What's good
- Uniform and bright backlight
- Faster processor
- Goodreads integration
What's bad
- Delayed page turn speed
- No huge upgrade in software or hardware specs from previous model
The second iteration of the Kindle Paperwhite offers few changes from its predecessor. With that being said, experts agree that 2013’s Kindle Paperwhite still stands head-and-shoulders above any other e-reader in the market.
Amazon boasts of a “new display technology with higher contrast and better reflectivity” that also offers 19% better responsiveness. In addition, a faster processor (1GHz) should increase overall performance of the device. Laptop Mag notes that book opening time has decreased by about a second though page turn speed is only slightly faster. TechRadar goes on to mention that despite the slightly faster page turn speed, there is still “a bit of delay.”
Aside from the faster processor, this model also sports a new light. The Verge notes that there are fewer dark patches on screen and the light is also a bit whiter than the original Paperwhite. While a slight improvement, they go on to say that it didn’t really change their user experience greatly.
Aside from small hardware upgrades, there are also some new software features. Perhaps one of the most anticipated additions was the integration with social media reading site Goodreads. You can now easily log into your Goodreads account and look for friends, share passages while reading you Kindle book and rate other Kindle books on the site. Aside from this, you can pull your book lists from Goodreads or your own cloud collections and sync it across multiple devices.
Most reviewers agree that the 2013 Kindle Paperwhite is one of the best e-readers on the market. While it does offer slight improvements from its predecessor, Engadget does not believe that it’s worth the price for those of who already own the older generation Paperwhite.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Srivatsan, Fone ArenaThe new Kindle Paperwhite is one of the best eReaders available in the market. Even though it is a minor upgrade, Amazon has improved the screen, making the reading experience much better in the new version. If you already own the first Paperwhite, you can probably wait for the third version, expect...
- Jim Martin, Tech AdvisorIf you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed with the latest Paperwhite but it’s worth checking out the £49 Nook GlowLight and associated book store before taking the plunge.
- K. T. Bradford, Digital TrendsThe Kindle Paperwhite isn’t a huge upgrade from the first generation, and it didn’t need to be. Amazon improved on all of the issues that critics called out last year, and added some great software features on top of that. The high-quality display, even light, comfortable design, and spe...
- Jim Martin, Tech AdvisorStill the best backlit ereader around, but the price is beginning to look steep when rivals cost less than £50. If you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed but it’s worth checking out the Nook GlowLight and associated book store before taking the plunge.
- Brandon Russell, TechnoBuffaloAt $119 (with special offers), the new Paperwhite is a terrific buy that you won’t regret. If you own and love last year’s model, there’s no huge reason to upgrade; they’re similar in a lot of ways, so you won’t be missing out. If you’ve held off on getting an e-r...
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