Amazon this week unveiled two new Kindle e-readers, the Kindle Voyage and an all-new Kindle. The former is billed as Amazon’s “most advanced e-reader ever” while the latter improves upon the entry-level model while remaining wallet-friendly. They are the company’s seventh generation of e-readers.
The Kindle Voyage is the thinnest Kindle yet at 7.6 millimeters thick. Along with an improved Paperwhite display that offers a higher resolution and a micro-etched cover glass that cuts down on glare, it introduces PagePress, a new way to turn pages. PagePress makes it possible to turn the page simply by lightly pressing on the bezel. Haptic feedback lets you know that you’ve turned the page.
Kindle Voyage specifications:
- Cellular connectivity: Optional 3G
- Other connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Display: 6-inch 16-level gray scale Carta e-paper with adaptive built-in light (300PPI)
- Internal storage: 4GB
- External storage: Free cloud storage for all Amazon content
- Rear-facing camera: None
- Front-facing camera: None
- Dimensions: 162 × 115 × 7.6 millimeters
- Weight: 180 grams (Wi-Fi model) /188 grams (3G model)
- Colours: Black
The Kindle (2014) comes with processor 20% faster than that of its predecessor, twice the storage and adds a touch interface.
Kindle (2014) specifications:
- Cellular connectivity: Optional 3G
- Other connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Display: 6-inch 16-level gray scale Pearl e-paper (167PPI)
- Internal storage: 4GB
- External storage: Free cloud storage for all Amazon content
- Rear-facing camera: None
- Front-facing camera: None
- Dimensions: 169 × 119 × 10.2 millimeters
- Weight: 191 grams
- Colours: Black
Both Kindles will receive an OTA update later this fall. The new firmware will add a number of new features:
- Family Library which allows users to access books from the Amazon account of a spouse or partner
- Deeper Goodreads Integration
Amazon is offering the Wi-Fi Kindle Voyage for US$199 with Special Offers (essentially ads displayed on the lockscreen) and US$219 without Special Offers. The 3G Kindle Voyage sells for US$269 with Special Offers and US$289 without.
Amazon Canada will offer the Kindle (2014) for CA$79. The 3G model and the Kindle Voyage, on the other, hand will not be available here (at least for now).
Shipments are set to begin on October 2.