Amazon Kindle (2022) review: The e-reader for most
Raw Text
Home
Reviews
Tablets
The Amazon Kindle (2022) gets a refresh worth every penny
Malcolm McMillan
published 11 January 2023
Comments (0)
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Amazon Kindle (2022) gets an upgraded 300 ppi display and USB-C charging while staying below $100. While itâd be nice if it was waterproof, this is now the e-reader most readers should choose.
$99.99
at Best Buy
$99.99
at Target
$119.99
at Amazon
Pros
+ Lightweight, comfortable design
+ Bright, crisp display
+ Incredible battery life
Cons
- Not waterproof
- Lacks warm display light options
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
19 Amazon customer reviews
â
â
â
â
â
$99.99
View
$99.99
View
$119.99
View
Show More Deals
Price: $99.99 Display size: 6-inch Resolution (pixels per inch): 300 ppi Storage: 16GB Battery life: 6 weeks (claimed) Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches Weight: 5.56 ounces Ports: USB-C
Amazon didnât need to reinvent the wheel with the Kindle 2022 ($99). E-readers can have all the bells and whistles they want â my old Kindle Paperwhite had a 3G network built in for downloading on the go â but in the end, they have one job: to allow you to read. Well, more accurately, allow you to read a collection of books comfortably, all on one device.
So it was a pleasant surprise when Amazon decided to refresh the Kindle in a noticeable way. This latest versionâs e-ink display got upgraded to a 300 pixels per inch (PPI) resolution and Amazon swapped the old micro-USB charging input for USB-C.
Amazon Kindle 2022 (Black) at Amazon for $119.99
There are still enough differences to make the Kindle Paperwhite the superior choice. The new Kindle 2022 is still not waterproof and it lacks the softer display lighting options of its more expensive counterpart. Itâs also smaller, but whether or not that is better or worse is subjective. If you want a Kindle and donât care about it being waterproof, the $40 cheaper price point makes the Kindle 2022 the better value for most readers.
Amazon Kindle (2022): Price and configurations
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
If youâre someone who gets overwhelmed by choices, then I have good news. The Amazon Kindle 2022 comes in just a single 16GB model for $99. There are two color options though: Black or Denim. So if you want a little choice youâre covered there too. I tested the Black model and it was nice, though fingerprints did show up on the Kindle where I handled it.
(Image credit: Future)
Some may complain that the price went up $10 versus the $89 price point of the Amazon Kindle (2019), but at least you get something for that price increase. Between the upgraded resolution and the switch to USB-C, Amazon did at least make some improvements that could justify a price hike.
Amazon Kindle (2022): Design
The Amazon Kindle has always had a relatively simple design, and that has not changed with this latest iteration. The 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32-inch Kindle (2022) is slightly smaller than the Kindle (2019), but you probably wouldn't notice. It remains comfortable to hold, and at 5.56 ounces itâs even easier to bring with you anywhere.
(Image credit: Future)
It also remains a no-frills device in terms of extra physical features. Aside from a power button and the USB-C charging port, thereâs nothing else. To be fair, there isnât really a need for anything else. Some people like to have physical page-turn buttons, but personally, I donât view the lack of those as a negative.
The only design change I would advocate for is upgrading the chassis for the Kindle to be IPX8 waterproof resistance rated. I think that Amazon could accomplish this without undercutting the more expensive Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, which still offers improved lighting options and a larger size than the base 2022 Kindle.
Amazon Kindle (2022): Display
One of the biggest complaints about the previous iteration of the Kindle in our review was the mediocre display resolution. While the Amazon Kindle 2019 upgraded the display by adding four front lights, which allow for a better and more energy-efficient reading experience, it still featured a relatively low resolution at just 167 ppi. That's fine for reading, but noticeably below the resolution of the rest of the Kindle lineup.
(Image credit: Future)
Now, Amazon is fixing that with the Kindle (2022). This Kindle has an upgraded 300 ppi 6-inch display that felt incredibly comfortable for this former Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (3rd generation) user. The e-ink grayscale display looked fantastic and was easy to read.
The biggest complaint I had was that I found the light to be a bit harsher than the warmer tones you can get on the Paperwhite. However, I found with a little tinkering â and turning on the Kindle 2022âs dark mode â I was able to land on an enjoyable display experience.
Amazon Kindle (2022): User experience and features
The Kindle user experience is pretty simple, and I found it easy to use and intuitive. When the Kindle boots up, youâre presented with a home page that displays some selections from your library and recommendations from Amazon. Thereâs also a search bar to allow you to just search for content directly from the home page.
At the bottom thereâs also a âLibraryâ tab that shows everything you have in your Kindle library. You can filter this library by using the filters icon located directly under the search bar, which is great if youâre in the mood for something you havenât read yet or searching for an Audible audiobook.
(Image credit: Future)
Speaking of Audible, you can listen to your Audible audiobooks on the Kindle using Bluetooth. I found it easy to connect my headphones to the Kindle, but be warned â it may be loud at first. Make sure to set your volume using the Settings pull-down menu (drag your finger down from the top of the screen to access) once youâre connected. The volume slider only appears with Bluetooth connected.
Finally, our past reviews have spoken at length about the awfulness that is Goodreads, Amazonâs widely-disliked social network for recommending books. Unfortunately, it hasnât entirely gone away. While Iâve had a largely Goodreads-free experience, when you open a new book there is an annoying âAbout this bookâ pop-up that appears. While technically not a Goodreads feature, itâs still an annoying distraction that the Kindle could do without. Still, overall Amazon largely didnât overwhelm me with distractions, so it's a vast improvement over some of the previous Kindles in that regard.
Amazon Kindle (2022): Battery life
While the 6-week battery life of the Amazon Kindle 2022 is less than the Kindle Paperwhiteâs 10-week, itâs more than enough. Amazon claims that the Kindle can hit six weeks on a single charge based on 30 minutes of reading a day with Wi-Fi off and the brightness set at 13. Using the Audible audiobook streaming feature over Bluetooth will reduce battery life below this figure.
(Image credit: Future)
While I have not tested the battery life of the Kindle as rigorously as Amazon has (I havenât even had 6 weeks to try and drain the battery) I can tell you so far Iâve been impressed. Iâve been using it for a while now and still have not had to charge it. While it may fall short of the six weeks Amazon promises, it wonât be by much.
Amazon Kindle (2022): Content
Content is both a major advantage and disadvantage of the Kindle ecosystem. Amazon Kindles, of course, have access to the massive Kindle Store and its millions of books. You also get access to Audible audiobooks, which as mentioned you can listen to using Bluetooth. If you have an Amazon Prime account, you can even download a free eBook a month from a selection of new books curated by Amazon. You even get free cloud storage for all Amazon content.
(Image credit: Future)
Unfortunately, alongside offering this wealth of content Amazon does everything it can to lock you out of other ecosystems. The Kindle can download eBooks from your public library through the Overdrive service, but other services (like Hoopla, which works on Kindle Fire tablets) donât work on the Kindle 2022. And if you have Google Books eBooks, those wonât work either.
Amazon Kindle (2022): Verdict
The Amazon Kindle (2022) is nearly a perfect device for what it is, and some of its flaws are more down to Amazon than the device itself. Being locked into Amazonâs ecosystem is a drag, but you canât really knock the Kindle for that.
Thatâs not to say there arenât improvements that could be made. The fact that the Kindle 2022 isnât waterproof is probably the biggest reason that I couldnât rate it above four stars, and the ability to adjust the warmth of the display light is something I sorely miss from the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) â though if youâre fine with using dark mode itâs easy to move past that shortcoming. Admittedly, if Amazon fixed those things there would be no reason to get the Paperwhite, so while Iâm disappointed, Iâm not shocked.
Ultimately though, the Kindle 2022 is probably the best Kindle for most people, dethroning the Paperwhite when both are at full price. Itâs lightweight and comfortable to hold, the display is bright and crisp â a massive improvement â and the battery lasts for ages. Unless you really need a waterproof Kindle, itâs tough to advocate spending more than the $99.99 for the Amazon Kindle 2022.
19 Amazon customer reviews
â
â
â
â
â
$99.99
View
$99.99
View
$99.99
View
$119.99
View
$119.99
View
Malcolm McMillan
Malcolm McMillan is a staff writer for Tom's Guide, writing about the latest in tech, gaming and entertainment with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-based tools like ChatGPT. He has written up much of our coverage on the latest AI tools including ChatGPT, the new GPT-powered Bing and Google Bard. He also covers A/V tech such as televisions, soundbars and more, in addition to covering VR headsets from the Meta Quest 3 to the PS VR2.
Before writing for Tom's Guide, Malcolm worked as a fantasy football analyst writing for several sites and also had a brief stint working for Microsoft selling laptops, Xbox products and even the ill-fated Windows phone. He is passionate about video games and sports, though both cause him to yell at the TV frequently. He proudly sports many tattoos, including an Arsenal tattoo, in honor of the team that causes him to yell at the TV the most.
I just took the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold outside â and it's not close
Canon EOS R100 review
England vs Denmark live stream: How to watch Womenâs World Cup 2023 game online
See more latest  âș
See all comments (0)
No comments yet
Comment from the forums
Most Popular
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 hands-on review
By Mark Spoonauer July 26, 2023
Anker Soundcore Space A40 review: $99 ANC buds with high-quality sound
By Alex Bracetti July 26, 2023
Lenovo L32p-30 monitor review
By Alex Wawro July 24, 2023
Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Best-ever wireless earbuds
By Lee Dunkley July 24, 2023
Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 review
By Andrew Hayward July 20, 2023
Brother MFC-J4535DW review
By Eric Butterfield July 20, 2023
Canon EOS R8 review
By Matthew Richards July 19, 2023
TP-Link Deco BE85 review
By Brian Nadel July 19, 2023
Beats Studio Pro review: What I love and hate
By Nick Pino July 19, 2023
Sony SRS-XB100 Bluetooth speaker review
By Kate Kozuch July 18, 2023
Nothing Phone (2) review: Better in every way except one
By John Velasco July 18, 2023
Single Line Text
Home. Reviews. Tablets. The Amazon Kindle (2022) gets a refresh worth every penny. Malcolm McMillan. published 11 January 2023. Comments (0) Tom's Guide Verdict. The Amazon Kindle (2022) gets an upgraded 300 ppi display and USB-C charging while staying below $100. While itâd be nice if it was waterproof, this is now the e-reader most readers should choose. $99.99. at Best Buy. $99.99. at Target. $119.99. at Amazon. Pros. + Lightweight, comfortable design. + Bright, crisp display. + Incredible battery life. Cons. - Not waterproof. - Lacks warm display light options. Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. 19 Amazon customer reviews. â. â. â. â. â. $99.99. View. $99.99. View. $119.99. View. Show More Deals. Price: $99.99 Display size: 6-inch Resolution (pixels per inch): 300 ppi Storage: 16GB Battery life: 6 weeks (claimed) Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches Weight: 5.56 ounces Ports: USB-C. Amazon didnât need to reinvent the wheel with the Kindle 2022 ($99). E-readers can have all the bells and whistles they want â my old Kindle Paperwhite had a 3G network built in for downloading on the go â but in the end, they have one job: to allow you to read. Well, more accurately, allow you to read a collection of books comfortably, all on one device. So it was a pleasant surprise when Amazon decided to refresh the Kindle in a noticeable way. This latest versionâs e-ink display got upgraded to a 300 pixels per inch (PPI) resolution and Amazon swapped the old micro-USB charging input for USB-C. Amazon Kindle 2022 (Black) at Amazon for $119.99. There are still enough differences to make the Kindle Paperwhite the superior choice. The new Kindle 2022 is still not waterproof and it lacks the softer display lighting options of its more expensive counterpart. Itâs also smaller, but whether or not that is better or worse is subjective. If you want a Kindle and donât care about it being waterproof, the $40 cheaper price point makes the Kindle 2022 the better value for most readers. Amazon Kindle (2022): Price and configurations. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) If youâre someone who gets overwhelmed by choices, then I have good news. The Amazon Kindle 2022 comes in just a single 16GB model for $99. There are two color options though: Black or Denim. So if you want a little choice youâre covered there too. I tested the Black model and it was nice, though fingerprints did show up on the Kindle where I handled it. (Image credit: Future) Some may complain that the price went up $10 versus the $89 price point of the Amazon Kindle (2019), but at least you get something for that price increase. Between the upgraded resolution and the switch to USB-C, Amazon did at least make some improvements that could justify a price hike. Amazon Kindle (2022): Design. The Amazon Kindle has always had a relatively simple design, and that has not changed with this latest iteration. The 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32-inch Kindle (2022) is slightly smaller than the Kindle (2019), but you probably wouldn't notice. It remains comfortable to hold, and at 5.56 ounces itâs even easier to bring with you anywhere. (Image credit: Future) It also remains a no-frills device in terms of extra physical features. Aside from a power button and the USB-C charging port, thereâs nothing else. To be fair, there isnât really a need for anything else. Some people like to have physical page-turn buttons, but personally, I donât view the lack of those as a negative. The only design change I would advocate for is upgrading the chassis for the Kindle to be IPX8 waterproof resistance rated. I think that Amazon could accomplish this without undercutting the more expensive Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, which still offers improved lighting options and a larger size than the base 2022 Kindle. Amazon Kindle (2022): Display. One of the biggest complaints about the previous iteration of the Kindle in our review was the mediocre display resolution. While the Amazon Kindle 2019 upgraded the display by adding four front lights, which allow for a better and more energy-efficient reading experience, it still featured a relatively low resolution at just 167 ppi. That's fine for reading, but noticeably below the resolution of the rest of the Kindle lineup. (Image credit: Future) Now, Amazon is fixing that with the Kindle (2022). This Kindle has an upgraded 300 ppi 6-inch display that felt incredibly comfortable for this former Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (3rd generation) user. The e-ink grayscale display looked fantastic and was easy to read. The biggest complaint I had was that I found the light to be a bit harsher than the warmer tones you can get on the Paperwhite. However, I found with a little tinkering â and turning on the Kindle 2022âs dark mode â I was able to land on an enjoyable display experience. Amazon Kindle (2022): User experience and features. The Kindle user experience is pretty simple, and I found it easy to use and intuitive. When the Kindle boots up, youâre presented with a home page that displays some selections from your library and recommendations from Amazon. Thereâs also a search bar to allow you to just search for content directly from the home page. At the bottom thereâs also a âLibraryâ tab that shows everything you have in your Kindle library. You can filter this library by using the filters icon located directly under the search bar, which is great if youâre in the mood for something you havenât read yet or searching for an Audible audiobook. (Image credit: Future) Speaking of Audible, you can listen to your Audible audiobooks on the Kindle using Bluetooth. I found it easy to connect my headphones to the Kindle, but be warned â it may be loud at first. Make sure to set your volume using the Settings pull-down menu (drag your finger down from the top of the screen to access) once youâre connected. The volume slider only appears with Bluetooth connected. Finally, our past reviews have spoken at length about the awfulness that is Goodreads, Amazonâs widely-disliked social network for recommending books. Unfortunately, it hasnât entirely gone away. While Iâve had a largely Goodreads-free experience, when you open a new book there is an annoying âAbout this bookâ pop-up that appears. While technically not a Goodreads feature, itâs still an annoying distraction that the Kindle could do without. Still, overall Amazon largely didnât overwhelm me with distractions, so it's a vast improvement over some of the previous Kindles in that regard. Amazon Kindle (2022): Battery life. While the 6-week battery life of the Amazon Kindle 2022 is less than the Kindle Paperwhiteâs 10-week, itâs more than enough. Amazon claims that the Kindle can hit six weeks on a single charge based on 30 minutes of reading a day with Wi-Fi off and the brightness set at 13. Using the Audible audiobook streaming feature over Bluetooth will reduce battery life below this figure. (Image credit: Future) While I have not tested the battery life of the Kindle as rigorously as Amazon has (I havenât even had 6 weeks to try and drain the battery) I can tell you so far Iâve been impressed. Iâve been using it for a while now and still have not had to charge it. While it may fall short of the six weeks Amazon promises, it wonât be by much. Amazon Kindle (2022): Content. Content is both a major advantage and disadvantage of the Kindle ecosystem. Amazon Kindles, of course, have access to the massive Kindle Store and its millions of books. You also get access to Audible audiobooks, which as mentioned you can listen to using Bluetooth. If you have an Amazon Prime account, you can even download a free eBook a month from a selection of new books curated by Amazon. You even get free cloud storage for all Amazon content. (Image credit: Future) Unfortunately, alongside offering this wealth of content Amazon does everything it can to lock you out of other ecosystems. The Kindle can download eBooks from your public library through the Overdrive service, but other services (like Hoopla, which works on Kindle Fire tablets) donât work on the Kindle 2022. And if you have Google Books eBooks, those wonât work either. Amazon Kindle (2022): Verdict. The Amazon Kindle (2022) is nearly a perfect device for what it is, and some of its flaws are more down to Amazon than the device itself. Being locked into Amazonâs ecosystem is a drag, but you canât really knock the Kindle for that. Thatâs not to say there arenât improvements that could be made. The fact that the Kindle 2022 isnât waterproof is probably the biggest reason that I couldnât rate it above four stars, and the ability to adjust the warmth of the display light is something I sorely miss from the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) â though if youâre fine with using dark mode itâs easy to move past that shortcoming. Admittedly, if Amazon fixed those things there would be no reason to get the Paperwhite, so while Iâm disappointed, Iâm not shocked. Ultimately though, the Kindle 2022 is probably the best Kindle for most people, dethroning the Paperwhite when both are at full price. Itâs lightweight and comfortable to hold, the display is bright and crisp â a massive improvement â and the battery lasts for ages. Unless you really need a waterproof Kindle, itâs tough to advocate spending more than the $99.99 for the Amazon Kindle 2022. 19 Amazon customer reviews. â. â. â. â. â. $99.99. View. $99.99. View. $99.99. View. $119.99. View. $119.99. View. Malcolm McMillan. Malcolm McMillan is a staff writer for Tom's Guide, writing about the latest in tech, gaming and entertainment with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-based tools like ChatGPT. He has written up much of our coverage on the latest AI tools including ChatGPT, the new GPT-powered Bing and Google Bard. He also covers A/V tech such as televisions, soundbars and more, in addition to covering VR headsets from the Meta Quest 3 to the PS VR2. Before writing for Tom's Guide, Malcolm worked as a fantasy football analyst writing for several sites and also had a brief stint working for Microsoft selling laptops, Xbox products and even the ill-fated Windows phone. He is passionate about video games and sports, though both cause him to yell at the TV frequently. He proudly sports many tattoos, including an Arsenal tattoo, in honor of the team that causes him to yell at the TV the most. I just took the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold outside â and it's not close. Canon EOS R100 review. England vs Denmark live stream: How to watch Womenâs World Cup 2023 game online. See more latest  âș. See all comments (0) No comments yet. Comment from the forums. Most Popular. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 hands-on review. By Mark Spoonauer July 26, 2023. Anker Soundcore Space A40 review: $99 ANC buds with high-quality sound. By Alex Bracetti July 26, 2023. Lenovo L32p-30 monitor review. By Alex Wawro July 24, 2023. Sony WF-1000XM5 review: Best-ever wireless earbuds. By Lee Dunkley July 24, 2023. Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 review. By Andrew Hayward July 20, 2023. Brother MFC-J4535DW review. By Eric Butterfield July 20, 2023. Canon EOS R8 review. By Matthew Richards July 19, 2023. TP-Link Deco BE85 review. By Brian Nadel July 19, 2023. Beats Studio Pro review: What I love and hate. By Nick Pino July 19, 2023. Sony SRS-XB100 Bluetooth speaker review. By Kate Kozuch July 18, 2023. Nothing Phone (2) review: Better in every way except one. By John Velasco July 18, 2023.