So, do all of these features add up to the best e-reader out there? In a syllable: yep. Amazon was clearly focused on creating the best possible reading experience with the Paperwhite, and it's delivered.
Read the full review →Conclusion: We like it
With the Kindle Paperwhite, Amazon has come closer than ever to delivering an e-book reader without compromises. It retains the long battery life of earlier e-ink Kindles, and adds a sharper, higher-contrast display, a more responsive touchscreen, and faster, more fluid page-turns. And with the addition of its new frontlight, it's not just possible to use the Kindle in the dark; it's actually enjoyable. The frontlight helps out under artificial and natural light as well, to minimize shadows and boost contrast. No, the display doesn't look quite like paper, and e-ink's limitations mean that navigating on the Paperwhite is still a little sluggish compared to a tablet. For those with a big nook-based e-book library, the Simple Touch with Glowlight remains a very good product; and the basic $69 Kindle is worth considering if you're on a very tight budget. But the Kindle Paperwhite is the best e-ink e-book reader out today, and the product we recommend above the competition.
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Critic reviews
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Should You Buy This? Absolutely. The Paperwhite is a great ereader, and the superb screen quality, easy-to-use frontlight, and improved capacitive controls make it an easy choice.
Read the full review →Barnes & Noble just dropped the light-up Nook’s price to $120 — and that’s without ads. But I’d still recommend the Kindle Paperwhite. It has the better software features, the stellar screen, and the unstoppable ecosystem. It keeps its crown as king of the e-readers.
Read the full review →With an excellent built-in light and Amazon's best-in-class ebook selection, the Kindle Paperwhite rises to the top of the e-reader pack.
Read the full review →The Wi-Fi-only Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is our favorite ebook reader, thanks to its bright, even edge-lighting and a number of other refinements, and it's a much better buy than the 3G version.
Read the full review →Love Kindle. Love Amazon's Kindle store, love the reading experience, love the Paperlight front-lit display. Love the hardware. Don't love being forced to use a touchscreen. If you don't have a Kindle, buy this one.
Read the full review →Should you buy this e-reader? If you’re in the market for an Amazon-branded e-ink reader, this is definitely the one to get.
Read the full review →The front-lit screen improves the reading experience all day long, not just at night, making this a big step up from the Touch.
Read the full review →Looks better in daylight and has a more paper-like look when the backlight is on. And if you're an Amazon Prime member, you get access to the free lending library... we give a slight edge to Barnes & Noble's device for its lighter weight, dedicated home button and more even backlighting.
Read the full review →The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 3G offers always-on connectivity, bright, even edge-lighting, and numerous other improvements, but it's simply too expensive. The Wi-Fi-only version is a better buy.
Read the full review →I still think reading with a lamp is easiest on my eyes, but these are the next best thing.
Read the full review →It’s the best product that Amazon has sold under the Kindle moniker — a refreshing reminder that there’s always room for a device that does one thing really, really well.
Read the full review →With the Kindle Paperwhite’s integrated illumination and dramatic software redesign, Amazon has improved the everyday usage experience of its top-tier Kindle in a meaningful way.
Read the full review →There’s no doubt that the Paperwhite feature works, and works great. For those that want the best possible reading experience across the board the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is certainly worth your dollar.
Read the full review →If you own a second- or third-generation Kindle, this is a valuable upgrade ... if you’re a first time e-reader, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is — with a small edge on performance and features, as well as a better established ecosystem of products and services — tough to beat.
Read the full review →If you’re just interested in reading, the advantages of the Kindle Paperwhite are too great to ignore.
Read the full review →If you're worried that will do your eyes in, don't, it is a very pleasant experience, and one no matter what pulp fiction you are reading, you will no doubt enjoy it a great deal.
Read the full review →The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a great ebook reader, with a built-in light that makes for clear, comfortable reading, even in the dark. Buying books direct from Amazon is a breeze, though there's still no support for the popular .epub file format.
Read the full review →There's room for improvement in future models, but the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is the best, most complete version-feeling of the Kindle to date.
Read the full review →Minor issues aside, Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite is more aces than not. It has the same primary advantage of every Kindle and Amazon device: the largest selection of digital reading material anywhere. That alone puts the Paperwhite among the best devices of its kind.
Read the full review →Turn on the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite and you’ll wonder how you ever coped with yesterday’s ereaders.
Read the full review →The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a great e-reader, with good touch functionality, a responsive illuminated display and a great ecosystem. But it does have its drawbacks: it's a closed system...it doesn't play audio books and the display isn't always evenly lit.
Read the full review →A high-resolution backlit screen, a low price and a brilliant store – it's the ultimate eReader.
Read the full review →The Paperwhite is thinner, feels nicer, has a sharper screen with better contrast, and has better lighting – in other words, it's a better eBook reader. If that's your priority, it's tough to go wrong with the Kindle Paperwhite.
Read the full review →Amazon has brightened the picture for readers with Kindle Paperwhite--quite literally and in more ways than one.
Read the full review →From the onset, the increased resolution and front light are enough to make this edition of Amazon's Kindle a winner in my book. A couple of months ago, when I was speculating about the features that would hallmark Amazon's top-of-the-line e-reader, I specifically hoped for more contrast,...
Read the full review →I had a Kindle Keyboard previously, and I was hesitant to upgrade at first. I thought about how I had a light on my Kindle case, and why would I need one built in. It might be more convenient, but is it worth spending the extra money when I already have a Kindle that works perfectly fine? I...
Read the full review →It's the best e-reader I've used to date. Amazon fixed a lot of the UI mess from the original Kindle Touch and the lighting and resolution are very good. It'd be nice if they could clean up the lighting issues at the bottom of the screen, but the advantages of this new system so far outweigh...
Read the full review →This is my first e-reader, but I've played with older KIndles and Nooks and was waiting for a product like the Paperwhite. The built in lighting and crisp display make reading a breeze and the portability means I am free to bring it anywhere. So glad I bought this and well worth the $119.
Read the full review →Well worth the $119 price tag. As a pure ebook reader, it is the best availible right now due to the backlight display, Amazon's ebook selection, and wide support for document formats.
Read the full review →My second Kindle after using the 4th gen model before this. Overall a great product and the lighted display is great for reading in dark places. The resolution is also improved though I thought the previous model's resolution was also just find for displaying text. On the other hand I think this...
Read the full review →I have owned a Kindle 2, 3, and now this Paperwhite, and it is by far the best eReader I have had. I have read more books in the 2 months I have owned the device than I had the previous 12!
Read the full review →It is my first E-reader I've used to date. it very different from any tablet, it is amazing and breathtaking. Yes, I love it so much! It almost have not any blemish in my eyes!
Read the full review →Briefly, this is a better product than the Nook competition available today.. It's not, however, the user experienced promised all over Amazon's product description page. For starters the screen has a distractingly-noticeable blue tint unless you're reading in sunlight or under tungsten bulbs....
Read the full review →How it stacks up
Instantly compare the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite side by side with some of the top devices on gdgt!
Compare these-
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 92 from $119 -
Amazon Kindle 4th-gen 89 from $69 -
Amazon Kindle Keyboard (Kindle 3rd-gen) 84 from $199 -
Barnes & Noble nook Simple Touch 89 from $64 -
Amazon Kindle Touch 84
Other Amazon e-book readers
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Amazon Kindle 4th-gen 89 from $69 -
Amazon Kindle Keyboard (Kindle 3rd-gen) 84 from $199 -
Amazon Kindle Touch 84 -
Amazon Kindle DX 73 -
Amazon Kindle 2 89
Don't forget to check out these other devices by Amazon, you might find something good!