Is Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Worth It? [Review!]
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The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is supposed to be an upgrade over the standard Kindle Paperwhite. Naturally, it comes with a heftier price tag as well!
But the question that most ebook readers will have is whether the higher price tag is worth the upgraded features! Is Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Worth Buying?
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is definitely worth buying if you are looking for a new Kindle. It has one of the best battery life, comes with auto-adjusting lights, waterproof capabilities, wireless charging, audible support via bluetooth, and 32GB of storage!
In this article, we shall take a look at all the key features that you get with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. We shall also evaluate how it stacks up against the other Kindle variants and whether you should consider buying the Signature Edition over the other Kindle models!
So, let’s dive in!
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Features
In order to understand whether the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is worth considering, we need to take a look at all the features that it comes with. So, let’s take a look at all the key features of this Kindle:
1. Screen Size
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition comes with a 6.8 inch glare-free display. The resolution of the screen is 300 ppi. The 300 ppi display resolution is standard across all the Kindle variants, and it makes the text look quite crisp and clear for reading.
The bezels of the Signature Edition are slightly shorter than the standard Kindle Paperwhite.
The overall screen size is quite good as it strikes a good balance between the compactness and screen real-estate that you get for reading the books.
That said, don’t expect to read magazines or comic books on this screen size. It won’t be a great reading experience. Then again, most people considering this device will mostly be interested in reading standard books! So, the display is pretty good for that requirement.
2. Dimensions
The overall dimensions of the Signature Edition is quite similar to that of the Kindle Paperwhite. The specific dimensions of the device are 6.9” x 4.9” x .32” (174 x 125 x 8.1 mm).
The Signature Edition also weighs about 208 grams which is almost the same as the Kindle Paperwhite (205 grams).
3. Storage
The device storage is one place where the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition stands out. It comes with 32GB storage option.
According to a detailed study done by TheBookBuff, 1 GB of storage space on a Kindle can easily hold about 250 to 300 books. By that calculation, 32GB on the Signature Edition can hold anywhere between 7500 to 9000 books!
Now, I know that is way more than what most people would read! Thus, the 32GB of storage on Signature Edition is best suited for people who are also interested in Audible audiobooks.
By the way – if you don’t use audiobooks, you should really check them out! Audible is currently offering a FREE Trial for 1 month. Using audiobooks allows you to read more books even when you are walking, doing household work, or exercising!
4. Battery Life
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition gets one of the best battery life amongst all the Kindle models offered by Amazon.
According to Amazon, the Signature Edition can easily provide upto 10 weeks of battery life on a single charge! This is based on 30 minutes of reading at 13 point brightness.
While these are lab based test results, in our real-world experience, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition can easily deliver about 8 weeks of battery life on a single charge. This is based on reading about 1 to 2 hours on a daily basis with WiFi turned on occasionally to download books.
These figures can vary based on your reading habits and user behavior.
5. Wireless Charging
While some people may concern themselves with the battery life of the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, a key point to note is that the Kindle can easily be charged from 0% to 100% within 3.5 hours!
The Signature Edition is the only Kindle variant that also comes with wireless charging capabilities. It is compatible with most Qi Wireless Chargers. It is worth noting that the charger doesn’t come with the Kindle and you have to buy that separately.
Still, if you are a fan of wireless charging, you will find this feature of the Signature Edition quite handy.
Also, if you are looking for a wireless charger, I would recommend considering this wireless charger [on Amazon] designed specifically for the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. It also couples are a dock for your Kindle Paperwhite so you can continue reading while the Kindle is charging!
6. Auto-adjusting Front Lights
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition also comes with auto-adjusting front lights; a feature reserved for premium variants of the Kindle lineup!
This is a great feature to have for a reader as it allows the Kindle to automatically adjust the lighting on your device based on the ambient light. Adjusting the lights automatically reduces the affect on your eyes especially during prolonged reading sessions.
It is worth pointing out that it is not terribly difficult to manually adjust the lights on the Kindle. However, I’ve seen that when I’m engrossed in reading, I tend to forget to adjust the lights and the auto-adjusting front lights does make reading easier on the eyes for me!
7. Waterproof Capabilities
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition also comes with an IPX8 rating. This means, the Kindle can withstand an accidental immersion in water upto a depth of 2 meters (or 6 feet) for 60 minutes in fresh water.
This makes the Kindle more convenient to carry for reading at the beach, next to the pool or even for a bath!
Here’s a full list of all the detailed technical specifications of the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition:
Signature Edition vs Standard Kindle Paperwhite
The Signature Edition of the Kindle Paperwhite is often compared with the Standard Kindle Paperwhite as there are marginal differences between the two devices.
In a nutshell, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition gets everything that the standard Kindle Paperwhite comes with. Plus, you get a few additional features.
Let’s take a look at how each of the two Kindles stack up against each other!
| Features | Signature Edition | Kindle Paperwhite |
|---|---|---|
| Most Recent Release | 2021 | 2021 |
| Screen Size | 6.8″ | 6.8″ |
| Device Storage | 32GB only | 8GB or 16GB |
| Weight | 208 grams | 205 grams |
| Front Lights | 17 LEDs | 17 LEDs |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustable Warm Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-adjusting lights | Yes | No |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | No |
| Lock screen Ads | No | Yes (pay extra to remove) |
| Link to Product | Check Latest Price | See Latest Price |
Overall, the base model of the Standard Kindle Paperwhite is usually priced at around $139. Whereas, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is usually priced at about $189.
You might be tempted to think that there is a difference of $50 between the base model of the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. However, don’t forget, you have to pay an extra $20 on the base model to remove the ads whereas the Signature Edition doesn’t come with ads!
Thus, in reality, the difference between the base model and the Signature Edition is $30.
So, what do you get for spending this extra $30 on the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?
- 32GB storage (4 times more than the base model that gets just 8GB)
- Auto-adjusting front light
- Wireless Charging Capabilities
In my opinion, any one of the above three features alone is worth the extra $30! However, if you already own a Kindle Paperwhite that works just fine, you don’t really need to upgrade (unless you want one of the above features).
But, if you are planning to buy a new Kindle, I would highly recommend considering the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition as the extra features are totally worth the marginal cost that you need to pay!
Verdict: Is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Worth Buying?
I already alluded to this point in the previous section. But, here’s what it boils down to:
Generally speaking, the Kindle Paperwhite models (both the standard Kindle Paperwhite as well as the Signature Edition of the Kindle Paperwhite) are currently the best Kindle variants to buy as they provide the most bang for the buck!
The standard Kindle Paperwhite comes with 8GB and 16GB storage options. If you plan to use your Kindle for just reading books, these storage options should be good enough for you as you can easily download thousands of ebooks on either of the two variants.
However, if you also like listening to audiobooks, or if you prefer to get better storage, auto-adjusting lights, or wireless charging capabilities, then the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is a must have!
In my opinion, the extra $30 are totally worth the three additional features that you get with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.
Lastly, if you plan to buy a Kindle as a gift, I would recommend considering the standard Kindle Paperwhite, whereas if you are planning to buy the Kindle for your own consumption, do consider the Signature Edition!
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