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After three years , we finally see the all new Kindle paperwhite 5 .  It is a long time in the tech world.

Which part is upgraded or different between the two models ?

Display 

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2021 has a 6.8-inch screen, up from 6.0 inches on 2018 Paperwhite, so it’s significantly bigger here, and closer in size to the 7-inch Amazon Kindle Oasis.

Regarding the front light,  the new paperwhit has 17 LEDs, compared to five in the old model, allowing for a 10% higher maximum brightness. You can also adjust the warmth of the light from the display, which you can’t on the old model.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition could automatically adjust the brightness based on the environment.

Both the old and new Paperwhites both having 300 pixels per inch, so the new one is as clear as the old model.

Design

The Kindle Paperwhite 2021 is only available in black, while the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2018 is available in black, plum, sage and twilight blue shades.  That is a bit of shame.

Both ereaders have the same level of waterproofing as each other (an IPX8 rating allowing them to withstand submersion up to 2 meters deep in fresh water for up to 60 minutes).

The new model is also slightly bigger, as you’d expect given the larger screen, but the difference isn’t significant. The New Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2021 is 174 x 125 x 8.1mm, while the Kindle Paperwhite 2018 is 167 x 116 x 8.2mm. The difference in weight is small, with the the new model is 207g, old model being 182g (or 191g ).

Otherwise the design is similar, with both ereaders having a plastic shell on the back and large black bezels on the front.

Specs, features and battery life

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2021 comes with 8GB of storage, or if you choose the Signature Edition then you get 32GB of storage. For the Kindle Paperwhite 2018 ,you can also choose between 8GB or 32GB of storage. There’s no Signature Edition of the old model.

That Signature Edition additionally gets you wireless charging, which is a new feature for Amazon’s ereader range, as even the Kindle Oasis doesn’t have this.

And for charging, the Kindle Paperwhite 2021 connect to a USB-C port  , whereas the Kindle Paperwhite 2018 is stuck with an old-fashion micro USB port.

The battery life of  the Paperwhite 2021 will last for up to 10 weeks between charges, whereas the Paperwhite 2018 only goes up to six weeks (based on half an hour of reading per day in both cases).

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2021 features 20% faster than on the previous generation from page turns .

While the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2018 is optionally available with cellular connectivity, the Kindle Paperwhite 2021 is Wi-Fi-only. That may be one thing that new model won’t works out.

Cost

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2021′s 8G sale date is October 27, 2021, and it costs $139.99 / £129.99 for a version with adverts on the lock screen, or $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$239 without adverts. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with 32GB of storage and wireless charging, and costs $189 / £179 / AU$289.

The older Amazon Kindle 2018 started at $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199 for an 8GB model. That’s for a version with ads. For a 32GB model you’d pay $159.99 / £149.99 / AU$249.

So the new version is a bit more expensive than the old one was at launch, and now the 2018 model is cheaper than before .

Conclusion

The new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2021 comes with multiple of upgrades, including a larger, brighter screen with an adjustable warm light, longer battery life, smaller bezels, a USB-C port, faster page turns, and a more environmentally friendly device. And the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition even features wireless charging and an automatically adjusting front light.

But the new model is also more expensive, bigger, heavier, only in one color, only wifi connectivity, and is in most other ways very similar to the old one, including having the same pixel density and storage amounts.

So in a way, the Amazon Kindle 2018 is actually the better device, as the only advantages it has are cellular connectivity and a lower price.

Overall the Kindle Paperwhite 2021 is the winner on paper book.