Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Amazon’s new Paperwhite is even higher resolution than its last ebook reader

Although ebook readers may not be as popular as they used to be, they still have a place in many readers’ hearts. Amazon is more or less the king of ebook readers, and its new Kindle Paperwhite is the cream of the crop. The new Paperwhite has a higher-resolution screen, a new eye-friendly font, and comes with or without cellular data and ads.

The device is almost exactly the same as the old Paperwhite with its 6-inch, glare-free screen, but the new model has “twice as many pixels” as the previous version and features what Amazon calls “laser quality text.” The 300 pixel-per-inch density should make the text even crisper and easier to read. Amazon’s also introduced a new font called Bookerly, and a new typesetting engine makes the new font scale better when you enlarge the text of your ebook.

The Paperwhite is backlit, easily readable in the sun, and doesn’t strain your eyes as much as your smartphone or tablet screen does. It measures 6.7 x 4.6 x 0.36 inches and weighs either 7.2 or 7.6 ounces, depending on which model you buy. The Wi-Fi-only Paperwhite is slightly lighter, while the 3G-equipped version is a touch heavier. Like most ebook readers, the new Paperwhite’s battery should last about a month on a charge.

Those who are interested in the new model can preorder the device for $120 with ads on Amazon’s website. The devices should ship on June 30 to those who preordered. If you want to ditch the ads, you’ll pay just $20 more, bringing the total price up to $140. The 3G version costs $190 with ads and $210 without them. Although the extras can bring the price up a bit, the Paperwhite is still the best bang for your buck when it comes to Kindle ebook readers.

Editors' Recommendations

Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
Should you buy an Amazon Kindle on Black Friday 2022?
A person reads on an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite outdoors.

Black Friday is almost here, and that means it's almost time to start scoring some major deals on, well, everything. Smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches are big things to keep an eye for discounts on, but what about the humble e-reader? The Amazon Kindle is one of the biggest and best e-book readers on the planet, and with solid discounts always available on Kindles and bundles, it's a great time to grab a bargain.

Keeping a close eye on the deals? Make sure to keep our best Black Friday deals and best Black Friday Kindle deals pages open.
Black Friday is the best time to buy an Amazon Kindle -- but shop early deals

Read more
Amazon reveals the science behind Astro, its new home robot
Amazon Astro Robot on a wooden floor.

Amazon has unveiled a canine-like home robot assistant called Astro.

The Alexa-powered, wheel-based bot is designed for a range of functions, including home security, communication, entertainment, and transportation (in its slick promo video, it’s seen carrying a beer, though it doesn't have a robotic arm to actually grab one). Astro has a cute look, too, mainly thanks to its big round “eyes” that appear on a display located at the front of the machine.

Read more
Amazon made the bezel on the new Kindle Paperwhite thinner — I hate it
A person reads on an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite outdoors.

Amazon announced its new Kindle Paperwhite lineup recently following months of rumors. At first, I was ecstatic to see new Paperwhite models. As an avid follower of all e-book readers, I own most of the Kindle lineup, a handful of Kobo and Nook devices, and even an Onyx Boox Nova 3, so I didn't think twice about intending to buy the new Paperwhite.

After all, it's been three years since a Paperwhite model hit the market (the Oasis was released in 2019). It's long overdue for features like the warmer screen temperature, USB-C charging, wireless charging, a bigger screen, and longer-lasting battery life. Amazon's Kindle devices may hold the largest e-reader share in the U.S. and U.K. markets but competitors like the Barnes & Noble Glowlight 3 and the Kobo Forma both boast a warmer reading light, bigger size options, and were the first to roll out with features like waterproofing so it's nice to see Amazon catch up.

Read more