My Honest Review of the Kindle Paperwhite 5 (2021)
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Having recently transitioned from my old Kindle Basic to the new and improved Paperwhite, I have definitely had my fair share of likes and dislikes. However, I want to go past the textbook differences and share my personal experience with the device. Without boring you with the specifications, here is my honest review of the Kindle Paperwhite 5.
Flushed Screen
An improvement that struck me the most was the screen which was flushed with slimmer bezels. Although I was initially hesitant about the glass material, an unwelcome change from the rugged and matte plastic of my Kindle Basic, I simply applied a screen protector for my peace of mind.
The flushed screen of the Paperwhite 5 was aesthetically pleasing and also removed a pet peeve of mine where dust got trapped in between the indented edges of the screen and bezels. This made for easier cleaning and a more pleasant reading (and swiping) experience.
Bigger Display
As someone with smaller hands, I have always appreciated more compact devices (which is why I have stuck with my iPhone 7). The bigger display meant that I could no longer comfortably grip the device. I could also no longer fit it in the pocket of my work pants, which was a major downside.
Admittedly, however, my general reading experience was improved, as the bigger screen allowed for more of the text to display on each page. This enabled me to maintain my preferred font size without having to swipe as frequently, resulting in longer reading sessions without feeling as tired.
Additional Features
Despite the drastic step up in price point, I believe that it was definitely value for money considering all the additional features offered by the Paperwhite 5 that were unavailable in my Kindle Basic.
Refresh Rate
An immediately noticeable quality of the Paperwhite 5 was its faster refresh rate, which is significantly higher than the Paperwhite 4 (according to a side by side comparison) and almost on par with my phone. This made my reading experience and navigation on the device much more seamless and enjoyable.
Warm Light Timer
Reading at any time of the day has become less intrusive to my sleep schedule with the newly implemented warm light timer which automatically adjusts as the day progresses. Although the Paperwhite itself does not harm your eyes with blue light, it certainly does add a nice touch.
Dark Mode
Being a frequent user of the popular dark mode on most of my devices and web apps, it is now the default setting on my Paperwhite 5. Coupled with the warm light setting, it makes reading much easier on the eyes, especially before bedtime, an important part of my nighttime routine.
Conclusion
Although this review was merely based on personal preference, I hope it offers a unique view of the Kindle Paperwhite 5 and may make you think twice about making the switch.
