Kindle Paperwhite 5

Deals and Price Comparison

Last updated on 1. September 2025 at 22:10 – All statements without guarantee.

Video Review

Kindle Paperwhite 5: At a Glance

The current Kindle Paperwhite is an 11th-generation Kindle, the fifth Paperwhite in the series, and for the first time, it features a larger display. The screen now measures 6.8 inches, making it noticeably larger than its four predecessors (6 inches). This places the Paperwhite between the standard Kindle base model (6 inches) and the Kindle Oasis 3 (7 inches). This mid-range positioning was likely a major reason for increasing the screen size, making the new model stand out more clearly from the more affordable entry-level version.

The Paperwhite (center) now has a larger display than the base Kindle (bottom right)

At the same time, despite its consistently excellent build quality and feel, the Paperwhite still keeps some distance from the Oasis—the king of haptics. The more expensive Kindle sibling features a premium aluminum housing and an ergonomic, asymmetrical design with page-turn buttons.

With its newly added color temperature adjustment feature, however, the Kindle Paperwhite 5 is still a very worthwhile alternative to the far pricier Kindle Oasis. Aside from haptics and build, the Paperwhite can easily hold its own against the Oasis.

Multiple Paperwhite Versions

Another interesting development is that, for the first time in the Paperwhite’s history, Amazon has released several versions of the device with different names:

1. The standard Kindle Paperwhite 5 described here,
2. the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, and
3. the Kindle Paperwhite Kids Edition.

Previously, the Kids Edition was only available for the basic Kindle. Now, there’s a Kindle Paperwhite Kids Edition, which includes a protective case, Amazon Kids+, and a 2-year worry-free guarantee. For parents of children who love to read, this is a very appealing option.

Things get even more interesting with the Signature Edition, as it’s actually a device with slightly different hardware. Visually, the standard Paperwhite and the Signature Edition look (almost) identical.

The only visible difference on the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is the barely noticeable light sensor at the center of the top edge of the device

However, the Signature Edition comes with more storage (32 GB), wireless charging capability, and a light sensor for automatic brightness adjustment. This ad-free version costs €189.99, which is €20 more than the ad-free, regular 16 GB Paperwhite.

Even Better Hardware

The Kindle Paperwhite isn’t just impressive on paper—the hardware delivers in real-world use too, with very evenly distributed screen lighting and excellent contrast levels.

The improved contrast is made possible by the new E-Ink Carta 1200 display technology, an advancement over the already familiar Carta displays found in earlier models.

Page turns on the Kindle Paperwhite now feature a subtle animation—still faintly visible here on the left edge of the screen

A seemingly small update that should, however, make daily use noticeably easier in the future is the charging port: for the first time, the Paperwhite features USB-C, replacing the micro-USB ports found on previous models. With a 9-watt charger, you can now fully recharge the eReader in 2.5 hours. This is especially handy since, after years of debate over universal standards, USB-C is now the norm for nearly all new portable electronics. Micro-USB ports are quickly disappearing from most households.

Refinements in Software

It’s not just the hardware that’s been improved; Amazon has also refined the software. Several small updates make the device even easier to use. In particular, the redesigned navigation between the home screen and library, as well as the updated reading options, make everyday reading more convenient.

However, one significant drawback from previous generations remains unchanged: the closed ecosystem. As expected, the eBook reader is heavily tied to the Kindle eBook and Audible audiobook platforms. Buying eBooks and audiobooks outside the Amazon universe is still hardly feasible. Of course, this isn’t solely a negative, since the convenience of purchasing directly from the eReader—already linked to your Amazon account—is hard to beat.

Conclusion

The new Kindle Paperwhite doesn’t disappoint. Its improved, larger screen and further refined software take reading comfort to the next level, even compared to its already outstanding predecessors.

For the first time in a long while, it’s genuinely worth recommending the new device even to owners of older models—a switch could be a smart move, even for those with a Paperwhite 4, given all the new features.

The Kindle Paperwhite 5 isn’t just the best Paperwhite so far—it’s one of the best eReaders around

For everyone else, the recommendation is even more clear: the Kindle Paperwhite 5 is a very successful update offering outstanding value for money. You really can’t go wrong with this purchase.

Kindle Paperwhite 5: Full Review

The Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon’s most successful e-reader line of all time. The current model is the fifth Paperwhite and has been on the market since 2021. It’s the most extensive facelift the Paperwhite series has seen to date and brings a number of major changes, which we’ll examine and evaluate in detail in the review below.

Build & features

At first glance, the overall design of the Kindle Paperwhite 5 hasn’t changed much, but look closer and you’ll notice the dimensions are slightly different. That’s due to the larger screen (more on that in a moment).

Thanks to the symmetrical, slim side and top bezels, the Paperwhite actually isn’t much bigger than its predecessor.

Bigger display, but barely larger dimensions: Kindle Paperwhite 5 (left) vs. Kindle Paperwhite 4 (right)

And the weight hasn’t changed dramatically either: at 205 grams it’s about 20 grams heavier than its direct predecessor, but weighs the same as the model before that.

For an almost 7-inch eBook reader this weight is perfectly fine, and the latest Paperwhite remains easy and comfortable to handle. In the hand, the Paperwhite feels as good as ever, as it largely uses the same materials as before: a soft-touch plastic back and a flush front display.

The back is quite prone to scratches

What did get on my nerves after a short time, though, is how sensitive the back is. If you use the Paperwhite 5 without a case, the material picks up scratches quickly and is susceptible to fingerprints. If that kind of thing bothers you, you’re best off using a case.

Apart from that small misstep, the Paperwhite’s build quality is very good and on par with previous models.

Overall, the Paperwhite has excellent build quality

A small but important change is the move to USB-C, which is now used on more and more devices. In that respect, the Paperwhite is future-proof.

Display & lighting

One of the biggest upgrades is undoubtedly the display. It has grown to 6.8 inches. It’s the first time a Paperwhite has had a larger screen—every previous generation used a 6-inch panel. That’s certainly sufficient for comfortable reading, but the larger screen makes it that bit more pleasant—while the device’s overall footprint stays almost the same.

Very good readability without the light

And although the Paperwhite 5 as a whole isn’t much larger than the Paperwhite 4, the screen real estate feels significantly more generous. That makes everyday use easier and lets you either use larger text without having to turn pages as often, or simply show more text per page while keeping the font size the same.

Another key selling point is the newer E Ink Carta 1200 technology. In terms of contrast, it’s currently the best e-paper tech on the market.

Without the front light, the 300-ppi display doesn’t look dramatically different from previous generations. But you do get a real wow moment when you turn on the integrated light.

Excellent readability with the light on

The Kindle Paperwhite line has always been known for its excellent contrast and readability, but this model sets a new benchmark. Black text looks incredibly rich and really pops.

There are only two other models that can keep up with this display quality: the Kobo Libra 2 and the Tolino Vision 6.

As is typical for a lit E Ink screen, the eBook reader is illuminated from the front. The LEDs are positioned along the bottom edge of the device, and a special light guide distributes the light evenly across the display.

Lighting in the dark (50% night mode)

Alongside the larger screen, the second big change for the Paperwhite line is the addition of adjustable color temperature. Over the past few years this has become an industry standard across manufacturers, so the update wasn’t exactly a surprise—but it’s very welcome. In the evening you can switch the light to a warm, orange hue, which, at least to my eyes, is far more comfortable than the cool white you use during the day.

Lighting in the dark (100% night mode)

It’s not just the contrast that’s excellent—the lighting quality is outstanding and looks very, very uniform to the naked eye. Combined with the contrast, this is probably one of the best and most even front lights we’ve seen on an eBook reader.

In short, the Kindle Paperwhite is a standout across the board when it comes to display quality.

Reading & usability

There’s been plenty of change on the software side, too.

What you notice right away is the stronger focus on store content on the home screen. That’s always been part of the homescreen, but the new interface surfaces various store items even more prominently now. The books in your library used to take up about two thirds of the old home screen; now they occupy a little less than half.

New layout on the home screen

On the ad-supported version, the banner at the bottom of the screen has been removed. Instead, the main navigation has moved to the bottom. After a short adjustment period, I actually found this much clearer than the old setup.

The top navigation bar has also been tidied up and modernized, which benefits both the look and overall usability.

In short, the new firmware makes better overall use of the available space. Rather than lots of little context pop-ups, the UI now uses more overlays. Multi-page views also always have a side scroll bar now, not just a subtle page indicator at the bottom. That improves oversight when you have a lot of content on the device.

One change some users didn’t take to as well concerns the library. Amazon has removed the pure list view without book covers. There’s still a list view, but it always shows covers, which means fewer titles fit on a page—now five instead of seven.

List view now always with covers

That’s probably not a big deal for most Kindle users, but it would still have been nice to keep the option to hide book covers.

Another thing that won’t matter to most people, but may annoy heavy users, is the removal of the Vocabulary Builder link from the main context menu. Previously you could open it from the home screen or library. Now you have to be inside an eBook, which meant I simply couldn’t find the feature at first.

The Vocabulary Builder is now a bit more hidden

Reading eBooks (ePub & more)

The library offers various filtering and sorting options as well as the ability to create collections. You can also manage these via Calibre with the appropriate plugin. Audiobooks are included in the library as well.

You can create notes in an eBook by highlighting a word or larger passage with your finger, then typing your comment on the virtual QWERTZ keyboard and saving it. When you create notes, a text file is generated automatically, which you can easily copy to your computer via USB-C and use further if needed.

Taking notes with the virtual QWERTZ keyboard

The dictionary feature remains one of the best in the e-reader space. There are over 40 explanatory and translation dictionaries. Thanks to their generally high quality, you usually find what you’re looking for.

I do find installing dictionaries a bit cumbersome, though. Instead of a dedicated install screen, you have to download them via the library. Other mainstream manufacturers like PocketBook or Tolino handle this in a more convenient and intuitive way.

Excellent dictionary function thanks to high-quality dictionaries

Text formatting options let you adjust boldness, font size, typeface, margins, and line spacing. If you like to use different settings from book to book, you can save them as custom presets to switch quickly later. You can also install your own fonts.

Other

The Kindle software also offers a few other features many competitors don’t, though they’re less obvious.

There’s a Kids Mode that lets you lock the Kindle interface down to selected functions. For example, you can block the store or the browser. You can also track reading progress with this mode, so as a parent you can keep an eye on how much is being read.

With X-Ray you can pull up additional information within an eBook, such as details about characters, places, or terms. That’s especially useful for complex, text-heavy titles like A Song of Ice and Fire.

Word Wise increases line spacing and displays explanations right inline

The Vocabulary Builder is also a rarity in the e-reading space. It lets you test whether the words you looked up actually stuck. And with Word Wise, selected eBooks can display explanations directly above difficult words without you even opening the dictionary.

Reading PDFs

Reading PDF files, on the other hand, isn’t exactly one of the Kindle Paperwhite’s strengths.

Thanks to the 300-ppi resolution, you can skim a zoomed-out PDF for a better overview. And for actual reading you can zoom into a page and boost contrast to improve legibility. That can be useful if anti-aliasing makes the text look too soft.

But that’s about it. While the PDF feature works fine for what it does, I’d recommend treating the Paperwhite primarily as an eBook reader and seeing PDF capability as a bonus. PocketBook or Onyx Boox offer far more capable solutions in this area.

Audible audiobooks

Audible integration is on board again. The Kindle Paperwhite can play audiobooks over Bluetooth to compatible speakers or headphones. It’s handy that you don’t have to wait for a full download—you can start listening while it’s still downloading, with the rest pulling down in the background.

The player itself is fairly simple, but it does the job.

Unfortunately, the Kindle Paperwhite can’t play your own audiobooks or music; Amazon relies exclusively on Audible integration here. If you don’t want to go without that option, the PocketBook Era is one alternative.

Audiobooks can be played via Bluetooth to speakers or headphones

What the competition doesn’t have, however, is Whispersync for Voice.

If you’ve purchased both an eBook and the matching audiobook, you can switch seamlessly between them and pick up right where you left off in either. It only works with compatible titles and not every eBook or audiobook, but it’s a great feature nonetheless.

Due to fixed book pricing, eBooks can’t be offered at a lower price than set, while audiobooks are usually cheaper than usual. So if you’ve bought the eBook first, the audiobook is typically much cheaper. Of course, there are still additional costs, which can add up if you use this feature frequently.

Amazon provides the Matchmaker tool to scan your Kindle library for Whispersync for Voice titles.

Buying eBooks and audiobooks

Using the built-in Kindle eBook store couldn’t be easier. If you bought the Kindle Paperwhite on the Amazon website and linked it to your account, you don’t need to sign in again. As soon as Wi‑Fi is set up on the device, you’re good to go.

The store itself is split into Kindle eBooks and Audible audiobooks. The recommendation system works well based on your past purchases.

Speed and battery life

Compared to its already snappy predecessor, the new Kindle Paperwhite is even more responsive. It opens eBooks and menus faster than the previous model—noticeable both side by side and on its own.

Despite the larger display and brighter lighting, I noticed nothing unusual with battery life in my tests. Amazon’s runtime claims—depending on how much you read and how bright you set the light—are quite accurate.

If you listen to audiobooks a lot, you’ll of course need to charge the eBook reader more often. In that case, it may be worth looking at the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which can also be charged wirelessly with the right dock. That’s naturally appealing for other users too, but the convenience difference isn’t huge if you rarely need to charge the Paperwhite anyway.

Conclusion

I always look forward to a Kindle Paperwhite update, because Amazon has a good feel for meaningful improvements.

That’s true this time as well. More than in recent years, though, Amazon also surprised with the Kindle Paperwhite 5—especially the larger screen, which few people expected. And overall, every change, such as the higher contrast and adjustable color temperature, has had a positive impact on comfort.

The best Kindle Paperwhite yet and an easy recommendation

There is one crucial drawback you should keep in mind amid all this praise: the entire user experience is geared toward buying eBooks and audiobooks from Amazon and Audible.

That’s convenient on the one hand, but it also locks you into that ecosystem. Switching to another e-reader brand usually means you can’t take your eBook or audiobook library with you.

Whether that’s actually a problem depends on your buying and reading habits. If you already use a Kindle, it’s generally not an issue.

All told, the software changes are successful, too. You may need an extra tap for certain actions, but overall clarity has improved.

My verdict: the current Kindle Paperwhite is the best Paperwhite ever made. The series’ biggest changes add up to a significantly more comfortable experience.

Even if you own the immediate predecessor, the upgrade is, for once, worth it in my view. The larger screen and, in particular, the adjustable color temperature noticeably improve the reading experience.

So if you want to read as conveniently as possible and don’t want to fuss with the ins and outs of eBook purchase options and the like, it’s hard to go wrong with the Kindle Paperwhite. In our eBook reader comparison, the Paperwhite once again wins our overall value-for-money award across all categories.

Kindle Paperwhite 5: Technical Specifications

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