Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review
As far as e-readers go, there is a reason that Kindles are so popular. The Kindle Paperwhite is a lightweight, easy-to-use e-reader that is gentle on the eyes. With a long battery life and customizable screen settings, it is ideal for daily use at home or during travel. Here, I’m sharing my honest Kindle Paperwhite review, including exactly why it has fully replaced my iPad as my go-to e-reader!
Table of Contents:
Shop the Kindle Paperwhite & Handy Accessories
Honest Thoughts on the Kindle Paperwhite
Easy Set-Up
From the start, the user interface is intuitive and clear. Once you order your Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon, you’re pretty much good to go. The e-reader is easy to set up and comes partially charged. There are simple prompts for plugging in your wifi login and, from there, you can log in to your Kindle account and start downloading books.
If you are not yet a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, there will likely be an offer to try out KU for three months for free. This came up for me, despite my Kindle Paperwhite coming without a Kindle Unlimited subscription of any kind. I opted in to the three months free and have kept the subscription because it is just so handy! You can learn more about the Kindle Unlimited program and read my review on whether it is worth the money (spoiler alert: it is) here.
Eye Comfort: Reading Without Eye Strain
Until I bought my Kindle e-reader, I had used an iPad for e-books. Overall, this was a fine system, and I bounced between the iBooks app and the Kindle app. However, one big issue I had with the iPad was the glare and screen brightness. Where iPads offer a few customization options for book screens (IE: background color, font size, brightness), the Kindle Paperwhite’s is far more nuanced.
Furthermore, the Kindle screen is designed to be glare-free, even in sunlight, and reads like a regular book. I’ve found it results in far less eye strain, whether I read with a white background or a dark background. You can adjust the warmth of the display, as well, for both white and dark backgrounds.
Lightweight and Easy to Carry
The Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for both on-the-go reading and curling up with a good book on your couch at home.
I like to carry mine with me to appointments or if I’m meeting friends out; it’s small enough to fit in my tote or most purses, and if I can find a few extra minutes to read, I have it ready to go!
Its light weight was the real reason that I decided to switch from reading e-books on my iPad. The Kindle weighs 208 grams, whereas iPads start at around 444 grams.
For anyone dealing with tendonitis, the Kindle’s weight and size is much easier to handle. Plus, it fits in purses and bags more easily.
Fun Kindle Accessories
The Kindle Paperwhite is pretty durable, but it is still a good idea to pick up a case, especially if you plan on carrying it out and about with you. I opted for a case with a cover that turns the e-reader on and off when I open or close it. I also like using a stylus like these for turning the page (it’s easier on my thumbs and tendinitis). However, I am intrigued by these remote page turners, available for around $20.
Another option for fun Kindle accessories are these clear cases, which open up the option of decorating your Kindle with fun stickers. There are lots of great sticker options on Etsy, and there are plenty of cute shops on Instagram that offer bookish stickers based on different fandoms.
Kindle Unlimited Subscription
Kindle Unlimited (also known as KU) is a subscription service from Amazon for ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines. The KU catalogue is vast, and it is updated regularly with new releases. With the subscription, you can seamlessly download a whole host of e-books right to your Kindle.
A Kindle Unlimited subscription costs $11.99 a month, plus tax. Outside of the three month trial you can opt into with your new Kindle, Amazon offers a thirty day trial of the subscription, which can be activated here.
Is the Kindle Paperwhite Worth It?
Yes, for me and my fellow readers, I would say that the Kindle Paperwhite is definitely worth it! If you are a big reader like me, do yourself a favor and invest in one of these e-readers; you’re going to love it.
This Kindle model starts at $149 with lock screen ads, but I would recommend going with the no-lock screen ads option for $169. For the cost, even adding in the Kindle Unlimited subscription (which is totally optional), it’s an affordable option that offers seamless e-book reading and the ideal on-the-go reader. For reference, these are the specs I would recommend choosing when ordering your Kindle Paperwhite (I was offered the KU subscription freebie regardless).
Shop the Kindle Paperwhite & Handy Accessories
This post is a part of my What to Read series, where I share themed reading lists and book guides based on genre, time period, theme, or author.
You can peruse more of my What to Read reading guides here!
