As a romance novelist who publishes ebooks, having a great e-reader is essential for both writing inspiration and evaluating how my books look and feel to readers. The new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, released in late 2021, offers several compelling upgrades over the standard Paperwhite model. After testing it out extensively, I’m ready to share my thoughts in this detailed review.
Bigger, Brighter Screen
The Signature Edition boasts an enlarged 6.8-inch, 300ppi glare-free display. The extra screen real estate is always welcome, especially for avid readers and writers. The larger screen allows more words per page while keeping the text crisp and easy on the eyes.The front light now has 17 LEDs and offers adjustable warmth, a first for the Paperwhite line. The ability to shift to a softer, yellowish tone for nighttime reading is a nice touch. The screen illumination is even and makes the words pop beautifully. However, the auto-brightness feature can be hit or miss.
Ample Storage and Battery Life
With a generous 32 GB of storage, the Signature Edition has room for thousands of ebooks, making it ideal for prolific romance readers. You’ll likely never need to worry about running out of space.The battery life is impressive, with Amazon claiming up to 10 weeks on a single charge. That’s more than enough to last through long writing sessions or vacations without needing to hunt for an outlet. And when it is time to recharge, the switch to USB-C enables much faster charging than previous models.
Wireless Charging and Waterproofing
The Signature Edition supports wireless Qi charging, which is convenient if you already have a compatible charging pad. However, wired charging via the included USB-C cable is noticeably faster.Like the previous Paperwhite, it retains the IPX8 waterproof rating, allowing you to read worry-free by the pool, beach, or in the bath. This durability provides great peace of mind for taking the device anywhere.
Software and Reading Experience
The Kindle software remains best-in-class for distraction-free reading. Useful features for authors include Word Wise for defining difficult words, X-Ray for exploring characters and themes, and the new simplified setup process.However, some occasional lagginess and inconsistencies in the interface are still apparent compared to the lightning-fast performance of modern tablets and phones. Hopefully this can be smoothed out with future updates.
The Verdict
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is an outstanding e-reader with some enticing upgrades over the standard model, like wireless charging, auto-adjusting front light, and 32GB storage. However, at $189, it’s a full $50 more than the already excellent 8GB Paperwhite.For most romance authors and readers, the regular Kindle Paperwhite likely still offers the best balance of features and affordability. But if you can justify the added cost, the Signature Edition’s premium features do meaningfully enhance the reading and writing experience, especially the ample storage for large ebook libraries. It’s a great option for serious bookworms who want the latest bells and whistles.
| Feature | Kindle Paperwhite | Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.8″ glare-free, 300ppi | 6.8″ glare-free, 300ppi |
| Storage | 8 GB | 32 GB |
| Front Light | 17 LEDs, adjustable warmth | 17 LEDs, auto-adjusting brightness & warmth |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C & Qi wireless charging |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 weeks | Up to 10 weeks |
| Waterproof | Yes, IPX8 rated | Yes, IPX8 rated |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Ads | With or without ads | Without ads only |
| Price | $139.99 (with ads), $159.99 (no ads) | $189.99 |
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.