Amazon has recently updated their line of Kindle e-readers and because of these new offerings, sometimes the buyer can get confused as to which Kindle to buy. It’s very much essential to buy the right Kindle which suits your needs and requirements. There’s no need to spend more for the features that you are not going to use and therefore you should choose the Kindle model wisely. Here are some points that you should consider before buying a Kindle.
Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kindle Fire Models
The first question that should come to your mind is do you really need the Kindle Fire or would a Kindle Paperwhite suffice? If all you want is plain reading pleasure and you don’t plan on using it for browsing or for entertainment purpose, then Kindle Paperwhite is what you should get.
There are two models of Kindle Paperwhite:
- Kindle Paperwhite with WiFi: Costs $119
- Kindle Paperwhite 3G + WiFi: Costs $179
Paperwhite is the perfect device for eBook reading, be it for indoor purpose or outdoor and the best part is that you can expect upto 8-week of battery life (company claimed), while Kindle Fire HD 7″ model, can run only 11-hours (continuous use). So if you are planning on using your device for web browsing and for entertainment purpose, then only think about buying Kindle Fire models.
There are four different Kindle Fire models:
- Kindle Fire 7″: $159 for 8GB
- Kindle Fire HD 7″: $199 for 16GB
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9″: $299 for 16GB
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ 4G LTE: $499 for 32GB
Out of these four models, it is a tough choice to select the right one. Let’s take a look at all these models individually.
Kindle Fire
Kindle Fire is the cheapest model, which comes with 7-inch screen and 8GB storage. This model has also been updated by Amazon with faster processor and double the amount of RAM. You can read eBooks, run apps and games, watch movies and videos, listen songs, browse the web and can do much more with this device. Kindle Fire costs $159, with no option to choose a 16GB model. Minus points being the non-HD display and only 8GB of storage. If you are really on a strict budget, then go for it or else, go for Kindle Fire HD.
Kindle Fire HD 7″
Kindle Fire HD has a screen size of 7-inch and comes with a HD LCD display which can output a resolution of 1280×800 (720p). It comes with dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) for faster internet connection than the standard WiFi. Because of this, Amazon claims that it has the fastest WiFi compared to any other tablet in the market. This model can run continuously for 11 hours. Kindle Fire HD comes with two versions – you can select either the 16GB version for $199 or the 32GB version for $249. If you are searching for a powerful 7-inch tablet, then you can consider this.
Kindle Fire HD 8.9″
As the name suggests, this model comes with 8.9-inch screen size, HD LCD display with a resolution of 1920×1200 (1080p). Like the 7-inch version, this model also comes with dual-antenna WiFi for faster internet speeds. Compared to the 7-inch model which has 1.2GHz OMAP4460 processor, 8.9-inch model has faster and more powerful 1.5GHz OMAP4470 processor. Also it weights more compared to the 7-inch model. You have the option to buy the 16GB version for $299 or the 32GB version for $369.
Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ 4G
Lastly, you also have the option to buy Kindle Fire HD with 4G LTE from At&T. With this option, you don’t need to search for WiFi hotspots and you get 250MB a month for 12 months with a one-time payment of $49.99. You also have the option to choose from 32GB for $499 or 64GB for $599. Buy this model ONLY if you don’t have access to WiFi hotspot because you are paying a hefty amount of $200 extra for a 4G tablet. So if you have easy access to WiFi and don’t plan on using the 4G, then go for WiFi model and save more bucks.
All Kindle models come with Whispersync, which lets you synchronize your last page location, bookmarks and annotations across all your devices so you can pick up exactly where you left off reading. In short, it remembers your last read location.
Also Read: Kindle Fire HD vs. Nexus 7
Here is a small comparison between different Kindle Fire models, offered by Amazon.
Device | Kindle Fire 7″ | Kindle Fire HD 7″ | Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ | Kindle Fire HD 4G LTE 8.9″ |
Screen size | 7-inch | 7-inch | 8.9-inch | 8.9-inch |
Resolution | 1024×600 | 1280×800 | 1920×1200 | 1920×1200 |
Connectivity | WiFi | Dual-band, dual-antenna WiFi | Dual-band, dual-antenna WiFi | 4G LTE + Dual-band, dual-antenna WiFi |
Storage | 8GB | 16GB or 32GB | 16GB or 32GB | 32GB or 64GB |
Weight | 399 grams | 394 grams | 566 grams | 566 grams |
Processor | Dual-core 1.2GHz OMAP4430 | Dual-core 1.2GHz OMAP4460 | Dual-core 1.5GHz OMAP4470 | Dual-core 1.5GHz OMAP4470 |
Battery life | 8.5 hours continuous use | 11 hours continuous use | Not yet specified | Not yet specified |
Web browser | Amazon Silk | Amazon Silk | Amazon Silk | Amazon Silk |
The Final Verdict
It’s really easy to select the right Kindle model. If you’re going to use this device primarily for reading eBooks, then Kindle Paperwhite is what you should really get because of the superior Paperwhite display and 8 weeks of battery life. But if you’re going to watch movies, listen songs, browse the web and use it for other such purposes, then Kindle Fire HD is what you should get.
So go ahead and choose the right Kindle model for you, so that you don’t have to regret about your buying decision later. And yes, now is the right time to buy Kindle as it has been updated by Amazon.
Also Read: How to Print from eBooks
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