amazon tells me this is my 6th Kindle, although I can't remember having that many. I had two kindle keyboards with the physical keypad and page turn buttons, and latterly a 2012 Kindle Paperwhite which seemed to go on for ever. Eventually the battery was starting to have some charging glitches and discharging incosistently, so I knew it was time to make a change.
In looking for a replacement, I decided that:
1) While waterproofing would be nice, I had managed without it so far (none of my Kindles have had this feature, and I haven't lost one to water damage yet.
2) I liked the small form factor of my 6" kindle screen, rather than a bigger unit.
Therefore I decided the Kindle basic would suit me best rather than the newest 6.8" paperwhite. With an amazon deal and trade in on my two old Kindles I got it for a very reasonable price.
I was impressed with the build quality of this device. It does not have a soft back but I almost always use a case to protect the body and screen, so this doesn't really matter to me. The body feels sturdy and does not bend or flex.
The immediate thing to note is that my last kindle had 212dpi, and this has 300dpi. I can actually see quite a lot of difference in the screen rendering, which surprised me. The backlight is also very even, and can go from off to very bright, so good for any conditions. While the Paperwhite has more flexibility for night time light adjustment, I find the kindle basic 'dark mode' works well enough for me.
I also like that the kindle basic is actually slightly smaller and lighter than my old kindle, and a much smaller form factor than the paperwhite. I like to be able to put it in a bag or pocket, so this small size really works much better for me.
The kindle basic has good hardware. The page turning is rapid and responsive. I wish you could adjust the sensitivity however, as it's easy to accidentally turn the page, but this is similar on all the kindles I've tried. Zooming and rendering of pictures is definately faster than my old paperwhite.
I have not as yet tried any of the bluetooth or audiobook features supported by the kindle. I may update this review when I try it. If I do, I will be very glad of the massive 16GB of memory, which is a massive amount of storage for ebooks.
Perhaps the best feature though is the USB-C port. This allows for very fast charging (my old kindle took hours to charge). I believe the battery in the basic is only 1040mAh compared with the 1700mAh on the newest paperwhite, and the basic battery is rated to last 6 weeks rather than the paperwhite's 10 weeks, but I'm impressed with battery life so far.
Overall I'm really happy with my kindle purchase. It's worth noting as well that they can be ordered set to your account and are ready to go with minimal fuss. Kindles often go on sale with Amazon for Black Friday or just at random throughout the year, so if you see them reduced they really are a great buy and a lovely way to read, and this kindle, despite the basic moniker, is actually brilliantly specced and executed, and is a great option to consider.
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With Screens
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Smart Home Display
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Smart Speakers
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Alexa on the Go
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Fire TV
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Smart TVs
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Accessories
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Fire tablets
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For ages 6-12
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For ages 3-7
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Fire Plus tablets
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Kindle E-Reader
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Kindle Kids E-Reader
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Essential Bundles
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Cameras
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Alarms
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More security devices
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Appliances
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Connectivity
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Accessories
Take the story with you
Meet Kindle, now with an upgraded high-resolution display, double the storage, USB-C charging and longer battery life. The built-in adjustable front light and the newly added dark mode feature lets you read comfortably indoors and outdoors, any time of the day.
Enhance your reading
Enjoy sharper text and images. The upgraded 300 ppi high-resolution glare-free display provides more than three times as many pixels than the previous generation.
Read comfortably in any environment
The glare-free display reads like printed paper, even in direct sunlight. Adjust the front-lit display, and now with dark mode easily invert text colour for a more comfortable reading experience, day and night.
Distraction-free reading
Focus on the story. With no interruptions from messages, e-mails or social media, you can lose yourself in the story.
Read for longer
Now with extended battery life. A single charge via USB C lasts up to 6 weeks.
Extensive selection
Finding new stories has never been easier with Kindle. With Kindle Unlimited, explore millions of books, selected magazine subscriptions and thousands of audiobooks. Prime members have unlimited access to thousands of titles including eBooks, magazines and more with Prime Reading. Enjoy access to Kindle Exclusive titles you won’t find anywhere else. If you have young readers in your household, you can set up a Child profile and get unlimited access to a curated library of child-friendly books with an Amazon Kids+ subscription, starting at £3.99/month.
Better together
Designed by Amazon to perfectly fit your Kindle, these slim, form-fitting covers attach securely and fold back for one-handed reading. They automatically put your device to sleep when closed and wake it upon opening, making it easy to pick up where you left off. Learn more about our covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is the screen on a Kindle different from a tablet?
Our Kindle devices are designed so you can read comfortably for hours. Kindle has a unique black and white glare-free display that reads like printed paper even in bright sunlight and enables weeks of battery life. With the display’s distinctive nature, slight shadows of previous text or images can sometimes remain visible on the screen. The display quickly refreshes occasionally to remove these shadows and ensure a high-quality optical experience.
2. Do I need to be a Kindle Unlimited member to read on a Kindle?
No. You do not need a Kindle Unlimited membership to read on a Kindle. All Kindle devices come with instant access to the world’s best eBook store. Kindle Stores worldwide offer millions of titles, including the latest best sellers.
3. How do I set up this Kindle?
You have the option to set up Kindle from the device by following its on-screen instructions, or with the Kindle app on your phone. When setting up using the phone, just open the Kindle app and enable Simple Setup under settings before you turn on your Kindle. If you opted in to linking Kindle to your Amazon account for simplified setup at purchase, it will already be registered to you.
Every day is an Earth Day
We integrated sustainability in the design of this Kindle device. Here’s how:
Materials
75% post-consumer recycled plastics in the Black device.
30% post-consumer recycled plastics in the Denim device.
90% recycled magnesium used.
Device Packaging
100% of this device’s packaging is made of wood-fibre-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources.
This device’s packaging is 100% recyclable.
Part with Purpose
There may come a time when you want to trade in, or recycle your device. Explore options with Amazon Second Chance.
Technical Details
Kindle (2022 release)
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Display |
Amazon's 6” display with built-in light, 300 ppi, optimised font technology and 16-level grey scale. |
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Size |
157.8 x 108.6 x 8.0 mm. Size represents total device measurements. |
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Weight |
158 g |
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System requirements |
None: fully wireless and doesn't require a computer to download content. |
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On-device storage |
16 GB: holds thousands of books. |
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Cloud storage |
Free cloud storage for all Amazon content. |
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Battery life |
A single charge lasts up to 6 weeks, based on half an hour of reading a day with wireless off and the light setting at 13. Battery life will vary based on light settings and wireless usage. Audible audiobook streaming over Bluetooth will reduce battery life. |
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Charge time |
Fully charges in approximately 4 hours from a computer via USB cable; fully charges in less than 2 hours with a 9 W USB power adaptor. |
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Wi-Fi connectivity |
Supports 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz networks with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security using password authentication or Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks. |
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Accessibility features |
VoiceView screen reader, available over Bluetooth audio, provides spoken feedback allowing you to navigate your device and read books with text-to-speech (available in English only). Kindle also includes the ability to invert black and white, adjust font size, font face, line spacing and margins. Learn more about Accessibility for Kindle. |
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Content formats supported |
Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PDF, TXT, PMP, EPUB through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX). Learn more about supported file types for personal documents.. |
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Documentation |
Learn more about Kindle devices with our Quick Start Guide and Kindle User Guide. |
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Warranty and service |
Kindle is sold with a limited warranty of one year provided by the manufacturer. If you are a consumer, the limited warranty is in addition to your consumer rights and does not jeopardise these rights in any way. This means you may still have additional rights at law even after the limited warranty has expired (see here for more information on your consumer rights). Use of Kindle is subject to the terms found here. |
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Included in the box |
Kindle, USB-C charging cable and Quick Start Guide. |
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Generation |
Kindle 11th generation (2022 release). |
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Software security updates |
This device receives guaranteed software security updates until at least four years after the device is last available for purchase as a new unit on our websites. Learn more about these software security updates. If you already own a Kindle e-reader, visit Manage Your Content and Devices for information specific to your device. |
Compare Kindle E-readers
| Price | From: £84.99 | From: £104.99 | From: £149.99 | From: £179.99 | From: £159.99 | From: £229.99 | From: £329.99 |
| Ratings | (8,015) | (268) | (10,743) | (4,668) | (812) | (8,099) | (834) |
| Display size | 6" glare-free | 6" glare-free | 6.8" glare-free | 6.8" glare-free | 6.8" glare-free | 7" glare-free | 10.2-inch, glare-free display |
| Storage | 16 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB | 8 GB or 32 GB | 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB |
| Resolution | 300 ppi | 300 ppi | 300 ppi | 300 ppi | 300 ppi | 300 ppi | 300 ppi |
| Front light | 4 LEDs | 4 LEDs | 17 LEDs | 17 LEDs | 17 LEDs | 25 LEDs | 35 LEDs |
| Writing capability and included battery free pen |
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| Weeks of battery life |
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| 1-year Amazon Kids+ subscription | Sold separately starting starting from £3.99/month | 1 year of Amazon Kids+ included—subscription to children's books and magazines (automatically renewed after starting from £3.99/month) | Sold separately starting starting from £3.99/month | Sold separately starting starting from £3.99/month | 1 year of Amazon Kids+ included—subscription to children's books and magazines (automatically renewed after starting from £3.99/month) | Sold separately starting starting from £3.99/month | Sold separately starting starting from £3.99/month |
| Included cover | Sold separately |
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Sold separately | Sold separately |
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Sold separately | Sold separately |
| Warranty | 1 year of Amazon limited warranty | 2-year worry-free warranty | 1 year of Amazon limited warranty | 1 year of Amazon limited warranty | 2-year worry-free warranty | 1 year of Amazon limited warranty | 1 year of Amazon limited warranty |
| Flush-front design |
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| Colour | Black and Denim | Black Kindle with Space Whale, Ocean Explorer and Unicorn Valley | Black, Denim, Agave Green | Black, Denim, Agave Green | Black Kindle Paperwhite with Black, Emerald Forest, or Robot Dreams Cover | Graphite and Gold | Tungsten Grey |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + free mobile connectivity | Wi-Fi |
Climate Pledge Friendly
Products with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn more
Product Certification (1)
Reducing CO2 products reduce their carbon footprint year after year. Certified by the Carbon Trust.
The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full life cycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
Reviews with images
Better. Cheaper. Smaller.
I had an older Kindle Paperwhite that finally died out because of battery degradation. I decided to go with the regular Kindle and I was blown away by the fact that not only was it an improvement in every way over my old Paperwhite, but it could finally fit into the back pocket of my jeans. The addition of Dark Mode as shown in the image is another killer feature that will improve the overall experience.I would highly recommend getting this version instead of the latest Paperwhite. It literally is the best Kindle in 2024.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 November 2023
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Top reviews from other countries
Client d'Amazon
Très contente
Reviewed in France on 21 February 2024Style Name: Without Kindle UnlimitedColour: DenimOffer Type: With AdsVerified Purchase
Pietro M
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Reviewed in France on 20 March 2024Style Name: Without Kindle UnlimitedColour: DenimOffer Type: With AdsVerified Purchase
Jana Kla.
Super Buchersatz
Reviewed in Germany on 25 February 2024Style Name: Without Kindle UnlimitedColour: DenimOffer Type: With AdsVerified Purchase
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Ottimo e funzionale
Reviewed in Italy on 28 January 2024Style Name: Without Kindle UnlimitedColour: DenimOffer Type: With AdsVerified Purchase
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Sophie M.
Parfait
Reviewed in France on 18 March 2024Style Name: Without Kindle UnlimitedColour: DenimOffer Type: With AdsVerified Purchase
