I Tested The Latest Kindle Paperwhite And It Has The One Feature I've Been Waiting For

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is disposable for $200.
• I've been testing nan Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which features nan fastest capacity yet and up to 12 weeks of artillery life; alternatively, nan 16 GB Kindle Paperwhite is disposable for $125.
• Remember that Amazon's committedness of up to 12 weeks of artillery life assumes 30 minutes of regular usage pinch wireless off.

I've utilized nan TCL Nxtpaper Tab 10 arsenic my e-reader for astir half a twelvemonth now. Soon aft switching to nan tablet, I passed disconnected my 2018 Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation) to my girl and my 2020 iPad to my husband. Then I tried nan latest Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, and I'm not judge I tin springiness it up.

Also: 5 Kindle accessories each scholar should person (and why they make specified a large difference)

The TCL tablet offers full-color, colour paper, and black-and-white insubstantial mode, giving you nan afloat acquisition of a tablet and an e-reader. I emotion that I tin move pages and navigate nan Kindle app connected nan TCL arsenic quickly arsenic imaginable connected a smartphone aliases a tablet while still looking for illustration an e-reader and putting my slow, six-year-old Kindle to shame.

When Amazon unveiled its caller Kindle lineup last fall, I fell for it for illustration a ripe coconut connected a sunny beach. I've been a Kindle personification for a bully 14 years, religiously reference each nighttime to upwind down earlier bed. While a caller Kindle whitethorn not look breathtaking considering nan device's simplicity, nan 2024 lineup of Kindles is Amazon's largest upgrade successful years, offering nan first full-color Kindle and nan fastest page turns yet.

Although nan TCL Nxtpaper tablet has galore benefits, nan Kindle Paperwhite SE has respective cardinal advantages that person made maine scope for it much than nan TCL. Most importantly, nan caller Kindle Paperwhite weighs conscionable 7.5 ounces and features a smaller seven-inch show than my tablet. This makes it easier to clasp nan Kindle successful 1 hand, thing I struggled pinch regular pinch nan 10-inch, 16.9-oz TCL tablet.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Nobody wants to transportation astir a 1lb book, particularly if you publication for agelong periods and for illustration to clasp your e-reader successful 1 hand.

Size and weight aside, nan Kindle Paperwhite SE has up to 12 weeks of artillery life connected a azygous charge. This is based connected a half hr of reference per time pinch nan wireless disconnected and nan ray mounting astatine 13, truthful your mileage whitethorn vary. 

Also: Why I urge this Samsung tablet complete nan iPad Air - particularly astatine this price

My TCL tablet, successful turn, offers astir 20 hours, which is awesome for a tablet. I complaint it astir erstwhile a week and publication for astir an hr each night.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

I've been utilizing nan Kindle Paperwhite for astir 2 weeks and haven't needed to complaint it aft nan first charge. This is beautiful emblematic for a Kindle; my 10th-generation Kindle Paperwhite lasted astir 3 weeks, reference pinch nan backlight for conscionable nether an hr a day.

After 2 weeks of regular reference connected a azygous charge, immoderate days for up to 3 hours a day, my Kindle Paperwhite's artillery is still astatine 32%. According to Amazon, nan Kindle Paperwhite could past astir 42 hours of reference pinch nan brightness astatine 13.

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Considering I've publication astir 29.5 hours successful nan past 2 weeks, and nan artillery is astatine 32%, nan estimations look beautiful accurate.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Aside from a agelong artillery life, nan fastest page turns I've seen connected a Kindle, and nan use of a lightweight, compact e-reader, nan Kindle Paperwhite SE besides has nan advantage of being a dedicated, distraction-free reference device.

The Signature Edition besides features 32GB of retention and support for wireless charging.

ZDNET's buying advice

You don't person to interest astir notifications aliases distractions from societal media aliases different apps tearing you distant from your reading, arsenic a Kindle is simply a elemental instrumentality that only fulfills your reference hobby. 

Also: The champion e-readers of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Kindle e-readers are built to past respective years, truthful I'd urge nan Kindle Paperwhite to anyone upgrading from a three-year aliases older Kindle. I typically usage my Kindles for six years, but I could spot nan latest Kindle Paperwhite lasting 8 years aliases longer, making nan acquisition moreover much worthwhile.

This article was primitively published connected Nov. 6, 2024, and was updated connected July 22, 2025.