It's almost Amazon Prime Day and the perfect time to buy a Kindle as prices can be significantly reduced. But which one to choose? If you're not looking for a fancy flagship product, this is the Amazon Kindle or the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. These two reading machines have a lot in common, but there are also a number of essential differences. We've highlighted them below to help you make the right reading choice.
Amazon Kindle Design vs. Kindle Paperwhite
Both Kindles have ordinary plastic backs. Image credit: TechRadar In terms of the design of these two devices, the difference isn't huge. In fact, the most obvious difference may only be related to the color, because if both drives are black, the Amazon Kindle Basic is also available in white, while the Kindle Paperwhite gives you no color choice. Otherwise, the look is similar, with a fairly simple plastic body and large bezels around the screen. In the case of the Kindle Paperwhite, these glasses are on the screen, while they lift up on the Kindle's base. This leads the Paperwhite to feel and feel a bit more exclusive.
Paperwhite frames are flush with your screen. Image Credit: TechRadar Dimensions and weight also differ between the two, with Amazon's Kindle at 160 x 113 x 8.7mm and 174g, while the Kindle Paperwhite is 167 x 116 x 8.2mm and 182g ( or 191 g if you opt for a version with cellular connectivity). So the Paperwhite is a bit bigger and wider but not quite as thick. The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite also offers water resistance. IPX8 certified, it can survive immersion up to 2 meters deep in fresh water for 60 minutes. You will be able to read safely on the beach or in the bath. The basic Kindle comes without such a lock.
Amazon Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite Display
The Kindle's screen isn't as sharp as the Paperwhite's. Image Credit: TechRadar The Amazon Kindle and Amazon Kindle Paperwhite have a 6-inch screen. In both cases, it is designed not to dazzle. The main difference lies in their sharpness. In fact, while the Kindle's base screen is 167 pixels per inch, the Paperwhite measures in at 300 pixels per inch, so text is sharper and closer to how it looks on paper. The difference is especially noticeable when reading comics and the like. If you're just looking at the text, the highest resolution usually won't make much of a difference. Both screens also have a front light, which allows you to read in the dark without using an external light source, but the Paperwhite can be brighter, using 5 LEDs while Amazon's Kindle uses. 4.
Amazon Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite Specifications
The Paperwhite is better for podcasts. Image Credit: TechRadar There are two main differences in the specs of these drives. The first is that the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is endowed with much more storage, at either 8GB or 32GB, while the basic Amazon Kindle only comes with 4GB. This shouldn't be a major problem, as eBook files are typically small, and if you buy them from Amazon, they can be stored in the cloud when you're not actively reading them. However, storage space becomes more of a concern if you plan to listen to audiobooks through Audible. This is a feature that both readers support, but it's much more feasible on the Paperwhite. The other big difference is that, in addition to Wi-Fi, you can get the Kindle Paperwhite in a cellular and Wi-Fi style (with free 3G and 4G connectivity), whereas the basic Kindle only supports Wi-Fi. For most people, this shouldn't be a trivial matter, but with cellular data, you can buy and download books anytime, anywhere, while being a little more limited with Wi-Fi. Most other things are similar or identical, including its software and its battery life.
Amazon Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite Price
The Paperwhite is significantly more expensive. Image Credit: TechRadar The Amazon Kindle starts at $69.99 / $89.99, but this is a version with lock screen ads. If you prefer not to have ads, you will have to pay €79.99 / €109.99. In Australia, you can only get an ad-free version, which costs AUD139. On the other hand, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite starts at $119.99 / $129.99 for the 8GB Wi-Fi version with commercials, but there are more options here. For €129.99 / €149.99 / €199 you can get the same ad-free version, while for €149.99 / €159.99 you can get a 32GB Wi-Fi model with ads, and for €159.99 / €179.99 / €249, you can get this template without them. As before, Australia only has ad-free versions. At the top of the screen, a 32GB mobile version priced at €219.99 / €249.99 / €369 AU, you can't get it with commercials. Thus, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite costs much more than double the Kindle's base price. That said, prices will certainly drop on Amazon Prime Day, so watch out for Kindle deals.