I don’t usually look a gift horse in the mouth, but I just couldn’t help make a mental comparison between the regular Kindle I got as a gift and the new Kindle Paperwhite 3G. Amazon claims the more advanced model, that is, the Paperwhite 3G, can improve our reading experience, but I really think the choice is… in the eyes of the beholder. Let’s see why.

The main feature of the new Kindle Paperwhite 3G is the built-in light that enables owners to continue reading their favorite books even if they are surrounded by pitch darkness. Thanks to the built-in light, the pages become as white as the paper; hence, the term “paperwhite”. While some may think this feature is useful, I find it very common. After all, the majority of the tablets are endowed with built-in light, so the reading experience is pretty much the same. The 6” display Kindle, on the other hand, does not exhaust the readers’ eyes because it was designed to resemble a paperback book. You may not be able to read in the darkness, but it won’t damage your eyes, either.

Unlike the older version, Kindle Paperwhite 3G boasts a better Wi-Fi connection. The free 3G wireless enables readers to download any type of book they want (obviously, from Amazon’s list), no matter their location. Both the resolution and the contrast of the reading device have been improved. The manufacturer increased the number of pixels by 62% and the quality of the contrast by 25% so readers could see the text on the display even in bright light.

The only thing I find advantageous, however, is the long life of the battery. According to Amazon’s description, Kindle Paperwhite 3G can last up to 8 weeks, in spite of the built-in light option.  The cheaper version usually runs out of battery after a month and the duration diminishes considerably if you use a wireless connection to skim through Amazon’s offers.

Amazon’s e-book readers constrain customers to purchase novels from their online store. Books that are not commercialized by the famous online retailer may or may not be compatible with the device. Either way, you won’t be able to use the wide array of font styles and sizes that you normally do with Amazon’s books. Kindle Paperwhite 3G has 8 adjustable seizes, depending on readers’ preferences, whereas the text may be reproduced using 6 types of hand-tuned fonts.

All in all, the new Kindle Paperwhite 3G is a much better product than the old Kindle version if you don’t mind reading on a computer-like screen. The device is available for $199 on Amazon’s online store.
Pros
1. Improved features and performances
2. Longer battery life
3. 3G connection

Cons
1. Too expensive
2. Build-in light can exhaust eyes