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We’ve entered the throes of hardware season, with big events from all the big names in the industry. Amazon has already announced a number of new Fire TVs, with plans for a big (likely echo-focused) event a week from today. In the meantime, the retail giant has just left us a big surprise in the form of an all-new Kindle Paperwhite.
I say “surprise” mainly because the entire Kindle hardware division has been quiet for some time now. When the Paperwhite got its last major upgrade in 2018, we noted, “The Voyage may be dead, but the Kindle line still has a bit of life.” Because, let’s face it, the whole market for e-readers isn’t exactly bustling. Sure, Kobo is still hanging around the edges, but Amazon is more or less left on its own like a monolith these days.
Image credits: Amazon
However, there were a few rumbles, including a UI update for the line and a handful of leaks, rushing today’s news. And of course, here’s a new Paperwhite, representing the biggest update to the mid-range Kindle in recent memory.
The star of the show is a long-awaited increase in the display – from six to 6.8 inches, while maintaining the pixel density of 300 PPI. This approximates the territory of the seven-inch Kindle 300 PPI oasis. Like the Oasis, the bezels are flush with the device and have been reduced by 12% compared to the previous generation (at 10.2mm) to help maintain the device’s footprint.
Image credits: Amazon
Honestly, though, the most exciting addition here is USB-C charging. I realize that sounds a little silly, but the Kindle line has been the last holdover from microUSB – it’s one of the few reasons I keep these cables handy. I expected the more expensive Oasis to be the first device to adopt the new (well, newer) connector, but that would then require Amazon to release a new Oasis.
Charging is faster, requiring 2.5 hours to go from zero to full. The battery itself has also been upgraded, up to 10 weeks on a six charge, but what’s a month with friends, right? The other surprise on the battery side is the arrival of wireless charging. It’s available with the new Paperwhite Signature Edition, which also upgrades the base 8GB of storage to 32GB. Amazon is also introducing a $ 30 charging station, which is available separately – it should work with any standard Qi charging pad.
Image credits: Amazon
The maximum screen brightness has been increased by 10%, combined with an automatically adjustable light according to the ambient light. Like the Oasis, the light will adjust to a warmer color to save your eyes closer to bedtime. The processor has been improved from the last generation (no details yet), promising 20% faster page rotation. The device is made from 60% post-consumer recycled plastic and 70% recycled magnesium.
The new Paperwhite costs $ 140 for the standard and $ 190 for the Signature Edition. They come with four free months of Kindle Unlimited and are up for preorder today. The very first children’s edition of the device is also up for pre-order. Kindle Paperwhite for Kids has kid-friendly cover, one year of Amazon Kids +, and a two-year warranty. It costs $ 160.
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