Again in September 2021, Amazon launched its new Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) and a Paperwhite Signature Version with further options. Beforehand up to date again in 2018, the Kindle Paperwhite (tenth Gen) acquired an IPX8 score and non-obligatory LTE capabilities. The brand new Kindle Paperwhite (eleventh Gen) maintains the IPX8 score and has an even bigger show with an adjustable heat frontlight, a USB Sort-C port, and a barely greater battery than the earlier mannequin, however solely Wi-Fi connectivity. The Signature Version, which is the one we’ll be reviewing at present, builds on the usual Kindle Paperwhite and provides extra storage together with different helpful options.
I’ve been utilizing the Signature Version of the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) for a number of weeks, and it is simple to conclude that it provides good worth for cash at Rs. 17,999 in comparison with the Kindle Oasis (2019), which is priced increased at Rs. 21,999 for its barely bigger show, extra buttons and premium construct high quality. Regardless of the Signature Version’s comparatively affordable worth, I nonetheless discover that it’ll solely attraction to a choose set of consumers. This is why.
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The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version appears equivalent to the usual Kindle Paperwhite. It has a plastic chassis with a rubberised texture on the again for grip. A small design change that simply differentiates the 2021 fashions from earlier ones is that there is only one large, curved arrow (or smile) now as a substitute of the Amazon emblem on the again panel. The marginally greater 1,700mAh battery provides to the brand new Kindle’s weight of 204g which continues to be very gentle.
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2015 (left) and Kindle Paperwhite 2021 Signature Version (proper) facet by facet
The most important design change to the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version is on the entrance. The bezels on the edges and above the show have been decreased drastically when in comparison with the earlier mannequin. The area under the display screen continues to be fairly broad, however the general decreased bezel measurement along with the bigger show (that sits flush with the entrance face), provides the brand new Paperwhite a sleeker profile and a contemporary look. There is a barely raised border working alongside the perimeters which ought to present some safety for the display screen when the gadget is positioned face-down.
The brand new emblem on the again of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version (2021)
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version has a Sort-C charging port on the backside, subsequent to the ability button. The IPX8 score ought to present safety “in opposition to unintentional immersion in as much as two metres of contemporary water for as much as 60 minutes, and as much as 0.25 metres of seawater for as much as three minutes,” as per Amazon. Briefly, it ought to survive a number of splashes of water or a light-weight drizzle, nevertheless it’s finest when you do not attempt utilizing it underwater.
The 6.8-inch show is sort of large and the slimmer borders across the high and sides make it extra outstanding in comparison with any previous-generation Paperwhite. It maintains the 300ppi pixel density of older fashions and nonetheless has a matte glass body round it. This glass is sort of susceptible to smudges, and fingerprints are noticeable right here. The show is sort of sharp and the legibility of textual content is superb in all varieties of studying situations. Whether or not you might be out in a park on a vibrant sunny day or indoors, the show seems like paper and makes for a strain-free studying expertise.
The sunshine is adjustable, so you’ll be able to change the shade from white to a heat yellow
A brand new function is the auto-adjustable heat frontlight. You possibly can change the color temperature of the show, and there are 24 ranges between white and yellow, making studying much more snug at night time. Color temperature choice can be out there on the usual Kindle Paperwhite (2021), however solely the Signature Version can robotically adapt to surrounding lighting situations. It is a helpful function and it labored effectively, each indoors and outside. The frontlight even switches off solely when not wanted. If you happen to hate adjusting it manually or are within the behavior of transferring round whereas studying, this function alone will make for a worthy improve from any previous-generation Kindle you personal. Do be aware that protecting it switched on will have an effect on battery life.
The slim bezels on both facet did not find yourself being excellent for ergonomics. It’s because I usually touched the display screen and unintentionally turned pages, as there’s little or no area to position your thumb when holding the gadget, however this may very well be totally different for different customers relying on habits.
A brand new swipe-down menu provides fast entry to toggles for Airplane mode and WhisperSync, and the Settings web page
A firmware replace final September introduced a few new software program options to not too long ago launched Kindles (seventh by means of tenth technology Paperwhites included). The interface additionally acquired an overhaul. There’s now a swipe-down menu (very like the notifications tray on Android telephones), which may be accessed from wherever by tapping or swiping downwards from the highest of the show. It provides fast entry to toggles for Airplane mode and WhisperSync, and the Settings web page.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version additionally has a Darkish Mode button in the identical drop-down menu. This principally inverts colors, providing you with white textual content on a darkish background. I discovered it fairly helpful when studying at night time because it cuts down on glare coming from the frontlight. I want that the Darkish Mode on the Kindle additionally labored in sync with the adjustable gentle function, and may very well be activated robotically after sundown. The software program expertise basically feels as responsive and easy as on earlier fashions (possibly even a bit quicker), nevertheless it’s nonetheless an e-ink show and will not really feel as fluid as at present’s smartphones.
The Darkish mode helps scale back glare from the frontlight when studying at night time
Battery life basically was fairly good. Your expertise will rely so much in your utilization, particularly the brightness of the frontlight and the way usually your gadget is linked to Wi-Fi. With my informal utilization (about an hour day-after-day), I didn’t must cost it in the course of the evaluate interval, and was left with roughly 60 p.c after two weeks. Critical readers who use this gadget for a few hours per day can anticipate to go about two weeks between expenses, which continues to be glorious.
Wi-fi charging is supported, and labored as anticipated with an ordinary Qi wi-fi charger for smartphones. Putting the unit on a wi-fi charging dock throws up a small pop-up with an animation exhibiting that the gadget is being charged. The one catch is that the Kindle (being so much broader than most smartphones) should be positioned with its actual centre making contact together with your wi-fi charger, for this to work.
The brand new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version has 32 GB of storage out of which 27.3GB is usable. For many customers, the 8GB capability of the usual Kindle Paperwhite (2021) will likely be adequate, however if you’re a voracious reader and need to have a tonne of books accessible on a regular basis, the 32GB of the Signature Version may be of use.
Priced at Rs. 17,999, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version is definitely worth the worth contemplating its 32GB storage and all the additional options it provides over the usual model. The auto-adjusting frontlight and wi-fi charging are fairly helpful when you get into the behavior of utilizing them, however they may solely attraction to a distinct segment crowd. Extra helpful updates comparable to the bigger show with thinner bezels and USB Sort-C port are additionally out there on the usual Kindle Paperwhite (2021), which retails for Rs. 4,000 much less. In the meantime, the Kindle Oasis (2019) stays probably the most premium Kindle expertise, with extra color choices, a premium ergonomic design, devoted buttons for turning pages, and non-obligatory free 4G connectivity.
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