Amazon’s new Kindle Paperwhite, announced Tuesday morning, is the first major upgrade to the company’s front-lit e-reader since 2018, offering a larger screen and promising longer battery life.
The company has boosted the overall display size to 6.8 inches, from 6 inches previously. The bezels are slimmer, but the device itself is also larger, as shown in this comparison below.
It’s the fifth Kindle Paperwhite since Amazon introduced the device in 2012, although the company calls it the 11th generation Paperwhite, referencing the current cohort of Kindle devices.
Promised battery life is 10 hours, vs. 6 hours in the previous generation.
Amazon has made the leap from a micro USB port to USB-C in the new devices. A full charge takes 2.5 hours, down from 3 hours previously.
In addition, the company says the Kindle interface has been overhauled with “several new features for an easier and more intuitive experience.” There’s also a streamlined setup process using the Kindle app for iOS and Android, according to the company.
Amazon announced three versions of the device:
- The standard Kindle Paperwhite, with 8 GB of storage, sells for $139.99 with ads and $159.99 without.
- Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, with 32 GB of storage, sells for $189.99, with wireless charging.
- A new Kindle Paperwhite Kids device, with the base specs of the standard Paperwhite, sells for $159.99, with a special cover and other features and content.
They’re available for preorder today, and scheduled to be released Oct. 27.
