Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018) review

Return of the classic ereader, but with even more features

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Best in Class
Image Credit: TechRadar

TechRadar Verdict

The Kindle Paperwhite takes a lot of what we love about the more expensive, high-end Kindle Oasis and brings the core features into a more affordable package. This is a must-have ereader if you're after a way to read ebooks but you don't want to spend over $200 or £200.

Pros

  • +

    Waterproof design

  • +

    Audiobook integration

  • +

    A great reading experience

Cons

  • -

    Plastic design

  • -

    Limited color options

  • -

    Still uses microUSB

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Update: Amazon has now updated its Kindle range with a newer version of the Kindle Paperwhite from 2021.

Original: Amazon is the number one household name when it comes to ereaders, and the latest version of its Kindle Paperwhite comes packed with loads of features that are usually reserved for top-end devices.

The Paperwhite is the best-selling product in Amazon's Kindle range, and the latest version takes some of the best elements of the top-end and more expensive Kindle Oasis device and packages them into a more affordable ereader.

That includes a waterproof design and the ability to listen to audiobooks on your ereader too. There’s a lot to love here, but is this the best Kindle for you right now?

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite price and release date

You’re able to order the latest version of the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite on the retailer’s website now. It was released back in 2018.

The price starts at £119.99 / $129.99 / AU$199 for the 8GB version, and then there's a 32GB Wi-Fi only version that costs £149.99 / $159.99 / AU$249. If you want mobile internet on your Kindle, you'll get a 32GB version for £219.99 / $249.99 / AU$369.

Some countries have the choice of buying each Kindle with or without special offers, and the pricing above is for the ereader that does show you the special offers. You'll be spending around $10 or £10 more to get rid of those adverts. If you’re expecting to use your ereader a lot, we’d recommend doing just that.

Design and display

The Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon's mid-range ereader, sitting between the affordable Kindle and the top-end Kindle Oasis in Amazon's range, and the design reflects that.

It doesn't feel as premium as the Oasis - mostly as it has a plastic rear - but we found it easy to grasp, and it doesn't look bad. All of that said, we found it did quickly get quite grubby with fingerprints on the rear.

On the bottom edge you'll find the power button as well as the micro USB slot for charging, but apart from that the edges are clear of buttons, so you can comfortably grip the device without pressing anything by mistake.

The bezels around the screen are thicker than on some more upmarket ereaders, though. 

These sit flush with the display, giving the Paperwhite a more high-end look than its previous iterations and ensuring it now looks similar to the discontinued Kindle Voyage.

One omission is that there aren't any hardware buttons for changing the page. Instead you'll be using the touchscreen to flip through pages. We’ve found this to be reactive to the touch, so you won’t struggle scrubbing through pages in your latest book. 

The display itself is 6 inches with a resolution of 300 pixels per inch, which is the same as the last Paperwhite, and the perfect resolution for reading text.

The brightness has been slightly improved here, although it's not something we noticed particularly. 

That said, the last Kindle Paperwhite was already bright enough, but you may appreciate this change just a touch more when reading on a sun lounger.

If you want to change the look of your Kindle Paperwhite, you can wrap it in one of five cases. There are woven material options as well as two leather ones, and you can see the whole selection below. 

These can be bought from Amazon, with the woven material starting at £24.99 / $29.99 / AU$44.95 and the leather at £34.99 / $39.99 / AU$54.95. You'll also have the choice of the Kindle Paperwhite in black or Twilight Blue.

A big upgrade over the original Paperwhite, and one of a few features inherited from the top-end Oasis, is the fact the Kindle Paperwhite (2018) now comes with a waterproof design.

That means you can happily read in the bath, or while lounging by the pool, without having to worry about it getting splashed or dunked. It can survive up to 60 minutes at depths of up to 2 meters.

TOPICS
James Peckham

James is the Editor-in-Chief at Android Police. Previously, he was Senior Phones Editor for TechRadar, and he has covered smartphones and the mobile space for the best part of a decade bringing you news on all the big announcements from top manufacturers making mobile phones and other portable gadgets. James is often testing out and reviewing the latest and greatest mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, virtual reality headsets, fitness trackers and more. He once fell over.

Read more
Amazon Kindle Signature Edition in Jade on a cyan and blue background
The best Kindle in 2025: the top Amazon ereaders picked by an expert
Four Amazon Kindle models on an orange background
The best Amazon Kindle deals in December 2024
Best ereader Kobo Libra Colour in black and white on a purple and blue background
The best ereader for 2025: top ebook readers from Kindle, Kobo and more
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Missed it on Black Friday? The Kindle Paperwhite is back on sale again at Amazon
A powered-down Onyx Boox Go 6 on a table with books, headphones and spectacles
Onyx Boox Go 6 review: bugs and performance woes undermine a promising entry-level ereader
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature edition e-reader showing graphic novels, cookbooks, and fiction, as well as settings
Get a Kindle for Christmas? Here are 5 tips to improve your reading experience
Latest in eReaders
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2024 from the front
Hurry, Kindle owners! Today is your last chance to download backups of your ebooks – here's how to do it
A person holding the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) with the Home screen displayed
Amazon just killed a useful Kindle USB feature – leaving me stuck with less flexibility for ebook downloads and backups
A stylus selecting the AI Summary option on a Notebook of the Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024)
Your Kindle Scribe just became a better note-taking ereader with promised AI features rolling out widely now
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Missed it on Black Friday? The Kindle Paperwhite is back on sale again at Amazon
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft on an orange background
Amazon's brand-new Kindle Colorsoft just got its first discount – but there's a catch
A powered-down Onyx Boox Go 6 on a table with books, headphones and spectacles
Onyx Boox Go 6 review: bugs and performance woes undermine a promising entry-level ereader
Latest in Reviews
MacBook Air 15-inch with M4 chip on a creative's desk with screen open
I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people
Samsung Music Frame on a table beside some books and a vase
I spent six weeks listening to the Samsung Music Frame and it kept missing the beat
GlocalMe KeyTracker
When I tested this global tracker, it trounced the Apple AirTag in so many ways
Groov-e Boston DAB radio on a wooden table
I tested this affordable DAB radio and, sadly, its tinny output made me think of every car garage I've ever been to
An AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D on its retail packaging
I've reviewed three generations of 3D V-cache processors, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the best there is
Mac Studio on a desk
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): the ultimate creative workstation