The arrival of the global pandemic slowed down the tech world, among other things, just like all societies. This has led major companies like Amazon to delay their product launches by up to two years. For some time now, many of us who follow Kindle prices and deals have been anticipating an update to the Kindle Paperwhite , Amazon's flagship e-reader, which hadn't been updated in years.
Recently, Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite devices were accidentally revealed , and they have surprised everyone.
The first change we should mention about these new models is the adoption of the 6,8-inch screen . Amazon has finally compromised, and its devices now boast a larger screen size, although the pixel density remains the same.
Unlike other Kindle models, the new Kindle Paperwhite will have two editions: a "normal" edition with a 6,8-inch screen and 8 GB of storage, and a version called the Signature Edition that will significantly improve the model and will have 32 GB of storage and a 6,8-inch screen.
Both models will have the IPX68 certification that the current model already has and will have a warm light sensor as well as an increased number of LED lights in the backlighting , as already has the devices of competing companies.
Unfortunately, these models lack a color screen and the ability to run epub files . These are features many users expect, and it seems Amazon has decided to reserve them for its premium devices, as these Kindle Paperwhite models don't include them.
Sound and wireless charging is what the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition brings
What has pleasantly caught my attention (besides the new screen size) is the inclusion of a Bluetooth module with sound for listening to audiobooks . This is a feature that, illogically, was present in the lower-end devices, like the basic Kindle, but not in this higher-end model. This is undoubtedly due to the success of Audible , Amazon's audiobook service, which leads me to believe that this feature will become as standard as the backlit screen.
As far as we know, neither the Kindle Paperwhite nor the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition has a color screen, but they do feature a function not yet seen in eReaders that we seem to be seeing in more of them: wireless charging. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition will have wireless charging, although it appears that this doesn't mean it won't have long battery life. Unfortunately, the regular Kindle Paperwhite doesn't have this feature, which seems like a good solution for those times when we want to read but our battery has run out.
The source of this news is Amazon itself, since the new specifications and new models, as well as the price of each device, were published by mistake on its Canadian website .
After several years without a price increase, Amazon has raised the price of the Kindle Paperwhite to $149. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is now priced at $209.
As you can see, the price has increased considerably, but considering the wireless charging, the increase seems reasonable for the features it offers. And while the standard model is $10 more than the old price, it's still cheaper than the other models with the 6,8-inch screen , which will undoubtedly sway many users towards the Amazon device.
Will the Kindle Paperwhite be the only Amazon model to get an upgrade?
At the moment we only know about the new Kindle Paperwhite models; we know nothing about the Kindle Oasis or the Kindle Basic , models that have also not been updated for some time and that may be updated at the same time as the Kindle Paperwhite.
Knowing the specifications of a future Kindle Basic is easy, but what about the Kindle Oasis? The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition not only raises the price of mid-range devices but also increases the features of Amazon's high-end eReader . It seems the screen size will increase in the premium range, or at least be different. A color screen could be a good option, although after several months since its launch, major players in the sector like Amazon still haven't taken a firm stance on the technology. The addition of sound and water resistance are also features that will undoubtedly be included in the high-end model, and wireless charging may be another feature to consider. From here on out, any new feature is possible, although I personally believe Amazon will focus on a few new features , as it did in the past with the first Kindle Paperwhite or the Kindle Voyage.
Unfortunately we do not know when the new Kindle Paperwhite will be released to the rest of the world, but I do not think it will take long because more and more users are talking about new accessories for these models.
Image – Goodreader