Why I ditched my Kindle Paperwhite for the base model Kindle

Summary

Upgraded base model Kindle was better than the Paperwhite for this user.
Other newer Kindle models seem unnecessary and might exceed their purpose.
User finds the base Kindle satisfactory for reading e-books, unlikely to purchase a different model.

The Kindle platform has been around for a long time now, and over that span, there have been many different iterations of the device released. If you’re like me and got in on the platform early, then you have a stack of Kindles that you don’t know what to do with. You also know that the base model Kindle didn’t have a light, so it was very difficult to read in the dark.

Amazon eventually released the Kindle Paperwhite, a Kindle device that featured a lit-up screen that let me read wherever I wanted, and I jumped on it right away. For years, it was all I used when I didn’t want to read a physical book, and I couldn’t imagine ever leaving it behind. As it turns out, technology continued to advance, and the Paperwhite’s key advantage was eventually wiped out. The base model Kindle got its own light, and while the Paperwhite’s screen was lit far better, that was just fine for me. In 2022, I bought a base model Kindle with a front-lit screen, and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.

Storage: 16GB
Screen Size: 6-inch E Ink (300ppi)
Connections: USB-C
Battery: Up to 6 weeks
Size: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32-inches
Weight: 5.56oz (157g)

5 ways I find a Kindle better than an iPad for reading

While the iPad excels as a tablet, Amazon’s Kindle e-reader takes the crown for reading.

The OG rises to the top

I don’t need other Kindles anymore

While I loved the Paperwhite, and still do, I don’t get any use out of it anymore since I got the 2022 Kindle refresh. Part of that is age — and mine was quite old. Kindles do tend to get a lot slower as time goes on, but another part is that the regular Kindle does the job now. I don’t need to keep a light on at night, and while it’s not as bright as the Paperwhite, it’s perfectly fine for me.

All these years later, I still use the 2022 model, and I don’t see a reason to move onto anything else. Sure, there are plenty of other Kindles out there, including a newer base model, but I don’t have any use for that. One of the cooler Kindles, the Oasis, got put on the chopping block, so my options are more limited today. At the end of the day, most people pick up a Kindle to read eBooks, and if the regular version can get the job done, what reason is there to splurge and spend some more cash?

I know I haven’t bought my last Kindle, but I don’t know how much Amazon can add to this little device that moves the needle for me. All I need it to do is display books for me to read, and that’s exactly what it does. Sure, it could be a little faster, and that’s what future iterations will continue to improve upon, but it’s not exactly a dealbreaker for me at this point. Sure, the Paperwhite is faster and brighter, but once I have a book open and I’m flipping through the pages, none of that matters to me.

If I want something that can do more than a Kindle, I could just pick up a tablet instead. The Kindle app gives me access to all my books, so it’s not like I lose anything going to my phone or tablet, but sometimes I like to read without having the distraction, and that’s another way the Kindle comes on top. I feel like Kindle products are already starting to punch above their weight class, and I’m not sure who it’s appealing to anymore.

4 reasons I don’t regret buying the budget Kindle over the Paperwhite

I purchased the base Kindle over the Paperwhite model, and I have no regrets.

Kindles might be pushing the boundaries too far

Who are these Kindles for?

The Kindle started off as a nice way to read your eBooks, and it still is. In fact, I can’t think of a better way to read digitally. Even though I have a tablet that I love, I never use the Kindle app there, and it even feels weird reading things through Google Books. Maybe it’s the small size of the Kindle that makes it comfortable for me.

It’s these other Kindle devices that are coming out now that have me scratching my head. Seeing a Kindle that is good for note-taking is great and all, but I can’t imagine many people picking one up for that purpose. Tablets are much better at this task thanks to the larger screen and snappier processors. The Kindle in question, the Scribe, is priced at $400, so it’s not like it’s cheaper than a tablet either. In fact, you can find a budget tablet that does the job just as well for a cheaper price. The 10.2-inch screen is nice, to be fair, but I just don’t see how this would appeal to anybody unless it’s just treated as a bonus on top.

The Kindle Colorsoft, on the other hand, is something I can get behind. The original Kindle doesn’t display color, so if I ever wanted to read a comic or graphic novel, I’d have to get on my tablet to get the full experience. That’s something I knew about when I made my purchase, but that doesn’t mean it’s not something I’d be interested in. At $280, the Colorsoft isn’t priced extraordinarily high either. The downside to this one is the 7-inch screen, so it could be a bit cramped when compared to a comic book. That’s a pretty big negative, and I’m not sure the addition of color outweights it in a meaningful way.

With the cancellation of the Oasis, although it pops up for sale here and there, it appears Amazon knows what it’s doing and what sells well. If that’s the case, I’m shocked to see the Scribe gain an audience with the price it’s at, but who am I to judge? I’m perfectly fine sticking with my base model Kindle for years to come. Considering I don’t use a Kindle nearly as often as a tablet, I imagine it’ll stay in good shape for a while. The battery life is still weeks long, and when the time comes to pick up another, I’ll just wait for Prime Day and get a discount.

Unlike my tablet, I actually picked up a cool case for my Kindle that wakes it up when I flip it open. It’s a cool little feature and gets me excited to read each time I open up my Kindle.