Amazon Kindle Review

Amazon kindle

The new Kindle comes in two flavours: 3G and Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi only. There's a £40 difference in the two Kindles, but the choice really comes down to how you want to consume your ebook content. If you are going to be buying books on the go, then the 3G version is for you.

If you are going to restrict your book buying to your Wi-Fi enabled home, or whenever you hit a hotspot, then this is the one you want.

The size of the device itself has been significantly reduced, but without any reduction to the reading area. This stays at a decent six inches.

The new slim look definitely suits the Kindle. It now feels like the paperback version, rather than a bulky hardback.

Weight-wise, it is a full 15 per cent lighter, making this one of the most comfortable ebook readers we have held. At 247g, there is absolutely no strain on the arm – it's even lighter than most paperbacks.

And it you choose Wi-Fi only, then the weight is snipped to a stupidly lean 241g.


Once we did take our eyes off of the look of the device – and the new granite chassis is very desirable – the thing that grabs your attention most is the screen. Yes, it's the same size as prior Kindle's but the e-ink is clearer, with Amazon bringing an all-new ink solution to the device.

It's of a higher contrast and even under the brightest sunlight, it looks brilliantly clear. The fonts have also been tweaked to be easier on the eye and pages turn that little bit faster.

There is still that jarring 'bleed' you get with page turns, but it is definitely speedier.


Memory size has also become bigger. You can now store 3,500 books on the Kindle. Which is an impressive feat, considering that's almost the whole of Barbara Cartland collection. Almost.

The battery life has also been extended so that you can "live" for a month without charging the thing. If you are heavy on the Wi-Fi use, though, this is restricted to just 10 days.

When it comes to the 3G, Amazon isn't messing around with microSIMs, but is giving its 3G away for free, so you don't have to worry about the cash you are spending on data transfers. Given the rather small files ebooks come in, we doubt you would be worried about this but it is a decent gesture anyway.


Something has clicked with the new Kindle. If you are unsure about a dedicated ebook device, then this is something which may well change your mind.

In relation to other devices on the market it is cheap. When it comes to font clarity, nothing else competes and direct access to the Kindle store from the device means you aren't tied to a computer when you use the thing.

We never thought we'd say it but maybe time is ticking away for the humble paperback.



The new Amazon Kindle UK release date is 27 August. Cost £149 with the free 3G (supplied by Vodafone) or £109 for a Wi-Fi only version.