Here, we have a battle between two Amazon eBook readers, Kindle and Paperwhite. Which one is better and why? Yes, Kindle is the cheapest version, and yes, it does satisfy basic needs. However, sometimes it’s worth going a bit above the basics and get something you’re going to love. I know stretching your budget is not an easy thing, and that’s why you should know what you’re buying before actual purchase.
Here, I’ve gathered all the facts in one place. Should you buy Kindle or a Paperwhite, and why? Let’s see.
Table of Contents
Kindle vs. Paperwhite Best Buy
| Characteristics | Kindle | Paperwhite |
| Size | 160 x 113 x 8.7 mm | 167 x 116 x 8.18 mm |
| Weight | 174 g | 182 g |
| Display | 6” | 6” |
| Screen resolution | 800 x 600 | 1,448 x 1,072 |
| Storage space | 4 GB | 8, 32 GB |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Ports | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi and cellular |
| Battery | 4 weeks (30min per day) | 6 weeks (30min per day) |
| Price | $90 | $130 |
So, these are the essential characteristics of the two eBook readers. Now you can see what you actually want. If you are still uncertain, we broke everything into pieces and discussed each of these features separately. Let’s see.
Display & Design
Paperwhite is a bit bigger in size and heavier, while display size remained the same. It only tells us there is a lot of unused space with this device. Instead of giving you the possibility to see letters on a bigger screen, you’ve got nothing but the glass. Kindle, however, has a plastic frame around the screen, making it less fragile, which is always a good thing if you plan to carry it throughout the metro or similar transportations. Yes, Paperwhite looks better, but Kindle is safer. Choose for yourself.
Paperwhite has a better display resolution. That is probably the most significant advantage of this model over Kindle since looking at your screen is much easier if the picture is clearer.
Speaking of design, Paperwhite comes in several different colors, such as black, twilight-blue, sage, and plum, while Kindle has only two options – black and white.
Paperwhite offers you a waterproof design, while the basic Kindle model has no such thing. So, again, depending on where you live and your plans, you can choose a suitable device.
Performance & Battery
Both of these devices have a similar, solid processor and behave the same under normal circumstances. Since we are talking about an eBook reader, not a PC for rocket science, it’s much more important how long you can read without needing to charge your device. Amazon says that Kindle lasts 4 weeks if you read 30 minutes per day. However, Paperwhite can last 6 weeks under the same conditions. This gives Paperwhite a significant advantage over Kindle.
Another big thing is that Paperwhite can be connected to cellular data as well and does not depend on the available Wi-Fi connection. It also comes with a larger storage space of at least 8 GB, compared to Kindle that has only 4 GB and no option to expand.
With all that being said, it looks like Amazon Paperwhite is a definite winner of our article. Yes, it is more expensive, but it provides you with more storage space, longer-lasting battery life, and comes better shaped.
Choose carefully if this price difference is worth losing many of the advantages Paperwhite has to offer.
Let us know in the comment section below which eBook reader is your preferred model and why.
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