Best Kindle to buy strictly for reading?

[BarryEM]

I have 3G because my phone doesn't have a hotspot, unfortunately. I get free service from Medicare and it doesn't include a hotspot. Sometimes I think their price is too high.

Barry

[Laughingsun]

I had a kindle from way a long time ago, which stopped working just as I found this site. I was using the Kindle app. on my iPhone 6, however I was getting headaches from long reads. So I just purchased the Kindle (8th Generation) (in Canada) and love it. I got a simple case that turns it on/off when I open/close which is really nice too

[mochababy70]

If you want it just to read books, than I would suggest the Kindle Paper White. I have a Paper White and a Fire but just read books on the Paper White.

[DesireeRose]

For only reading, the Kindle Paperwhite is by far the best. There are so many ups to the Paperwhite, it's unbelievable. When you put lighting all the way down, it truly does look like paper. It's amazing. The battery life lasts a long, long time. I can spend days reading on it without charging it.

[SABRADLEY]

It sounds like most votes are for the Paperwhite. I hope it's lightweight. I don't even like using my iPad air for reading anymore because it's so darn heavy while I'm reading in bed.

[Eryn Bradshaw]

I've been debating upgrading my kindle. I have a 3rd gen one. It just doesn't suit me any more since I don't have a reading lamp and I end up reading a lot on my phone in bed if I can't get back to sleep and my husband is asleep. Just trying to decide between the Fire and the Paperwhite. The Fire is cheaper but I love the sound of the Paperwhite.

[BarryEM]

I have a Fire and a Paperwhite. The Fire is, for it's price, a fair tablet. It's screen is a bit grainy and that shows up most when reading text. The pixels are just too few and too large to make the lines in the text seem truly smooth. It's not so bad that it's really noticeable but even if you don't notice it it degrades the reading experience a little bit.

Also the Fire has a backlit screen which means the light is behind the screen shining up into your eyes. Some people aren't bothered much by this. Others are and it limits the length of time they can read before they get eyestrain.

The Fire does have the advantage that it's a decent inexpensive tablet for watching videos and checking email and browsing the web and playing games, none of which the Paperwhite can do.

The Paperwhite has a screen with a lot more pixels per inch so it's not grainy at all. Text is perfect. Contrast is excellent and for reading it has more features than the Fire and they work better. It also gets far better battery life. And the screen has a front light, not a back light, and that means you see reflected light just as you do when reading with a lamp over your shoulder. It's as though Jeff Bezos is standing over your shoulder as you read holding a lamp for you to read by except that with the Paperwhite you never get in it's way so no shadows.

The Fire is a cheap and decent general purpose tablet that's not bad for reading. The Paperwhite is totally useless for anything but reading but it's probably the best reading experience in the history of Planet Earth. If you want a general purpose tablet get the Fire. If you want to read get the Paperwhite. Or get both like I did.

Barry

[Eryn Bradshaw]

The Fire is a cheap and decent general purpose tablet that's not bad for reading. The Paperwhite is totally useless for anything but reading but it's probably the best reading experience in the history of Planet Earth. If you want a general purpose tablet get the Fire. If you want to read get the Paperwhite. Or get both like I did.

Barry

Wow! That was comprehensive! Thank you for that comparison. That definitely helps with my desicion. If I had plenty of money and wasn't trying to move, I'd definitely get both, but sadly I don't. I think I'll end up getting the Paperwhite after reading through that. Thank you again, it was extremely helpful!

[amypattenaude]

I must be old school! Since I refuse to replace anything just for the sake of replacing it, I am still using my original Kindle. The one made before Paperwhite, before tough screen. Think back, way back, when they were all the rage, and you had to buy a cover for it, and the coolest cover was the expensive one with the built in reading light. Yep, that's the version of Kindle I still use and will until it dies. Reading on a computer screen is not equivalent to reading a book or newspaper, and I am not sure why all gadget makers think making a smaller version of it is a good idea! The whole reason the original Kindle, and (I'm hoping) the Paperwhite work and are popular is because they are easier on your eyes. No glare, no brightness, no crazy colors. It's the closest I can get to reading a real book, without having to lug around a real book. Something like the Fire, or an iPad, or other tablet will never come close to competing with. I look forward to more opinions as sadly I will probably need to replace my ancient Kindle here soon, and I might actually cry!

[smtindle]

I have the least expensive one, I'm not even sure if they make it anymore. It has the buttons on either side of the screen, no light, no extra features. I bought it strictly for reading a couple of years ago and still love it!

[MHScaccia]

This post has been awesome for me! I just got the green light from the hubs to buy an e-reader, but had no clue which one to purchase. Thanks so much for all the good advice!!

[amypattenaude]

I have the least expensive one, I'm not even sure if they make it anymore. It has the buttons on either side of the screen, no light, no extra features. I bought it strictly for reading a couple of years ago and still love it!

Yes that's the one I have as well. I looked yesterday and there are a couple of refurbished ones in Amazon Warehouse for less than $401 lol it's the 3rd generation kindle if I remember right.