Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Which Kindle Should You Buy

So, you recently discovered that using a Kindle is sustainable and efficient. However, when you go to Amazon to finally make the purchase, you are confused about picking up the regular Kindle or the Kindle Paperwhite. We’ll help you make the right choice by showing you everything you need to know about Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite.

Given that a Kindle easily lasts for five to six years when maintained well, you must make an informed decision while purchasing. In this article, we’ll show you all the features and differences between the latest entry-level Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite readers. We’ll have a detailed comparison, including the pricing, to help you make the perfect choice.

1. Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Specifications

Here’s a quick spec comparison between Amazon Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle:

Specifications	Kindle 11th Gen (2022)	Kindle Paperwhite 11th Gen (2022)
Display	6.2 inches (157.8 x 108.6 x 8.0 mm)	6.8 inches (124.6 x 174.2 x 8.1 mm)
Storage Options	16 GB	8GB/16GB
Display Density	300 ppi	300 ppi
Battery Life	Lasts up to 6 weeks (30 mins per day)	Lasts up to 10 weeks (30 mins per day)
Charging Speed	USB-C: 2 hours from a 9W adapter	USB-C: 2.5 hours from a 9W adapter
Network Support	2.4 Ghz and 5.0 Ghz Wi-Fi; Bluetooth	2.4 Ghz and 5.0 Ghz Wi-Fi; Bluetooth
Formats Supported	Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC, PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP (through conversion), Audible Audio AAX	Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC, PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP (through conversion), Audible Audio AAX
Available Colors	Black, Denim	Black
Water Resistance	–	IPX8; Withstands immersion in 2m of water for 60 minutes
What’s in the box	Kindle, USB-C charging cable, and Quick Start Guide.	Kindle, USB-C charging cable, and Quick Start Guide.

2. Design and Display

A significant visual difference between the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is that the latter has a larger 6.8-inch display compared to Kindle’s 6.2-inch display. Therefore, the Kindle Paperwhite, at 7.23 oz (205 g) is slightly heavier than the Kindle, which weighs 5.56 oz (158 g).

Further, the display on the Kindle Paperwhite is flushed with bezels, and the Kindle reader has its bezels raised on top of the display. Moreover, the Kindle Paperwhite sports thinner bezels at the sides compared to the regular Kindle reader. But none of them has uniform bezels.

The display on the Kindle Paperwhite is significantly better and brighter both during the day and the night compared to the Kindle. The Paperwhite also sports more LEDs – 17 in the background than the 4 LEDs in the Kindle reader. However, we assure you that both readers provide a great E-Ink display reading experience – since both displays are crisp and have the same 300ppi density.

Kindle Paperwhite can also change the backlight glow and increase the temperature of the screen, making it warmer and a more soothing reading experience at night or in dark environments.

Both have the same matte finish design. However, the Kindle provides you with two colors – Black and a dark blue Denim option. The Kindle Paperwhite only comes in Black.

3. Supported Formats and Other Features

Both Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite support all major formats for E-books. Here are all the formats that both these readers support:

Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC, PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP (through conversion), Audible Audio AAX

Using these formats, you can view and download books from the Kindle Library or transfer books to your Kindle reader from email or PC. Further, both readers come with a built-in web browser.

Regarding connectivity, both readers support 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so that you can listen to Audible audiobooks via Bluetooth devices.

Kindle offers 16GB storage, whereas the Kindle Paperwhite supports 8 and 16GB storage options.

4. Battery Life: Which Kindle Lasts Longer

The Kindle Paperwhite has a larger battery life (1700 mAh) in comparison to the Kindle (1040 mAh). Amazon says that with thirty minutes of reading daily, the Kindle Paperwhite lasts 10 weeks, whereas the Kindle reader lasts 6 weeks.

Both readers support 9W USB-C charging through the power adapter. The Kindle charges faster and takes 2 hours to recharge completely than Kindle Paperwhite’s 2.5-hour charging time. However, you must remember that Kindle Paperwhite’s battery is larger as well.

Also Read: Why Is my Kindle battery draining fast

5. Are Both Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite Waterproof

The Kindle Paperwhite has an IPX8 water-resistant rating. Unfortunately, the Kindle reader does not offer any water resistance. Amazon also says that the Kindle Paperwhite can withstand 2-meter water immersion for 60 minutes.

6. What is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Amazon also has another iteration of the Kindle Paperwhite, called the Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition, and it has a few more advantages over the Kindle Paperwhite as listed below :

• It offers a higher storage option of 32GB.
• It supports Qi Wireless charging.
• It can automatically adjust brightness.
• An additional blue and green color option.

7. Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Pricing

The entry-level Kindle reader is priced lower than the Kindle Paperwhite. Further, you can also save a few bucks if you opt for the Kindle/Kindle Paperwhite that supports lock screen ads. The readers are also available with a Kindle Unlimited subscription for three months without an additional cost, provided you select the option while purchasing.

However, remember that it is subject to auto-renewal after three months. Here’s how the Kindle and the Kindle Paperwhite are priced:

Kindle 2022 Price:

Version	Price
With Lockscreen Ads	$99
Without Lockscreen Ads	$119

Kindle Paperwhite Price:

Version	Price
With Lockscreen Ads (8GB)	$139
With Lockscreen Ads (15GB)	$149
Without Lockscreen Ads (8GB)	$159
Without Lockscreen Ads (16GB)	$169

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Price:

Version	Price
Without Lockscreen Ads (32GB)	$189

Now that you are aware of everything about Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite, here’s our verdict between the two.

Which One Should You Buy: Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite

Our pick has to be the Kindle Paperwhite, given that it offers a slightly better reading experience and a larger display. The 8GB variant should be sufficient if you do not plan on loading it with many audiobooks or if you read or listen to one book at a time. If you are not willing to spend a lot of money, you should be fine with the regular Kindle reader as well.

We also regularly publish articles and guides about Kindle to help you make the best use of it, so do check them out!