Kindle Paperwhite 16Gb Review

As one of the most popular e-reader brands worldwide, Amazon’s Kindle continuously strives to deliver outstanding reading experiences. The Kindle Paperwhite 16GB offers an impressive list of features at a more budget-friendly price point of £159.99, catering to those who prioritize function and cost-effectiveness. Let’s delve into the specifics to understand what makes this device tick.

Design and Build

In terms of design and build, the Kindle Paperwhite 16GB is similar to other devices in the Paperwhite range. It’s available in Black, Green, and Blue, offering a choice to suit individual tastes. The dimensions (174.2mm height and 124.6mm width) make it a compact device, easy to hold for extended periods. At a weight of 205g and thickness of 8.1mm, the Kindle Paperwhite 16GB is lightweight yet durable, allowing for easy portability.

What sets this device apart is its waterproof capability, enabling users to read worry-free in various environments, be it by the pool or in a cosy bathtub.

Display and Readability

A key selling point of the Paperwhite range is the excellent display, and this version is no exception. It sports a 6.8″ screen with a 300ppi resolution, ensuring crystal clear text and crisp images. Its flush screen design enhances the overall aesthetics, giving it a premium look.

One notable feature is the dual frontlight and warmlight function, allowing readers to adjust the lighting to their comfort, whether reading in the bright sunlight or in a dimly lit room. However, it’s worth noting that, unlike its higher-priced sibling, the Paperwhite Signature Edition, this version lacks auto-brightness.

The touchscreen interface is responsive and easy to navigate, although the absence of physical page-turn buttons might disappoint some readers.

Operating System and Compatibility

Running on the reliable KindleOS, this device is designed primarily with reading in mind. The absence of the Google Play Store is hardly a limitation, considering the vast collection of books, magazines, and audiobooks available in the Kindle Store.

The Paperwhite supports a multitude of file formats including but not limited to KFX, EPUB, PDF, AZW, AZW3, MOBI, DOC, DOCX, and HTML. This wide range ensures that users can access a variety of content, while also supporting image files such as JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and audiobook format AAX.

Storage and Connectivity

The Kindle Paperwhite 16GB offers an ample 16GB of storage, providing space for thousands of books, making it a travelling library. However, the lack of a Micro-SD slot might be a minor setback for those who wish to expand their storage further.

Bluetooth connectivity is available, enabling users to connect wireless headphones or speakers for an immersive audiobook experience or utilise the text-to-speech feature.

Additional Features

This model of the Paperwhite does not have sleep-screen ads, however, there is a slightly more affordable version that does. The ads are unobtrusive, displayed on the lock screen and in sleep mode, but not while reading.

Unfortunately, the Kindle Paperwhite 16GB lacks some of the luxury features found in more expensive models, such as auto-rotation, mobile connectivity, and wireless charging. Nonetheless, the text-to-speech feature adds value, providing a change of pace from traditional reading when needed.

Conclusion

The Kindle Paperwhite 16GB is a solid e-reader offering from Amazon. For the cost-conscious reader who doesn’t mind the occasional ad, this device provides a robust set of features that focus on delivering a pleasurable reading experience.

Its wide range of file compatibility, impressive display, and waterproof design makes it a versatile device, providing users with a reliable and functional reading companion.

Check out our fully searchable e-reader comparison table here.

Full Specs