Kindle Paperwhite 2024 Review: Still the Best E-Reader for Most People

After 6 weeks of daily reading — on the beach, in bed, during commutes — we can confidently say the Kindle Paperwhite 2024 is the best e-reader for the vast majority of readers.

What's New in 2024

Amazon upgraded the Paperwhite with a larger 7-inch 300 ppi display (up from 6.8"), added USB-C charging, and doubled storage to 16GB. The biggest improvement is the warm light feature — you can now shift the display from cool white to warm amber at night.

Display Quality

The 300 ppi screen is genuinely indistinguishable from printed text in good lighting. The new warm light adjustment is excellent for evening reading — no more eye strain. Outdoor performance is superb thanks to the glare-free display.

Battery Life

Amazon claims 12 weeks of battery life. In our testing with 30 minutes of daily reading and WiFi off, we achieved 10-11 weeks. That's phenomenal — you'll likely forget what the charging cable looks like.

The Amazon Lock-In Question

The biggest trade-off is being tied to Amazon's ecosystem. You can't read EPUB files natively (though Send to Kindle now accepts them). If you buy ebooks from multiple stores, consider a Kobo Libra 2 instead.

Who Should Buy This?

If you read primarily from Amazon or Kindle Unlimited, this is a no-brainer purchase. The Paperwhite transforms casual readers into daily readers — it's that pleasant to use.

Pros & Cons

Final Verdict