Gadget Review: Reading gets hassle-free with reasonably priced Amazon New Kindle

Amazon New Kindle

Price: Rs 5,999

Rating: 3.5

Specs: 4GB storage, 4-week battery life (half hour of reading per day with wireless off), 191 grams.

Pros: Responsive touch, thin & light, many software features borrowed from Paperwhite.

Cons: Slightly lower resolution than Paperwhite, once you use a Paperwhite, it's almost impossible to move to this.


Amazon, like many others before it, has also fallen for the stunning lure of the Indian market, if targeted with a good product at a decent price point. The New Kindle (yes, they're calling it just that), is testimony to Amazon's growing Indian ambitions. Priced at Rs 5,999, the device promises a standard Kindle experience, and that can't give consumers much to complain about.

A full touch interface, with a faster processor, increased memory and improved battery life is the stuff that Amazon promises with the New Kindle. And like all their previous e-book readers, Amazon delivers on these promises.

The problem arises however, when you start comparing the New Kindle to other Kindles on the block. Let's not forget here that e-book readers are a category that Amazon has created, perfected and conquered. So a Kindle that is great for its price, but slightly less than perfect, does disappoint a little.



For starters, the slightly thicker shape doesn't feel very comfortable while holding up to read. This is the first Kindle, in fact, that I prefer using with a flip cover attached to it, rather than without. Also, it's very tough to look at an e-reader without a light, especially if you've seen or used the Kindle Paperwhite.

Apart from that, the biggest plus that Amazon has scored with the New Kindle is the full touch interface. Though you might struggle to get used to power button at the bottom, the 'tap to turn the page', more than makes up. Overall, the touch interface is highly intuitive, with an acceptable response time, and hardly takes any time to get used to. One glitch I faced was that the device froze a couple of times and had to be restarted.

The screen clarity is pretty decent too, though there are times when you experience some text ghosting. E-ink technologies are still improving but Amazon has managed an above average experience with the New Kindle. The battery life, as with any other Kindle, gives you no scope for complaint.

What Amazon has got spot-on with this device then are two things- the pricing and the software enhancements. By bringing in features like Kindle Free Time that lets you set reading goals and integrating it with Goodreads, Amazon has ensured that users have more to do with this Kindle. Vocabulary builder that simplifies dictionary usage and more importantly the Smart lookup that gives access to additional reference material like character bios are a great add on too. Then of course, there is the seamless integration with Amazon Cloud that makes life a lot simpler. The simplicity also makes it a great device for children, a segment Amazon is keen to tap.

If it's hassle-free, reasonably priced reading that you're after, the New Kindle is the device for you. But if you can spend the little extra, the Paperwhite is still the device to beat.



Also see: Kindle Paperwhite

Price: Rs 10,999

Specs: Holds up to 1,000 books, built in light with adjustable levels, 212ppi e-ink screen, 8 week battery life (half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 10).