Should you buy the base Model of Kindle E-Reader or go up a level and buy Kindle Paperwhite with built-in lighting? This question can be best answered by doing a Kindle Vs Kindle Paperwhite Comparison.
Kindle Vs Kindle Paperwhite Comparison
First, let us get started on this Kindle Vs Kindle Paperwhite Comparison by taking a look at the major specs of both these E-Readers in an easy to understand tabular format.
| Features | Kindle | Paperwhite |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.3″ x 4.5″ | 6.7″ x 4.6″ |
| Thickness | 0.36″ | 0.36″ |
| Weight | 161 Grams | 205 ~ 217 Grams |
| Display | 6″, 167 ppi | 6″, 300 ppi |
| Storage | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Battery Life | 4 Weeks | 6 Weeks |
| Waterproof | No | No |
| Cloud Storage | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Light | No | 4 LEDs |
| Network | WiFi | WiFi+ Cellular |
| Price* | $79.99 | $119.99 |
*Price may vary due to sales/offers.
Kindle Vs Paperwhite – Size & Design
- Kindle – 6.3″ x 4.6″ x 0.36″, 161 grams
- Kindle Paperwhite – 6.7″ x 4.6″ x 0.36″, 205 grams
Both Kindle & Kindle Paperwhite E-Readers are more or less similar in design, featuring a thick bottom Bezel with a pretty Kindle Logo on it.
As you must have already guessed, the increased thickness of the bottom Bezel in these E-Readers is designed to makes it easy for you to hold Kindle in one hand, while reading books.
In terms of weight, the base model of Kindle E-Reader is much lighter than Kindle Paperwhite, which makes it ultra-portable and easy to carry around.
However, it needs to mentioned that both these models of Kindle are lighter than an average paperback. Hence, the difference in weight should not be given much weightage while making a buy decision.
Kindle Vs Paperwhite – Screen & Display
- Kindle – 6″, 167 ppi
- Kindle Paperwhite – 6″, 300 ppi
As you can see from above comparison, Kindle Paperwhite packs almost twice the number of pixels as available on the base model of Kindle. However, the difference in display is only noticeable when you keep these two versions of Kindle side-by-side.
Otherwise, both Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite features actual ink particles, Amazon’s special hand-built fonts and render crisp Paper-like display with practically no glare.
Kindle Vs Paperwhite – Built-in Lighting
Kindle Paperwhite features in-built lighting, which differentiates it from the base model of Kindle.
Unlike the backlit LCD screens on tablets, the lighting in Kindle Paperwhite has been carefully designed, with the 4 LED’s guiding light towards the surface of the display and not shining light in the eyes of the reader.
Hence, Kindle Paperwhite is recommended in case you are likely to be reading in the dark (without bothering anyone) or reading in poor lighting conditions.
Kindle Vs Paperwhite – Storage
- Kindle – 4 GB
- Kindle Paperwhite – 4 GB
Both Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite have the same 4 GB storage, which according to Amazon is good enough to store thousands of books. Also, Amazon provides Free Cloud Storage to both Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite users.
Kindle Vs Paperwhite – Battery life
- Kindle – 4 Weeks
- Kindle Paperwhite – 6 Weeks
Even with in-built lighting set to max, the battery on Kindle Paperwhite is rated to last up to 6 weeks as compared to 4 weeks on the base model of Kindle.
The charging time for Battery is the same (4 hours) for both Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite, when these E-Readers are charged by connecting them to a computer.
Kindle Vs Paperwhite – Connectivity
- Kindle – WiFi
- Kindle Paperwhite – WiFi, WiFi + Cellular
The base Model of Kindle supports only WiFi Network, while Kindle Paperwhite is available in both WiFi and WiFi + Cellular versions.
The advantage of buying Kindle Paperwhite with Cellular support is that you will be able to download books on your Kindle at practically any time, without having to look for a WiFi Hotspot.
In case you are wondering, Amazon takes care of the cost of Cellular Network on its Cellular supported Kindle devices and you won’t be charged, in case you end up downloading books using Cellular Network.
Kindle Vs Kindle Paperwhite – Conclusion
The base Model of Kindle is recommended for casual readers looking for an inexpensive E-Reader and also for those who are just starting out into E-books.
While the base Model of Kindle has a much lower resolution compared to Kindle Paperwhite, it still reads like real paper and has the ability to keep you immersed in reading for hours.
However, if you are willing to pay more (about $40) you may want to step up to Kindle Paperwhite, which offers more battery life, better display and the ability to read in the dark.
- You can check out both Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon.