AS Amazon’s most affordable e-reader, the Kindle (2022) stands out for many. But is it the best choice?
After a week of testing, in this review I’ve assessed its screen quality, battery life, and more to find out how it measures up to its pricier counterparts.
Kindle (2022 release), £84.99
It’s hard to believe, but Amazon’s Kindle has been around for 17 years in various forms, evolving through numerous upgrades and revamps.
The current entry-level Kindle, last updated in 2022, boasts a 300ppi screen that matches pricier options and features USB-C charging ports, bringing it up to speed with the latest tech.
Having recently reviewed the priciest Kindle Scribe e-reader in the line-up, the Kindle Scribe, I’m no stranger to Amazon’s Kindles.
So, naturally, I was eager to get hands-on and see how the budget option competes.
After spending time with it, I’ve found it to be a solid contender, serving as a convenient pocket library. But, it may not cater to everyone’s needs.
You can also head to my comparison between the Amazon Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite, where I weigh the budget Kindle against its counterpart.
For those eyeing the brand’s tablets, my analysis of the Amazon Fire tablet versus Kindle offers guidance on which will suit your needs best.
Over the past week, I’ve been diving into the 2022 version of the entry-level Kindle.
I paid close attention to how user-friendly it is straight out of the box, how long the battery lasts under different usage scenarios, and how comfortable its e-ink screen feels, especially during long reading sessions.
To give it a fair run, I used it both during the day and at night to see how it performs under various lighting conditions.
Keen to put it to the test, I decided to read Delia Owens’ Where The Crawdads Sing, especially with all the buzz surrounding its Netflix adaptation.
My latest dive into the Kindle (2022) revealed its subtle charm, with simplicity reigning over flashy features.
What struck me first was its featherweight design, barely tipping the scales at 158g, perfect for extended reading marathons.
Though its plastic exterior feels budget, the 300 ppi display matches the Paperwhite in quality, rendering text crisply.
I was initially sceptical of its petite size, but it grew on me, becoming a pocket-sized library that was ideal for reading on commutes.
The device’s four LED front lights sufficed for brightness, though lacking ambient light settings was a drawback during nighttime reading, which was a sticking point for me.
Yet, Bluetooth connectivity for Audible books added a luxurious touch to an otherwise budget piece of kit.
Navigating the interface feels intuitive on all of Amazon’s e-readers, and its entry-level device is no different. However, it could be smoother, with lag often being a bugbear.
Despite offering half the battery life of the most expensive Kindle, the Scribe, it’s held steady above 70%, promising endurance for voracious readers.
If you’re after a no-frills e-reader, the Kindle (2022) offers fantastic value for money, and it holds its own against newer models.
The entry-level Kindle stands out for its affordability, priced at just $84.99.
Following its 2022 update, it narrowed the gap with Amazon’s other e-readers, featuring a 300ppi display akin to the Kindle Paperwhite and transitioning to USB-C for charging, aligning with my other devices.
That said, its budget nature is evident in its feel and some tradeoffs, such as the absence of warm light and fewer LEDs.
The Kindle is readily available, and not just on Amazon, you can also find it stocked at popular retailers like Argos, Currys, John Lewis, and Very.
I suggest marking your calendars for Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday sales.
These events present great chances to score a Kindle at a discount. Having tracked Amazon’s device deals for a while, I’ve witnessed discounts of up to 50% firsthand.
From a purely cosmetic standpoint, the Kindle (2022) keeps things simple and unassuming, foregoing flashy extras.
Right off the bat, its lightweight design caught my attention. Weighing just 158g, it practically disappears in your hand, which is what makes it ideal for marathon reading sessions.
Despite its plastic body feeling somewhat budget, the e-ink grayscale display technology renders crisp text, and the upgraded 300 ppi display is one of the standout features for me, matching the quality of the Paperwhite.
Its compact 6-inch frame is impressively small too, and it slipped into my jacket or backpack without hogging any space, which when you consider the thousands of books you can store, really does make this a pocket library.
I’ll confess that I initially found its size a tad small for my taste, being noticeably smaller than my paperbacks. However, it did grow on me, and I found myself loving its smaller footprint.
You also have to remember that the Kindle 2022’s compactness is precisely what makes it a commuter’s dream and perfect for reading on the move.
With four LED front lights, it may not match the count of other Kindle models, but in practical terms, brightness and clarity weren’t an issue for me.
If you’re looking to protect your Kindle investment, I’d recommend pairing it with a Kindle sleeve or case, like the Kindle Fabric Case I opted for, which retails at £29.99.
Initially, I confessed, I wasn’t too keen on the size of the Kindle. It felt a tad too small for my liking, and I found myself frequently flipping pages to keep up with the larger text I needed for comfortable reading.
However, over time, it grew on me, especially during those rare sunny days when I took it out to the garden.
The glare-free display also truly lived up to its promise, although I did have to crank up the brightness a bit to counter the outdoor light.
Speaking of settings, the Kindle 2022 offers quite a bit of customization, which I appreciate. From adjusting brightness to tweaking text size and font type, it’s got the essentials covered.
But where it falls a bit short is the absence of ambient light settings. Coming from other Kindles that offered this feature, I sorely missed it, especially during nighttime reading sessions.
Sure, there are workarounds like dimming the brightness or switching to dark mode, but it’s just not in the same league as the warm light and did dampen my experience.
However, the Kindle managed to win back some points with its Bluetooth connectivity, which was an unexpected feature.
Being able to connect my earbuds and dive into an Audible book felt like a luxurious perk on an otherwise basic device.
Now, let’s talk about the interface. As someone who’s dabbled with e-readers before, I found the Kindle’s platform to be just as intuitive.
No need to fumble around or consult a manual, everything is within easy reach.
From the moment you boot it up, the home screen welcomes you with your recent titles neatly arranged at the top.
The Library tab houses all your books, and with the handy filters, finding the perfect read is easy, even for someone as indecisive as me.
That said, the interface does have its quirks. Navigating through book suggestions can be a bit clunky, with abrupt transitions and occasional lag. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but it does detract from the overall smoothness of the experience.
Kindles are renowned for their impressive battery longevity, and before this, my only experience had been with the Kindle Scribe, which impressed me with its battery life.
Clocking in at six weeks, the Kindle (2022) offers half the longevity of the Scribe at the other end of the line-up.
Those six weeks are based on an average of half an hour of use per day at 50% brightness, which was too dim for my liking, and I tended to use it longer each night.
Although I haven’t fully pushed its battery limits, so far it hasn’t dipped below 72%, so it’s living up to its reputation.
So, while your mileage may vary, rest assured that this Kindle is ready to keep pace with even the most voracious of readers.
Would I recommend the Kindle 2022? Absolutely. Despite some initial scepticism, this e-reader finds its niche in Amazon’s line-up.
Its simplicity is its charm, and while I was sceptical of its size, I found its lightweight design perfect for long reading sessions, despite the plastic body feeling somewhat budget.
The upgraded display now matches the quality of the Paperwhite, offering crisp text on a compact 6-inch frame. However, the absence of ambient light capabilities might be a drawback worth considering for night owls.
It may not be perfect, but its ease of use and customizable features make the Kindle 2022 a worthy companion for any bookworm.
Here is everywhere you can pick up the Kindle (2022):
MORE AMAZON DEVICES
We’re constantly testing the latest devices for tech shoppers. Check out our reviews and the best deals on our tech deals hub.
