Since e-reading devices and applications such as Kindle and Apple Books were released in the early 2000s, their popularity has steadily grown. As an avid reader myself, I refused to lean into the trend for years. I was adamant in my belief that I would never prefer an online copy over a physical book. However, this year, I finally took it upon myself to test out the beloved Kindle Paperwhite. Is it worth it? Here’s what I think.
The benefits:
Lightweight: I absolutely adore long books, as I can invest all of my time and energy into a fulfilling story. However, I often find my hand aching from holding up 600+ page books, especially in the late hours of the night. At just 211 grams, the Paperwhite feels almost weightless in my hand, allowing me to carry it anywhere. When travelling, lounging in bed, or even while walking, the Kindle is a perfect alternative if your beloved book feels just a bit too heavy.
Financially flexible: The Kindle Paperwhites ring in at around $160, which can make it intimidating to pull the trigger. However, the ultimate cost gap between physical books and online is staggering. Instead of spending $20+ for the newest book release, Kindle offers books for extremely low prices, and downloadable apps can give you that “new book feel” without a dent in your wallet. One of my favorite apps is called Libby, which has a wide collection of over 1 billion books. It works as an e-library, allowing you to “check out” books to download to your Kindle for free. You will typically have around 30 days to loan the book. However, if you turn your Kindle on airplane mode, the book will remain in your library for as long as you want. The Libby app and the downgraded costs of Kindle books make it possible to read many more books.
Easier on eyes: Kindles have brightness and warmth settings, allowing you to read at any time of the day, in any light. On planes, in bed, or outside in the sun, I have found the Kindle to be much easier to read than a book. At night, when I typically find my eyes straining to read the small fonts of physical books, I reach for my Kindle, as you can enlarge the font to any size by just pinching your fingers.
Practical (in almost every way): The Kindle is super practical. Instead of having to drive to your local bookstore or library every time you want a new book, you can get the newest releases in a click of a button. For me, this is one of the biggest benefits about owning an e-reader.
Cons
Annotations: I have found the Kindle to be much more difficult to keep track of your pages, progress, and past annotations than a physical book. While it does have highlighting and notes features, the act takes a lot more time to type out, as the Kindle is not meant for writing. The annotation features feel a bit outdated and in need of an update. For me, the Kindle missed the mark on this one.
Lacking the physical feel: Obviously, the biggest con about a Kindle is that it just doesn’t have the same feel as a book. I love the tactile sensation of flipping a book’s pages, or the scent of a fresh book. Personally, pressing the screen to turn the pages just doesn’t give me the same satisfaction as physically seeing the progress you have made in a book. It can feel easy to feel less connected, in a way, to a Kindle book, as a certain sense of pride comes when you finally turn that last page and set down a heavy book.
Other offerings
Monthly membership: Kindle users have the option to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited: a monthly membership that gives users access to a diverse collection of ebooks and audiobooks via their Kindle or an app on their phone. The membership costs $11.99/month in the United States, including a free trial and a flexible cancelation policy. Personally, the price feels a bit steep for the books that it offers. While the membership does offer many books, I found that the novels subscribers can read for free feel a bit lower in quality than the ones you have to pay for. Most of the books included with this membership are short, cheesy rom-coms, with the subscription lacking in popular or “trending” books. As I stated above, there are many alternatives to Kindle Unlimited that offer a variety of free books in much higher quality.
Apps: When purchasing a Kindle, you are not just buying the physical device, but also access to its app. While readers can download the Kindle app on any device (or login on a computer), when you own a Kindle alongside it, the app will seamlessly and automatically sync your reading progress between Kindles and your other devices. This makes it easy to keep up with your books wherever you go.
So, do I think the Kindle is worth it? Absolutely. While I still don’t see it as a complete replacement for physical books, it is a worthwhile investment for a lifetime of free books. By buying a Kindle, you gain access to a whole new world of reading opportunities. Reading in the pool, on a walk, or in the pitch black has never been easier! It is essential to incorporate any reading into your routine. Books educate you, nourish your soul, and can even be an escape from reality. The Kindle makes it infinitely easier to squeeze some extra pages into your daily reading.