Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) Review: The e-reader to buy
Verdict
If yous want an e-reader then the Kindle Paperwhite 2021 is the 1 to get – it's as simple as that. It'south well priced, features a great screen and finally comes with USB-C charging.
Pros
- USB-C
- Excellent screen
- Durable design
Cons
- Not much support for content that isn't from Amazon
- Physical buttons for flipping pages would be welcome
Availability
- Uk RRP: £129.99
- USA RRP: $139.99
- Europe unavailable
- Canada unavailable
- Commonwealth of australia unavailable
Key Features
- USB-C Finally, the micro-USB port has been ditched
- Updated brandish Larger vi.eight-inch screen with more LEDs
- Faster processor Everything feels a whole lot snappier
Introduction
It's been a long time coming, only Amazon has finally updated the Kindle Paperwhite – and information technology's great.
The Kindle Paperwhite 2021 (or Kindle Paperwhite 6) sits in the heart of Amazon's Kindle line, although I'd say it's a much better buy for just about anyone than the pricier Kindle Haven.
It's also a worthy upgrade over the approachable model that'south been on shelves for more than iii years. It features a bigger screen, longer bombardment life, USB-C, a greater number of LEDs and a new interface.
Amazon has released two models of this new Paperwhite, The regular model is reviewed below, but there'southward a pricier version besides that adds in a few actress features like wireless charging. We've reviewed the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition too.
Blueprint and Screen
- The biggest display on a Kindle Paperwhite
- Simply available in black
- IPX8 rating for h2o-resistance
Amazon hasn't played around too much with the pattern of the previous Paperwhite, but the company has done plenty to modernise the device with this new version. It is all the same function over form though, and for a device that'southward meant to exist the complete reverse of flashy, that's very much welcome.
The biggest change here is the bigger monochrome East Ink screen, which now spans half-dozen.eight inches as opposed to 6 inches. It makes for a larger overall device, which could put off some. For me, however, it'south a worthwhile upgrade. Paired with slimmer bezels, the new screen makes for a more than comfortable read and it looks a whole lot nicer, too.
Much of the due east-reader is constructed from smooth, matte plastic that curves at the edges. It's light, like shooting fish in a barrel to hold in i hand for extended reading sessions, and retains the IPX8 water-resistance rating. This means it should happily survive an accidental tumble into a bath or swimming puddle, even if it isn't resistant to dust.
Going with a plastic body makes sense, with the softer feel of the Paperwhite far more welcoming than the harsh metal of the Kindle Oasis. The black color does pick up greasy smudges easily though, then it would take been dainty to see a couple more colour options bachelor.
Buttons are kept to a minimum – a minimum of just one. There's a power key on the bottom and nothing else. I bemoan the lack of whatever concrete page-turning buttons here, and while the touchscreen is responsive, the tactility of concrete buttons to flip through a book is sorely missed.
I question the position of the power button, also, since it'south piece of cake to knock when resting the Kindle downwardly. This is a small event, but when there'south just one button, it needs to be placed properly.
The residue of the Paperwhite 2021 is minimal and clean. There'south some Kindle branding on the forepart and the Amazon 'smile' logo on the rear, but nix as well egregious. Importantly, the e-reader feels durable and shouldn't become scuffed too easily if it's thrown into a full rucksack. If you want some more protection for the screen, though, Amazon has a few instance options available.
The screen itself remains the existent reason to pick upwardly a Kindle over simply using a tablet or big telephone for reading. The E Ink tech is much kinder on the eyes and feels far closer to reading from actual paper than a typical LCD or OLED. There's no glare, either – which isn't the experience yous'd have trying to read on an iPad in the middle of a sunny mean solar day. The lack of colour does mean this e-reader isn't ideal for comics or cookery books, even so.
The 6.8-inch screen is pivot-abrupt thanks to a 300ppi resolution, plus the Kindle has a light for night-time reading that introduces the warm light feature from the Oasis to the Paperwhite line for the starting time time. This turns the display orange, some other flim-flam that helps it feel more than comfy to utilize later at night.
There are more LEDs surrounding the display this time circular (17 equally opposed to five), resulting in a more than even glow. The previous Paperwhite had a tendency to display patches of brighter lite, but this isn't an effect I've seen here. It too looks a little brighter than the previous version.
Performance
- Faster than the previous Kindle Paperwhite
- 8GB of storage (or 32GB, if you get for the Signature Edition)
- No cellular option hither
Amazon is touting some big upgrades to performance for this new version of the Paperwhite, and the claims virtually '20% faster' page turns certainly matches my experience using the due east-reader over the past week.
Everything on this new model feels snappier than on the previous model. The Kindle Shop – which took an age to open before – bursts into life quickly and flipping through pages is a lot more fluid. Not quite to smartphone or tablet levels, but there's a lot less waiting around.
Amazon has finally updated the software on the Kindle and the new UI is a big improvement. Multiple entries in a single volume series are at present combined to make them easier to skip through, while the quick settings are a little akin to what you'd find on a phone. Everything just feels a trivial more mod, too.
The rest of the feature-fix here is very similar to the outgoing model, and not as well unlike to the pricier Oasis. Equally with all of Amazon'southward hardware, yous really need to be in the ecosystem to fully capeesh it. If you want to read books, they actually need to be bought from the Kindle Shop, and you can but stream audiobooks to a set of wireless headphones if they've been bought through Amazon'southward Audible.
On starting up the device for the first time, you lot're asked to sign in to your Amazon account, and then given the option to sign up for a Kindle Unlimited business relationship. Notation that if you choose the 'with Special Offers' version of the Paperwhite, you'll also be served up ads rather than volume covers on the lock screen.
Of course, this tight Amazon integration has its benefits. If yous've got a huge collection of Kindle books and Aural audiobooks, they'll all be instantly accessible. Amazon's Kindle bookstore remains excellent, too, both for big-proper noun titles and smaller cocky-published ones. If you're staunchly against the make, preferring to go your books from a digital library (such as Libby), or you want to upload your own ebooks, then you might be better off looking at a Kobo.
There are actually 2 versions of this Paperwhite. The standard one I'yard reviewing here and the Signature Edition. The latter features all the bits I've mentioned in this review, only it quadruples that 8GB of internal storage to 32GB, adds an ambient low-cal sensor alongside support for wireless charging.
Most will be fine with this basic version, although that extra storage could be welcome if you plan to shop lots of Audible audiobooks offline. A 10-hour audiobook takes up roughly 300MB, while something a little more than epic can easily hit 500-600MB. For books, though, that 8GB is more than enough.
Battery Life
- Will last weeks, rather than days
- Now uses USB-C
- No charging block included, just a cable
For me, the biggest update to the battery on this Kindle Paperwhite 2021 is the switch to USB-C from the anile micro-USB port that features on all other Kindles. Micro-USB was blowsy when the previous Paperwhite was released in 2018, and it's positively prehistoric at present.
This might seem small, merely for me, being able to finally ditch that micro-USB cable and charge the Paperwhite with the same cable equally a laptop, Nintendo Switch or pair of earbuds is merely about worth the upgrade solitary. USB-C also enables faster charging, with a total charge taking less than 2.five hours.
With the bigger size comes a bigger battery. Amazon claims the Paperwhite 2021 can last for x weeks, but that's with 30 minutes of reading a solar day, with the wireless features disabled and the due east-reader set to a mid-level brightness.
I charged the Kindle Paperwhite 2021 to 100% as before long equally I'd unboxed it, and a week after bombardment ability has dropped to 75%. That'southward with Wi-Fi on all the time and nigh an hour or so of reading at day at varying levels of effulgence.
Eastward ink only actually consumes a lot of power when its being used, so you'll drain through the battery quicker if you lot're navigating the shop or flipping through books apace.
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Should you purchase it?
Y'all want the best reading device The Kindle Paperwhite is purely for reading, and it'southward the best device around for doing that.
You desire something with a wide range of skills Plenty of tablets offer a decent reading experience, along with the other benefits of a colour display and apps.
Last thoughts
My only real criticism of the Kindle Paperwhite 2021 is how tightly information technology's integrated into Amazon'due south services. If y'all're fine with that and so this is a near-perfect product.
The large upgrades here are all welcome, from the faster performance to the switch to USB-C and the larger brandish.
If you lot've been looking for an upgrade to an ageing Kindle, or you've yet to take the e-reader plunge, this is the all-time around.
How we examination
We test every e-reader nosotros review thoroughly. We use the device over the review period. We'll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a production.
Used as our main device during test period
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FAQs
Does the Paperwhite testify ads?
You can buy the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) either with ads or without. It's a £x/$20 divergence.
Is there a charger included?
You lot only get a cablevision in the box, no charging plug.
Is there a 4G option?
The only Kindle with cellular is the Oasis.
Full specs
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Jargon buster
mAh
An abbreviation for milliampere-hour and a way to limited the capacity of batteries, especially smaller ones in phones. In most cases the college the mAh, the longer the battery will last simply this isn't always the case.
Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/amazon-kindle-paperwhite-2021
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