Whether we like it or not, the word eReader or electronic book is usually associated with Amazon's Kindle , a device that has allowed us to enjoy eBooks since 2007 when the first version was introduced. Since then, this gadget has changed a lot, and we've seen it go from white to black, the integrated physical keyboard disappear, and the integrated light added so we can read in complete darkness.
In this article, we'll take an interesting look back at all the Kindle models that have existed and reached the market . We'll explore some of their features and specifications, see images, and discover some interesting facts about Amazon's devices.
Of course we will also take a look at the future and we will consider ourselves, and above all we will consider how you would like the Kindle of the future to be.
Amazon Kindle 1
The first Kindle in history was officially presented by Amazon in November 2007 and was sold only in the United States with very good sales figures.
This device was not exactly small or pocket-sized, since it mounted a 6-inch screen like those of today, but by carrying a physical keyboard the size increased significantly
As a point of interest, we can tell you that its screen offered the user a resolution of 600 x 800 pixels with the ability to reproduce 4 levels of gray . We will see how screen specifications have improved enormously since then.
Finally we must echo the box in which this Kindle 1 was delivered, and that you can see in the image that we show you below;
Amazon Kindle 2
The second Kindle, after the success of sales of the first, was made to wait a long time and it was not presented by Amazon until February 2009.
The most striking feature of this new Kindle was its redesigned look, although it retained the physical keyboard that made it such a large and unwieldy device . The internal improvements were also significant: the screen maintained its size and resolution but was released capable of displaying 16 levels of grayscale. Internal storage also increased to 2 GB, eliminating the option to use a microSD card.
This Kindle 2 was capable of supporting more formats than its predecessor and, for example, was able to offer viewing of PDF files.
Amazon Kindle DX
After the Kindle 2, several versions or variations of that model came to market . Among them, the most successful was the Kindle DX , a Kindle with a huge 9,7-inch screen.
Amazon Kindle 3 or Keyboard
The Kindle 3, better known as the Kindle Keyboard, was launched in August 2010 and still included the physical keyboard, which never had a very specific use.
The leap in improvements compared to the previous model was significant, as we saw the first version without 3G connectivity, only with Wi-Fi, which had a much lower price . This practice has remained in place to this day, and each Kindle can be found in two different versions depending on its connectivity.
This device continued to improve in design, partly reducing itself and reducing its weight. In addition, the internal storage grew again to 4 GB.
This Kindle 3 also brought a variation, once again named Kindle DX , although this time it also had the term Graphite as its surname.
Amazon Kindle 4 and Kindle Touch
In September 2011, the Kindle 4 arrived on the market, in which Amazon finally decided to eliminate the physical keyboard , which almost no one found useful and which only took up a huge amount of space, making the device too large. The removal of the keyboard meant that this eReader was compact and also lightweight, as its weight decreased to 170 grams.
The previous Kindle weighed almost 300 grams, so users appreciated this reduction in the weight of the device very much.
There weren't too many new features in this Kindle, although a version of this device was launched on the market, called Kindle Touch, which had a multi-touch screen that allowed you to turn the pages of the book just by touching the screen.
Amazon Kindle 5 and Kindle Paperwhite
The fifth generation of the Kindle arrived in October 2012 and was a real revolution for all lovers of eBooks. And the Amazon device continued to improve in design and performance, but it also incorporated the backlighting that allowed us to start reading in rooms with little light or even total darkness.
Let's take it one step at a time. Amazon introduced the Kindle 5, which was a continuation of the Kindle 4, somewhat lighter , with the same 6-inch screen, but with greater contrast and a much larger battery that allowed users up to 1 month of autonomy.
Along with the Kindle 5 came the Kindle Paperwhite , which was a true revolution, not only because of its backlighting , but also because it offered a screen with 25% more contrast, a resolution of 1024x758, and 212 ppi. Its battery life also lasted up to 8 weeks, or 2 months.
The prices of these two devices, of course, were different and the difference between them was obvious.
Kindle Paperwhite 2
Less than a year after the first version of the Kindle Paperwhite, Amazon launched the Kindle Paperwhite 2 with 3 major new features ;
- Better screen with even better contrast and that allowed to read more comfortably
- New processor that improves the opening of eBooks or page turning
- Device illumination enhancements offering better screen viewing in low-light or dark situations
It was a device very similar to the previous one that Amazon had launched, but when placed one in front of the other the improvements were quickly visible. Its price did not vary either following the line proposed by the large virtual store.
Kindle 6, Kindle Papwehite, and Kindle Voyage
Just a few months ago, Amazon held its latest e-book presentation. It unveiled three new models: the Kindle 6, a refresh of the Kindle Paperwhite, and the Kindle Voyage , an outstanding e-reader that, however, has yet to reach most countries and remains a great, inexplicable mystery to many.
Kindle 6
This new Kindle, dubbed " No products found," is a revamped version of the traditional Kindle , featuring an improved touchscreen with reduced glare. Its design has also been enhanced, and several dictionary functions and easier highlighting have been added.
Its price is one of the few things that has not changed about this model, and that is that it continues to cost 79 euros, which places it in relation to quality and price as one of the best devices of this type of how many we can find in the market.
Kindle Paperwhite 2014
Despite the fact that everyone expected a profound renovation of this device, it finally became only a few tweaks before the appearance on the scene of the Kindle Voyage that was really the important advance, although after we have encountered the availability problems that we still suffer today.
That said, no one doubts the quality of this No products found. device, which we tested some time ago, and it is indeed a remarkable device that stands out as one of the best on the market.
Kindle Travel
Along with the models we have already seen, the company led by Jeff Bezos officially presented the new Kindle Voyage in September 2014, a premium eReader that greatly improved upon the latest devices presented by Amazon.
Made of high-end materials, with a screen that offers an experience when reading books that is very difficult to beat and with features that ensure a load of eBooks and an outstanding page turn in them.
The Kindle Voyage is the king of eReaders , but unfortunately it has the problem that to this day it is only sold in a handful of countries, and for example, almost a year after its official presentation in Spain we still do not know an approximate date when it may be available.
The future of the Kindle
Predicting the future of Kindles is difficult , especially since the Kindle Voyage is already a very interesting device with impressive specifications. Perhaps solar batteries, color screens, or a stylus that allows us to take notes on our eBooks more easily are some of the improvements we might see in future Kindle models, but for now, all of this is speculation since no information about upcoming devices has been leaked.
The months of September and October are usually those that Amazon uses to officially present its news, so we will have to be very attentive for the Kindle of the future may be just around the corner.