Meet the Kindle

Written by Ainna on Aug. 23, 2024

The Kindle is a popular line of e-readers launched by Amazon. All Kindle models use e-ink technology for their screens, making it possible to replicate on an electronic device the crispness of text printed on actual paper. Unlike LCDs or OLED screens of many newer smartphones and tablets, e-ink screens do not strain the eyes even if one reads for long periods of time.

As an e-reader, the Kindle is a device with a singular function: i.e., its sole purpose is to process and render ebooks in various formats. The Kindle therefore offers distraction-free reading, since there are no other apps or notifications that appear here, unlike those that one may encounter from reading on the Kindle app from a tablet or phone. And because the device has fewer functions to perform, this also means longer charging intervals—depending on heaviness of use, the Kindle could last up to a few weeks on a single charge, unlike smartphones or tablets that need to be charged every few days, if not daily.

The first Kindle was released by Amazon in 2007, but the device never really became massively popular until a few years ago, thanks in large part to #Booktok.

I bought my first Kindle in August 2023, a few days after I saw another passenger on a plane ride home using one. I loved how handy it looked—it was the size of a paperback without the bulk, and looked very comfortable to read on, since the screen really looked like actual paper. Since then, I've been buying and/or (re)selling devices of various generations through buy-and-sell online platforms in the PH. 🇵🇭

As of this writing, Amazon currently boasts of six Kindle models, in their latest generations:

  • Kindle 2022 (11th gen) aka Kindle Basic / Base Model Kindle
  • Kindle Paperwhite 2021 (11th gen) aka PPW5
  • Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (SE)
  • Kindle Scribe best for annotations
  • Kindle Kids and Kindle Paperwhite Kids with parental control
  • Kindle Oasis 2019 (10th gen) aka Oasis 3; the only model with physical page-turn buttons on the side; sadly discontinued

I intend to post in detail my own reviews on these devices, so check back again soon! In the meantime, please refer to the video below for an overview on how a Kindle works:


A complete beginner's guide to Kindle

This text on this page was written entirely by me (Ainna) on Aug. 23, 2024. For questions or comments, send me a message.