Kindle (2022) review: Still worth it in 2024?

Truly one of the most innovative technologies of all time, Amazon's Kindle range has remained one of the best e-readers for decades, giving us access to thousands of novels on a device that you can hold singlehandedly.

Few experiences are as freeing as switching from bulky, hand-cramping thousand-page tomes to a single, ultra-slim device containing a world of literature available at the tap of a screen.

I've been a devoted physical reader for most of my life and know how to find a comfortable reading spot in bed. And, yes, I've felt the familiar thump of a particularly heavy book smacking you square in the face as I've drifted off.

Yes, handling a physical book, flicking through page-by-page and bearing the weight of a gorgeous hardcover is an irreplaceable experience, there's no denying it – but if you're truly craving comfort, the Kindle might be the perfect device for you.

I've had the pleasure of using a base model Kindle (2022) for several months. As a lifelong physical book reader, I'm glad to report the wonders of this ultra-convenient e-reading technology. However, I have some words of warning for those delving in for the first time.

First impressions - design and build quality:

Out of the box, I was immediately impressed with the overall quality of Amazon's Kindle (2022). I opted for the standard model due to its affordability, and for less than £100, I can safely say that it surpasses its price point at its quality.

Housed in a tough plastic case with a strange yet satisfying papery touchscreen, the Kindle feels fantastic, and its weight barely registers when held. Equipped with USB-C charging, which is undoubtedly an improvement from previous Kindle iterations that used micro-USB, the Kindle (2022) is one of the fastest-charging reading devices on the market.

With a single physical button which switches the Kindle on, the reader retains a uniform, simplified design that gives the device a slick overall aesthetic.

As for build quality, my Kindle has endured some of the toughest testing conditions due to my mischievous dog and still remains functional and comfortable with daily use.

After my dog's Kindle antics, I was worried that the Kindle would be unusable. To my dismay, the plastic was chewed away to the point where the inner circuitry was almost exposed. Though it's a shame that my teething dog managed to get his teeth into the Kindle, it was the perfect way to demonstrate the durability of the Kindle.

My Kindle reading experience:

Switching from physical to digital reading is a big jump, but I'm well acquainted with smart technology enough to make my transition relatively smooth. Booting up the Kindle for the first time, I was greeted by Amazon's bookstore, which has thousands upon thousands of titles.

Since I've been delving into George R.R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series, I thought I'd pick up my next book in the series, A Storm of Swords Part Two: Blood and Gold, for a true delve into the potential of the Kindle.

I particularly love works of fantasy, and fantasy novels are rarely short works of writing, A Storm of Swords Part Two not being an exception. Holding a thick novel for hours can undoubtedly strain hands and become cumbersome, meaning finding a comfortable position to read in can be hard.

What's more, as is typical with such page-turning novels, you're likely to read from the bright early morning to the night, which with typical books can cause some eyestrain. With the Kindle, the reliance on external light is gone to continue reading. The gorgeous matte screen of the Kindle with strong illumination is excellent for comfortable viewing at practically any light level; even in the brightest sunshine, the Kindle (2022) holds its own.

While 300ppi resolution does not sound like much, it actually looks fantastic in use. Since world maps are a must in fantasy novels, I considered the maps of A Song of Ice and Fire to be the ultimate test for the Kindle, and I was certainly impressed.

Certainly not perfect, but commendable for the price, 2022's Kindle looks fantastic and replicates the book impeccably well.

Battery life:

Possibly one of the most important aspects of an e-reader, the Kindle's battery life is superb: it lasts around six weeks on a charge and allows around thirty minutes of reading per day on average. My Kindle didn't last quite as long as six weeks, but that's because I simply couldn't put my book down.

In my experience, with a full charge, you can expect to read for practically two days straight without running for a charger. And even if you do, the Kindle's USB-C charging ensures your e-reader will be back up and running quickly. If you're heading off on holiday to spend days reading by the pool, a quality power bank will help you keep up on a reading spree.

The extra features

Alongside its standard e-reading functionality, the Kindle has fantastic features, including a built-in dictionary, X-ray, which find character names and their first mentions (even across a book series if you have them all), and language translations.

Kindle's X-Ray is incredibly useful when reading fantasy, especially A Song of Ice and Fire. I've enjoyed keeping track of minor characters and their relevance across this massive book series.

Though it's a little hit-and-miss across certain titles, when it does work, it works well.

Any downsides?

For me, the downsides of the Kindle are not in its overall reading experience but in its user interface, which certainly left me wanting a little more, in terms of both performance and overall function.

First and foremost, the overall design of the user interface is great: it's clear and functional, can be adjusted in size for those with weak eyesight, and is easily navigated. It's certainly one of the stronger points of the Kindle and makes delving into your own library a joy.

Where the Kindle fails, however, is its reliance on other devices: there's no way to pay for Kindle books on the Kindle itself. You can't even buy Kindle books on the Amazon app – you need to go through their website, which is a complete oversight in what should be a smooth and simple experience.

Then, the Kindle (2022) performance while browsing the library page feels incredibly slow. The Kindle's refresh rate reduces to nothing when scrolling through its library page, tearing with every swipe. Yes, this is a budget technology, but it could look more appealing.

Price and competition:

In terms of price, the Kindle is incredibly cheap for its fantastic functionality, sturdy design and impressive visuals, but how does it compare to its competition?

In the Kindle line-up, I used the 'With Ads' version of the six-inch model, which often caters to and recommends solid book titles while your Kindle is on standby. While choosing the 'Without Ads' version might sound like a solid idea, the ads are relatively unobtrusive and don't interrupt the reading experience.

There are also larger Kindles with wider connectivity and more features available, including the 6.8-inch Kindle with a larger 32GB of storage, wireless charging and auto-adjusting brightness levels, all for an additional £70.

For over quadruple the price of the base Kindle, you can grab yourself the Kindle Scribe, a digital notebook and e-reader all-in-one.

Yet, for the sole purpose of reading, the Kindle (2022) is perfect for reading on the go. Thanks to its smaller size, it can be comfortably held in one hand for hours at a time.

Verdict:

For the ultimate e-reading experience at a competitive price, the Kindle (2022) remains the perfect choice for your reading needs. With affordable books, comfortable portability and incredibly impressive battery life, I've loved storing hundreds of my favourite books in this tiny device, making nighttime reading an absolute joy.

My only gripe with the Kindle is its poor library navigation, which is filled with lag, but once you're delving into a book, those minor asides will quickly melt away.

Fantastic for delving into books with ease, you won't find a more enjoyable e-reading experience on the market at such a great price, the Kindle (2022) is still worth buying.

Other products to consider:

How we tested it

I tested the Kindle by using it for weeks at a time, reading books cover-to-cover on this e-reader, and I've had plenty of time to discover all of the Kindle's fantastic quirks, and more disappointing features.

I've done my best to outline the most impressive features, but have also remained unbiased as someone whose passion for technology comes first.

Ryan Houghton is a Tech Writer and Reviewer for What’s The Best, known best for his expertise in gaming, with a particular soft spot for PC gaming, audio tech, televisions and smartphones.

Diligently writing for What’s The Best for almost two years, there are very few tech products Ryan hasn’t had his hands on to review; televisions, headphones, folding phones and even LEGO, if it’s nerdy, he’ll be there.

His well-versed history as one of the resident techies at What’s The Best has kept him keen to uncover the very best deals, savings and offers for those in need of a cracking deal to upgrade their setup.

In his downtime, Ryan most likely has his nose buried in a fantasy book, or his eyes glued to a screen whilst playing a tough-as-nails Soulslike or leisurely RPG, indulging in most forms of escapism where possible.

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