Here’s a comparison review between the Kindle for 2019 and the Kindle Paperwhite 2018. Amazon refers to both as 10th generation Kindles.
Now that they’ve added a frontlight to the entry-level Kindle, it and the Kindle Paperwhite have never been closer in terms of overall functionality.
The Kindle Paperwhite is still the superior model, but it’s no longer the obvious “best value” pick among the Kindle lineup.
The things the Kindle Paperwhite adds—a higher resolution screen, a waterproof design, the option for cellular wireless, and more storage space—aren’t necessarily that important to everyone.
There are more similarities than there are differences. Both Kindles have 95% of the same software features, both have 6-inch E Ink screens with frontlights, and both have Bluetooth to listen to audiobooks from Audible.
Below is a list of the main differences between the two Kindles.
See the Kindle Paperwhite 4 review for a more detailed review. I’ll get a full review of the new Kindle posted shortly.
Main Differences
Screen: Both Kindles have 6-inch E Ink Carta screens, but the entry-level Kindle has a lower resolution screen with 167 ppi, whereas the Paperwhite has 300 ppi, which makes text and images appear sharper and clearer. The difference isn’t as great as you’d probably expect, especially when using medium to larger font sizes, but with smaller fonts and things like PDFs and comics the difference is more apparent.
The Paperwhite has 5 LEDs for the frontlight and the new Kindle has 4 LEDs, but overall the frontlights look very similar. The Paperwhite has a slightly better frontlight (the lower edge isn’t as bright) but the difference is subtle.
The Paperwhite has a flush front screen, whereas the entry-level Kindle has an indented screen. The flush screen is a bit more reflective and fingerprints are more visible. Both have capacitive touchscreens, although it seems to be more responsive on the Paperwhite because sometimes page turns aren’t recognised the first time on the new Kindle.
Storage: The new Kindle comes with 4GB of storage space (with about 3GB usable) and the Kindle Paperwhite is available with either 8GB or 32GB. That’s a big difference, especially if you want to use the device for audiobooks.
Design: The 2019 Kindle is more of a basic model with a simple design. It has an indented screen and the frame is plastic on the front and back, with a slight bit of texture on it. It’s available in white and black, whereas the new Paperwhite is black only.
The Paperwhite has a nicer-looking flush front screen and a waterproof design. The back has a slightly rubbery feel to it.
The entry-level Kindle is a bit smaller and lighter overall.
2019 Kindle: 160 x 113 x 8.7 mm; weighs 174 grams.
Kindle Paperwhite 4: 167 x 116 x 8.18 mm; weighs 182 grams (Wi-Fi), 191 grams (cellular).
Software: Most of the software features are identical but there are a couple extra features on the Kindle Paperwhite. It has the option to switch to inverted mode to read with white text on a black background, and it also has the option to disable the touchscreen except for page swipes to avoid accidental presses. Oddly these two features are missing on the new Kindle.
Battery: I haven’t done any extensive battery life tests, but going off of Amazon’s own estimated battery life claims the Kindle Paperwhite’s battery will last 50% longer. They say the new Kindle’s battery will last up to 4 weeks per charge based on reading for 30 minutes every day, and the Kindle Paperwhite has a 6 week estimate based on the same conditions.
Price: The Kindle Paperwhite 4 starts at Rs. 11,000 and the new Kindle sells for Rs. 8000.
Conclusion
When Amazon first announced the new Kindle, I thought it was a poor value compared to the Kindle Paperwhite, especially considering the fact that the Paperwhite often goes on sale for Rs.11,000. But after using the new Kindle and seeing how the screen looks with the addition of a frontlight, I don’t think it having a lower resolution screen is that big of a deal. The screen isn’t great but it’s good enough for reading ebooks.
For those that want a higher resolution screen, more storage space, a waterproof design, and longer battery life then it’s worth paying a little extra for a Kindle Paperwhite, but for Rs. 8000 less the new Kindle does just about everything the Kindle Paperwhite can do, aside from getting dunked in water and having the option to use white text on a black background. In fact, I now consider the 2019 Kindle the better value model because most people don’t need waterproofing and enough storage space to hold 10,000 ebooks.
