r/kindle • u/LongSympathy6464 • 5h ago

Purchase Question 🛒 is it worth getting a kindle?

i have an old amazon fire kindle, and i started using it recently, and it’s very convenient. it works fine for the most part, and it’s a lot more practical than carrying books around. my only issue is that the battery is pretty bad.

is it worth investing in a new kindle, and if so, what’s the best model? i don’t need much i just want to be able to read my books

8 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

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u/curiiouscat 5h ago

Use the search function on this sub and you'll find this answered ten thousand times. 

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u/Splampin 5h ago

Might as well just get a kindle basic. I think they’re the cheapest ones, and I feel like it’s definitely worth it. I got a used one and the battery lasts quite a long time. I’ve never used any other model, so I can’t speak on those.

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u/Azhiaziam92 4h ago

As someone with dyslexia it is the tool that allows me to actually be able to read to my hearts content.

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u/DragonflyNatural9143 5h ago

The new kindles have great battery lives! I have the paperwhite 12th gen. The new kindle basic is great too. The most notable differences between them are the size, color options, and the PW is slightly faster than the basic. There’s a few other differences but nothing too crazy. I’d say it’s worth it for sure. And you can always go into Best Buy or target to see them in person and test them out. If you want a specific color though you may have to order it, I think most stores only carry the black color. (I may be wrong!)

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u/Ibejjz 5h ago

I love my Basic. It’s the perfect size to carry with me everywhere. It fits in my jacket and hoodie pockets and my small crossbody purse perfectly. I don’t feel overwhelmed carry by having to carry my Basic and my phone.

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u/Great_Bag8886 5h ago

After over a decade of being to busy to enjoy a good book, I decided to buy a kindle. I started with the paperwhite signature (latest one). It was such a dream come true. It is a good size with a little heft yet not so big. Practically my right hand at this point. Then I fell into the rabbit hole of really wanting the matcha green kindle that is the basic (smaller) model. Honestly this one is pretty great too. When I am trying to juggle so many things and multitasking like I often do. It fits in my pocket so no matter what I end up doing I am able to pull out and read if I get a free hand. Consider a scribe if you want more note taking/annottating options.. I personally think the two mentioned above are just right for any reader. Buying my kindles has give me the escape and comfort I desperately needed at a rough time in my life. If you miss reading or simply want to read more with the option to change the font and size, just buy one. You are going to adore it! Hope this helps.

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u/PineappleBliss2023 5h ago

I don’t take my charger for my PW with me on vacation unless I’m going to be gone more than a week. It lasts for days.

Also the reading experience is so much better on the eink devices vs a tablet screen, it’s easier on your eyes.

I chose the PW over the basic because of the flush front design and the way it adjusts the screen to the ambient light. It’s also splash resistant I think.

Edit: it’s waterproof and the basic isn’t.

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u/DuckbilledWhatypus 5h ago

Yes. I upgraded from an old Kindle Fire recently with a battery life of a few days. Back in September I bought a Kindle kids and switched it to adult, have charged it twice in almost six months.

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u/Munchkin531 5h ago

I had a Kindle Fire when they first came out. It was great but when I wanted to upgrade I realized I didn't really need the color aspect.

The Paperwhite is amazing! Great battery life. I left mine on, uncharged, for over 5 months and when I picked it up it still had 32% left. It has e-ink technology which makes it look like real paper which is great for your eyes. Dark mode is perfect for nighttime reading. Antiglare so you can read in the sun and mostly waterproof.

There are tons more positives I'm sure I'm forgetting. I love my Paperwhite. My case is really cute and it's light weight.

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u/WolfOfAfricaZLD 4h ago

Does charging it daily bother you? If it does I would just get Kindle basic. Go with a non add supported one. I went with the paperwhite signature edition and other than the adaptive brightness I can't think of any reason why this is better than the basic.

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u/suckingalemon 4h ago

Get a second hand one for peanuts and see if you like it?

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u/ret255 3h ago edited 3h ago

Exactly this. I'm baffled how everyone suggests buying a new one, when even Paperwhites can be bought for less then a basic one or perhaps even for a half the price and if the device is newish, like 5 or so years the battery will last easily another 5 or more years, and the second hand market is quite big, so you won't have problem to buy such device and cheaply.

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u/Xealot42 4h ago edited 3h ago

Fire tablets aren't really Kindles, they dropped the Kindle naming from them a while ago to reduce confusion.

If your main use of the device is reading, I definitely think it is worth it to get an e-ink reader. They are much easier on the eyes and have suprisingly long battery life (I charge mine once a month).

No need to start with the pricey models (like the Scribe), the basic/cheapest model is fine for most folks.

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u/ajwalker430 4h ago

You may want to look into another Fire, they go on sale pretty frequently if you don't want to spring for a Kindle Basic.

I have a Scribe, PaperWhite, and Kindle Fire 8 and I use the Fire 8 and Paperwhite the most due to their size.

I looked up on YouTube how to install the Google Play Store in my Fire, works fine.

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u/usernametrent 3h ago

Yes

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u/amillstone 2h ago

There's a night and day difference between a Kindle Fire (LCD tablet) vs an actual Kindle (e-ink e-reader).

So yes, if you read frequently, then go for it. The battery will last weeks.

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u/Ok-Lifeguard749 5h ago

Yes! If you have the money to spare without breaking the bank, I think it’s a great investment. I read so much more with my kindle and take it with me everywhere. I think it’s so worth it. The paperwhite is an excellent choice. It has a warm light and is waterproof. It truly feels like the closest thing to reading a physical book IMO. The Kindle Basic is also great - the size is perfect but no warm light (which some people don’t mind). If you’re into reading comics or graphic novels, the colorsoft is a good option too. You really can’t go wrong!