Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite: Difference and Comparison

The digitalized world has transmuted every physical aspect into a digital one, from sending messages to reading books from smart devices.

In such cases, e-books, commonly referred to as electronic books are one of a kind. Having said that, Kindle, as well as Kindle Paperwhite by Amazon, has been a hit with various avid readers.

Key Takeaways

  1. The Kindle Paperwhite has a higher resolution display (300 ppi) than the basic Kindle (167 ppi), resulting in crisper text and better image quality.
  2. Kindle Paperwhite features a built-in adjustable light for easy reading in various lighting conditions, while the basic Kindle lacks this feature.
  3. The Kindle Paperwhite is more expensive than the basic Kindle. But its additional features, like waterproofing and increased storage capacity, justify the higher cost for some users.

Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle is an electronic e-book, which features a six-inch E-Ink Pearl display with no built-in light effect and a pixel density of 167 PPI. Kindle Paperwhite is an electronic e-book which has a six-inch high-resolution display with built-in illumination and a pixel density of 300 PPI.

Kindle vs Kindle Paperwhite

Amazon launched an e-reader device named Kindle, which allows users to browse, buy, download, and read e-books, magazines, newspapers, and digital media content.

The device is based on the operating system Android, plus besides offering e-books, it also streams music and video. Moreover, Kindle has over eleven generations, each having less than four versions. 

Kindle Paperwhite is a 6 inch- glare-free device that adjusts the reading light depending on the surroundings. It is the successor of Basic Kindle and the predecessor of Kindle Oasis.

Due to its thinness, five LED lights, and handy feature, it is portable and quite big-budget too. Kindle Paperwhite, as of now, has over four versions. 

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonKindleKindle Paperwhite
Size and WeightIt is of size  160x 113x 8.7 mm and weighs around 174 grams. It is of size 167x 116x 8.18 mm and weighs around 182 grams. 
Screen ResolutionIt is a six-inch display with a screen resolution of 800x 600 pixels.It is also a six-inch display with a high screen resolution of 1448x 1072 pixels.
ConnectivityKindle can be operated only if it was connected to Wi-Fi. Kindle Paperwhite works upon both Wi-Fi and mobile-cellular.
Color It is available in black and white. It is available in Black, Twilight Blue, sage, and plum.
Storage capacityIt can store e-books up to 4GB. It has a storage capacity of 8GB as well as 32GB. 

What is Kindle?

Kindle is the fundamental type of e-reader device developed by Amazon for avid readers. It allows the users to browse, buy, download, and read e-books, magazines, newspapers, and digital media content.

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Or in other words, a Kindle is a small hand-held device that offers plentiful electronic content to read. 

It was initially designed by Amazon’s subsidiary Lab126 in 2007. It is integrated with Kindle Store, thereby enabling asses to other Kindle content. However, Kindle is the first and foremost Kindle that is released on November 19th, 2007 in the US. 

Interestingly, the device might seem lightweight, nevertheless, it can store hundreds of books and be portable all at once. It is a six-inch display screen with a little keyboard that pops up if one wants to use the browser.

Speaking of its features, Kindle can store up to thousand four hundred books, renders clear text and font with a sharp pixel display, connects to only Wi-Fi, has a battery life of at least six weeks, has an internal storage of 4 GB. 

However, Kindle is not provided with a built-in light option, thereby making it less appealing to buyers. Yet Kindles are grayscale and have the E Ink feature, which, in turn, is ideal for those with sensitive eyes. 

kindle

What is Kindle Paperwhite?

Kindle Paperwhite is also a member of the Amazon Kindle family. It is the middle child of the family proceeded by Basic Kindel and succeeded by Kindle Oasis.

Amazon’s initial plan of Kindle Paperwhite was announced on September 6, 2012, followed by being released on October 1 of 2012. 

Furthermore, Kindle Paperwhite is designed with a high-resolution 300 PPI display screen which also facilitates the in-built light option.

Moreover, Kindle Paperwhite is water-resistant, thereby making it ideal for anywhere and everywhere. It can work up to eight weeks with thirty minutes read per day. 

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Although, it can go without charging for straight twenty-eight hours. Just like its name, it weighs just the same as a paperwhite weighs.

As we know, a thousand books can be stored in 1GB, and such that, Kindle Paperwhite has an internal storage capacity of either 8GB or 32GB. 

So it comes as no surprise why Kindle Paperwhite is a little overpriced. It has a USB C port for charging and a new User-Interface where while reading, one can pull-down menu that offers quick access to the settings.

Although, it lacks an audio port, extra pay for ad-free content, separate purchase for its adapter, and the inability to create multiple accounts. 

kindle paperwhite

Main Differences Between Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite

  1. Kindle is a six-inch display with no illuminating effect, whereas, Kindle Paperwhite is also a six-inch with a crisp display and adjustable lighting effect. 
  2. Kindle displays a screen with 167 pixels per inch, while, Kindle Paperwhite does have a high-resolution display screen with 300 pixels per inch. 
  3. Kindle works only with Wi-Fi on, whereas, in the case of Kindle Paperwhite, it works with both Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity. 
  4. Kindle is a bit lighter and smaller than Kindle Paperwhite, otherwise, both are equally portable. 
  5. Kindle can stay powered up for straight six weeks and also stores e-books for up to 4 GB, whereas, Kindle Paperwhite can stay without any charge for over eight weeks, moreover stores e-books for up to 8GB or 32GB. 
  6. Over and above, Kindle Paper is a bit costlier than Kindel since it is variously enhanced and has a high-quality read feature. 
Difference Between Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite

References 

  1. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/14678040810906826/full/html
  2. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-49760-6_16

Last Updated : 16 July, 2023

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