We have come across a handful of e-reader devices over the years. Some of which have offered all sorts of neat features, but few features are more important than the right resolution and a few added bonuses, like being waterproof!
The model before this one made it to our top list of all-time favorite items you could find on Amazon. The new Kindle Paperwhite Waterproof Edition joins it side by side for various different reasons. For one, there is nothing like being able to take your book with you no matter where you are. With this one, you could read in the shower if you wanted to (IPX8 rated). Although you likely wouldn’t be doing that. Instead, it’s great for pool or spa areas or taking to the beach. Or simply having kids running around with a drink in their hand as they rush you for a hug. That literally was the ONLY thing we griped about with the last model. It was perfect, outside of not being waterproof. Well, that issue has been resolved! Literally a few months after we had mentioned it too.
With this one, it has the same great 300ppi screen with just the right clarity to mimic the pages of a real book. Great on the eyes and responsive to the touch. There is no need for 1080p, 4K, or anything else you’d normally look for in a screen. Just enough to look like a plain black and white book. They nailed it before, and nothing has changed there.
This new one seems to lag a little more than the last, especially when you wake the screen up from idle. The previous model didn’t have to go through a “waking up” phase before becoming usable (when you wake the screen from idle). However, we also notice the battery life is better. So before we assume “oh no, they must have cut back on the hardware inside”, we have to take the battery into account and realize it isn’t moving slower than the last model, it simply has a new and improved sleep function that the last model didn’t (deep sleep?). Clearly it must be hardware related else they would have updated the last model in a software update (right?…maybe). Either way, it is tit for tat. For the sacrifice of waiting a few extra seconds after waking the screen up, you gain more reliable battery life. Also, e-readers aren’t really known for their speed. This is because they aren’t meant for multitasking, watching videos or anything. Just simply reading books. So we have yet to see an e-reader that was incredibly speedy.
There is a small mental learning curve when staring at the screen for some reason if you are used to the last model. Because the screen is covered by a waterproof layer, your eyes obsess slightly on the idea that the position (or distance) of the screen is different. I don’t know why it was worth mentioning, but it takes a few chapters before your eyes forget and move on. Or, maybe that is just ours that experienced this. Regardless, you get over it.
Of course, it has 2x the storage as well, which most consumers most likely won’t even realize. We have an enormous collection of eBooks between all of us and still, have never run out of space on the last model (not that we were trying). Either way, it’s nice to have space in case it is ever needed.
Another interesting feature they added, is the support for Audible (audiobooks) via built-in Bluetooth. So you can connect a pair of Bluetooth headphones and listen to your favorite books. There are no built-in speakers or anything, so you will need those headphones in order to make use of it. The feature is there none-the-less though.
This one is also a tad lighter than the last model as well. Not by much but every ounce is a win right? They also have a blue (“twilight blue”) model to choose from now.
Our Conclusion
This is an excellent reader for your eBooks that anyone could get an endless amount of use of. It all depends on how much you read. You are hardly ever charging the battery, and you have even more space to horde your favorite books into. The last model is still an amazing device. It’s is rock solid and gets the job done so very nicely. They simply made it better by making that amazing device waterproof. That is the major selling point in our eyes. So go find a spa/jacuzzi somewhere to relax in, and enjoy a fun book while you do it!
| Buy from Amazon | |
Our Rating | Average Price* $129.99 |
*Average price is based on the time this article was published
Additional Images:
Specifications:
- 6″ glare-free
- GB or 32 GB Models
- 300 ppi Resolution
- Front light: 5 LEDs
- Up to a month or more of battery
- Audible support (via Bluetooth)
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Free Cellular Connectivity
- lack or Twilight Blue
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