Review: Amazon’s basic Kindle is a great entry-level e-reader

Table of contents

I have been a lover of books for as long as I can remember. Junie B. Jones was my idol in kindergarten and helped me improve my vocabulary and confidence. Even so, my collection of books is extensive, and my greatest ambition is to one day own an entire library complete with a sliding ladder (assuming I eventually have the money to buy my own house). Anyway, I buy books almost as often as I buy clothes, but surprisingly I never use an e-reader of any kind. Physical copies have always had great value to me, and I never thought a screen could beat it. After reviewing Amazon’s latest Kindle, I can say that the device has a lot of benefits, such as reading in the dark (one-handed) without any issues. For only $100, I now consider it an excellent addition to my growing library rather than a replacement.

The base Kindle model is small, lightweight and has twice the storage space of previous versions. It also has the longest battery life of any model, which is said to last up to six weeks. The image resolution is 300ppi, the same as the Kindle Paperwhite, but the cost is only a fraction of the Kindle Paperwhite. Released in 2022 is the 11th generation of the base Kindle model, which has some differences compared to the 10th generation released in 2019.

The new Kindle is a nice upgrade from the 2019 model.
Photo credit: Mallory Minich/Mashable

Kindle (2022) price and specs

As I mentioned, the standard Kindle retails for $99.99, although we’ll almost certainly see the price drop on Prime Day. If you want to remove the lock screen ads, the price rises to $119.99. Here are the Kindle specifications:

• 6-inch glare-free display

• 16GB storage space

• USB-C charging port

• Up to six weeks of battery life

• Weight: 5.56 ounces

• Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches

Mobile phone settings are not that simple

Setting up the Kindle is relatively easy. All I had to do was press the power button until the screen lit up, and the device prompted me to select a language and region. It then provides the option to set it up on a Kindle device or on my phone through the Kindle app. At first, my phone wouldn’t connect to the Kindle, but once I plugged the phone into the charger, it worked fine. Then my phone made sure it was on the same WiFi network as the Kindle and my Amazon account was transferred to the Kindle. There is a “kid-friendly” setting, which seems like a good option for parents during the setup process. Immediately afterwards, my library appeared on the device and the Kindle provided me with a quick user tutorial. I also reset the device and tried the “Set up on Kindle” option, which actually took less time since all you had to do was log into Amazon instead of using your phone to perform extra steps.

Improve reading experience

Once set up, I immediately downloaded Janet McCurdy’s Memoirs I’m glad my mom died.. It’s been in the top ten for weeks, so it’s also out of stock. I know with a Kindle I can read it without having to wait or hunt in a store. To download the book, all I had to do was click on the Kindle store icon and search for it. Then, since my Amazon account is already linked to the device, I just click “Buy” and download it to my library and start reading. The download speed is super fast, and I started reading before it finished downloading.

Kindle eBooks let you read sold-out bestsellers without waiting.
Photo credit: Mallory Minich/Mashable

I must admit, I spent the next few hours sitting on the couch reading. Even when I’m getting ready for bed, I take my Kindle with me to continue reading. At night, the light in my room is a pink LED light, which provides very little light for reading. Normally, my eyes are too tired to read for long periods of time, but the Kindle’s light makes it easy on my eyes. I adjusted the brightness and switched to night mode and felt almost no eye strain after a few hours (seriously, I couldn’t put this book down). Use it in low light and you can feel how much better it is on your eyes than a phone. Blue light can cause severe eye fatigue.

When reading a book on Kindle, a percentage appears at the bottom of the page to indicate how far you’ve gotten through the book. For some reason I think this inspired me to keep reading. It goes up a percentage point every few pages or so (depending on the book), which makes me want to keep going. If I were 72%, I would think Okay, I’ll set it at 75%. You know how some people need their TV volume to be an even number or in increments of five? Same atmosphere. Currently, I am reading on my third Kindle. I also read Drew Barrymore’s memoir wild flowers I’m about to finish reading the best-selling fantasy novel Court of Thorns and Roses Author: Sarah J. Mathas

What makes this Kindle the best product Bezos has to offer?

Compared to previous versions of the Kindle, the 2022 version is the smallest and lightest model yet. It weighs only 158 grams, which is lighter than my iPhone, so I can read with one hand for quite some time without feeling any discomfort. Additionally, the screen measures 6 inches diagonally, making it the smallest screen on the Kindle. I really like the size of the device – it’s very easy to carry and fits into many of my small purses.

Kindle is beautiful, compact and easy to carry.
Photo credit: Mallory Minich/Mashable

The 2022 Kindle screen has a resolution of 300ppi, while the 2019 Kindle model has a resolution of only 167ppi. Book covers and images look very sharp, but remember they are always black and white to maintain the “paper and ink” aesthetic. Not very suitable for books that are mainly photos. It also comes with 16GB of storage instead of 8GB, allowing you to download more content to your library at once. So far I’ve downloaded five or six books into my library and haven’t had any storage issues. I’m interested in seeing how many books I can download at once (supposedly thousands). The battery of this device does last for a while. With a full charge, I read two and a half books in about three weeks before the device reached 10% and prompted me to charge. I think Amazon’s “six weeks of battery life” claim is a bit far-fetched, as it obviously depends on how much you read. Three weeks is still a long time for my usage.

The images appear clearly on the Kindle screen.
Photo credit: Mallory Minich/Mashable

She’s even earth-friendly

I’m very proud of that at Amazon. The website says the new model is made from 90% recycled magnesium. The black version is made of 75% recycled plastic, and the denim version is made of 30% recycled plastic. It uses 100% recyclable packaging to reduce plastic waste. Amazon actually has an entire program dedicated to recycling old Kindle models, and they’ll provide you with Amazon gift cards and discounts on new Kindle devices in exchange. For a company with a large carbon footprint, it’s good that they use old materials to build new Kindles and encourage customers to return their old devices.

Why do e-books cost so much?

Amazon offers Kindle Unlimited, which allows you to access more than 3 million books on Kindle for $11.99 per month. New Kindle users can try the service for free for three months. However, the book I always wanted to read was not available through Kindle Unlimited. Some of them are from authors I know, but it seems like the Kindle Unlimited selection is for people who are willing to read anything. I’m not that person. I have a list of 15 books that I want to read anytime next. What I wish for most is that Amazon has some type of deal where you can buy the print and Kindle versions bundled together. This way, I can have a print version while still using the Kindle for nighttime reading or travel. My book collecting habits work against me in this regard. I’m not going to spend $15 on a Kindle copy of a paper book I already own.

Is the Amazon Kindle worth buying?

If you’re looking for a basic e-reader, this one has everything you need. While some of Amazon’s other products, like the Kindle Scribe or the Kindle Oasis, come with bells and whistles, they cater to a specific audience. If your goal is to enjoy reading, then the basic Kindle is really what you need. It’s only $10 more than the previous version of the basic Kindle and has more storage space, battery life and pixel resolution. This review is from the perspective of someone who has never owned an e-reader, so I’m not sure how worthwhile these upgrades are for someone who owns an earlier version. If you’re a book lover like me, I highly recommend adding this to your collection. For only $99, it definitely got me reading more books than I have in months.