Kindle Paperwhite review (6.8 inches - 2021 version)

Author: Nicolas | Last update: 2023-04-18

Amazon returns in 2021 with a new version of its best-selling Kindle Paperwhite. This new version brings a major new feature: a bigger and better screen.

This e-reader is available since the end of October 2021.

I bought this e-reader and this review is made in total independence.

Packaging and presentation of the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader

As usual with Amazon, the e-reader is sold in a very thin cardboard box that slightly protects the e-reader.

We can't say that the box is very pretty or very useful, unlike the one of the Kobo Libra 2, for example.

Inside, we find the reader in a plastic bag, a small manual and a USB-C connection cable.

The cable is useful to connect his e-reader to a computer (to transfer files) and to a charger / power adapter to charge the battery of the e-reader.

Once the e-reader in the hand, we notice that it is larger than the usual 6-inch e-readers but also that it seems thinner. This is a false impression, even if the reader is a thickness in the average of 6-inch readers.

As always with the Kindle brand, the reader is well designed and seems very reliable. However, the finishes are quite basic and we note that the plastic on the back of the machine is quite smooth and can be slightly slippery if you have sweaty hands.

The on/off button is still placed on the bottom edge, which can be a bit annoying if you get used to "putting" your reader on your thighs or stomach while reading.

Fortunately, all this is quickly forgotten, as soon as you turn on the reader and put your eyes on the large 6.8-inch screen.

Note that the e-reader is equipped with a single USB-C port and is waterproof with an IPX8 certification (resistant to one hour of immersion in one meter of water).

The screen of the Kindle Paperwhite

No surprise, it is the company E Ink that has equipped this e-reader with a screen of 6.8 inches and we can say that it is really successful.

We have a real improvement compared to the previous generation. The leap is so important that I think that this large screen alone justifies switching to this new generation.

The screen also offers a lighting with blue light filter. Called "color temperature" setting, it is an option that allows to limit the presence of blue light from the lighting which should allow to tire the eyes less.

The screen is also touch-sensitive and the whole thing is still very easy to use.

So, I might as well say it now: the screen is very good, the contrast has been improved and reading on this new Kindle Paperwhite is really pleasant.

Wifi, USB, library

The e-reader is easily connected to Wifi. You can make the configuration when you start it and then you can access directly to your library.

Indeed, Amazon delivers the reader pre-configured with your Kindle account.

You can therefore access all your books very quickly and then download them to resume reading.

You can also connect the Paperwhite to a computer with a USB-C cable. Then, you can access the content of the e-reader, but above all you can use the Calibre software to transfer your ebooks.

On this subject, it is always good to remember that the Kindle readers do not directly support ebooks in EPUB format, but you have to convert them into another format to read them (Mobi for example) with the Calibre software.

Let's move on to the bookstore.

Usually this topic is short: you access the bookstore via a button and you buy the ebooks or you download the ones that are available for free.

Except that with Kindle, there are three types of readers: the classic reader, the one who is subscribed to the Prime program, the one who has the Kindle subscription for unlimited reading.

The e-reader supports all these cases.

Clearly, once connected, the bookstore tells you whether you can read an ebook for free (unlimited subscription), borrow (Prime subscription) or buy (all other cases).

Even better, there are even categories. Thus, if you are a Prime subscriber (which is my case), you can directly search for a book in this selection. The same goes for the lucky owners of an unlimited subscription.

In short, this is a real plus for people who are already Amazon customers.

So, this e-reader lends itself particularly well to an Amazon Prime subscription since you have access to thousands of books for free, whereas these would be paid for on another e-reader.

Integration is sometimes good...

Getting started, usage, interface of the Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle has always been able to create a software that is perfectly tuned to allow an easy use of its e-reader.

This is still the case and if you already have an older version of this e-reader (or another Kindle), you will be on familiar ground.

The settings are therefore quite simple, but we note the presence of a "dark" mode that tends to be fashionable: it allows you to read white text on a black background.

This is quite practical if you want to read at night.

The settings menu allows you to :

• manage your Kindle account
• connect to a Wifi network
• protect your e-reader with a secret code
• change the time
• restart the Kindle
• reset the Kindle to factory settings
• set the screen refresh (the refresh of the electronic ink)
• manage languages, keyboards and dictionary (the keyboard is useful for entering notes)
• set a parental control
• access the help and user guides of the e-reader

Note that there is an experimental web browser that will help you out if you need to spend a few minutes on a website to retrieve information. But, the browser is quite rudimentary and cannot be used on a daily basis.

Reading ebooks on the Kindle Paperwhite

Reading goes smoothly, as it always does on Kindle e-readers.

The screen is sharp and the machine responsive: pages appear quickly.

At the level of options for adjusting the text we have very classic:

• change the font
• bold
• font size
• orientation : portrait / landscape
• alignment: left or justified
• margin adjustment
• adjustment of the space between lines

You can also make your own custom settings and save them.

For example, if you like to display in portrait mode for certain types of books (comics for example), you can create a theme specially adapted to this type of ebooks.

We also have statistics:

• time remaining in the chapter
• time remaining in the book

You can display them at the bottom left of the page which I find very practical: you don't have to access a menu to find your information.

This allows me to know if I can start a new chapter and hope to see the end before I fall asleep.

The lighting (and its temperature adjustment filter) allows to find one's marks and to read comfortably in all light conditions (including in the dark).

So reading is excellent on this reader and we have everything we need to read in great comfort.

Reading comics and PDFs

As always, e-readers are not suitable for comics. But, I was able to try a few titles thanks to my Amazon Prime subscription.

Thanks to its 6.8 inch screen, you have more surface and therefore more comfort for reading comics.

For this test I consulted a comic book available on the Amazon store. We have the system that allows you to click on a box to find it in large.

The screen has enough pixels to be able to see and read everything. There is the lack of color which is a pity, that's why the Japanese manga format is more adapted than the American comics format - even if it is possible.

For everything that is large format comics (European style, like Tintin), the texts turn out to be quite small and the lack of color makes the experience too complicated and unsatisfying.

As far as reading PDF files is concerned, once again we have a reader that manages to display documents correctly (without errors), but whose limitations are quickly seen in use.

Indeed, as soon as it is necessary to zoom, one is quickly tired by the slowness of the machine.

This is obviously a flaw, but it must be put into perspective: today, this problem occurs for all e-readers with an electronic ink screen.

It is therefore more a defect related to the technology used than a real problem on this model.

Technical specification of the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader

eReader : Kindle Paperwhite

	Kindle Paperwhite
Image
Screen size	6.8"
Resolution	1680 x 1264 pixels
Backlight	Yes
Waterproof	Yes
Storage	8 - 32 Go
Pen / Stylus	No
SD card	No
Ebook formats	Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, EPUB (converted), MOBI, PRC; HTML, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP
Blue light filter	Yes
Other
Review	Best value for the money Kindle eReader⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Link	Amazon.com

Kindle Paperwhite review verdict

Once again, Amazon confirms its leadership by offering a larger e-reader than the competition for a similar price.

This new Kindle Paperwhite is an excellent e-reader that allows you to read digital books in excellent conditions.

If we add to that the good integration with other Amazon services and we have a really interesting reader.

However, Amazon has not put on the market the perfect e-reader since the cheapest model has only 8 GB without the possibility to increase the storage.

You'll have to pay 50€ more to have 32 GB of storage and wireless charging!

We also underline that the e-reader is still not compatible by default with the EPUB format (you will have to use the Calibre software).

Apart from that, it is really an excellent vintage and - for once - we note a real evolution with the previous model.

This e-reader is definitely a reference in its price range!

Advantages

• 6.8 inch screen with electronic ink
• Integration with Amazon services
• Very fast reader
• Price

Disadvantages

• Only 8 GB of storage
• No EPUB format support by default (can be bypassed using Calibre software)

The new Kindle Paperwhite deserves its 5/5 rating. (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)