The Kindle Paperwhite is one of Amazon's most wished-for items, and perfect for your summer reads
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Summer wouldn’t be complete without a selection of beach reads - or pool, or lakeside reads at that. And while it can be great to feel the weight of a hardcover and the sensation of turning a page, sometimes convenience wins out over sentimentality.
Able to hold thousands of books in a single device, the Kindle Paperwhite is one of Amazon’s most popular electronics, making its way to the top of the site’s most wished-for items.
Why is it so popular?
Starting at $140, this powerful e-reader has all the features you could possibly want in a device. Designed to be ultra-thin and lightweight, it features a waterproof construction that makes it an ideal choice for summertime reading. It also has a glare-free display that reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight.
Available with 8GB or 32GB of storage, the Kindle Paperwhite has room for thousands of titles, and even provides free cloud storage for all Amazon content. Prime members also receive unlimited access to hundreds of romance novels, thrillers, and more, so you can quickly and easily download your new favourite novel in seconds.
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A single charge offers weeks of reading time, so even if you’re headed on a road trip or up to the cottage this summer, you’ll never have to worry about bringing your charger along for the ride.
SHOP IT: Amazon, from $140
What shoppers are saying
With a 4.5 star rating on over 4,300 reviews, it’s safe to say that the Kindle Paperwhite has claimed its spot as Canada’s favourite e-reader.
“Very pleased with the quality and functions,” shared one reviewer. “It's nice, too, that it retained a similar look and feel but is lighter with a good set of features. What I like most is it remains a simple reader that has not tried to do a million things.”
“I am a fanatic when it comes to books and for the longest time have resisted the idea of a Kindle just because I love the feel of a thick book, turning pages and owning a collection,” added another. “Nothing can replace a real book, but the Kindle Paperwhite is the closest it gets. Definitely worth the investment.”
Although there are many great features to the Kindle Paperwhite, it’s important to note that some functions are not accessible in Canada, like access to Audible audiobooks without a US-based account, and most Canadian libraries use Overdrive and the Libby app to loan ebooks.
“Bought this to use with ebooks that I take out of the library, but was disappointed that Kindle is not compatible with Canadian libraries or epub format files,” explained one reviewer. “Only options are to buy each book yourself or pay a monthly fee for the Kindle unlimited service.”
The verdict
While the Kindle Paperwhite has received mostly rave reviews from shoppers, when deciding between it or a similar Kobo model, it’s important to consider how you plan on accessing e-books.
If you’re happy to buy your books or sign up for one of Amazon’s subscription services, then the Kindle is a great choice for avid readers. If however, you often use the library and are looking for a more convenient way to check out books, then you’ll want to pass on Amazon's popular e-reader. \
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
