Note: Are you looking for information about the newest Kindle Paperwhite? Check out the Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 (2021) overview.
Kindle Paperwhite 4 was announced on October 16, 2018, and available for pre-order the same day, together with new, colorful case covers. It starts shipping on November 7 – early enough to get it for Christmas, even when the demand will increase Amazon’s expectations.
The newest Kindle costs $129.99, compared to $119.99 for the previous generation. Nevertheless, with a combination of new features and improvements, the 2018 model will certainly continue to be the best selling Kindle.
The display used for the 3rd-generation Kindle Paperwhite has not changed. It’s the 1448 × 1072 px, 6-inch E-Ink Carta touchscreen offering 300 ppi pixel density what translates into a crisp, laser-quality text. Why need more?
What has changed is the look, now with a smooth glass front, making the Paperwhite look a lot like Kindle Voyage. The device is also thinner than the predecessor.
The most significant improvement, however, is resistance to water. IPX8 rating – the same as in Oasis – means the device passed the tests to withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes.
Kindle Paperwhite 4 is finally receiving the Bluetooth module that enables to listen to Audible audiobooks.
The new e-reader comes in five variants:
- 8 GB, Wi-Fi, with special offers – $129.99
- 8 GB, Wi-Fi, without special offers – $149.99
- 32 GB, Wi-Fi, with special offers – $159.99
- 32 GB, Wi-Fi, without special offers – $179.99
- 32 GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular, without special offers – $249.99
At the same time, the previous-generation Kindle Paperwhite was discontinued, so the only way to buy it is from third-party sellers or as a refurbished unit in Amazon’s Refurbished Kindle Outlet.
Read on to learn more about the most important features of Kindle Paperwhite 4, find full technical specifications, and see a gallery of pictures – all in a fast-loading page that’s easy to read on a mobile phone.
Excerpts from Kindle Paperwhite 4 reviews on most popular tech blogs will be added the moment they are released.
Kindle Paperwhite 2018 – feature round-up
When you take into consideration all new features and improvements, using the phrase “all-new” is more justified than any other Amazon device released in the previous two years.
Let’s take a closer look at the main benefits.
1. Water resistant, IPX8 rating
The waterproof design was a feature many Kindle lovers wanted to see in the most popular Kindle model – and there it is!
The 2018 Kindle Paperwhite bears IPX8 water resistance badge. It means the device can withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for up to 60 minutes.
It also means that you can clean the Paperwhite with water, what may be useful when you go back from a sandy beach, or accidentally spill coffee on the display.
The fact that the favorite device is safe in contact with water will encourage many users to read more often in the bathtub or take the Paperwhite on active holidays.
2. Flush-front, modern design
When we look at the new Kindle Paperwhite, we immediately see it is different from the 2015 model. It’s because the screen (the same as before) is covered by the edge-to-edge glass – a solution you’ve seen before in Kindle Voyage or Oasis.
Amazon claims that the new Kindle Paperwhite is the thinnest and lightest Paperwhite ever released. It is true, but the improvements are insignificant.
The width and height are smaller only by 1-2 mm. The device is thinner by 0.9 mm compared to its predecessor (8.2 mm vs. 9.1 mm), and it’s where the change is noticeable.
The 4th-generation Kindle Paperwhite weighs 182 grams, which is only 2 grams more than the same Wi-Fi-only version of the Kindle Voyage.
3. Ready to play Audible audiobooks
The Paperwhite is the last model from the current range of Amazon e-readers to include Bluetooth chip.
The Bluetooth will enable you to connect headphones or a speaker, and this is a way to listen to Audible audiobooks on your new Kindle Paperwhite.
The e-reader’s software comes with a simple Audible player. You can play both audiobooks purchased in the Audible Store and audiobook companions bought for Kindle books you already own.
What you have to keep in mind is that none of the Kindle models offered in 2018 has a headphone jack. Forget about your old headphones. You need to buy Bluetooth earphones or speakers to be able to listen to audiobooks on your Kindle.
4. Bigger storage
One of the most common feature requests for the new generation of Kindle Paperwhite was to increase internal memory or offer different versions based on memory size.
And the 2018 comes with the same storage options as the Kindle Oasis 2. You can choose between:
- 8 GB – approximately 6 GB are available to the user. You will be able to download thousands of ebooks, or some 30 – 40 full-length audiobooks in standard quality,
- 32 GB – 27 GB are available for the user; the rest is used by system files. You should be able to download at least 150 Audible audiobooks.
5. Six months of Kindle Unlimited for free
This limited-time offer is one of the most significant reasons to buy Kindle Paperwhite 4, and we hope any e-reader introduced in the future will come with the same offer.
If you buy the 2018 Kindle Paperwhite now or in coming weeks, you will get Kindle Unlimited ebook subscription free of charge for six months! None of the previously offered deals on this popular subscription-based service was even close to this promotion.
Every avid book lover considers getting Kindle Unlimited at some point. The service costs $9.99 per month. If you’ve tried Kindle Unlimited before and canceled the subscription, you are not eligible to get the 30-day free trial again for the same Amazon account.
And now, if you’ve planned to buy the new Kindle this shopping season, you can get six months of Kindle Unlimited free of charge. It means you keep $60 in your pocket!
6. New case covers, including water-safe fabric
Although the dimensions of the new Kindle Paperwhite are only a bit smaller than the predecessor, any current cover that includes a plastic backshell won’t fit the new generation.
If you have the Paperwhite cover with a leather frame, you can still use it, but the position of the power button at the bottom edge has changed.
Luckily, together with Kindle Paperwhite 4, Amazon is releasing an extended range of original case covers. All have the same backshell, open like a book, support auto sleep / wake feature, and are superb slim. You can choose from colors and materials used for the front:
- premium leather cover – crafted from premium leather featuring a ruggedly smooth finish. Price: $59.99,
- textured leather cover – they are made from natural leather, and available in four colors: Black, Cobalt Purple, Merlot, and Punch Red. Price: $39.99,
- water-safe fabric – these are the most interesting covers for the new Kindle Paperwhite. They are water safe, so nothing will happen if you treat them with water. Three color variants resemble the color code of Fire tablets: Canary Yellow, Marine Blue, and Charcoal Black. Price: $29.99.
All covers are available for pre-order right now, and they start shipping together with the 4th-generation Kindle Paperwhite – on November 7, 2018.
Kindle Paperwhite 4 (2018) comparisons
After discontinuing Kindle Voyage earlier this year, the Paperwhite becomes the middle-shelf Amazon e-reader.
The three-model range is going to stay for a long time, as this is the most effective way to meet various customer needs, at the same time keeping development and production costs at the low level.
Right now, you can get an advanced 7-inch waterproof Oasis. Or the smaller and simpler waterproof Paperwhite for half of the price. Or the same-size basic Kindle for half of the price.
The upgrade of the Kindle Paperwhite is greater than expected. Besides getting the Bluetooth chip allowing to play audiobooks, the 2018 Kindle Paperwhite is finally waterproof, having the same IPX8 rating as Kindle Oasis 2.
Kindle Paperwhite 4 compared to other Kindle models
| Feature | Kindle 8 | Kindle Paperwhite 4 | Kindle Oasis 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6 inches | 6 inches | 7 inches |
| Pixel density | 167 ppi | 300 ppi | 300 ppi |
| Screen resolution | 800 × 600 px | 1448 × 1072 px | 1680 × 1264 px |
| Grayscale | 16-level | 16-level | 16-level |
| Waterproof | No | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof rating | n/a | IPX8 | IPX8 |
| Water resistance | n/a | Withstands immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes | Withstands immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes |
| Front light | Yes | Yes 5 LEDs |
Yes 12 LEDs |
| Blue light control | No | No | No |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 5.7 oz 161 g |
6.4 oz 182 g |
6.8 oz 194 g |
| Dimensions | 6.3 × 4.5 × 0.36 in 160 × 115 × 9.1 mm |
6.6 × 4.6 × 0.3 in 167 × 116 × 8.2 mm |
6.3 × 5.6 × 0.33 in 159 × 141 × 8.3 mm |
| Storage | 4 GB | 8 GB 32 GB |
8 GB 32 GB |
| micro SD card | No | No | No |
| Speakers | No | No | No |
| Headphone jack | No | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Colors | Black White |
Black | Graphite Champagne Gold |
| Release date | July 7, 2016 | November 6, 2018 | October 31, 2017 |
| Price | from $79.99 |
from $129.99 |
from $249.99 |
As you have seen in the table, none of the Kindle e-readers sports microSD card – something useful if you want to download a lot of ebooks, comics, magazines, or audiobooks to enjoy offline. On the other side, the 32 GB version of Oasis or Paperwhite enables you to download approximately 150 audiobooks, which is enough for even the longest holiday with no connection to the web.
Finally, all Kindle models are capable of playing Audible audiobooks. They don’t have the headphone jack, but Bluetooth module, so you’ll have to use Bluetooth-enabled headphones or speakers.
With the introduction of the new Kindle Paperwhite, we have to update our Black Friday 2018 deal predictions. The price of the new Paperwhite won’t probably go under $100 (what was possible for the earlier generation). We bet that you could be able to grab the entry version (8 GB, Wi-Fi only, special offers) for $109.99. Also, we can expect the price of the basic Kindle to reach the new low – $39.99?
Kindle Paperwhite 4th-generation – tech specs
Below, you will find the full tech specifications of the all-new Kindle Paperwhite 4 (2018 release).
| Screen | 6-inch E-Ink Carta touchscreen |
|---|---|
| Levels of gray | 16 |
| Front light | Yes, 5 LED lights |
| Screen resolution | 1448 × 1072 pixels |
| Pixel density | 300 ppi |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Waterproof rating | IPX8 – tested to withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes |
| Storage capacity | • 8 GB (approximately 6 GB available to the user) – thousands of books or over 35 Audible audiobooks • 32 GB (approximately 27 GB available to the user) – thousands of books or over 160 Audible audiobooks |
| microSD card | No |
| Body color | Black |
| Battery life | A single charge lasts up to six weeks, based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 13 |
| Charge time | • 4 hours from a computer via USB • Under 3 hours using Amazon 5W USB charger (sold separately) |
| Weight | • Wi-Fi version: 6.4 oz / 182 g • Wi-Fi + Cellular: 6.8 oz / 191 g |
| Dimensions | 6.6 × 4.6 × 0.3 in / 167 × 116 × 8.2 mm |
| Wi-Fi | Supports public and private Wi-Fi networks or hotspots that use the 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n standard with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security using password authentication or Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) |
| Cellular | 4G LTE connectivity in US where available, 3G/EDGE/GPRS in other locations; utilizes Amazon Whispernet to provide wireless coverage via AT&T’s 4G LTE high-speed data network in the U.S and AT&T partner networks outside of the U.S |
| Bluetooth | Yes – Bluetooth 4.2, 2402-2480 MHz (11.25 dBm), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from Kindle Paperwhite to your Bluetooth speakers or headphones. Bluetooth speakers requiring PIN codes are not supported |
| Speakers | No |
| Headphone jack | No |
| Audible-ready | Yes; capable of playing both Audible audiobooks and Audible companions for Kindle ebooks. Pair with Bluetooth-enabled speakers or headphones |
| Accessibility features | The VoiceView screen reader, available over Bluetooth audio, enables access to the vast majority of Kindle Oasis features. Kindle Oasis also includes the ability to Invert Black and White, adjust font size, font face, line spacing and margins |
| Supported formats | • Text: Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML DOC, DOCX through conversion • Images: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion • Audio: Audible audio format (AAX) |
| Original case covers | Yes; sold separately. Three variants to choose from: textured leather, premium leather, water-safe fabric |
| Warranty | 1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 1-year, 2-year or 3-year Extended Warranty available for US customers sold separately |
| Included the box | • Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (4th generation, 2018 release) • USB 2.0 charging cable • Quick Start Guide |
| Launch dates | • Announcement: October 16, 2018 • Pre-orders: October 16, 2018 • Release: November 7, 2018 |
| Prices | • 8 GB, Wi-Fi, with special offers – $129.99 • 8 GB, Wi-Fi, without special offers – $149.99 • 32 GB, Wi-Fi, with special offers – $159.99 • 32 GB, Wi-Fi, without special offers – $179.99 • 32 GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular, without special offers – $249.99 |
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 4 (2018) in pictures
Take a closer look at the newest Kindle Paperwhite.
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