The All-new Kindle is the newest model of the basic Kindle that Amazon has released. (Amazon is borrowing this name from Nintendo’s foolish strategy.) With this 11th-generation model, which costs $99, many long-requested features are finally available. The new 300ppi high-resolution screen, which eliminates the blurry text the base Kindle was known for, is the most important improvement.
But that is not all; like the latest Paperwhite, the all-new Kindle finally offers a USB-C port. You can also expect an increase in storage, now up to 16GB. No matter how you cut it, the all-new Kindle is the best basic Kindle we’ve ever seen and, at $ 99, it’s currently one of the best buys in the Kindle lineup.
Amazon is pushing a lot on sustainability this year. Not only does the Kindle ship in a recyclable box, but it’s quite small, so it doesn’t actually contain much beyond the brand new Kindle and USB-C charging cable. Of course, if you don’t have extra bricks, you’ll need to purchase one, which is an additional cost and inconvenience.
Amazon Kindle (2022) review: Design
The Kindle (2022) picks up a major upgrade over its predecessor that makes it both a fantastic upgrade to an older model and a viable alternative to the high-end Paperwhite. This update is the display, which now matches the Paperwhite at 300 pixels per inch (PPI). The sharper resolution makes everything you do on the Kindle look better – the text in the books and throughout the interface is sharper, the cover is sharper, and it’s all just a little easier on the eyes.
The previous base Kindle always suffered from a slightly blurry screen thanks to the low resolution of 167ppi – it was perfectly adequate for the price, but couldn’t compete with the Paperwhite. With this release, there’s now no reason to pay more just for a crisp screen and it’s great to see. Amazon has also kept a smaller display on the Kindle than the Kindle Paperwhite. Here is a 6-inch (rather than 7-inch) panel, which makes this e-reader much more comfortable to hold with one hand than any other Kindle currently available.
Amazon Kindle (2022) review: e-ink Screen
The new Kindle features a capacitive touchscreen-enabled 6-inch e-ink display. The 11th edition Kindle has been improved to an astounding 300 ppi, the same as the Kindle Paperwhite, from the prior model’s low quality 167 pixels per inch (ppi) screen. The book covers will now look better thanks to the increased ppi, but it should still be sufficient for reading. Particularly when the lighting is turned off, text appears just like ink on paper.
A backlight for the display was finally introduced to the Kindle in an earlier edition, enabling adjustable brightness adjustment. In this updated Kindle base model, the backlight is back. It looks best when the light is off indoors, but when you’re outside, the brightest setting makes it easier to see in the bright sunlight. Therefore, the backlight will be really helpful if you like to carry your Kindle around with you everywhere you go. Instead, potential buyers of the Kindle Oasis should consider if they want an automatic ambient light sensor.
Amazon Kindle (2022) review: Performance
The brand-new Kindle comes with the updated user interface that was unveiled last year before the debut of the fifth Kindle Paperwhite. The interface is divided into two sections: Home and Library. The house serves as a place to sell you things because, regrettably, it is a publicity event with lots of “recommendations.” Fortunately, it’s simple to remain in the Library section, where you may browse your purchases depending on what is installed or the entire collection in the cloud.
All the typical features you would expect are still here. You can select refresh on every turn of the page to avoid ghosting, and everyone’s favorite book cover display option is still available. So, you can enjoy your book cover every time the device sleeps. When reading, you have a wide selection of fonts and formatting, whether you like justified text or an uneven right border.
Amazon Kindle (2022) review: Reading Experience
Once you turn on a book, the Kindle itself melts and lets you read smoothly, which is the whole point of an e Reader. No notifications, no distractions. Page turns are instant by tapping the screen and the device is faster at this than the Kobo Clara 2E, which costs more.
There are still all the expected standard features. Every page turn can be avoided by choosing refresh, and the option for displaying book covers is still a popular one. So, each time the device goes to sleep, you can enjoy the cover of your book. Whether you prefer justified text or an uneven right border, there is a wide range of fonts and formatting options available when reading.
Amazon Kindle (2022) review: Software and Features
The Kindle’s software manages to be pretty clunky because you don’t have to use it that much. Once you have a book on the go, you don’t have to use the interface until you want to find a new one to read. Some of the clumsiness can’t be avoided as e-ink by its nature is slower screen technology than the LCD and OLED displays we’re used to on smartphones. Trying to scroll through books or listing pages in the Kindle Store can be a chore as grayscale text and images fade and load.
This is the case with most eReaders, not a particular flaw with this cheaper Kindle. Amazon divides the software into the “Home” and “Library” tabs, which means that it is too simplified. The Kindle Store is hidden behind a tiny shopping cart icon that some people might miss, while the settings are spread across submenus behind a three-dot button.
Amazon Kindle (2022) review: Battery Life and Charging
You get a 1040mAh lithium-polymer battery, which might not seem like much in comparison to Android tablets and phones, but since Kindles have E Ink screens, they are designed to be power-efficient. How often you use the Kindle, its front lights, and its Bluetooth radio will determine this. We have already gone over two weeks on a single charge and have 65% more battery, but we are in the business of reading e-books at night when low light is fine.
Of course, everyone should be happy to know that the brand new Kindle has switched to USB-C, so we can all finally use our USB-C cables to charge the device. Charging time is reasonably fast, although we have yet to completely use up my test device. We can’t say one way or another how long it will take to charge when the battery is low.
Price and Availability
You may purchase a new Kindle for for $100 (ten dollars more than the previous model), and you can do so right away on Amazon. Standard black or a brand-new denim blue are the two colour options. You can purchase Amazon’s Kindle Fabric Cover for an additional $30, and it is available in black, dark emerald, denim, and pink. The one-year limited warranty for the Kindle is still available, but an extended warranty costs only $15.
Final Words
The Kindle 2022 is the cheapest Kindle you can buy, but as an entry-level model it costs more than the latest models. The 2016 Kindle costs £ 59.99 in the UK, so a six-year increase to £ 84.99 is pretty steep, although you now have a better screen, USB-C, and a backlight. It’s the Kindle to get if you want to spend as little as possible but don’t care if it’s waterproof.
It’s frustrating that Amazon makes it so difficult to transfer free legal eBooks, but the Amazon Store is still the largest on the planet. If you don’t want to buy from Amazon, you can get a Kobo, but even at this price, the Kindle 2022 is a terrific eReader.
