode, at night it doesn’t bother me either.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2022
Color: DenimOption: Without Kindle UnlimitedOffer Type: Lockscreen Ad-SupportedVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024
Color: DenimOption: Without Kindle UnlimitedOffer Type: Lockscreen Ad-SupportedVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024
Color: BlackOption: Without Kindle UnlimitedOffer Type: Lockscreen Ad-SupportedVerified Purchase
