Kindle Paperwhite Review: 2024 Model Before the Update

This kindle paperwhite review covers the 2024 model, the 12th generation with a 7-inch screen and 16GB of storage, and it comes with a timing problem. Amazon announced a new Paperwhite on October 1, 2026, with shipping set for October 28, so the version reviewed here is about to become the outgoing one. It is still the one Amazon is selling today.

What it is and who it is for

The 2024 Paperwhite is Amazon’s mid-range e-reader. Compared with the 2021 model it has a larger 7-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display at 300 pixels per inch, an adjustable warm front light, and a body that weighs 211 g and is 7.8 mm thick. It is rated IPX8 for water resistance, charges over USB-C and is claimed to last up to 12 weeks on a charge.

I haven’t tested this unit; this review is based on published tests and shopper feedback. The outlets involved are TechRadar, T3, Tom’s Guide and Alex Reviews Tech.

The battery claim is Amazon’s, relayed by TechRadar and T3. The Signature Edition adds auto-brightness, wireless charging and 32GB, but this post covers the base 16GB model.

Who is it for? First-time e-reader buyers, and people stepping up from a base Kindle or an older Paperwhite, especially if most of their books come from Amazon.

What Amazon shoppers say

I read Amazon’s summary of shopper feedback on the listing on Oct 10, 2026, and it is positive on the points you’d expect from an e-reader.

Buyers describe the battery as impressive, the size as right and the weight as comfortable. They find it easy to use, and several say it is noticeably faster than older Kindles. Overall they call it worth buying.

Worth noting is how well the shopper themes line up with the professional ones. Both groups single out speed, the battery and the comfortable size, and neither group treats the device as a dramatic leap. That agreement makes the praise easier to trust, since the shoppers and the outlets reached it independently.

Less settled is functionality and compatibility, which draws mixed comments. The summary doesn’t spell out what the complaints are, so I won’t guess.

A Google or Google Shopping rating was not checked for this post. Shoppers can compare it themselves before buying.

What reviewers found

All four reviews I read were positive, and none of them was surprised.

TechRadar gave it 4/5 under the headline of a perfectly adequate e-reader. It praised the screen and speed, and it grumbled about the price, the slippery body and the small amount of usable storage, advising readers to buy on sale.

T3 was warmer. It awarded a Platinum Award, called this the best Paperwhite yet and the best e-reader for most people, and noted that the base model lacks auto-brightness and picks up fingerprints. T3 also relayed Amazon’s claim that the device is 25 percent faster.

Tom’s Guide described small but worthwhile improvements, good for first-timers and not for 2021 owners. Alex Reviews Tech gave it 4/5 and reached the same conclusion: an easy recommendation for newcomers, with little reason for owners of working Kindles to upgrade.

What is good

The screen is the main reason to buy. TechRadar and Tom’s Guide both liked the larger display with better contrast in a body that is barely bigger than the old one. Pages turn quickly, which T3 and TechRadar noted, and that speed does more for the reading experience than most spec-sheet items.

Speed deserves a second mention, because it is where owners of older Kindles notice the difference. Amazon claims the new model is 25 percent faster, a number T3 relayed without confirming it, and buyers on Amazon describe it as noticeably quicker than older models. The change is felt in page turns and menus, the two things you do hundreds of times per book.

Battery life and portability come next. Twelve weeks is Amazon’s figure, and shoppers independently called the battery impressive. At 211 g with an IPX8 rating, it is light enough to read in bed and water-resistant enough for splashes.

The warm adjustable light, mentioned by Tom’s Guide, is a pleasant thing at night. And the interface is simple, with the huge Kindle store behind it. If you want to buy a book and start reading in a minute, few devices make it easier.

What is not so good

Price is the first sore point. TechRadar called it pricey even at the launch price, and a blog post dated August 21, 2026 reported that the price of the 16GB model with ads had gone up. That blog didn’t name the 2024 model explicitly, so I’d treat the increase as likely but not certain. The Signature Edition costs more again.

The body is slippery. TechRadar and T3 both point to a smooth plastic back that attracts smudges and fingerprints.

Amazon’s ads are the next irritation. TechRadar notes home-screen promotions and lock-screen ads unless you pay extra to remove them. Tom’s Guide complained that the power button on the bottom edge is easy to press by accident.

The ad question deserves a sentence of its own. Ads are the cost of the lower price, and removing them costs extra, according to TechRadar. If that bothers you, factor the fee into what the device really costs. If you barely look at the lock screen, it may never bother you.

Storage is a smaller matter. Of the 16GB, only about 11.5GB is usable, which is plenty for books though in my view it is worth knowing before you load a large library. TechRadar also notes that MOBI files are no longer supported, though EPUB is.

One more thing for people thinking about the Signature Edition: a blog reported a yellow-tinged front light and a yellow band, mostly on Signature units of the 2024 model, according to the author and commenters in July 2025. That is a single source, and the base model is the subject here.

Video reviews

Three independent videos are below. I haven’t watched them, and the titles come from a search. One is billed as a look at incremental upgrades, which matches the written reviews, and another compares the Paperwhite with the base Kindle.

How it compares

The big comparison is the new 2026 Paperwhite. It is on preorder at a base price that Forbes and Good e-Reader report as matching the current model, with a pricier Signature version. It has no independent reviews yet, and I don’t know whether Amazon will keep selling the 2024 model after October 28.

That successor complicates the advice. Its preorder price matches the current listing for the 2024 model, according to those reports, so there’s no obvious saving in choosing the older one unless Amazon discounts it. TechRadar’s advice to buy on sale applies even more now. I’d wait for independent reviews of the 2026 model before paying full price for either.

Among current rivals, T3 calls the Kindle Colorsoft a tempting alternative if you want color. A blog comparison put the Kobo Clara BW as a cheaper six-inch option with similar screen technology, though that comparison was against an older Paperwhite.

My research lists note-taking as a reason to look at other devices, so this isn’t the one for handwriting.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy it if you’ve never owned an e-reader, or if your Kindle is a base model or something older than the 2021 Paperwhite, and you’d rather have the proven model than wait.

Owners of older gear are the hard case. Tom’s Guide and Alex Reviews Tech both say the upgrades are incremental, and Tom’s Guide specifically advises 2021 owners to stay put. If your current Kindle is slow, cracked or cramped, the larger screen and speed boost could still justify the money. If it is fine, keep reading on it.

If you do buy now, check Amazon’s return terms on the listing first, since a successor launching within weeks is the sort of thing that could change your mind.

Skip it if your 2021 Paperwhite still works, if you want color or note-taking, or if you’d prefer to see how the 2026 model reviews. Waiting three weeks costs you little, and a review published now describes a device that may be replaced within the month.

Verdict

The 2024 Paperwhite is a very good e-reader. Reviewers called it the best Paperwhite yet, shoppers praise the battery, the size and the speed, and the complaints are minor ones: price, ads, a slippery back and modest usable storage.

My take: a fine purchase if you need a Kindle now, with the caveat that the market is about to shift. If you can wait until the end of October, you’ll know more.

• Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB): the e-reader reviewed above. See it on Amazon (affiliate link).

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