A compelling Paperwhite upgrade
As its name suggests, the $199.99 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is an upgraded version of the $159.99 Paperwhite, both of which have been refreshed for 2024. Like the latest Paperwhite, it offers a slightly larger screen and faster performance than the 2021 model. What makes it a Signature Edition? It has more storage, a different back panel, a more advanced front light that automatically adjusts based on your environment, and it supports wireless charging. It also does away with lock screen ads, which come standard on the regular Paperwhite unless you pay an additional $20. All of these perks make for a better ereader overall, but are they worth the extra $40? For frequent digital readers, yes. But for more casual readers and everyone else, we think the standard Paperwhite offers just the right blend of features and performance for the price, making it our Editors’ Choice.Amazon’s Kindle Lineup: Where Does the Paperwhite Signature Edition Fit In?
Amazon has a Kindle for every budget. It starts with the entry-level Kindle ($109.99), which has a 6-inch display, 16GB of storage, and an adjustable front light that gets as bright as the Paperwhite. Next is the standard $159.99 Paperwhite, which has a 7-inch screen, is fully waterproof, and features an adjustable warm-and-cool front light. The $199.99 Paperwhite Signature Edition adds some luster to the standard model via the perks mentioned above. Next up is the $279.99 Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, which includes all of the features of the Paperwhite Signature Edition but adds a color E Ink display.
Amazon also offers Kids versions of the Kindle ($129.99) and Paperwhite ($179.99). Both bundle the regular Kindle or Paperwhite with a child-friendly case, a six-month trial of Amazon Kids+, and a two-year worry-free guarantee.
Finally, Amazon plans to release a new version of its 10.2-inch E Ink tablet, the Kindle Scribe, on December 4. The Scribe starts at $399.99 and comes with a stylus for writing and taking notes.Design: Metallic in Name Only
The Paperwhite Signature Edition is the same size as the regular Paperwhite, measuring 7.0 by 5.0 by 0.3 inches (HWD). It weighs 7.5 ounces—just slightly more than the 7.4-ounce Paperwhite. Both devices are slightly taller, wider, and heavier than the 2021 Paperwhite (6.9 by 4.9 by 0.3 inches, 7.2 ounces). The 7-inch screen adds size and weight to the Paperwhite compared with the 6-inch standard Kindle (6.2 by 4.3 by 0.3 inches, 5.56 ounces).
The front of the Signature Edition looks almost identical to its predecessor. The display is slightly larger at 7.0 inches—versus the 6.8 inches of the 2021 Paperwhite—but you’d really only notice if you compared the two side by side. The bezels around the top and sides of the device are thinner, as is the one at the bottom, which bears the Kindle logo. The only visual difference between the new version and its previous incarnation is that the corners on the new model are more rounded. Amazon doesn’t specify the exact resolution of the display, but the 2024 Paperwhite has a screen density of 300 pixels per inch (ppi), which is the same as the 2021 version.
