Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is coming out at just the right time. The weather is getting cooler and you're probably going to spend more time indoors, so why not curl up with your new e-reader and pick out something new to read?
The Paperwhite is Amazon's most successful Kindle device, and like the old saying goes... if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The new version takes what the old one did so well and improves upon it without changing too much. It is thinner, lighter, and has a smooth display where the screen isn't slightly below the outer bezel anymore. Amazon has added an extra LED to the built-in light, bringing the total to five, so you can see better when you need to. Plus, it's water-resistant so you don't have to worry about reading by the pool or accidentally dropping it in the bathtub. The old Paperwhite only had 4GB of on-board storage, but this new one starts at 8GB with an option to upgrade to 32GB if you want to pay a little more. Two things that remain the same are the display size and resolution at six inches and 300 ppi.
Amazon has added Bluetooth to the Paperwhite, as well, so you can now use Audible to listen to your favorite stories. You can access the Audible store directly from the Paperwhite, connect the device to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones and get caught up on your reading in a new way. Amazon is continuously improving Audible, too, and recently added Audible Originals as a way for you to get more value from your subscription.
The icing on the cake is the six-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited. While the six-month plan is currently on sale for $30, that's a deal unto itself and 50% off what it normally goes for. Kindle Unlimited gives you access to a million books absolutely free. With your new Paperwhite, you won't have to pay to read for the first six months unless you really want to. After the trial is up, it will cost $9.99 to keep the service but you can definitely put a dent in your reading backlog in six months.
Amazon will also be updating the Paperwhite's home screen and adding personalization settings. You'll be able to get quick access to free books like those available through Amazon Prime's First Read program, get suggestions based on your reading history, see interesting stats like how much you've read in the past month, and add settings the Kindle will remember like font, boldness level, and more. This is a free update that will work with all versions of the Paperwhite once it goes out.
The price for the new Kindle Paperwhite starts at $129.99, but that includes offers on the lock screen. It'll cost $20 to remove those, and you can upgrade the storage from 8GB to 32GB for another $30. Pre-orders start now with the device coming out November 7.
If you're in the U.K, you can also pre-order the new device starting at £119.99. Canada pre-orders start at $139.99.
