The new Paperwhite doesn't change anything about those two beloved aspects of my old Paperwhite-it achieves both well, maybe even a bit better that my old device. I also like that its E Ink display doesn't strain my eyes like my smartphone screen would if I were to stare at it for hours on end. I like that I can travel with an entire library of books within the confines of the Paperwhite's small frame, which is an impossibility when all you have are hardcover and paperback books. I enjoy reading on the Paperwhite for two reasons: portability and visibility. I've always been a big reader, and I invested in a Paperwhite when I didn't want to have many physical books cluttering up my small apartment (I've since changed my mind about that, so I read both physical and e-books now.)

(Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.)īefore the new Kindle Paperwhite made its way into my hands, I was working with a second-generation Paperwhite, circa 2013. While Amazon isn't doing anything markedly different with the 2018 Paperwhite, the device is new enough that it just may get some Paperwhite diehards to upgrade and persuade some new customers to join the club. The Paperwhite was a great, yet boring e-reader, like most similar devices are today. Aside from design and price, little separates it from the Kindle Oasis-but the Paperwhite still starts at $129.Īdmittedly, e-reader tech hasn't been the most interesting in recent years.

Enter the 2018 Paperwhite, which has a familiar but improved design has five front-lighting LEDs, Audible integration, and more storage.

Meanwhile, the Kindle Paperwhite continued to capture the hearts and eyeballs of many readers who didn't want to shell out the money necessary for the Oasis or the now-retired, $199 Kindle Voyage.Īfter years of minor updates, Amazon has decided to update its best-value Kindle yet. It quickly gained the ability to play Audible audiobooks as well, making it a one-stop shop for all reading endeavors in almost any environment.īut the Kindle Oasis was, and still is, the most expensive e-reader Amazon offers. It was the first to deviate from the standard slab design, and it became the first waterproof Kindle when it was updated one year later. The $249 Kindle Oasis injected a lot of change into Amazon's e-reader lineup when it came out in 2016.

Kindle paperwhite 2018