Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2013 Review | 68 Data compared

The 2013 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, dubbed the "iPhone 5S of e-readers" by CNET, is a refined version of its predecessor featuring a brighter, whiter, and more even built-in light that eliminates previous display murkiness. Performance is significantly enhanced with a faster processor, leading to more responsive touch interactions and smoother page turns. Key advantages include reduced screen flashing, the comprehensive Kindle content ecosystem, and new software features such as improved Page Flip. Despite these improvements, the review notes the upgrade is relatively minor for existing owners, with the device keeping the same physical dimensions and lacking a memory card slot. It still lacks support for the EPUB file format and forces users to pay extra to remove advertisements. The package also omits an AC adapter, affecting its overall value proposition.

Ewan Spence's 2013 Forbes review hails the Kindle Paperwhite as the premier dedicated e-reader, highlighting its exceptional, clear front-lit display, intuitive interface, and extensive Amazon content library. Key advantages include its competitive £109 pricing and superior, long-lasting battery life compared to rivals like the Kobo Aura. While praised for its paper-like E-Ink display reducing visual fatigue, limitations include limited 2GB storage and lack of native support for certain file formats, often requiring third-party tools.

Laptop Mag deems the 2013 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite the "king of E Ink e-readers," citing its even backlighting, long battery life, and fast processor as superior upgrades. The device is praised for its responsive touchscreen, the Page Flip feature, and a vast content ecosystem, though it lacks physical page-turn buttons and a wall charger in the box. Despite a $20 fee to remove lock-screen ads, the 2013 model is recommended for its high-value, improved software features like Vocabulary Builder, and superior, though consistent, 212-ppi display.

The 2013 Wired review characterizes the second-generation Kindle Paperwhite as an iterative, top-tier upgrade featuring a 25% faster processor and a more responsive, "zippier" user interface, while maintaining the same physical design. A major, highlighted "pro" is the significantly improved E Ink display, which offers higher contrast, better-distributed lighting that eliminates bottom-edge shadows, and far fewer distracting full-page refreshes. Conversely, the review notes several "cons," including the lack of physical page-turn buttons, no expandable storage, and the presence of "tacky" advertisements on the base model, though the device's superior screen and ecosystem are deemed to outweigh these minor drawbacks.

The 2013 Kindle Paperwhite review by International Business Times identifies the device as a refined, top-tier e-reader, featuring a faster 1GHz processor and improved 19% tighter touch grid responsiveness. Upgrades include E Ink Pearl 2 technology for better contrast, a more uniform light, and useful software additions like Goodreads integration. While highlighted as the best e-reader for new buyers, the review notes the £109 device offers limited, iterative improvements over the previous model, lacking a headphone jack and featuring, with, and including, at additional cost, on-screen, ads.

The 2013 Engadget review concludes the updated Amazon Kindle Paperwhite reinforces its market leadership through refined hardware, specifically highlighting a 1GHz processor that delivers significantly faster page turns and improved touch responsiveness. The display enhancements feature a whiter, more evenly lit E Ink screen that eliminates previous, shadowy illumination issues. Key software additions include the Page Flip feature for navigation and a Vocabulary Builder for learning tools. While praising its superior display and performance, the review notes minor drawbacks, including identical styling to the previous model and the absence of an AC adapter in the box.

The 2013 Verge review describes the second-generation Amazon Kindle Paperwhite as a "solid, utilitarian device" that refined its predecessor with a whiter, more evenly lit screen and a faster 1 GHz processor that improved page-turn responsiveness. Key pros highlighted included the versatile frontlight, which performed well in both dark rooms and direct sunlight, along with software enhancements like "Page Flip" for easier navigation. While the device was lauded for its long battery life and superior E Ink reading experience, downsides included continued, inherent slowness of E Ink refreshes, the lack of physical page-turn buttons, and the presence of advertisements on the base model.

The 2013 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite enhances performance with a 1GHz processor and features an improved "Carta" E Ink display, providing better contrast and a more uniform, 212 ppi screen compared to its predecessor. Software additions like Vocabulary Builder and Goodreads integration, alongside a comfortable matte-black design, enhance the user experience. Key pros include this improved, bright lighting and faster page turns, though cons include the lack of expandable storage, no audio support, and ads on the lock screen.

The 2013 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review by New Atlas highlights a "solid improvement" over the previous generation, driven by a faster processor that enhances page turns and menu navigation. Key updates include a significantly improved display with higher contrast and a more uniform front-light, alongside software enhancements like the Page Flip tool and Vocabulary Builder. While the design remains largely identical, this model solidifies its position as a top-tier e-reader through refined performance, excellent lighting, and a robust battery life.

The 12th-generation Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) establishes itself as a premier eReader, featuring a larger 7-inch 300 ppi display, a 25% faster page-turn speed, and IPX8 waterproofing. It offers an improved, responsive user experience with adjustable warm light, while extending battery life up to 12 weeks. Despite these advancements, the device faces limitations including mandatory lock screen ads, a slightly less portable form factor, and a slippery back panel, with minimal upgrades for 2021 model owners.

The 2013 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (second generation) acts as a significant, albeit iterative, upgrade over its predecessor, featuring a faster 1GHz processor that ensures responsive navigation and snappy page turns. While maintaining the same 6-inch 212ppi E Ink display and tactile, matte-black design, the device addresses previous criticisms with improved, more uniform, and brighter screen illumination, alongside enhanced contrast for crisper text. New, notable software additions include integrated Goodreads and the Page Flip feature, which allows readers to skim through the book without losing their place. Key advantages, or pros, include the superior, even lighting, excellent battery life stretching over eight weeks, and the comprehensive access to the Amazon bookstore ecosystem. Conversely, the primary cons are that it does not offer a radical overhaul from the 2012 model, making it a less essential upgrade for current owners, and that Amazon excluded an AC power adapter from the box. Despite these limitations, it is praised for being a high-quality, reliable, and user-friendly e-reader.

The 2013 Kindle Paperwhite is hailed by Stuff.tv as a near-perfect e-reader, refining the previous model with a 5-star rated display featuring whiter backgrounds and sharper 6-inch e-paper for improved contrast. Performance is boosted by a 25% faster processor for snappier navigation, while an improved built-in light provides more even illumination to reduce eye strain. The display now refreshes less frequently, reducing distracting flickering, and boasts an impressive eight-week battery life. the review notes minor cons, including occasional ghosting, where faint remnants of previous text linger. Furthermore, the lack of physical buttons, sluggish PageFlip performance, and a design that remains largely unchanged are noted as minor drawbacks. Despite these, the device is considered the best on the market, combining improved hardware with the extensive Kindle store.

The 2013 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is presented as a refined, pocketable e-reader featuring a grippy design, faster processor, and a more responsive screen with a tighter touch grid. Enhanced display technology offers higher contrast and a more uniform built-in light, while software additions like PageFlip and Smart Lookup enhance usability. While praised as an excellent device, the review identifies the model as an "unspectacular upgrade" for existing owners, noting a "fiddly" brightness setting and occasional sluggishness in advanced features.

The 2013 Gizmodo review identifies the second-generation Kindle Paperwhite as the best e-reader available, driven by a significantly whiter, more evenly lit display and a faster processor that makes page turns and menu navigation snappier. Key improvements include reduced e-ink screen flashes, which now occur only every 13 to 14 pages, improving the overall reading experience. While maintaining a comfortable, portable design, the device's main drawbacks include annoying "Special Offers" ads on the lock screen and the lack of an AC adapter in the box.