Amazon’s Kindle line-up refresh gives users plenty of choice. As well as the new Colorsoft and Scribe models, the two classic Kindle models have also been refreshed.
The Kindle Paperwhite and all-new Kindle will likely remain the most popular devices in the line-up. There are loads of similarities here. The designs are quite similar. There’s no colour display option or pen input like the new Colorsoft or updated Scribe.
Both have access to thousands of books via the Kindle store, the same dual-band Wi-Fi, USB-C charging, Bluetooth compatibility for audiobook streaming from Audible if you have a subscription.
So here’s how to choose between the two updated Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite 2024 models.
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Standard Kindle is the cheapest available
As you’d expect, a better and larger screen faster performance means you’ll be paying a bit more. The 16GB Kindle Paperwhite is £159.99 with ads, while the standard Kindle is £94.99 with ads. If you have an old Kindle, you can trade it in to save 20% on both models.
Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof
If you like reading in the bath or (if you’re lucky) by the pool or ocean you should opt for the Paperwhite, which once again has the advantage of an IPX8 waterproof certification.
“Paperwhite can withstand immersion in up to 2 metres of fresh water for up to 60 minutes and 0.25 metres for 3 minutes in seawater,” Amazon says.
Paperwhite has a larger and better display, standard Kindle is lighter
The Kindle Paperwhite 2024 has a 7-inch glare-free Paperwhite display with a built-in front light with 300ppi density and 16-level greyscale.
That Paperwhite display, Amazon says, uses a “oxide thin-film transistor, which gives it the highest contrast ratio of any Kindle, so text and images pop off the screen.”
The Kindle promises the same pixel density within a 6-inch e-ink display, with a higher contrast ratio than the previous generation. The front light on the standard Kindle is 25% brighter making it just as bright as the Kindle Paperwhite’s.
The Paperwhite is slightly slimmer, but that smaller display contributes to a lighter footprint overall that makes the standard Kindle a better option for users who value portability. It weighs just 158g compared to the Paperwhite’s 211g.
Overall dimensions are:
Kindle (2024): 157.8 x 108.6 x 8.0 mm
Paperwhite (2024): 176.7 x 127.5 x 7.8mm
Paperwhite (2024) has double the battery life
The new Paperwhite can last up to 12 weeks from a single charge (that takes 2.5 hours at 9W via USB-C), while the new standard Kindle offers just 6 weeks of battery life which takes 2 hours to recharge.
Paperwhite (2024) feeds need for speed
The new Paperwhite is the fastest you can get, which translates to 25% faster page turns compared to the previous 2021 release.
Kindle Paperwhite has a fancy Signature Edition
The Signature Edition Paperwhite has 32GB of storage, metallic colour finishes, auto-adjusting light sensors, and wireless charging. There’s no standard Kindle offering these perks.
