Last month, Amazon unleashed major updates to the Kindle family, including its tried, tested and true Paperwhite. Amazon sent us the newest Kindle Paperwhite to check out–here’s our quick review.

What’s Inside the Box

Inside the slim paper packaging you get the Kindle Paperwhite itself, plus a USB-A to USB-C cable (no power adapter included), plus some start up instructions. Don’t worry tree huggers, there’s no plastic inside whatsoever.

It’s really easy to set up your Kindle. Just launch the Kindle app on your iPhone or Android and follow the instructions:

The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite offers noticeable improvements over its 2021 version, which we’ve been using during vacations. It now features a slighly larger 7-inch display (up from 6.8 inches), more LEDs for better adjustable front lighting (19 versus 17; 10 white and 9 amber), and a longer battery life of up to 12 weeks on a single charge (previously 10 weeks). Storage has also doubled to 16 GB, allowing for thousands of books. Yes, this is still waterproof so you can use it near a pool or in the bath.

One of the most significant upgrades is performance. Amazon says page turns are 25% faster, making reading smoother without the lag seen in older models. We can confirm this in our hands-on with the newest Paperwhite. Overall, it just feels smoother and lag is pretty much gone.

Here’s the Paperwhite (2024) on the left and the Paperwhite (2021) on the right. You can definitely notice the slightly larger display and more warmer LEDs:

Here’s the back of the 2024 Paperwhite on the left, and the previous generation on the right:

For 2024, the Paperwhite gains a slightly larger wake button (bottom Kindle) as you can see below:

Navigating the Kindle Library or Store is also quicker, thanks to a 20% performance boost. The display uses a new oxide thin-film transistor, which provides better contrast, making text and images sharper and easier to read. Text is still super sharp and crisp as the 300 ppi remains.

If you spend your time staring at a monitor or iPhone all day, reading on your front-lit Kindle Paperwhite can give your eyes a rest. It’s a great way to unwind at the end of a busy day:

Price and Options

The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite costs $184.99 CAD on Amazon.ca. For those looking for extra features, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is priced at $229.99 CAD, about $45 more, which doubles storage to 32GB, brings wireless charging, an auto-adjusting front light sensor, plus new colours Metallic Raspberry, Metallic Jade, and Metallic Black.

If you’re on a smaller budget, the regular Kindle is $119 and also has a front light, but you get a smaller display and shorter battery life.

Final Verdict

The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite is a solid upgrade, especially for those frustrated with slower performance on older models. The slightly larger screen, longer battery life, and improved contrast make it ideal for avid readers. For those who want extra storage or wireless charging, the Signature Edition provides a premium option, if you’re willing to shell out for it. If you read a lot, this is a nice upgrade that will make you want to read even more.