Do you see the beauty of my new, handsome device in the header image? I mean, the one on the right↗ That's my new Kindle; we are officially inseparable. I can't tell you how much it has boosted my reading habits so far. By the way, both of the devices in the header image have the same reading setting as well as the same brightness setting.

Oh, my dear readers, this is going to be a nerdy post because I'm letting my obsession with Kindle run wild. So, buckle up and be ready to die of boredom reading further, or save your sanity by skipping the post entirely. If you are not a fan of the Amazon echosystem, all the more reason to skip it. If you happen to be thinking about purchasing a Kindle device for the first time or upgrading yours, you're in the right place. Sort of.

As I mentioned in the last post, I upgraded my 2018 Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation (on the left) to the 2022 entry model 11th Generation last year. Not that my old Kindle was malfunctioning; it's still in good condition, except for the worsening battery life. (Well, I'll keep using it for pararell reading.) To be honest, I truly wished to finally bid farewell to that infernal thing called Micro-USB, whose existence had been quite a nuisance over the years. For those who are not familiar with Kindle devices, the older models before 2021 have Micro-USB rather than USB-C.

Assuming most of you are not Kindle fanatics as I am, allow me to provide you with a quick overview of the Kindle lineup. There are mainly four different models for Kindle; in order from cheapest to most expensive, they are the basic model (Kindle), Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Oasis, and Kindle Scribe. The basic model is the low-end model and it's the least expensive. The Paperwhite is always the front-runner; it's the middle-range device that covers the needs of most of the users. The last two models are substantially more expensive with distinct differences in features and uses, so I won't go into detail about them this time.

Every few years, the Kindles get a model upgrade and the latest one in 2021/2022 was quite significant, sporting a number of improvements in both the basic model and in the Paperwhite. The upgrade to USB-C was one of those. It not only sparked long-time users to update their Kindles, but also many new users to get their first Kindle. I'd never considered upgrading mine, but I changed my mind last year. At first, I was planning on getting a new Paperwhite; apparently, choosing the successor seemed to be the logical step to follow. Of course I wanted a larger screen! And better battery life! The choice seemed so simple. Buying an entry-level Kindle never crossed my mind. However, after some serious consideration, aka binge-watching a series of review videos on YouTube, I ended up opting for the very basic model instead of the Paperwhite.

The thing is, I soon realized that the recent update on the base Kindle and the Paperwhite has almost elminated the differences between them, so much so that I could not discard the former as an option. It has indeed become a formidable competitor. Let's see the comparison of models that include my old Paperwhite and the previous basic model as a reference point.

(The fact that I enjoyed building this table so much screams my insanity...)

When it came to making the final choice, I re-assessed how I use this device to see what my real criteria were, focusing more on my practical needs. The list ended up like this one:

1. body size/weight

2. Dark Mode

3. design

4. screen resolution

5. waterproofing

6. battery life

7. screen size

8. number of LED lights

9. warm light

10. auto-adjusting light

After using my old Kindle for a few years, I realized that the most important thing for me was its size and weight; I wanted my Kindle to be small and light. As you can see in the table, despite having the same screen size, better screen resolution, better hardware, the new basic Kindle is smaller and lighter than my old Kindle. This was startling for me and made me reevaluate what I look for in a Kindle. I realized I could compromise on not having all the extra features the Paperwhite hold. Not having the waterproofing would have been the dealbreaker for me, but I came to a conclusion that it wouldn't be an issue in my case. Also, I liked the overall design of the basic model more than the Paperwhite, including the indented screen with beveled bezels, even though many people find it off-putting. (Yes, the cheapest Kindle always comes with the indented screen where other higher-end models have a flush surface.) Almost nobody mentions this (I know, I'm officially bonkers), but I like that the Kindle logo has a shiny black texture, more subtle than the white logo on the Paperwhite. It's almost invisible in the image, as you can see (not see).

So, I went ahead and bought a basic model, and I'm glad I did. I'm thoroughly in love with this new device. The portability is e-x-c-e-p-t-i-o-n-a-l. It's so easy to hold and carry around. It really looks pretty. I still wish it was water-resistant, but I'm making do with putting on a waterproof cover, which I adore. The overall performance has improved tons. Especially when I use dictionaries or type notes, I have notice a significant difference in their responses; they're much snappier than before, which is a huge plus for language learners like me. That being said, I would recommend the Paperwhite to anybody who's considering getting a Kindle (WHAT?). It has a significantly longer battery life with all the great features packed within. It might be more expensive, but you usually get a better deal when it's on sale. And, trust me, it will probably last longer than the basic models. It'll last several years or more, so in my opinion, it's worth the investment.

If you made it all the way through these shenanigans, we are most definitely friends.

Happy reading!

✔Corrected