The new Kindle Paperwhite is finally waterproof

The Kindle Paperwhite is the best Kindle for most people since 2015, when Amazon updated it with a screen almost identical to that of high-end travel and Oasis models at a fraction of the price. Today, Amazon is updating Paperwhite again, adding new features introduced with second generation Oasis, including water resistance and Audible audio book support in a lighter package and more. thinner.

Almost every aspect of the new Paperwhite is better: the screen is now flush in a seamless glass sheet – just like the already-traveled Travel Offered – the LED backlight has been upgraded and storage has been doubled to the base model at 8GB, with another model offering 32GB of storage. Audible audiobooks are supported by a pair of connected Bluetooth headphones or speakers, just like the Oasis.

And in one of the most requested features for the device, the new Paperwhite also exhibits IPX8 water resistance, which means that it can be immersed in water up to the point of use. at six feet of water for up to one hour – which should make it safer to read in a bathtub, at the edge of a pool or on the beach. Despite all these additions, however, the new Paperwhite weighs 23 grams less than the old model and is almost 8 mm thick at 8.18 mm.

As for the screen, there are not many changes: there is still a 6-inch screen, 300 ppi – but since the display of Paperwhite was already excellent, it is difficult to complain too much.

There are still few problems: there are no physical buttons on the page or even capacitive touch pads under the glass, like the trip before; the backlight does not offer an adaptive light sensor, unlike the Oasis; and it does not load via USB-C, which is disappointing for a 2018 device that will probably not be updated for years.

But overall, Amazon has essentially turned the new Paperwhite into a new waterproof product. Where the old trip cost $ 200, the new Paperwhite costs only $ 129.99 for the 8GB Wi-Fi model ($ 10 more than the old Paperwhite). In addition to the 8GB model at $ 129.99, a 32GB version at $ 159.99 and an option at $ 329.99 32GB with 3G included.

All versions of the new Paperwhite are available for pre-order starting today: the 8GB model is expected to be available on November 7, while the 32GB version will be available in the coming months. .