Kindle Paperwhite

Short Review:

Old Kindle: Paperwhite bought in 2013

New Kindle: Paperwhite (11th Gen)

Overall Verdict: Very happy with the purchase; worthwhile upgrade.

There are plenty of reviews out there that will tell you about all the new features (warm light, usb c, etc) - I'm listing the things that make this a worthwhile upgrade for me.

1. Screen size - the new Kindle is 123mm (bezel to bezel); the old Kindle 116mm - screen width is 104mm vs 89mm - the extra width on the screen really improves the reading experience since, at the same font size* two or three words extra fit onto the line - this makes for a better reading experience since I don't have to move my eye down as often over the course of the page.

* my eyes have weakened over the years which means that I have to up the font size to setting 6 to read comfortably without spectacles

2. Screen quality - screen is clearer and text looks sharper. Screen response time feels faster when 'turning' but that might simply be confirmation bias :p

3. No lip between the inside of the bezel and the screen - ie screen is flush with the bezel so there's no 'bump' when you swipe - also, while the bezels are thinner (see pic below) there's still plenty of space for your thumb to rest

4. Feel in the hand - the new one just feels better in my hand, more balanced. Also, the back of the old feels slightly 'rubbery/sticky' (not sure if it's age related), the new one doesn't - it's a matte feel but not rubbery/sticky.

5. USB-C - what a pleasure not to have to keep a micro-usb cable lying around anymore, and not have to think about which way to insert the cable any longer

6. Warm light - tested this in a darkened room and it feels kinder on my eyes than the default 'cool white' on the old Kindle - will feedback more on this tomorrow - reading Stephen King's "Billy Summers' at the moment.


The picture below doesn't really do justice to how much sleeker and more modern the new Kindle looks - the old one really looks quite dated now :)

Oh, yes, one final thing, if you buy the Ad supported version you have to 'swipe to unlock' after pressing the power button - not an issue to for me (muscle memory from iPhone :p but others may find it irritating - you can switch this off if you're happy to pay to 'opt out' of the Ads (btw, seems that we don't get the Ads here in SA, just the generic screen as pictured below).


1642518920026.png
 
Yeah, we don't get the Ads in SA... so the "swipe to unlock" feature for the saving is actually worth it I would reckon.
 
AfricanTech said:
Short Review:

Old Kindle: Paperwhite bought in 2013

New Kindle: Paperwhite (11th Gen)

Overall Verdict: Very happy with the purchase; worthwhile upgrade.

There are plenty of reviews out there that will tell you about all the new features (warm light, usb c, etc) - I'm listing the things that make this a worthwhile upgrade for me.

1. Screen size - the new Kindle is 123mm (bezel to bezel); the old Kindle 116mm - screen width is 104mm vs 89mm - the extra width on the screen really improves the reading experience since, at the same font size* two or three words extra fit onto the line - this makes for a better reading experience since I don't have to move my eye down as often over the course of the page.

* my eyes have weakened over the years which means that I have to up the font size to setting 6 to read comfortably without spectacles

2. Screen quality - screen is clearer and text looks sharper. Screen response time feels faster when 'turning' but that might simply be confirmation bias :p

3. No lip between the inside of the bezel and the screen - ie screen is flush with the bezel so there's no 'bump' when you swipe - also, while the bezels are thinner (see pic below) there's still plenty of space for your thumb to rest

4. Feel in the hand - the new one just feels better in my hand, more balanced. Also, the back of the old feels slightly 'rubbery/sticky' (not sure if it's age related), the new one doesn't - it's a matte feel but not rubbery/sticky.

5. USB-C - what a pleasure not to have to keep a micro-usb cable lying around anymore, and not have to think about which way to insert the cable any longer

6. Warm light - tested this in a darkened room and it feels kinder on my eyes than the default 'cool white' on the old Kindle - will feedback more on this tomorrow - reading Stephen King's "Billy Summers' at the moment.


The picture below doesn't really do justice to how much sleeker and more modern the new Kindle looks - the old one really looks quite dated now :)

Oh, yes, one final thing, if you buy the Ad supported version you have to 'swipe to unlock' after pressing the power button - not an issue to for me (muscle memory from iPhone :p but others may find it irritating - you can switch this off if you're happy to pay to 'opt out' of the Ads (btw, seems that we don't get the Ads here in SA, just the generic screen as pictured below).


View attachment 1229008
Click to expand...

If you're an Amazon long timer you can ask Amazon support and they usually oblige and remove the ads for free.
 
www.bidorbuy.co.za

Amazon Kindle Oasis 32GB WiFi No Ads (Waterproof) Graphite Black (10th Gen - 2019 Model) | bobshop.co.za

Buy Amazon Kindle Oasis 32GB WiFi No Ads (Waterproof) Graphite Black (10th Gen - 2019 Model) for R5,799.00
www.bidorbuy.co.za www.bidorbuy.co.za

Kindle Oasis 32GB, no ads.
R5,799

Kindle Oasis 32GB ad supported version on Amazon:
ZAR 4,218.91, that was with a $15 off Amazon promo code. Free UPS shipping to MyUS.

Shipping via MyUS to ZA: ZAR 1,900
which included the Li Ion sticker, insurance, better packaging, Fedex priority (only $4 more than economy) and taxes and duties prepaid.

So all in all I could have gone with Macnificent for R5,900 (including local shipping) instead of the R6100 I paid by importing the item myself. Sadly that cheaper Kindle price wasn't available at the time. My unit is also the one with the ads, which I can ask Amazon to disable although supposedly they don't affect it when outside the US. Oh well. I suppose if I chose FedEx economy I would have broken even with the local SA price.
 
AfricanTech said:
Short Review:

Old Kindle: Paperwhite bought in 2013

New Kindle: Paperwhite (11th Gen)

Overall Verdict: Very happy with the purchase; worthwhile upgrade.

There are plenty of reviews out there that will tell you about all the new features (warm light, usb c, etc) - I'm listing the things that make this a worthwhile upgrade for me.

1. Screen size - the new Kindle is 123mm (bezel to bezel); the old Kindle 116mm - screen width is 104mm vs 89mm - the extra width on the screen really improves the reading experience since, at the same font size* two or three words extra fit onto the line - this makes for a better reading experience since I don't have to move my eye down as often over the course of the page.

* my eyes have weakened over the years which means that I have to up the font size to setting 6 to read comfortably without spectacles

2. Screen quality - screen is clearer and text looks sharper. Screen response time feels faster when 'turning' but that might simply be confirmation bias :p

3. No lip between the inside of the bezel and the screen - ie screen is flush with the bezel so there's no 'bump' when you swipe - also, while the bezels are thinner (see pic below) there's still plenty of space for your thumb to rest

4. Feel in the hand - the new one just feels better in my hand, more balanced. Also, the back of the old feels slightly 'rubbery/sticky' (not sure if it's age related), the new one doesn't - it's a matte feel but not rubbery/sticky.

5. USB-C - what a pleasure not to have to keep a micro-usb cable lying around anymore, and not have to think about which way to insert the cable any longer

6. Warm light - tested this in a darkened room and it feels kinder on my eyes than the default 'cool white' on the old Kindle - will feedback more on this tomorrow - reading Stephen King's "Billy Summers' at the moment.


The picture below doesn't really do justice to how much sleeker and more modern the new Kindle looks - the old one really looks quite dated now :)

Oh, yes, one final thing, if you buy the Ad supported version you have to 'swipe to unlock' after pressing the power button - not an issue to for me (muscle memory from iPhone :p but others may find it irritating - you can switch this off if you're happy to pay to 'opt out' of the Ads (btw, seems that we don't get the Ads here in SA, just the generic screen as pictured below).


View attachment 1229008
Click to expand...
Did you use a re-shipping service for yours? Which one if you don't mind me asking...
 
Cray said:
Did you use a re-shipping service for yours? Which one if you don't mind me asking...
Click to expand...

I used MyUS.com

Refer post #62 and #72 above for details of cost.

Just remember if shipping multiple parcels to utilise the first month free trial offer (or specify to Amazon that you want a single shipment) so that they consolidate your parcel to reduce cost.
 
Last edited:
AfricanTech said:
I used MyUS.com

Refer post #63 and #72 above for details of cost.

Just remember if shipping multiple parcels to utilise the first month free trial offer (or specify to Amazon that you want a single shipment) so that they consolidate your parcel to reduce cost.
Click to expand...
Much appreciated, been meaning to get one for a while. I ordered my first generation kindle directly from Amazon and it really bothers me not being able to order the most recent model directly from them. Thinking I will pull the trigger on this soon.
 
Cray said:
Much appreciated, been meaning to get one for a while. I ordered my first generation kindle directly from Amazon and it really bothers me not being able to order the most recent model directly from them. Thinking I will pull the trigger on this soon.
Click to expand...

I'm in a similar boat... few other expenses to get through first but a new Kindle is on the cards for this year.
 
AfricanTech said:
I used MyUS.com

Refer post #63 and #72 above for details of cost.

Just remember if shipping multiple parcels to utilise the first month free trial offer (or specify to Amazon that you want a single shipment) so that they consolidate your parcel to reduce cost.
Click to expand...

How do you tell Amazon that you want your multi item order sent as a single shipment?
 
airborne said:
How do you tell Amazon that you want your multi item order sent as a single shipment?
Click to expand...
I think there is a tick box when you finalise payment - sometimes they don't allow it due to logistics on their side (which is what happened in my case) in which case you need to specify consolidation on the receiving end (MyUS).
 
By the way, the US Kindle does display US special offers in South Africa as part of the screen saver. The device knows it's in SA because to buy an Ebook I have to change my country back to SA so it can bill the VAT. I suppose using a VPN may fool Amazon into letting me purchase as US.
 
Cray said:
Much appreciated, been meaning to get one for a while. I ordered my first generation kindle directly from Amazon and it really bothers me not being able to order the most recent model directly from them. Thinking I will pull the trigger on this soon.
Click to expand...
I originally had a few non-paperwhite models - not sure if that is what you have with 1st generation, but the step up to paperwhite is amazing.
 
ScrooV said:
I originally had a few non-paperwhite models - not sure if that is what you have with 1st generation, but the step up to paperwhite is amazing.
Click to expand...
The champagne gold Oasis is very nice. The problem is that it sometimes take a while to wake up.

It has an almost iPad quality. But the on/off button wobbles just a tiny bit which is not something an iPad would do. The screen is tiny though. These devices are small.
 
Mirai said:
The problem is that it sometimes take a while to wake up.
Click to expand...
I don't really have an issue with that - unless you mean longer than 2 or 3 seconds? Booting obviously takes a long time... minutes even, but mine is always on. Just checked - mine is 6th gen. I did have a time when it became very sluggish - did a full reset and all came good again.
 
ScrooV said:
I don't really have an issue with that - unless you mean longer than 2 or 3 seconds? Booting obviously takes a long time... minutes even, but mine is always on. Just checked - mine is 6th gen. I did have a time when it became very sluggish - did a full reset and all came good again.
Click to expand...

Yes longer than that. For me it sometimes takes 30-40 seconds.
 
I always keep my 10th gen Paperwhite on flight mode and only enable Wi-Fi when I have to download a book. I was pleasantly surprised at the new menu and interface which automatically loaded this week when I forgot to turn off Wi-Fi after a download. Seems like it came out in September already.
 
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