Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
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Also: 5 Kindle accessories every reader should have (and why they make such a big difference)
The TCL tablet offers full-color, color paper, and black-and-white paper mode, giving you the full experience of a tablet and an e-reader. I love that I can turn pages and navigate the Kindle app on the TCL as quickly as possible on a smartphone or a tablet while still looking like an e-reader and putting my slow, six-year-old Kindle to shame.
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When Amazon unveiled its new Kindle lineup last fall, I fell for it like a ripe coconut on a sunny beach. I’ve been a Kindle user for a good 14 years, religiously reading each night to wind down before bed. While a new Kindle may not seem exciting considering the device’s simplicity, the 2024 lineup of Kindles is Amazon’s largest upgrade in years, offering the first full-color Kindle and the fastest page turns yet.
Nobody wants to carry around a 1lb book, especially if you read for long periods and like to hold your e-reader in one hand.
Size and weight aside, the Kindle Paperwhite SE has up to 12 weeks of battery life on a single charge. This is based on a half hour of reading per day with the wireless off and the light setting at 13, so your mileage may vary.
Also: I tested the ReMarkable Paper Pro, and can’t go back to ‘real’ paper – especially at this price
My TCL tablet, in turn, offers about 20 hours, which is impressive for a tablet. I charge it about once a week and read for about an hour each night.
Aside from a long battery life, the fastest page turns I’ve seen on a Kindle, and the benefit of a lightweight, compact e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite SE also has the advantage of being a dedicated, distraction-free reading device.
The Signature Edition also features 32GB of storage and support for wireless charging.
ZDNET’s buying advice
You don’t have to worry about notifications or distractions from social media or other apps tearing you away from your reading, as a Kindle is a simple device that only fulfills your reading hobby.
Also: The best e-readers of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed
Kindle e-readers are built to last several years, so I’d recommend the Kindle Paperwhite to anyone upgrading from a three-year or older Kindle. I typically use my Kindles for six years, but I could see the latest Kindle Paperwhite
