Amazon Announces New Kindle Paperwhite E-Readers

Amazon today announced three new Kindle Paperwhite e-reader models, with prices ranging from $140 to $190.

This marks the first time in almost three years that Amazon has updated its Kindle Paperwhite, and this is a major change, with larger 6.8-inch glare-free 300 DPI displays, up from 6-inches, USB-C connectivity, and improved performance. They are water- but not dust-resistant, and the base model comes with 8 GB of storage.

Aside from the new base Kindle Paperwhite, Amazon is also adding two new models, the Paperwhite Signature Edition and the Kindle Paperwhite for Kids.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is mostly identical to the base Kindle Paperwhite, but it adds the automatic color-temperature changing capability as the more expensive Kindle Oasis and Qi wireless charging, a first for any Kindle, and it comes with 32 GB of storage. The Kindle Paperwhite for Kids comes with a two-year worry-free guarantee, achievement badges, no Internet access, and fun, kid-friendly colors.

All three Kindle Paperwhite models should deliver about 10 weeks of battery life. They are available for preorder now and will ship in early October.

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Conversation 23 comments

  • simont

    Premium Member
    21 September, 2021 - 10:13 am

    <p>I see the <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Paperwhite Signature Edition has made the jump to USB-C. Finally</span></p>

  • Saarek

    21 September, 2021 - 10:19 am

    <p>I feel for Amazon. The Kindle is in effect as near to a perfect product as one could get. I have no real reason to upgrade to this from my 2017 Paperwhite and if it had not been due to a battery failure I’d not have moved from the 2011 Kindle Touch to the aforementioned Paperwhite.</p><p><br></p><p>There is only so much one can do with an eReader, but I suppose largely these updates are there for people who need to replace an ageing model as opposed to new customers.</p>

    • gavinwilliams

      22 September, 2021 - 8:12 am

      <p>"The Kindle is in effect as near to a perfect product as one could get." – The kindle is not even close to perfect. It’s a rudimentary implementation of what e-ink screens can be. You might think it’s perfect, but I must have a far more vivid imagination than you, because every release I check how e-ink is coming along, and I’m continually disappointed at the snail like pace of development. I won’t bother criticizing it here, but believe me, a lot of people see the limitations of the kindle.</p>

  • seattlemike

    Premium Member
    21 September, 2021 - 10:29 am

    <p>Why can’t they add color for things like comics and magazines?</p>

    • darkgrayknight

      Premium Member
      21 September, 2021 - 11:14 am

      <p>This would be the real upgrade we are all looking for. I suspect the color e-ink displays still don’t pass Amazon’s requirements (not sure what that is, but battery life, change/refresh rate, etc. are not going to be as quick).</p>

    • Chris_Kez

      Premium Member
      21 September, 2021 - 12:06 pm

      <p>A slightly larger color e-ink for their Comixology content seems like a great idea. As it is, the iPad remains the best device for Comixology.</p>

  • Len

    Premium Member
    21 September, 2021 - 10:37 am

    <p>The product link takes me to the older products, and I cannot find the new ones on the Amazon site yet???</p>

    • simont

      Premium Member
      21 September, 2021 - 10:43 am

      <p>Search for <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Paperwhite Signature Edition. The product matrix further down the page shows all the new models</span></p>

  • bschnatt

    21 September, 2021 - 11:32 am

    <p>How could something be water resistant but not dust resistant? #smh</p>

  • jgraebner

    Premium Member
    21 September, 2021 - 12:46 pm

    <p>Was hoping they’d refresh the Oasis as well. It’s the one device I still have that uses Micro-USB and I’d also love to get the adjustable backlight which they introduced on the next generation after mine. The Paperwhite Signature edition has all those features, but doesn’t have the physical page turn buttons, the one thing I really can’t bring myself to give up.</p>

  • ghostrider

    21 September, 2021 - 1:33 pm

    <p>I’ve had a Kindle Keyboard for years, and used it daily. I was looking at a new eReader (no frontlight on the Keyboard), but the prices of the new devices are stupid. I looked at other vendors too, and their prices were even worse. I also didn’t want to be locked to Amazon anymore for books, so decided to get a cheap Android tablet to use with the Kindle/Play Books apps. With a few optimizations, it works extremely well as an eReader, and also has many other uses. No regrets at all.</p>

  • F4IL

    21 September, 2021 - 1:44 pm

    <p>I was about to pull the trigger on the Kobo Libra H2O but I’ll wait to see EU pricing on the new Paperwhite. The Kobo certainly has the upper hand when it comes to file format compatibility and features but this will be an interesting comparison.</p>

  • crunchyfrog

    Premium Member
    21 September, 2021 - 1:57 pm

    <p>I would jump on this if I had not already bought the Oasis last year, which is a fantastic device. The most exciting thing for me is USB C for charging; that sure would make packing easier for trips. The Oasis is the last thing I carry that takes micro USB.</p>

  • buzzmodo

    21 September, 2021 - 2:25 pm

    <p>I’m not sure that I wouldn’t use the cash required to buy a new Kindle and put it toward the new iPad mini. I use the Kindle reader software on my V1 mini all the time, and it works fine. </p>

  • ebraiter

    21 September, 2021 - 2:43 pm

    <p>Unsure why Amazon continues to release Kindles which are basically a single use electronics when you can get a tablet with the proper apps and not be limited just to the Amazon eBook formats.</p><p>Meanwhile I’m still using my Kindle from 2011 until the battery drains fast enough that I’m charging too often.</p>

    • bassoprofundo

      Premium Member
      21 September, 2021 - 3:03 pm

      <p>Some folks want them precisely<em> because</em> they’re single-use electronics (i.e.- no distractions or temptations to multitask) and/or because the e-Ink screen is a world of difference from reading on even the best tablet screens. I look at screens 10-12 hours a day minimum already, and reading on an e-Ink device is far closer to reading on an actual dead-tree book for me.</p>

      • seattlemike

        Premium Member
        21 September, 2021 - 3:27 pm

        <p>?</p>

      • jgraebner

        Premium Member
        21 September, 2021 - 7:59 pm

        <p>Yep this is exactly right. I did switch to using a tablet for ebooks for a while, but eventually went back to a Kindle for exactly those reasons. The market may not be enormous, but I think there will always be avid readers that prefer dedicated devices. </p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      22 September, 2021 - 4:22 am

      <p>Because they have long battery life and don’t waste energy. They have a screen designed for long periods of reading, especially in darkened bedrooms. And, most importantly, there are no distractions, no email, no message, no social media, just the book you are reading (and dictionaries and Wikipedia explanations, if you need them).</p><p><br></p><p>Okay, in theory it has the Beta Browser, but that is about as much fun as being Dustin Hoffman in the Marathon Man.</p>

    • Greg Green

      22 September, 2021 - 8:49 am

      <p>I tried one many years ago and I was disappointed at how slow the page turning was, especially considering it was a single purpose device designed for that. The screen also wasn’t as crisp as I expected. I went back to my iPad.</p><p><br></p>

  • maktaba

    21 September, 2021 - 3:40 pm

    <p>I hope they update the Oasis as well. I desperately want a Kindle with USB-C and page buttons.</p>

  • brettscoast

    Premium Member
    21 September, 2021 - 9:11 pm

    <p>The bump in display size is most welcome as is the updated connectivity. I know you have always been a big fan of the kindle device Paul, do you still use these devices for general reading?</p>

  • uk user

    Premium Member
    22 September, 2021 - 12:07 pm

    <p>My sleep patern is erratic and as a last resort to try and get back to sleep my Kindle is indespensible. Yes you can have a tablet, mine is a Galaxy Tab, with the approiate app, but a Kindle is more more suitable as a hand held device. My Galaxy, while fine for other uses, cannot compete with Kindle for the purpose of laying in a darkened bedroom and being able to read like a book. I have a backlit model, and one charge lasts me an age, just wished my other gadgets were as good, and yes I know the Kindle is b&amp;w.</p>

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