Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Review: Amazon Kindle (10th Gen)

I am reviewing the 10th generation of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite ebook reader, which I recently acquired (on November 22, 2019).


I purchased my first Amazon Kindle device in April 2008. It was one of the first E-ink book readers with a strange user interface. I used it for over a year until I sold it and replaced it with Kindle 2.



I purchased my second Amazon Kindle 2 device on February 12, 2009, for $359. It was a significant improvement over the original Kindle. I was a primary Kindle reader, reading hundreds of books per year.



I always preferred the E-ink display over LCD/LED in iPads, as it was much easier on the eyes. However, the Kindles lagged behind the iPad in the user interface department. It would also have been nice if they supported the .epub format out of the box.

Over the years, I frequently updated my Kindles to the latest version. I must have owned every version of Kindle in existence. About a week ago, I upgraded to the newest 10th-generation Kindle Paperwhite.


This latest version felt much snappier, more responsive to touch (than the previous generation), and had a smooth surface (like an iPad). The 8GB of storage is handy for reading large books (with photographs) like Leonardo da Vinci. The user interface is much improved, though I would have liked dedicated page turnkeys (and a larger display with a smaller bezel). A 7-inch E-ink display could fit within the Kindle's body.

The battery life is still barely acceptable, and I can do so by turning off the WiFi. With the WiFi on, the battery drains rather quickly.

Kindle PaperWhite Report Card (10th Gen)

Positives
  • It is much more responsive to touch (compared to previous Kindles), though still not as refined as an Apple iPad
  • Excellent 6-inch E-ink black/white screen
  • Low price ($84.99) for an 8GB version
  • Support for Audible books (using Bluetooth headphones)
  • Waterproof

Negatives
  • There is no support for the .epub format (used by iPad and many other readers)
  • Poor battery life with WiFi-enabled
  • Amazon should consider using a larger E-ink panel in the Kindle. The current bezel is too large.
  • No dedicated page turn buttons (as in previous Kindle generations)



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