The eReader market might lack much of the glitz and glamour associated with the smartphone space, but it's following in its footsteps, with HD displays making their way onto the latest paperback replacements.

Leading this push has been Amazon who, not content with already making the best eReader on the market, is charging forward with the newly refreshed Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, a device that packs in a 300 pixels-per-inch HD panel, without inflating its predecessor's £109.99 starting price.

The latest version is undoubtedly the best eReader on the market, but should those already in possession of a Paperwhite go for the upgrade?



The Good

Sharper, 300PPI backlit display

Wallet-friendly starting price

Simple, well populated book store

The Bad

Upgrades are minimal

Design is prone to fingerprints

Costs £10 more for an add-free version

Design

Keeping things simple, Amazon hasn't altered the Paperwhite's existing form for its latest model. Far from the most stylish gadget in your tech arsenal, the Paperwhite is utilitarian in its appearance - like most eReaders then.

Monotone in its colour scheme, the black box features a plastic body that's both comfortable and comforting to hold, thanks to a softly curved rear and soft-touch finish. There's no mass of buttons or cluttered controls, just a single power key and a sizeable touchscreen display, ensuring the device is easy to use.



Although this simplistic look is easy on the eye, it's something of a fingerprint magnet. Within minutes of use, the device is mired by grubby, greasy, grimy marks. Unfortunately, the soft-touch finish makes it impossible to return the unit to its original glory.

Image-depleting issues aside, importantly the Paperwhite is just about pocketable - assuming you're not wearing skinny jeans that is. Lining up at 9.1mm thick and just 205g in weight (217g if you plump for the 3G version), this compact form means your digital library need never be out of reach.



Screen

Screen quality is the new Paperwhite's big draw - and its only real improvement over past offerings.

Stepping up from its predecessor's 212PPI panel, the new 300PPI screen is crisper and more detailed than on past Kindles. This ensures that text is razor sharp, with no lack of definition or staggered edges on rounded letters.

These benefits are only really noticeable when you compare the new and old side-by-side, however. Yes, the new Paperwhite's screen is an undoubted improvement, and streaks ahead of the panels found on rival devices such as the Kobo Glo or Nook GlowLight, but the benefits are minimal. Given that the greyscale e-ink panel isn't going to be showing colourful, flowing video content, there's only so much advantage you can derive from these additional pixels.

If you're an existing 2013 Kindle Paperwhite owner, upgrading isn't going to revolutionise your reading experience.

Putting that issue aside, the backlit e-ink panel makes for a good reading platform. Unlike enjoying a good book on your smartphone or tablet, the Kindle's e-ink display isn't going to melt your eyes and get your brain wired ahead of bed. The backlit evenly illuminates the entire display - there's no edge bleeding here - and there are enough light settings to suit every usage case, from sunlit beaches to darkened bedrooms.

And the Paperwhite might lack the ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the screen's brightness, found on its big brother the Kindle Voyage, but if you can do without, there are significant (£60) savings to be had.



Features & Performance

As above, so below: Amazon has opted to keep the new Paperwhite's sub-surface alterations to the minimum.

Like its predecessor, 4GB of internal storage is on board, enough to store thousands of books, and more than enough to keep you going through that two-week beach holiday you've been looking forward to. With few features to tax the processor, page turns are smooth and menu returns pleasingly fuss-free; the Paperwhite really is a joy to use.

Filling the device with books is a doddle, too. The Kindle Store is where Amazon's eReaders really come into their own, and the Paperwhite is no different. Amazon's extensive catalogue of books ensures there's always something to suit your latest needs and fancies. The store is easy to navigate using the touchscreen panel, with one-touch payments taking the hassle out of purchases.

Amazon Prime members even have thousands of books available to borrow without incurring additional charges.



As with Amazon's past eReaders, both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + 3G options are offered in both 'Special Offers'-equipped (read ads) and ad-free versions.

Annoyingly, you've got to pay a £10 premium to do away with ads, with the Wi-Fi only ad-brimming model setting you back £109.99, compared with the £119.99 ad-bereft option. On the 3G front, ad-heavy and ad-free options are £170 and £180 respectively.

Price grumbles aside, pleasingly the added screen quality doesn't seem to have had too much of a negative effect on the device's staying power.

Amazon suggests the Paperwhite's battery life will last six weeks on a single charge, although this impressive endurance comes with some pretty significant caveats. In reality, during two weeks of heavy usage, we had to send the Kindle back to the charger just once.



The Verdict

With the new Kindle Paperwhite, Amazon has made the best eReader on the market even better, all without inflating its price.

But, despite the visual superiority, if you're an original Paperwhite owner the reasons to upgrade are limited. If, however, you're in the market for a new digital book holder, stop your search; it doesn't get any better than this.

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