Kindle Paperwhite (2021) review: Time-tested
Amazon Kindle has become synonymous with e-book readers now. If one wants to purchase an e-book reader, most often you will hear them say ?i need to buy a kindle?. The company has introduced the next generation of its compact and one of the most popular Kindle Paperwhite models in India. Priced at Rs 13,999, the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) model offers a bigger reading screen, an improved UI and a USB Type-C charging port. We used the device for some time and here?s what we thinkThe new Kindle Paperwhite does not look any different than its predecessor. It's a lightweight rectangular slab with a 6.8-inch display. Although the company has reduced the size of the side bezels, they are still not very thin and are prominent. So is the chin of the device which has Kindle written on it.At the bottom edge, you will get a USB Type-C charging port placed in the middle. On one side is the power button, while the LED indicator (that glows when the device is put to charge) is on the other side. There are no buttons on the three other sides of the device. Edges are curved. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) comes with a soft matte-finish design on the back. It is offered in Black colour only. The device feels lightweight and easy to hold. Needless to say, the new Kindle Paperwhite is portable and easy to carry around, similar to its predecessors. Amazon says that the 2021 model of Kindle Paperwhite comes with a bigger screen size than the previous model. The device is also better lit than its predecessor. It is equipped with 17 LED backlights and features what the company calls a flush-front design display. It essentially offers a more real paper reading experience to the users. The device is 300 ppi glare-free, so those flashes will not bother you while reading.Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) comes with adjustable warm light. You can choose the display?s warmth from 0 to 24. Users can also schedule warmth. They can either opt time period as per their preference or set it to automatic when the display warmth will be changed with sunset and sunrise. The device offers 24 levels of brightness. When indoors, brightness levels of 7 or 8 are good to go. The device can automatically change the brightness level when you step outside. We did not face any problem while reading in sunlight on Kindle Paperwhite 2021.Amazon does not specify the processor that powers the new Kindle Paperwhite. But it says that it's more powerful than the predecessor and that it can turn pages at a 20% faster rate. It would be unfair to compare the device?s performance with that of a smartphone. So if you are a first time user of a Kindle device who is switching from phone to read books online, do not expect those fast navigation speeds and touch response. Amazon recently released a new UI for its Kindle devices. The home screen is now split into Home and Library. While the former displays a glimpse of your current reading list along with recommendations based on your interest, the Library shows you the complete list of books that you have/are reading. Added filters in the library section come in handy while sorting menus. There is also a new collection view along an interactive scroll bar. Settings are quickly accessible now. Simply, pull down from the top screen and you will see options like Dark mode, sync, Airplane mode and more along with ?All Settings?. On the storage front, the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) comes with 8GB storage capacity. For all Amazon content, the device has free cloud storage. Other functions on the device remain the same. You can change the font size, font style, line spacing and more. Then there is a Dark Mode that turns the entire display black and alphabets in white for more comfortable reading.However, there is no support for audiobook playback on this model.Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) comes with an IPX8 rating. It is said to survive immersion in up to 2 meters for up to 60 minutes in freshwater and up to 0.25 meters of seawater for up to 3 minutes.Amazon claims that the new Kindle Paperwhite could last up to 10 weeks or 70 days, when used for 30 minutes daily with WiFi, turned off. This sounds ambitious, right? During our review period, we saw that the battery drains at 1% rate daily when the device?s brightness is set at 7-8 levels for 15-20 minutes of reading. For avid readers who enjoy reading for long and long hours, the rate at which battery falls per day may rise significantly. But, once juiced up, you don?t have to worry about the device?s battery for weeks. With the addition of a USB Type-C port, your charging needs for Kindle Paperwhite are updated. Even though the device comes with a separate USB cable, given that most of us now have USB Type-C support phones, the need to carry an extra cable is reduced. VerdictAt Rs 13,999, Amazon Paperwhite Kindle (2021) is a good buy, especially if you are a first-time Kindle buyer. The device comes with a sharper display with adjustable warmth and brightness. The new user interface makes the whole reading experience easy and customizable as per one?s preferences. The added USB Type-C support definitely keeps the Paperwhite in tune with changing times.
