Ive been a Kindle user for over a decade – heres why the Paperwhite is still my top choice

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I’ve used the TCL Nxtpaper Tab 10 as my e-reader for about half a year now. Soon after switching to the tablet, I passed off my 2018 Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation) to my daughter and my 2020 iPad to my husband. Then I tried the latest Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, and I’m not sure I can give it up.

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The TCL tablet offers full-color paper, color paper, and black-and-white paper modes, giving you the full experience of a tablet and an e-reader. I love that I can turn pages and navigate the Kindle app on the TCL as quickly as on a smartphone or tablet, while still looking like an e-reader and putting my slow, six-year-old Kindle to shame.

When Amazon unveiled its new Kindle lineuplast fall, I fell for it like a ripe coconut on a sunny beach. I’ve been a Kindle user for about 15 years, and I’ve been reading it every night to wind down before bed. While a new Kindle may not seem exciting given the device’s simplicity, the 2024 Kindle lineup is Amazon’s largest upgrade in years, offering the first full-color Kindle and the fastest page turns yet.

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Although the TCL Nxtpaper tablet has many benefits, the Kindle Paperwhite SE has several key advantages that have made me reach for it more than the TCL. Most importantly, the new Kindle Paperwhite weighs just 7.5 ounces and features a smaller seven-inch display than my tablet. This makes it easier to hold the Kindle in one hand, something I struggled with daily with the 10-inch, 16.9-oz TCL tablet.

Nobody wants to carry around a 1lb book, especially if you read for long periods and like to hold your e-reader in one hand.

Size and weight aside, the Kindle Paperwhite SE has up to 12 weeks of battery life on a single charge. This is based on a half hour of reading per day with the wireless off and the light setting at 13, so your mileage may vary.

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My TCL tablet, in turn, offers about 20 hours of battery life, which is impressive for a tablet. I charge it about once a week and read for about an hour each night.

I’ve been using the Kindle Paperwhite for about two weeks and haven’t needed to charge it after the initial charge. This is pretty typical for a Kindle; my 10th-generation Kindle Paperwhite lasted about three weeks, reading with the backlight for just under an hour a day.

After two weeks of daily reading on a single charge, some days for up to three hours a day, my Kindle Paperwhite’s battery is still at 32%. According to Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite could last about 42 hours of reading with the brightness at 13.

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Considering I’ve read for 29.5 hours over the past two weeks and the battery is at 32%, the estimations seem pretty accurate.

Aside from a long battery life, the fastest page turns I’ve seen on a Kindle, and the benefit of a lightweight, compact e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite SE also has the advantage of being a dedicated, distraction-free reading device.

The Signature Edition also features 32GB of storage and support for wireless charging.

ZDNET’s buying advice

You don’t have to worry about notifications or distractions from social media or other apps pulling you away from your reading, as a Kindle is a simple device dedicated solely to your reading hobby.

Kindle e-readers are built to last several years, so I’d recommend the Kindle Paperwhite to anyone upgrading from a three-year or older Kindle. I typically use my Kindle devices for six years, but I could see the latestKindle Paperwhite lasting eight years or longer, making the purchase even more worthwhile.