Kindle Paperwhite (2021) - Review

The latest and improved version of one of Amazon's flagship products, the Kindle Paperwhite, is here. This is for many fans of electronic books precisely the most attractive model in terms of its quality / price ratio and the one that focuses the most attention among those users who are not new to eReaders.

We take an in-depth look at the 2021 Kindle Paperwhite refresh, which includes small but significant improvements over the previous model. We analyze whether it's truly worth upgrading to this new version and why it's become so popular in recent weeks.

As on other occasions, we have decided to accompany this analysis with a video on the YouTube channel of our colleagues at Actualidad Gadget where you will be able to see the complete unboxing and our impressions about the device.

Materials and design: On the same path

In terms of design, this Kindle Paperwhite that Amazon has prepared for us at the end of 2021 isn't exactly innovative. It features the now-classic matte plastic on the front and back, as well as new dimensions—specifically, a 6,8-inch screen, which we'll discuss later. What we need to consider now are the dimensions we're providing below:

• Dimensions 174 x 125 x 8,1 millimeters
• Weight: 205 grams

In this respect, we're impressed by its manageable size and pleasant weight. The thickness is just right, and the bezels provide a comfortable reading experience without causing unwanted screen touches. Amazon continues to do well in this regard, perfectly embodying the old adage: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The black plastic, as always, leaves us with a somewhat bittersweet feeling. There are no physical buttons beyond the power button at the bottom, right next to the USB-C port, with a lack of symmetry that no longer surprises us.

Remember that if you liked it, you can buy it directly from Amazon at the best price and with completely free shipping.

Small updates on the screen

Amazon promises us that with the hardware improvement (processor we imagine) that the new Paperwhite has received, we have an improvement in the refresh rates of the screen of around 20%. We already know in depth that Amazon has the main patents in the field of electronic ink, so it is not surprising that these functionalities and improvements are gradually reaching its mid-range products. In daily use we have managed to appreciate these improvements, especially in the way the screen interacts with our touches.

Another major improvement to the 2021 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is the front light, which boasts a high brightness level (though slightly below Kobo's). It now allows for adjustable white balance across a wide spectrum, ranging from warm to cool. In our tests, we found the upper 30% of the setting to be too warm; however, it works very well despite lacking any built-in programming or ambient light sensors.

We thus have a 6,8-inch electronic ink (E-Ink Carta) panel with anti-glare coating, capable of offering a resolution of 300 pixels per inch with optimized font technology and 16 shades of gray.

Connectivity and storage

While some companies are quickly jumping on the e-book bandwagon, this Kindle doesn't have Bluetooth and sticks with dual-band WiFi. However, we can now purchase a version with free mobile connectivity (which increases the weight) whose price rises slightly to 229,99 euros, although it's around 179,99 euros in numerous offers.

The same applies to storage: while the version that only uses Wi-Fi connectivity has 8 GB of memory, expandable to 32 GB (the standard for Kobo, for example), the version with free mobile connectivity offers 32 GB of storage. These customization options allow users to tailor their e-book purchase to their specific needs, and they're always a welcome feature.

We do, however, finally have a USB-C port on the bottom; the standard connection that is being adopted in almost all devices could not be missing now in the Kindle Paperwhite 2021.

Autonomy and charging time

According to Amazon, a single charge can last up to six weeks, based on a reading habit of half an hour per day with wireless connectivity disabled and the screen brightness set to level 13. Battery life also varies depending on screen brightness and wireless usage. In general, these Amazon claims were met in our tests; however, the standard Kindle Paperwhite cannot be charged wirelessly, a feature available on the Signature Edition.

As for charging time, it will take approximately three hours using a 5W power adapter (not included in the package). While we were reviewing the product, we received a software update that did not affect the device's performance or the battery life, which was already quite good.

Differences from the 2018 model

Screen size	6 inches without reflections	6,8 inches without reflections
Litigation, Arbitration	300 dpi	300 dpi
Front light	Front light (5 dimmable white LEDs)	Front light (dimmable from white to warm)
Capacity	8 or 31 GB	8 GB
	microUSB	USB-C
	Up to 6 weeks	Up to 10 weeks
Wireless charging	No	No
Water resistance	Yes	Yes
Weight	Starting at 182 grams	Starting at 207 grams

User interface and user experience

We've had a great user experience , thanks to its IPX8 water resistance, portability, and especially the ease of use provided by Amazon's operating system for comfortable reading. It remains one of the best e-readers to consider for those who aren't looking for complications and simply want battery life and the ability to read peacefully without surprises. This is an aspect that Amazon occasionally tries to diminish in the ad-supported version and with the increasing limitations it imposes when connecting to the Calibre application.

In return, we get a very complete mid-range eReader with prices ranging from €109,99 to €129,99 in special offers (like the current one), quickly outperforming equivalent models from other companies and offering an unbeatable price. This is why the Kindle Paperwhite stands out as one of the best options in terms of value for money.

Pros and cons