The book has lasted for over six centuries as a way to contain and transmit information, but devices like the Kindle have put its future in doubt. The Kindle was the first and remains the most popular, e-reader – an electronic tablet that allows you to download and read books or magazines without needing to carry bulky books. Available in a range of models, the Kindle has become an essential item for literature fans all over the world. If you’d like to join them, this buyer’s guide will explain everything you need to know to find the right Kindle at an unbeatable price.
In the early 2000s, it became obvious that the advent of the internet and touchscreen phones would revolutionise the way people consume literature. The only question was who would come up with an accessible, effective device to read electronic texts. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Amazon took the lead. Famous as the world’s largest online retailer of printed books, Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos saw an opportunity to dominate the growing market for on-screen literature. Beginning in 2004, he enlisted tech engineers to create a mass-market e-reader that offered a more enjoyable reading experience than computer screens, was highly portable and had enough capacity to hold multiple books at one time.
Amazon’s efforts bore fruit in 2007, when the first Kindle appeared, selling out in just a few hours. The first Kindle had space for around 200 books (250 MB of disk space), along with an audio jack that enabled users to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. These features, coupled with a revolutionary screen that made texts easy to read, meant that the first Kindle was a massive success. The Kindle 2 arrived in 2009, upping capacity to over 1,500 texts and reducing the size. The Kindle DX followed, with a larger screen and PDF compatibility, while the Kindle Keyboard was launched in 2010, adding a handy keyboard at the base of the screen.
A fourth-generation Kindle appeared in 2011, then the Kindle Touch emerged – offering a touchscreen interface for the very first time, as well as a web browser. In 2012 the Kindle 5 offered faster loading speeds and better contrast, then the Kindle Paperwhite was launched – with its innovative LED backlight. 2014 brought the Kindle 6 and 7, and a second Paperwhite model was unveiled, as well as the high-resolution Kindle Voyage, followed by the 3 GB Kindle Oasis in 2015. Finally, 2016 saw the release of the Kindle 8, adding extra battery life and improved graphical performance.
These days, you can choose between numerous Kindle models, and new versions are released on an annual basis. It’s a good time to be a lover of reading, that’s for sure.
When you head to the merchants featured on hotukdeals, you’ll find a range of different Kindle buying options. Here are the main models and some of their characteristics:
Standard Kindles – The 9th Version of Amazon’s standard version of the Kindle includes an adjustable front light that makes it far easier to read in the dark than compared with previous models. The Kindle’s light is far easier on the eyes when compared with standard tablets, you won’t have sore eyes after reading at night for an hour. As it’s the cheapest model available, it doesn’t come with some of the other features available on better models such as waterproofing. 4 GB of memory gives you more than enough space for your entire library but might cut it a little fine if you’re planning to listen to audiobooks.
Kindle Paperwhite – The Paperwhite offers higher resolution (at 300 ppi), more snazzy typography, different font sizes (making it great for partially sighted users), and a high-quality no-glare screen. It also has decent waterproofing, being able to withstand immersion in fresh water for an hour without breaking. Two models are available, with the 8 GB model being a good choice for those who read more, while audiobook fans will have all the space they need with the 32 GB Paperwhite.
Kindle Oasis – Marketed as the slimmest and lightest of the Kindle family, the Oasis is perfect for regular travellers. Only 3.4mm deep and 20% lighter than other Kindles, the Oasis is still resilient, thanks to an electroplated metal frame, so you can carry it loose in your beach bag without too many concerns. The side weighted hand grip also makes for an ergonomic experience, so you can enjoy your books all afternoon. The 3rd Generation of the Oasis is set to have a front light with adjustable colour temperature, so you can adjust the glare of the screen to better suit your eyes.
While there are some minor differences between the different models of the Kindle (with the most significant one being the memory available). That being said, there are some features that you’ll find across all models of the Kindle. We’ve split these into 4 different sections that show the potential benefits of using a Kindle over paper books:
Feels Like A Book – Amazon has added features to the Kindle to try and emulate the feel of reading an actual book. For example, you can use PageFlip to add bookmarks or annotations and navigate easily to different sections in seconds. In terms of the physical design of the Kindle, they’ve been crafted to enable users to read comfortably for long periods using just one hand. All the newest models also have front lights that foreground text, making it easy to read when it gets darker.
Social – As with all modern devices, Amazon has added a social component to its Kindle experience. The Family Library tool allows Amazon members to link their accounts together and share their books, while integration with Goodreads lets you share your book reviews and find recommendations.
Enhanced Reading – While paper books may allow us to become more drawn into the world of a particular book, there are certain features only available on e-readers. Take a feature like Smart Lookup, which allows you to find out background information from online services like Wikipedia. Time to Read gives an accurate readout on how long it will take to finish the chapter you are on, which can offer you more motivation to finish out those final few sentences. You can even use instant translation like the Bing Translator to read novels that have been published in foreign languages (although we can’t promise that they’ll have the same literary flair).
Massive library – For some maybe the most important feature on the Kindle - access to Amazon’s huge e-book selection, as well as the use of Kindle Unlimited (we talk more about this below). With the average book downloads lasting 60 seconds on average, you can get most titles you want to read quickly and conveniently.
Choosing the right Kindle isn’t easy. All four main models have their own properties. However, it pays to remember that all Kindles have a wide range of features that set them apart from competitors, so in a sense, any of them will do fine. But if you have specific needs in mind, there are some differences to bear in mind.
Price is a factor for many buyers. Although you’ll find discounts for even the most expensive Kindle e-readers at hotukdeals, some models are considerably pricier than others. If you are on a tight budget but still want a dependable e-reader, you might want to go for the Kindle Basic, which provides stripped down features at a bargain price level.
Then again, the features that are absent on the Kindle Basic could be crucial. For instance, the Kindle Paperwhite has a far superior front-lit screen and a 300 ppi screen – much finer than the Kindle Basic. It’s expensive, but it’s not that much more expensive, and there are plenty of deals around, so be sure to check it out if price is a factor, but quality is weighing on your mind too.
So there are two main factors in play here: if cost really, really matters, go for the Kindle Basic. If you have a few more pounds to spend, the Paperwhite is markedly superior in every department, and is worth the extra cash, while the Oasis is the top of the line Kindle and will delight holidaymakers and professionals thanks to its features and lightweight.
Those are the main Kindle variants, but what about their specific properties? If you are the kind of person who loves to compare tech specifications, the Kindle won’t disappoint. Here are some of the metrics you need to know about:
First, let’s have a look at the Kindle 9:
Dimensions: 160 x 115 x 9.1mm
Weight: 161g
Storage space: 4GB
Screen: 800 x 600, 167 ppi touchscreen
Front Light: 4 LEDs
Connectivity: Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Battery life: 4 weeks (max)
Text formats supported: azw, mobi, pdf, txt
Now, let’s have a look at the 4th generation of the Kindle Paperwhite:
Dimensions: 167 x 116 x 8.2mm
Weight: 182g
Storage space: 8 GB or 32 GB
Screen: 6” 1448 x 1072, 300 ppi touchscreen
Front Light: 5 LEDs
Connectivity: Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Waterproofing: IPx8
Battery life: 4 weeks (max)
Text formats supported: azw, mobi, pdf, txt
Finally, let’s look at the premium version, the Kindle Oasis 2:
Dimensions: 159 x 141 x 8.3mm
Weight: 194g
Storage space: 8 GB or 32 GB
Screen: 6” 1440 x 1080, 300 ppi touchscreen
Connectivity: Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Battery life: Months
Text formats supported: azw, mobi, pdf, txt
So far, we’ve only been talking about Kindle e-Readers. But there’s another Kindle on the block: Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet. Designed as a competitor for Samsung and Apple tablets, the Fire isn’t a pure e-reader (although it is optimised for reading and has full access to the Kindle library). Instead, it’s a fully functional Android tablet.
As a tablet, the Kindle Fire has measured up well, but as a pure e-reader, it doesn’t compare with models like the Oasis or the Paperwhite. If you are looking for a Kindle solely to read magazines or books (or listen to audio books), it’s much better to opt for a specialist e-reader. But if you want a hybrid with far more features, the Fire is a great tablet.
Amazon have created a service called Kindle Unlimited to go alongside their range of Kindle e-readers. Unlimited is the main portal to Amazon’s collection of more than 1 million e-books and a large library of Audible audiobooks. Customers can enjoy unlimited access to the collections (hence the name) for a monthly subscription. On the face of it, this seems like a no-brainer. If you are a fanatical reader, how could you fail to get value for money from such a vast library of titles?
Well, not every Kindle customer agrees. For one thing, the collection available on Kindle Unlimited is deceptive. Not all of the world’s major publishers have agreed to participate, and some have only released a portion of their catalogues, so there are big gaps. If you are interested in heavyweight biographies or history books, you may be disappointed. The majority of titles available are online only self-published titles, not commercial books – so the quality is uneven. If you’re into indie publishing, Unlimited may still seem like a great deal. However, you’ll have to read a lot of books every month to make it worthwhile (at least 10) thanks to the low cost of most independently published e-books.
Amazon has recently started offering a Daily Deal, offering you discounts of at least 70% on top-rated books. This can be a far better way to save on top titles than an Unlimited membership, although the selection available through the Daily Deal can also sometimes be a little bit underwhelming.
There’s also an irritating problem with capacity. Unlimited functions like a lending library, allowing you to take out a certain quota of books at any one time. If you are going to be abroad for long periods away from your computer, this quota can easily run dry, leaving you without anything to read.
Finally, there’s no need to rely on Amazon for your supply of literature. There are excellent alternatives to Kindle Unlimited like Scribd, which is around the same price and has a higher quality of titles on offer. However, Scribd is only available on the Kindle Fire, so that may be a limitation.
As with most digital devices, the Kindle can be optimised with the right collection of accessories. Here are some popular options:
Spare charging cases – If you have purchased a Kindle Oasis, you may want to have an extra charging case in reserve, just in case your existing one fails or becomes misplaced. There are also plenty of custom designs around, so you can create your own unique Kindle style.
USB chargers – If you rely on your Kindle, it makes sense to have as many charging options as possible. A USB charger can allow you to charge it up by connecting to laptops – a handy option to have in reserve.
Reading lights – Manufacturers like Belkin have come up with some great portable reading lights that will help you continue reading late into the night, wherever you are.
Stands – If your hands are prone to tiredness, it’s a good idea to invest in a Kindle stand, so you can prop up your device at a comfortable height while you’re reading.
Whether you are updating from an older version or buying your very first e-reader, finding Kindle bargains is easy. The UK is filled with merchants who have Kindles to sell, and a quick look at the hotukdeals Kindle listings shows that the stream of deals is pretty much endless.
Pick the device you’d like to buy and then head over to our Kindle listings. There you’ll come across great discounts from UK merchants like John Lewis, Currys, Argos and, of course, Amazon themselves. While your there, you can also shop for Kindle Unlimited subscriptions and savings for individual titles – a great way to kick start your e-book collection.
Every year, Amazon tend to release new versions of the Kindle, so if you want to purchase a cutting edge reader, it might be sensible to wait for 2017’s updates. If you do, you could also take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals that will almost certainly feature plenty of Kindle offers.
Keep your eyes peeled for summer deals as well. Many Kindle sellers realise that people need low-glare e-readers for their summer holidays, and table discounts to entice them to buy.
Amazon’s Kindle range leads the way in the world of e-readers, allowing literature lovers to download and read their favourite authors wherever they like. If you are in the market for a new e-reader, be sure to bookmark the hotukdeals Kindle listings – it’s the number one place to find deals from the UK’s leading tech retailers.
