Kindle Fire or Paperwhite - a buying guide
Amazon's Kindle family is growing rapidly. We'll show you whether you should prefer the Kindle Fire or the Paperwhite - depending on your needs. For this we give you the most important key data of the two models and discuss what is the best Kindle for.
The Kindle Fire family of tablets
Kindle Fire HD and HDX are not simple e-book readers. The two models can do much more:
- Both versions are available with a 7 and 8.9 inch display size. You can also choose from different memory sizes. These range from 8 to 64 GB.
- All Kindle Fire models have a color display and can be operated by touch. The Fire HDX also benefits from better resolution.
- Not only can you read e-books on Kindle Fire, you can also install apps. The tablet works with Android - even if this is not immediately apparent at first glance. Unfortunately, you still have no access to the Google Play Store: Amazon only operates its own App Store on Kindle Fire. As a Prime customer, you benefit from special services - for example from the Kindle lending library.
- Depending on the configuration, a Kindle Fire costs between 129 and 594 euros. In addition to display size, storage capacity and radio technology (only WLAN or WLAN + 3G / 4G), the so-called special offers are also decisive. If you buy a cheaper Kindle with these offers, you will see advertisements on the lock screen.
The illuminated e-book reader Kindle Paperwhite
- The Kindle Paperwhite has only one display size to choose from: 6 inches.
- The Paperwhite does not have a color display, but an e-ink display with lighting. This does not reflect in strong sunlight - in contrast to a normal tablet display. In addition, it almost looks as if it were made of paper. Read like a book and your eyes won't get tired easily. This type of display also saves energy, which means that battery life of up to 8 weeks is possible.
- The Kindle Paperwhite is purely intended to read e-books and documents such as PDFs. Nevertheless, it has additional functions such as an internet browser. Here you can also benefit from the lending library for Prime customers.
- The Paperwhite is available as a model with WLAN and as a variant with WLAN and 3G. Depending on the equipment, you pay 129 or 189 euros. The previous models are available for 119 or 169 euros. The advantage of the 3G variant: you don't pay for the mobile Internet, but you can only use it to buy and download books on the go.
Buy Kindle Fire or Paperwhite?
Which of the two models you should choose depends on what you want to use it for:
Kindle Fire: Affordable full-fledged tablet
The Kindle Fire is a full-fledged tablet that also works perfectly with the Kindle shop and also has an app store.
- Here you can also use the lending library, which, for example, does not work on an Android tablet with the Kindle app.
- The purchase of a Kindle Fire is particularly worthwhile if you are looking for a cheap tablet with many functions. If you mainly read e-books, it is less recommended.
Kindle Paperwhite: Purebred e-book reader
The Kindle Paperwhite is a mature e-book reader that scores particularly well with its ease of reading.
- This model is the right choice if you already have a tablet (or don't need one) and just want to read with the device. Especially when traveling, it is a good, energy-saving companion.
- By the way, the Kindle Paperwhite is the undisputed first place among the best e-book readers in our CHIP leaderboard.