Reviewed by Marcus Knapman, BSc (Hons) Computing ·
Researched from 100+ Amazon customer reviews
· How we review
Amazon's newest Kindle Paperwhite costs £170 without ads, making it the priciest basic e-reader the company sells. That's a fair chunk more than previous generations, so the question becomes: what exactly are you getting for your money? The headline feature is 25% faster page turns, which sounds impressive until you realise the old Paperwhite wasn't exactly sluggish. I've spent time digging through the technical specs and user feedback to work out whether this latest iteration justifies the premium. The short answer is that it's a solid evolution rather than a revolution, but there are some meaningful improvements that might swing it for certain readers.
Page turning speed might sound like a minor detail, but anyone who's used an older Kindle knows that slight lag can break your reading flow. The new processor in this Paperwhite delivers noticeably snappier performance, particularly when jumping between chapters or accessing the menu system. It's not going to change your life, but it does make the device feel more responsive.
The display contrast has improved too, though this is harder to quantify without a side-by-side comparison. Amazon claims it's their best Paperwhite screen yet, and based on the technical specifications, they're not overselling it. The 300 ppi resolution remains the same, which was already crisp enough for comfortable reading.
It's taken Amazon long enough, but the Paperwhite finally ditches that annoying micro-USB port. The shift to USB-C means you can charge it with the same cable as your phone, laptop, or tablet. More importantly, you'll barely need to charge it at all – the quoted 12-week battery life seems realistic based on Amazon's testing methodology of 30 minutes reading per day with wireless off.
I've seen plenty of user reports confirming weeks of use between charges, even with heavier reading habits. The caveat is that constant Wi-Fi use, frequent backlight adjustments, and audiobook listening will drain it faster.
The IPX8 rating means this Kindle can survive being dunked in up to 2 metres of water for an hour. Most people will never test this properly, but it's reassuring for poolside reading or the occasional bath-time book session. The waterproofing feels like one of those features that's brilliant to have but easy to forget about.
What's more immediately useful is how the improved screen coating handles glare. Reading outdoors in bright sunlight has always been the Kindle's strength over tablets, and this generation maintains that advantage whilst reducing reflections even further.
At £170 for the ad-free version, this isn't cheap. You can get a perfectly serviceable basic Kindle for around £90, or hunt down an older Paperwhite for significantly less. The question is whether the faster performance, USB-C charging, and incremental screen improvements justify the premium.
For heavy readers who want the best possible experience, the answer is probably yes. If you're an occasional reader or mainly stick to free classics, the extra cost becomes harder to justify. The 16GB storage is generous enough for thousands of books, though it's overkill unless you're downloading audiobooks or graphic novels.
The biggest limitation remains the lack of page turn buttons. Yes, touchscreen controls work fine, but physical buttons would still be more satisfying for many readers. Amazon seems determined to keep these exclusive to the pricier Kindle Oasis.
The ambient light sensor also feels like a missed opportunity. You still need to manually adjust the backlight brightness, which competitors like Kobo have automated for years. For a device at this price point, some intelligence around lighting would be welcome.
This is the best Paperwhite Amazon has made, but it's also the most expensive. The speed improvements and USB-C charging are welcome, though probably not enough to justify upgrading from a recent Paperwhite. For first-time Kindle buyers who read regularly, it's worth the premium over the basic model.
As an Amazon Associate, Smart Trends earns from qualifying purchases.
Was this review helpful?
