I tested Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite and it finally nails the feature I've been waiting for

I’ve used the TCL Nxtpaper Tab 10 as my e-reader for about four months. Soon after switching to the tablet, I passed off my 2018 Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation) to my daughter and my 2020 iPad to my husband. Then I tried the new, 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, and I’m not sure that I can give it up.

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The TCL tablet offers a full-color mode, as well as a color paper and black-and-white paper mode, so you get the full experience of a tablet and an e-reader. I love that I can turn pages and navigate the Kindle app on the TCL as quickly as I can on a smartphone or a tablet, while still having the look of an e-reader and putting my slow, six-year-old Kindle to shame.

When Amazon unveiled its new Kindle lineup, I fell for it like a ripe coconut falls on a sunny beach. I’ve been a Kindle user for over 12 years, religiously reading each night before bed. While a new Kindle may not seem too exciting considering the device’s simplicity, the 2024 lineup of Kindles is Amazon’s largest upgrade in years, offering the first full-color Kindle and the fastest page turns yet.

Although the TCL Nxtpaper tablet has many benefits, the Kindle Paperwhite SE has several key advantages over it that have made me reach for it more than the TCL. Most importantly, the new Kindle Paperwhite weighs just 7.5 ounces and features a smaller seven-inch display than my tablet. This makes it easier to hold the Kindle in one hand, something I struggled with daily with the 10-inch, 16.9-oz TCL tablet.

Nobody wants to carry around a 1lb book, especially if you read for long periods and like to hold your e-reader in one hand.

Size and weight aside, the Kindle Paperwhite SE has up to 12 weeks of battery life on a single charge. This is based on a half hour of reading per day with the wireless off and the light setting at 13, so your mileage may vary. 

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My TCL tablet, in turn, offers about 20 hours, which is impressive for a tablet. I charge it about once a week and read for about an hour each night.

I’ve been using the Kindle Paperwhite for about two weeks and haven’t needed to charge it after the initial charge. This is pretty typical for a Kindle; my 10th-generation Kindle Paperwhite lasted about three weeks, reading with the backlight for just under an hour a day.

After two weeks of daily reading on a single charge, some days for up to three hours a day, my Kindle Paperwhite’s battery is still at 32%. According to Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite could last about 42 hours of reading with the brightness at 13.

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Considering I’ve read about 29.5 hours in the past two weeks, and the battery is at 32%, the estimations seem pretty accurate.

Aside from a long battery life, the fastest page turns I’ve seen on a Kindle, and the benefit of a lightweight, compact e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite SE also has the advantage of being a dedicated, distraction-free reading device.

The Signature Edition also features 32GB of storage and support for wireless charging.

ZDNET’s buying advice

You don’t have to worry about notifications or distractions from social media or other apps tearing you away from your reading, as a Kindle is a simple device that only serves to fulfill your reading hobby. 

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Kindle e-readers are built to last several years, so I’d recommend the Kindle Paperwhite to anyone upgrading from a three-year or older Kindle. I typically use my Kindles for six years, but I could see this new Kindle Paperwhite lasting eight year or longer, making the purchase even more worthwhile.