![]() But once I was able to handle both the new Paperwhite and the previous version, the larger screen was more appealing than I thought it would be, even as someone who's well acquainted with the 7-inch screen of the Oasis. On one level, as I said, it isn't a huge step forward. When Amazon first announced the new Kindle Paperwhite (2021) I wasn't sure how much of an upgrade it would be. Amazon says both models are built with 60% post-consumer recycled plastics and 70% recycled magnesium. Bluetooth connectivity is available for listening to Audible audiobooks over wireless headphones or a Bluetooth speaker. They come with a free four-month Kindle Unlimited membership. David Carnoy/CNETĬellular connectivity remains an option for the high-end Kindle Oasis, but these new Paperwhite e-readers are Wi-Fi-only. If you read like this, you'll never run out of battery. I charged the Signature Edition on a Qi wireless charging stand. ![]() That model includes a cover, a one-year subscription to the Amazon Kids Plus service and two-year "worry-free" guarantee that allows you to replace the device at no charge should it get damaged in any way. The new Paperwhite also comes in a Kids Edition for the first time for $160. Instead of taking about 4 hours to charge with the previous Paperwhite, Amazon says that the new Paperwhite takes "2.5 hours to reach full charge time using a 9W adapter or larger." No power adapter is included with either the standard or Signature Edition Paperwhite, and you'll need a Qi charging pad to wirelessly charge the Signature Edition (I tested it, and it worked fine). Moreover, you seem to get a performance boost, though Amazon's official charge times have tended not to match my real real-world experiences (you can typically charge to near 100% but the last bit of charging is the slowest part). Practically speaking, because the majority of newer devices use USB-C these days, it's convenient to carry around fewer cables, and it's also slightly easier to plug in a USB-C cable than a micro-USB cable. David Carnoy/CNET Yay for USB-CĪfter Amazon's Fire tablets were upgraded with USB-C charging, a lot of folks have been waiting for USB-C to come to the Kindle line. The new Paperwhite is fully waterproof like the previous Paperwhite. Like other Kindle devices, many cover options are available, including Amazon's own, which now includes a snazzy cork cover ( $50). ($250) for the first time, but its metal back gives it a colder feel compared to the Paperwhite's textured plastic back. You get a similar sensation when you hold the flagship It remains small and light enough to fit in a jacket pocket with a more spacious screen. It'd be nice if it was slightly slimmer and had almost no bezel, but it does feel like it's edging closer to being the perfect size. The 2021 model also has a smaller 10.2mm bezel. While the display is larger, the new Paperwhite is only a little bigger and weighs just 23 grams more than the previous Paperwhite (205g vs. Using an average font size, you get three or four more lines of text per page and a few more words per line. I measured the actual screen sizes - not the devices themselves - and recorded that the previous Paperwhite's display is about 4.75 inches tall by 3.55 inches wide, while the new Kindle Paperwhite's screen is about 5.5 inches tall and 4.1 inches wide. While 6.8 inches compared to the previous 6 inches doesn't sound like much, once you see the two devices side by side, you realize it adds more screen real estate than you think. ![]() Light adds warmth settings and is a touch brighterĪ little more expensive than the previous model Larger 6.8-inch E Ink display in a chassis that's only slightly bigger and a tad heavier ![]() And a step-up model, the Paperwhite Signature Edition, adds wireless charging and additional storage - 32GB instead of 8GB - as well an auto-adjusting light sensor for $190 (£180, AU$289). The new version costs $10 more than the previous Paperwhite. Though we can give Amazon credit for enhancing it with new features - namely, a larger 6.8-inch display with an upgraded lighting scheme and USB-C charging - that offer just enough improvements to tempt you into buying one, whether you're an existing Paperwhite owner or not. Not surprisingly, then, the new 11th-generation Kindle Paperwhite (2021) ($140, £130, AU$239) isn't a huge upgrade over the Kindle Paperwhite 2018. But with an e-reader, you're dealing with a limited feature set and a core technology, E Ink, that seems pretty stuck in neutral. The same might be said for Apple's iPhones and plenty of other devices. One of the problems with having a sophisticated, already excellent e-reader like the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is that it's hard to make it much better. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |