Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Long-Lasting Battery E-Reader
Last updated: October 13, 2023
Our top choice for e-readers has a crisp screen and easy touchscreen controls. It's soft on the eyes as you're reading and offers a great slim profile. Its waterproof casing and Audible compatibility offer extra value, too.
We looked at the top E-Readers and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best E-Reader you should buy.
Product Details
Key Takeaway: This e-reader is easy on the eyes and safe to take poolside.
In our analysis of 69 expert reviews, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Long-Lasting Battery E-Reader placed 5th when we looked at the top 13 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.From The Manufacturer
Our thinnest, lightest Kindle Paperwhite yet, with a sleek, modern design so you can read comfortably for hours. Features our signature 300 ppi, glare-free Paperwhite display, laser-quality text, and twice the storage of the previous generation. Plus a single battery charge lasts weeks, not hours.
Our Expert Consultant
Molly Thornberg
Technology and parenting blogger
Technology and parenting blogger
Molly Thornberg is a professional writer, creative and mom to four kids, living her best life outside of Dallas, Texas. With a love for all things tech, she is passionate about helping parents raise kids in the digital age. She writes about technology, parenting and humor on her blog Digital Mom Blog.
Expert Reviews
What reviewers liked
Excellent screen qualit and easy to use.
When you’re reading, you can easily turn a page with a tap or a swipe. The screen is evenly lit across its entire surface, and the text is incredibly crisp.
The screen itself packs the same 300 pixels per inch resolution as the previous Paperwhite, and it remains fantastically sharp and readable. Text is crisp at any size, and since its an E Ink display – as opposed to LCD – it’s softer on the eyes, too. I struggle to read text on the screen of an iPad for any length of time, but this isn’t a problem here.
A big upgrade over the original Paperwhite, and one of a few features inherited from the top-end Oasis, is the fact the Kindle Paperwhite (2018) now comes with a waterproof design.
This new Paperwhite is waterproof, up to two meters for 60 minutes.Now that Kindles are waterproofed, there’s no turning back. Pool lovers and bathtub readers will greatly appreciate this addition to the Paperwhite.
- Wired
10 percent slimmer, lighter and more durable with full waterproofing.
The biggest new feature of the 2018 Kindle Paperwhite is its waterproof design, which earned an IPX8 rating. That's up to 60 minutes of submergence in 2 meters of water. You don't need to worry about it falling into your bath, the pool or even the ocean at a beach
New this year is water resistance to 2 metres for up to 60 minutes, which means trips to the beach or poolside are less fraught with danger.
A major addition to this year’s Paperwhite is an iPX8 rating, allowing you to use it in the tub or at the pool. It should protect the ebook reader in up to two meters of water for 60 minutes. It’s a nice addition that makes the Paperwhite more versatile in a variety of reading conditions.
Amazon says that the new Paperwhite is IPX8 rated against “accidental immersion in up to two meters of fresh water for up to 60 minutes.”
The new, slimmer design, less than a third of an inch thick, and the lightness, really stand out.
- Forbes
Obviously, it means you can listen to audiobooks from Audible, even if I'd argue the Audible app for your phone is easier for most situations.
- Engadget
The screen is now made of glass and flush with the body, which feels more premium.
What reviewers didn't like
Some type of files may need to be converted.
More annoying is the lack of any page-turning buttons. The Paperwhite has always been a purely touchscreen device, and if you want that physical response to moving from page to page then you’ll have to pay more for the Kindle Oasis.
It doesn't feel as premium as the Oasis - mostly as it has a plastic rear
Despite updated processor, Paperwhite feels sluggish when it comes to doing anything other than page turning.
- Wired
A little more expensive than the previous model. The ad-free version costs $20 more.
Annoyingly, Amazon doesn't include a USB power adapter.
The swiping gestures are slightly easier now that there’s no lip to the display, but page turn buttons are better for one-handed reading – you’ll need to spend another £110 for the Kindle Oasis for those on an Amazon e-reader.
We’re more disappointed at the lack of a blue-light filter, or any kind of option to adjust color temperature on the Paperwhite.
And while it’s not really a surprise given the rest of Amazon’s lineup, the new Paperwhite charges by Micro USB instead of USB-C — particularly disappointing considering that it’ll likely be another three years before Amazon updates the Paperwhite again.
The power button is on the bottom edge of the tablet, which I sometimes worry that I might inadvertently press on it while reading.
- Forbes
The base Kindle now comes in at 167 PPI, but unless what you're reading has lots of images and graphics, slightly blockier text isn't an egregious experience, at least in my opinion.
- Engadget
This isn’t new to the 2018 Paperwhite, but I really wish you could disable turning pages with a tap. You can disable the touchscreen and turn pages with a swipe, but this blocks all other features.
View our E-Reader buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.