Although Kobo is a fine alternative to the Kindle, the entry-level Kindle remains a go-to product for anyone looking to get into digital reading, and the 2022 model improves the formula in a few ways.
There’s also a higher resolution display than the model it replaces, putting the definition on par with the more expensive Kindle Paperwhite.
If it’s a Kindle you’re after, there aren’t many reasons to buy one of the more expensive models over this one.
Design
It’s an eReaderPlastic scuffs and marks easilyUSB-C charging, finally
The Kindle doesn’t feel premium given its matte plastic, which I found picked up scuffs rather easily, but it is also very solid with hardly any bend or flex to the body. I tested the black model, and there’s a blue one if you prefer.
I have small hands but can easily grip either side of the Kindle with one hand or balance it on a pinkie to tap the screen with a thumb to turn pages. It’s also slim and narrow enough to slip into the back pocket of a pair of jeans – just don’t sit on it.
The screen is recessed into the body slightly unlike on the pricier Kindle Paperwhite where it is flush. The USB-C port is on the bottom edge right next to a light that shows battery status (green for good, yellow for charge me) and a power on/off button.
It’s great to see USB-C here, finally, for the first time on the cheapest Kindle, but it’s still not waterproof. It means if you want peace of mind in the bath you’re going to have to go for a more expensive eReader.
Display
300ppi, same as other Kindles4 LED backlight6in
A welcome upgrade is the 300 pixels per inch screen resolution, now the same as every other Kindle, up from 167ppi on the old model. It makes a world of difference, and brings the cheapest Kindle up to the same sharpness as models that cost more than double.
While other Kindle have 17 or 25 LEDs lighting the screen for reading in low light, this regular Kindle only has four. Thankfully they are more than enough for reading even in pitch black, but it’s a shame it doesn’t have auto-brightness.
The 6in e-ink display is a touchscreen, so you tap or swipe to turn pages in books. It’s a simple, no-frills look, and all the better for it.
Reading experience
Very responsiveDark modeExtensive font and spacing options
Once you have a book fired up, the Kindle itself melts away and lets you read with no issue, which is the whole point of an eReader. No notifications, no distractions.
Page turns are instant upon tapping the screen, and the device is faster at this than the Kobo Clara 2E, which costs more.
The default Kindle font is as legible as it ever was, but you have a choice of nine in all including one to aid dyslexia. You can also adjust boldness and size of font, and change the orientation, margin, alignment, and spacing to really hone how you want the pages of your book to look.
I also like you can quickly switch on Dark Mode to invert the colours and read white text on black background, which is best when reading in total darkness.
I really have very few complaints about reading on this cheapest Kindle and found I could comfortably do so for hours. I did find the absence of auto-brightness annoying – the backlight does not adjust depending on the ambient light like it can on the Paperwhite or several Kobos. The brightness setting is a tap and swipe away in a book, which distracts when reading.
Specs & performance
LightweightWi-Fi connectivity16GB storage
Though the Kindle has gone up in price from $89.99/£69.99 to $99.99/£84.99/€99.99 compared to the old model, you do now get double the storage of 16GB, which is more than enough for tens of thousands of eBooks.
It’s a very light device at 158g, perfectly slight enough to hold with one hand for a long period of time.
Though tapping through pages is fast, the low-powered processor lags a little when typing in words to search in the Kindle Store or tapping in and out of books and store listings when connected to Wi-Fi (either 2.4Ghz or 5.0GHz networks are supported).
Software & features
Clunky interfaceExcellent book availability in Kindle StoreDifficult to sideload free eBooks
The Kindle’s software gets away with being quite clunky because you don’t really have to use it that much. Once you’ve got a book on the go you don’t have to use the interface until you want to find a new one to read.
Part of the clunkiness can’t be helped as e-ink by its nature is a slower screen technology than the LCD and OLED displays we’ve become used to on smartphones. Trying to scroll through books or listing pages in the Kindle Store can be a chore as the greyscale text and images ghost and load. This is the case for most eReaders – not a particular fault of this cheaper Kindle.
Via this audio connection, those with any visual impairments can use the VoiceView screen reader, which can speak to guide you through menus and read aloud books using text-to-speech, though this is only available in English.
The X-Ray feature is also handy. If you can’t remember the characters or situation in a book, you can open the X-Ray option from the settings, and it’ll give you a summary so you don’t have to trawl back to an earlier chapter.
However, when I downloaded a free EPUB from Project Gutenberg (a legal online source of books whose copyright has expired) and dropped it into the documents folder using a Mac, the book displayed on the Kindle but would not open.
I then downloaded a MOBI file, which also didn’t open properly. It didn’t work on a PC, either.
If you want to load free eBooks easily onto a device, don’t buy a Kindle, get a Kobo – an eReader that also lets you borrow books from your library via the OverDrive service, unlike Kindle.
Battery life
Six weeks promisedBrightness and Wi-Fi eat batteryUSB-C cable in box
Using Wi-Fi, having the brightness high, and playing Audible books will run the battery down more. I only charged the Kindle once during three weeks of testing, but only to alleviate my general battery anxiety when any device dips below 50%. It had not reached zero!
Price & availability
Considering the price, I would recommend stretching to the Kindle Paperwhite 2021 if you can as for $139.99/£129.99/€139.99 you get an eReader with a better backlight, flush screen, and full waterproofing.
It’s worth noting that’s only 8GB of storage though compared to the 2022 Kindle’s 16GB, and for that price you also get those pesky ads – so the new Kindle remains the best value Kindle, even if it’s more expensive than the last generation model.
Verdict
The 2022 Kindle is the cheapest Kindle you can buy, but as the entry-level model it costs more than the last few models
The 2016 Kindle cost £59.99 in the UK, so a bump up in six years to £84.99 is quite steep – though you now get a better screen, USB-C, and a backlight. It’s the Kindle to get if you want to spend as little as possible but don’t care about it being waterproof.
Specs
6in e-ink display, 300ppi158g16GB storage157. 8 x 108. 6 x 8. 0 mmUSB-CSix-week battery life promise2. 4 GHz and 5. 0 GHz Wi-Fi support
Henry is Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, ensuring he and the team covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about for readers and viewers all over the world. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.
