We unbox the new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 5, and we give you our first impressions of it. The device has a faster processor, an improved display built with adaptive backlighting and enhanced resolution, and a waterproof design for protection against accidents like spills or splashes. Next, we'll discuss the device and go over how it compares to the Kobo e-readers so you can decide if this upgrade is worth your money.

Kindle Paperwhite 5 specs

The new Kindle Paperwhite 5 is the latest edition of Amazon's Paperwhite e-reader device. It was announced around the end of September 2021. The device boasts the following specs:

• 6.8" display size with built-in light, 300 PPI

• Dimensions of 124.6 x 174.2 x 8.1 mm

• Weighs 205 g

• 8 GB of internal storage

• A longer battery life that can last up to 10 weeks on a single charge

• Wi-Fi connectivity

• USB-C port for charging

• IPX8 waterproof resistance

You can buy the Kindle Paperwhite 5 for $139. There are also covers that you can buy separately.

First take and impressions

Upon opening the box, you can immediately see that the Kindle Paperwhite is a small device. It's almost the same size as the Kobo Libra 2, and it's got an excellent, light form factor. Therefore, I can say that the Paperwhite can easily be used with one hand when reading, and you won't strain that much due to being lightweight. Also, there's a charger included when you buy the Paperwhite.

The Kindle Paperwhite has an excellent display. The text looks good when you are reading on it. It has a dark mode feature where the background turns black, and the text becomes white. There's also an airplane mode. The usual brightness settings are there, and there's also a color temperature setting where you can adjust to warm light and make the screen look yellowish, or tweak it to cold light and make the screen look blue.

You can not only read e-books with the Kindle Paperwhite but also listen to audiobooks. Unfortunately, there's no headphone jack or speaker built-in with the device, so you must pair it with Bluetooth headphones or speakers, and you can listen to an audiobook this way. You can adjust the narration speed too.

The Kindle Paperwhite is also very responsive. Pages load fast when you tap on the screen. In addition, the device has water resistance capable of withstanding immersion in fresh water up to two meters for up to 60 minutes and 0.25 meters of seawater for up to three minutes.

Is the Kindle Paperwhite for you?

If you are looking for the best e-reader to have, the Kindle Paperwhite is there, along with the Kobo Sage and Kobo Libra 2. The specs of these devices are close to each other, especially the screen and brightness features. The Sage has the advantage of having note-taking capabilities, but if you're looking for a solid e-book reader, the Paperwhite will satisfy your needs. In addition, it's cheaper compared to Kobo's Sage and Libra 2, so that can be a significant factor for you to consider purchasing it.