Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (8 GB) – Now with a larger display, adjustable warm light, increased battery life, and faster page turns – Black

So I came into possession of this little guy due to a late night Amazon impulse buy a few days before leaving for vacation. I was going on a weeklong trip with my family and didn't want to have to bring my ipad (what I usually use to read) or any actual books with me on the plane. Let me preface this by saying I am an avid reader, spending the majority of my free time reading...and have been for most of my life. My siblings lament to anyone listening about the horror of summer road trips, riding in the back of our family sedan, fighting for leg room because I always had at least 5-6 books at my feet to read during our travels. You should hear the way my sister grumbles at even the mere mention of a car ride with me (She horribly dramatic) but I digress. I also used to have a nook e-reader, an original model Kindle from way back in the day that no longer works, and have the kindle app on my ipad which I use to read most days. So I am familiar with e-reading. This kindle is quite possibly the best purchase I've ever made. It's basically pocket sized so it was extremely portable. I brought it with me everywhere; On the plane, in the car, in my bag to restaurants...I even managed to fit it in a particularly spacious pocket of an oversized jean jacket I wore on cooler nights. It's amazing. It was comfortable enough to hold in one hand, or two, depending on what I preferred at the time. The various light options on the kindle, including the warm light feature makes it easy to read regardless of where I was and what kind of lighting is available, without eye strain. I shared a room with family for a couple of nights and the dark mode feature barely emits light past my immediate person, so I was able to read into the wee hours of the morning if I wanted to without disturbing my family sleeping in the same room, or sacrificing my precious reading time. ( I get particularly sassy if I'm interrupted in the middle of a discovering a plot twist in a juicy novel, i'm just saying). You are able to customize lots of the settings, such as the fonts, size, spacing and layout, so that the books look however you want them to while reading. (I definitely used that feature to make the font smaller and more compact while I read an embarrassingly cringleworthy, but suprisingly emotional and fantastic, harlequin romance novel while on the plane. It's nobody's business why I was practically sobbing into my complimentary pretzels after the protagonists romantic interest declared his love to her for the first time, thank you very much) I also may, or may not have had a TINY accident in which I spilled my entire 32oz water bottle full of water all over my pants and my kindle. After squealing in alarm at how cold the water was, I was able to get my bearings, wiped the water off the kindle, changed my pants and continued reading. I have noted no damage whatsoever to my kindle and that was at the beginning of my trip well over a week ago now. After reading every day for at least 4-6 hours per day/night for 7 days straight I had 57% battery left over. I think the battery is supposed to last for 2 weeks maybe? IDK. Basically it lasted a long time, long enough for me to be impressed. Also, I downloaded at least 15 new books on there, not to mention the impressive collection of books I already owned and was able to sync to the device, and I still have over 4GB of space available to use. I have since named the kindle Kurt, as I feel emotionally connected to the device after our adventures together these past weeks. If you are a super bookworm like me, or are just trying to finish a whole book for the first time, I highly recommend this device for purchase. I think it was worth the money a thousand times over. And if after reading this you do decide to purchase it, I hope you love it just as much as I do.

I absolutely love this Kindle Paperwhite. The Agave Green color looks really nice in person and gives it a fresh, clean feel. It’s lightweight and easy to hold for long reading sessions, and the size fits comfortably in one hand without feeling bulky. The screen quality makes books look sharp and easy on the eyes, especially with the adjustable warm light. Battery life and overall durability have been excellent so far, and the huge book selection makes it easy to always have something new to read. Overall, a fantastic reading device that’s comfortable and reliable for everyday use.

The first thing I thought of when I saw an e-reader was AWESOME! But that was before they introduced the paperwhite models. In essence, they were amazon branded android tablets. They were slow and clunky and incredibly cheap. I'm further embarrassed to admit my first e-reader was actually a Barnes & Noble Nook. Which - if anything - was worse than the original Kindle's. I also discovered that I just plain missed holding a book. I couldn't explain it but I know a lot of people understand what I'm talking about. There is just something about being able to physically hold that book in my hands that just felt "right" and the e-readers just did not provide that. Finally amazon introduced the paperwhite and that was an absolute game changer. The ability to read a Kindle in direct sunlight was just unheard of. The older color versions were essentially useless in direct sun, or even marginally cloudy days as well. I still preferred holding a book in my hands though. But that all changed one night when I couldn't sleep and I tried to read at 1am and couldn't get ANY light to work well enough while also trying to hold my hard back book and not wake up my wife. It became a challenge of monumental proportions (at least for me it was). Slowly, over the course of the next 6 months, I began to warm up to the idea of giving the Kindle another try. This is where I made a big mistake however. Instead of buying it new, I went with a reputable company that sold reconditioned electronics for a deep discount. My reasoning seemed solid (at the time), if I ended up not truly enjoying my Kindle, at least I hadn't wasted too much $$ on buying a new one. Unfortunately, the model I received was tied to the account of the former owner, and I wasn't able to correct that with a simple master reset. It took several days to work thru that problem, but once I did, I was off and running. I got a slightly smaller model (6" screen) and while it functioned, it stuttered so often I forgot just how smooth it really should've been. But still, even with the issues, the hiccups and stuttering, I grew to really enjoy using it and more importantly, I loved the battery life it offered. I decided it was time for an upgrade, and this time I was going all-in. I got the 6.8" screen, which isn't that much bigger, but it DOES make a difference. Since I ordered directly from amazon this time, imagine my absolute surprise when I turned it on I was worried that it was going to take forever to link up to my WiFi and have to add my amazon account information...but that did not happen. Not sure if amazon pre-programmed it, but as soon as I turned it on it said, "Welcome Jeff" and I was stunned. How did it know??? Well, no matter, the set-up was a friggin' breeze and I was thrilled how seamless it was. Operation was so much easier and while it still offers a little stuttering (which in all honesty is simply due to the black & white screen and how it operates) but it was decidedly better than the older model. Battery life is stellar, though not as good as amazon claims. I think what they say is almost absurdly optimistic. But, the truth is, a paperwhite will give you pretty great life on a full charge. It operates well, and I love how I can invert the screen so more of it is black. Not sure if that uses less battery like it does on an amoled phone screen, but I'm going to see and test it just in case. My old Kindle did not have this option. All in all, reading is fun again for me and I love how I don't need a special light to read in the middle of the night like I did with a hard back. Kudos to amazon, I love my Kindle.

As you probably know, the kindle paperwhite is black and white and is used as a dedicated e-reader for books and other reading material. This device acts like printed media rather than a tablet -- once your book is open there are no ads and no distractions, simply fast reading on a comfortable device. I've upgraded to several generations of kindle paperwhites over ten years. This review is for the 11th generation that came out in 2021. The idea of within a minute retrieving any book in my library or getting a brand new book is simply irresistible. The kindle paperwhite is a great e-reader. Note that it frequently goes on sale so try to time your purchase so you can save $$. These are the things I like about it: * PORTABLE The kindle paperwhite is small and light and fits easily into my purse, even with a cover. By the way if you get a kindle definitely get a cover as well to protect it. As an added bonus, the cover makes the kindle feel like a slim book while you're reading. There are many attractive covers in addition to the official amazon ones. * WATERPROOF The kindle paperwhite is waterproof. Indispensable for the pool or bathtub. * EASY ON THE EYES The screen lighting of the kindle paperwhite is adjustable and reading is pleasant. I prefer to read with black background and white letters. (Settings > Accessibility > Invert Black and White). You can change the brightness by swiping down from the top and finding the "Brightness" setting. And don't forget you can change font and text size as well. When your book is open simply touch the top of the screen, select Aa > Font then adjust as you want. Print on the screen is quite clear both in bright sunlight and in a dark room. You can even make the lighting warmer (more yellow) for nighttime reading by swiping down from the top and finding the "Warmth" setting. * READ TO YOU EVEN IF YOU DON'T USE AUDIBLE The text to speech (TTS) feature is my very favorite :-) I love having my kindle read to me so I can do other things like needlework or driving at the same time. TTS works even if you don't have audible books, alexa, or a phone app. Simply connect your bluetooth device to the kindle (Settings > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth > enable Bluetooth > select your device) then turn it on (Settings > Accessibility > VoiceView Screen Reader). You can adjust the volume and speech rate to your liking. * LONG BATTERY LIFE Yes, the battery really lasts for days or weeks. Things like bright screen level, wifi on, and TTS may drain the battery at a faster rate. The kindle uses a C adapter. * PLENTY OF SPACE FOR ALL YOUR BOOKS The standard kindle paperwhite has 8 GB storage which can store at least 2000 or 3000 ebooks or roughly 35 audible books. You can also get a kindle paperwhite with 16 GB or for even more space for audible books you can get a Signature paperwhite with 32 GB. ______ As I've gone through several generations of the kindle paperwhite I've noticed that while the physical device continues to get better, I don't like the software as much as previously. Here are three things in particular: * NO GAMES I really really miss the games. These were so fun to play for me and to entertain young ones. Please can we bring supportive software for games back? * KINDLE DEVICE HOME AND LIBRARY SCREENS I hate the Home screen because most of the screen is taken with book recommendations rather than your own library. The top ribbon shows the book covers in order of last opened. You can only see three and a half books so you'll be doing a lot of scrolling if you're looking for a book you read a while ago. The Library screen is a bit better because you can list your books by title or author (three lines at top right screen give you "Sort by" screen), but the listings still include book cover thumbnails that take up room. I admit I'm fussy but I like to have a compact list that I can scan quickly rather than needing to scroll through page after page and/or removing books from my device. (The books are still accessible in the cloud but will need to be reloaded if I want to read them again). * COLLECTIONS IN AMAZON CLOUD Since the beginning until now, Amazon cloud storage uses only one layer of folders. If you have, say, science fiction books and mysteries, you either jumble them together in "Fiction" or else you have to make two separate folders that don't link. Please, Amazon, fix this. _____ Overall while the kindle paperwhite isn't *perfect* it's pretty darn close and lovely to read for books with plain text and images/photographs. PDFs and more complex images like maps are difficult to see on the small screen and may do better with the Kindle Scribe which is larger. If you want a reader with color and web browser capabilities you may want to consider getting a kindle Fire rather than paperwhite. The kindle paperwhite is a great device for what it is meant to do -- read books -- and for that I will give five stars, although I am keeping my fingers crossed for software updates to make the experience even better.

God, I love this thing. Frankly, one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Now, don’t get me wrong— I, too, have a love affair with holding a good paperback book and feeling the thickness of the pages slowly switch hands as I read, and the smell of old paper and the comfort of simply holding a book that sparks curious conversation with strangers. But hear me out… I’m a flight attendant and read books too fast to carry all that extra weight and bulk with me to make sure I never run out. This thing holds thousands of books, the battery lasts about a week with high use (a month if less), and when I finish a book, I can immediately start the next! If a book isn’t holding my interest, quick swap! It fits perfectly in my uniform pocket and slips weightlessly into your bag. I bring it with me to the pool every summer and have accidentally dropped it in the pool 3 times and it still works good as new! I’m highly impressed, and I don’t think I could live without it. Now the very few downsides… I live in Phoenix, so on really hot days (105-120F) the kindle can overheat and stop working, even if in the shade. So that kinda sucks because floating in the pool is one of my favorite places to read. The power button is obnoxiously on the bottom (I feel it should be on the top or upper side) so if you prop it up on a hard surface, or place it in the seatback device holder of an airplane, it can press the power button, thus, turning it off. I absolutely hate it and hope they change the design in the future. I do recommend getting a screen protector to prevent scratches, and stick a device holder ring on the back for comfort while holding. Other than that, this thing is an absolute gem worth every single penny, and Kindle Unlimited provides a plethora of good books to choose from!!

Listen, I love Kindles. I’ve had a version of a Kindle since they came out. I currently have 4 e-ink Kindle readers that my family uses (different modes) and we used to use the Fires. I’ve traded in old versions to upgrade. I read about a book every two days on a Kindle. I feel qualified to make an accurate assessment of the usability of them. I got the latest version to take to the beach- I wanted one that was a bit more rectangular (I have the Oasis which is more square), water resistant, and smooth edges so that sand wouldn’t get stuck along the screen edge (ask me how I know that can happen….) What I like: it’s relatively light, and it’s bright (no need for a reading light at night). It’s adjustable light too. Sand did not get stuck in it. Long battery life. What I didn’t like: the power button placement. With the power button on the bottom, I found how I tend to hold the kindle means I inadvertently turn it off while reading. My pinking rests right on the button area. Maybe it’s how I hold it? Maybe I’m weird? But it’s a flaw. If the button was on top, this would not be an issue. The page swipes are too sensitive…. I go turn a page and sometimes it turns like 2 or 3 and I have to turn them back- annoying. I have to say that due to these annoyances, the Kindle Oasis is still my favorite. Due to the way it’s shaped, it’s easier to hold, and I love the page turning buttons- you can swipe to turn the page if you want to, but the page turning buttons are right there by you thumb where you are holding it, so super easy to turn the page, with out the annoyance of it skipping a couple of pages. The Oasis won’t accidentally turn off on me too. I do find that because the oasis is more square, it doesn’t always fit in a typical small purse or bag, where as the paperwhite seems to fit better. Also, since my Oasis is a few years old now, I have to charge it every day if I heavily read that day. All in all, I use them both, but prefer my Oasis. The button on the bottom on the Paperwhite is actually getting to be more of an annoyance the more I use it. Anyway, hope this helps!

I am BIG into reading books and oh my goodness this has become my best friend! I can read while lying down in my bed and don’t have to worry about light, flipping a page, or having to sit up with it. I have brought this around with me EVERYWHERE, it’s such a good size! I love how slim it is, it fits into almost all my bags. My sister got one too and you can’t tear her away from it. Kindle unlimited is great too, you get SO many options! I usually buy my own books to put on my kindle, but if I get a deal for kindle unlimited, I get it! Seriously, if you don’t have a Kindle to read on, you’re missing out. It’s actually so amazing and I’ve had no problems with it. The battery lasts a really long time and it charges back up in no longer than a few hours! And I love how it’s waterproof too! Just trust me and get it, it’s so worth it!

This is my second or third Kindle Paperwhite. I got my first one, after researching for my specific needs, many years ago. Got a most wonderful actual leather cover with magnetic closure. I used it for years, then they came out with a larger format. So I traded mine in. Ordered what I thought would be the same leather cover, just sized for the larger Kindle. Instead receiver the most awful synthetic something, but it did the job. Eventually gave that to a family member. Got my nre Paperwhite with the cork cover. I like the "hand" of the cork, and a couple of years in, it's holding up well to frequent use. Originally I wanted a Kindle to take when I was out of town and didn't want to transport books. This gave me more freedom as when i was finished with a book, I could either access one I'd already purchased from my library, or I could shop Amazon's vast collection at any hour or weather or location. It was small and light enough that I could easily carry it in my purse. If my flight was delayed, it was right there with me, easily accessed. I still like holding a book in print, but for convenience I think this is hard to beat. Also, the Paperwhite seems to be more easily read in most light. My Fire has color and is not as versatile, especially in the sun. Battery seems to last forever, both while reading, and for the life it - I've never had a battery go bad or die as charges last and last, but the last I was aware, you could send your dead Kindle back to Amazon and they would replace for a minimal fee (may not still be available but never had to use). All in all, I'm extremely pleased with my Kindle.