Amazon kindle (2022): Basic kindle, now refined

The all-new Amazon Kindle (2022) has been launched in India at Rs. 9,999. Compared to the previous model which was priced at Rs. 7,999, the newer model has received a noticeable bump in price. On paper, the new Kindle (2022) comes with plenty of useful upgrades. This includes more storage, a compact and lighter design, and a much better display compared to the previous model. But, should you upgrade to it if you already own a 10th generation model? More importantly, is the slightly pricier Kindle Paperwhite a better deal at Rs. 13,999? Read on to find out.

Quality and design

The Amazon Kindle (2022) looks quite different compared to any previous Kindle model. This is mainly down to the new cosmetic design and the fact that Amazon’s engineers have managed to shrink the bezels while still retaining the display’s size at six inches. The new Kindle is now thinner than the sleek-looking Kindle Paperwhite by a mere 0.1mm and is available in Black and Denim finishes. I received the latter finish for this review.

Most of the above changes are mainly because Amazon switched to, what appears to be, a simpler matte-finished polycarbonate body. Without the optional cover, it feels far from premium, and since it lacks the soft rubber-like texture, it is also very slippery. The big curved arrow (smile) logo, which was first seen on the Kindle Paperwhite, replaces the usual Amazon branding on the back panel.

The large embossed logo has some sharp edges and the same can be said about the cut out for the USB Type-C port, which finally makes it to the base Kindle model too. Of course, you can attach the optional Kindle Fabric Cover which is available in four colours for an additional Rs. 1,799 to make it feel more premium.

The back panel and frame on the new Kindle is made from polycarbonate and feels a bit cheap.

One of the main advantages of the polycarbonate body is that it makes the new Kindle (2022) a lot lighter at 158g, compared to the previous model. The slightly coarse texture of the body also means that it does not gather many fingerprints or smudges, which was the case with previous models, including the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.

Display and performance

The Amazon Kindle (2022)’s display may not have gotten an upgrade in terms of size or functionality, but it has gotten a rather useful upgrade in terms of resolution. It can now produce a much better 300ppi versus 167ppi in its predecessor. This upgrade, in a way, brings the basic Kindle on par with the more expensive Paperwhite, which has a slightly bigger 6.8-inch E Ink panel but with the same 16-level grayscale depth. The surface of the display on the new Kindle feels very paper-like and can still be used without the front light, provided there is enough ambient light.

Since I hate manually adjusting the brightness level of the front light, I set it to level 13 on the Amazon Kindle (2022) for the review period. With about an hour of reading every night and the Wi-Fi always switched on, the Kindle’s battery level barely dropped by 15 percent in a week. Going by this average, we can estimate the Kindle (2022) to last a full month on a single charge, if you also follow a similar usage style.

If you are hardcore reader though (a few hours of reading everyday), you could expect it to last a little over two weeks on one charge, with front light and Wi-Fi always on. Charging the Kindle (2022) sure takes a while, which is something I noticed when I initially received the device. Amazon claims that a full charge takes about two hours using a 9W adapter, and I experienced something similar. The packaging only comes with a USB Type-C cable in the box.

Verdict

The Amazon Kindle (2022) comes with a few upgrades and the increase in storage capacity sure justifies its slightly higher price of Rs. 9,999. If you already own a 10th generation Kindle, there is no reason to upgrade to this one, unless you want an even smaller form factor or crave some more storage space for your e-books.

If you are in the market for your first e-reader and don’t really have a budget in mind, then it makes sense to spend a bit more and get the new Kindle Paperwhite (2022). It’s a better choice as it comes with a few luxuries (17-LED front light, adjustable warm light and IPX8 rating), along with a more modern-looking design for an additional Rs. 4,000 (for the 8GB variant). I would recommend getting the Kindle (2022) only if you are on a strict budget or are looking for the most portable Kindle possible.