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Verdict:
A high-resolution backlit screen, a low price and a brilliant store – it's the ultimate eReader
Review Date: 23 Oct 2012
Price when reviewed: £109
Buy it now for: £169
(see more store prices)
Supplier: http://www.amazon.co.uk
Reviewed By: David Ludlow
Our Rating
User Rating
Amazon wasn't originally planning on launching the Paperwhite (the Kindle with the built-in backlight) in the UK, but with both the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight and the Kobo Glo offering stiff competition, that decision has changed.
We're pleased that Amazon has gone down this path, replacing the old Kindle Touch with the Paperwhite. It's important to point out that this isn't just a simple replacement for the Touch with a light built in, but a completely redesigned and updated model.
SCREEN
Of course, the most important change with the Paperwhite is the screen, but not just because of that built-in light – it's also had a resolution boost. While all of the old Kindle models used an 6in E Ink Pearl screen with an 800x600 resolution, the Kindle Paperwhite has a brand-new 6in E Ink screen with a resolution of 1,024x768 - a 62 per cent increase in pixels and a pixel density of 221ppi.
With a 1,024x768 resolution screen and backlight, the Paperwhite has sharper, clearer text than on previous Kindles
Text looks a lot sharper on the Paperwhite's screen than it did on the old Kindle Touch. In fact, you can reduce the font size down to its smallest and still clearly be able to read it. In this regard, the Paperwhite comes close to accurately rendering the small font size and density typically used for paperback books.
It's the backlight that's going to garner the most attention and with good reason, too. It uses four LEDs at the top to bathe the entire screen in gentle light. Aside from a couple of slightly dimmer patches at the bottom that you don't notice when you're reading, the screen is very evenly lit.
At first glance it may seem as though the best use for this light is for when you're in a dark room, as a direct replacement for the old Amazon Kindle Lighted Cover, which had a pop-out light. However, the Paperwhite's light source is something that you should use all of the time, as it makes the screen look whiter and the helps boost contrast. In this respect, the Paperwhite is a close to reading a 'real' book as you can get.
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Do you really need a dedicated Reader?
If you have decent smartphone with a good display (Galaxy S2/3), you don't need a dedicated reader either with or without a backlight.
I've read dozens of books over the last year using the Kindle App on my Galaxy S2 and on my Nexus 7 since it was released and find both perfect for Kindle books.
A reader is just another device to carry around. Save the money and invest in a decent smartphone and have your books with you everywhere you go.
By terry46 on 29 Oct 2012 
Do you really need a dedicated Reader?
Terry
That is only true if you have the facilities to recharge the phone every day and don't want to use it in bright sunlight.
By dcbwhaley on 29 Oct 2012
Thickness
91mm thick? Wow! That really is the size of a house-brick.
By dcbwhaley on 29 Oct 2012
Not usable if not in the approved countries
Something they do forget to tell the buyers outside of US/UK is that the content will not be available or will be partially available. Therefore can not legally buy books you wish for the device which makes it rather useless and is creating a hell lot of trouble vs pleasure. Best really invest into iPad or as pointed out above decent smart phone. complete disappointemnt for me
By stonyc on 10 Jan 2013
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