Stephen King once said, “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” He used the phrase to emphasise how books can transport readers to different times, places, and lives. Amazon might argue it took that line quite literally with the Kindle – a portable device capable of carrying thousands of books. I still own a ten-year-old 7th Gen Kindle Paperwhite that has weathered many, many seasons, so naturally, I was more excited about the launch of the new Kindle Paperwhite in India (priced at Rs 16,999) than I’ve been about reviewing the latest smartphones.
The 2024 12th Gen Kindle Paperwhite is now available in India, and it boasts a larger screen, the highest contrast ratio ever on a Kindle, slimmer bezels, faster page turns, and more. I used the device daily for two straight weeks, read through a couple of very compelling e-books, and came out the other side thoroughly satisfied.
Table of Contents
Design
The first thing you’ll notice after setting up the Kindle is the new 7-inch display – the largest ever on a Paperwhite. It’s marginally larger than the 6.8-inch display on the 2021 model and a full inch bigger than my 2014 Kindle Paperwhite. This increase was made possible by slimming down the bezels even further. While the Kindle still has relatively thick bezels, I would argue they’re necessary to hold the device without your fingers or palm accidentally touching the screen.
The Kindle remains slim and lightweight, two important factors that make it comfortable to hold for extended reading sessions. It weighs 211 grams (as much as the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, for reference) and measures 7.8mm in thickness (as slim as the iPhone 16).
I tried to get most of my reading done during my metro rides to and from the office, and I could easily hold the new Kindle Paperwhite with one hand throughout the journey. As Oscar Wilde once said, “One should always have something sensational to read in the train.”
While I still love reading physical books at home, the Kindle is absolutely fantastic for reading on the go, especially on a bus or train, where you don’t have to struggle with turning pages while keeping a hand on the rail for support. The other time the Kindle is useful for me is at bedtime with the lights out.
Display
Coming to the reading experience – which is what it’s all about – the 7-inch screen on the latest Kindle Paperwhite is excellent. The backlit display offers ample brightness, even when you’re reading outdoors in direct sunlight. I typically set the brightness to the midpoint and had no trouble reading under the harsh summer sun in Delhi. What makes this even better is the anti-glare screen, which ensures there are no distracting reflections to pull you out of your reading experience.
Kindle introduced the adjustable warm light feature in the 2021 Paperwhite, and the latest model carries it forward. You can manually adjust both brightness and warm light levels by swiping down from the top of the screen to access the display controls. There’s also the option to switch between light and dark modes, depending on your environment. I usually keep light mode on during the day and switch to dark mode at night, especially when I squeeze in some reading just before bed.
The 7-inch display definitely looks good, allowing for more readable text on the screen. When I place my personal Kindle Paperwhite next to the new one, the difference is noticeable.
Should Amazon have gone for a bigger screen and slimmer bezels? Sure. A larger display in the same footprint is always welcome. But for a device designed solely for reading books, a 7-inch screen is quite adequate, in my opinion. And as I mentioned earlier, bezels serve a purpose: they give your palm or fingers a place to rest without interfering with the screen.
Features
Waterproof
One of the most practical features of the Kindle Paperwhite 12th Gen is its IPX8 waterproof rating, which means it can withstand being submerged in up to 2 meters of fresh water for up to 60 minutes. Whether you’re reading by the pool, in the bath, or get caught in a sudden downpour during your commute, you don’t have to worry about splashes or drops of water on the device.
Highlighting
Highlighting on the Kindle works just like it does on a physical book. Simply press and hold a word or sentence to highlight it, and the Kindle will save it for later reference. You can also take notes, look up definitions, or even translate words instantly. For someone who reads to learn or enjoys revisiting favourite passages, this is a seamless and intuitive feature that enriches the reading experience. That said, highlighting lines was not always the smoothest, as I did notice lags and touch response issues.
Reading themes
Introduced in recent software updates, Reading Themes let you personalise the look of your text with ease. You can now choose from presets like “Compact,” “Standard,” or “Large” that adjust font size, weight, line spacing, and margins all at once. You can also create your own custom theme if none of the presets feel quite right. It’s a thoughtful feature that acknowledges how personal the act of reading really is.
Book cover as lock screen
It might seem like a small thing, but the ability to set your current book’s cover as your lock screen goes a long way in making the Kindle feel more like a real book. Every time you pick up the device, you’re reminded of the story you’re immersed in. It’s a simple visual cue that enhances immersion and makes the Kindle feel less like a gadget and more like a book. That said, this isn’t a new feature as my 7th Gen Kindle Paperwhite has the feature as well.
Performance
Under the hood, the dual-core processor delivers a noticeable boost in speed. Amazon claims page turns are 25 percent faster, which feels true, as I did notice the quickness and smoothness of page turns, especially when turning pages rapidly to check. Navigating through the library or Kindle Store feels so much more responsive than my old Kindle, making it more exciting to read books on this than it was before. While you can still feel some lag when scrolling through the Kindle library, adjusting the brightness, highlighting a line, and so on, the overall response, especially while turning the page, feels snappy.
Of course, one shouldn’t expect smartphone-level responsiveness and performance. The Kindle is designed primarily for reading and browsing through a vast library of books. Its performance feels just right for reading, though there’s room for improvement when it comes to navigating the library.
Battery life
The new Kindle Paperwhite’s battery life is stellar. I could end this section right there, but it helps to explain what that actually means in practice. During testing, a one-hour reading session with brightness set to the midpoint resulted in just a 2 percent drop in battery. In fact, I unboxed the device at 44 percent, and after using it daily for about an hour, I was still at 26 percent a full week later.
Amazon claims the Kindle can last up to 12 weeks on a single charge, and based on my experience, that doesn’t seem far-fetched. Of course, the battery life you get depends on your reading habits. If you are someone who reads for a few hours during the day and night, you’ll probably drain the battery well before three months.
A 30-minute charge using a 65W GaN charger took the battery from 20 to 55 percent – a 35 percent increase – which is easily enough to last a month or more, depending on your reading habits.
Verdict
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
– George R.R. Martin
The line by the Game of Thrones author captures the essence of what Amazon continues to enable with the Kindle. The 12th Gen Kindle Paperwhite makes living those thousand lives easier and more convenient than ever. As someone who loves reading but struggles to find the time amidst the hustle and bustle of work, the new Kindle rekindled (pun intended!) my reading habit by being easy to carry and use during my daily commute.
With a larger 7-inch display, excellent battery life, waterproof design, and thoughtful features like adjustable warm light, reading themes, and the option to display your current book cover on the lock screen, the new Paperwhite feels like a polished evolution of an already beloved device. Performance improvements like faster page turns and better responsiveness are noticeable, though the UI still has room to improve, particularly when navigating the Kindle Store or highlighting text.
At Rs 16,999, the Kindle Paperwhite is a pricey e-reader. Unfortunately, Amazon doesn’t sell the basic Kindle in the country, which means the Paperwhite is the only model officially available. If you can grab it with a bank offer or at a discount during one of Amazon’s sales, it’s a worthwhile investment for anyone who reads regularly and wants a reliable, immersive, and portable reading companion.
Editor’s rating: 8 / 10
Pros:
- Lightweight and comfortable to hold
- Fantastic battery life
- Faster page turns and IPX8 water resistance
- Reading themes and book cover lock screen
Cons:
- UI still lags in places
- No major design overhaul
- Price may feel high for casual readers
