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The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen, 2024) is now $129.99 for Black Friday, down from $159.99—its lowest price yet, according to price-tracking tools. It’s a nice upgrade from the basic Kindle, featuring a larger 7-inch screen, three color options, an adjustable warm-and-cool front light, and a waterproof build (IPX8 rated). It comes with 16GB of storage, which is more than enough for eBooks but might feel a bit tight if you’re big on audiobooks (for which you'll need Bluetooth headphones since this model has no headphone jack). Additionally, if audiobooks are your thing, the Signature Edition with 32GB storage might be a better option for you.
The Paperwhite comes with dual-band wifi (though cellular connectivity is still missing) for downloading eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines from the Kindle store. You can also upload your own documents and sideload third-party apps like Libby to borrow library books, a feature gradually rolling out to all Kindles through the latest firmware updates. The 300 ppi display of the Paperwhite ensures sharp text, while 16 levels of grayscale make it a great option for classic E-Ink reading. That said, this PCMag review notes that the screen has a slightly yellower tone than the previous generation (not a major issue, but worth mentioning). Another thing to note is the lock screen ads that come by default—removing them will cost you an extra $20.
The battery life of the Paperwhite is estimated at up to 12 weeks on a single charge, though how long it actually lasts will depend on your reading habits and brightness settings. At this price, the Paperwhite is an excellent value, especially for readers who want a waterproof device they can take anywhere. However, if you want more storage or features like wireless charging, the Signature Edition ($154.99, down from $199.99) might be worth the upgrade.
