Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen): The E-reader Champ is Back

By siliconindia  |  Monday, 12 May 2025, 11:04 IST

Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen): The E-reader Champ is Back

In short

  • The new Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) is now available in India for Rs 16,999,
  • With a battery life of up to 12 weeks, it offers a responsive reading experience and customizable features
  • Overall, the Kindle Paperwhite is a significant upgrade, making it a top choice for avid readers.

The brand-new Kindle Paperwhite has finally arrived! Released in the global markets towards the end of last year, the 12th-gen Kindle is full of updates. This should give relief to Kindle users in India who were let down when the Kindle went off the e-commerce website Amazon last year. At 16,999, the new Kindle is available in a solitary Black colour and can be ordered on Amazon.in.

So, what's the new Kindle bringing to the party? Lots of upgrades, but some features left out. The company boasts that the new e-reader is the fastest and thinnest Paperwhite to date. Well, that's not bad for a start, for a model that flew off shelves and is back after nearly a year-long absence. Let us get into the review, in which I discuss why the current Kindle Paperwhite is the perfect Kindle for you over the last few years.

Kindles sit atop all e-book readers' lists, and the reason why is straightforward: it provides distraction-free reading. A bookworm cannot find this on tablets or smartphones. The new Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) provides a 7-inch glare-free e-ink screen that is marginally larger than the 6.8-inch screen we received with the Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021). Although the size difference is marginal, the new Kindle appears to be taller.

Curiously, Amazon did maintain some simple characteristics such as resolution, but it remained at 300ppi pixel density on the new Kindle, the same as previous generations. The new Kindle remains IPX8 rated, meaning it is tested to survive being submerged in 2 meters of new water for 60 minutes.

The matte glass surrounding the screen is smudge-free now, a big plus, and the soft touch texture on the back remains comfortable to grip for extended reading sessions.

The new Kindle weighs 211 grams, which is marginally heavier but something you will not feel unless you compare it side-by-side with the Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021). The back also accommodates the curved arrow pointing towards Amazon's signature logo.

It should be added that in spite of the taller position of the new Kindle Paperwhite, the device remains one-handy and features great ergonomics for one-hand reading comfort. Rubberised back material contributes to a great material for the grip.

Long thing short, it's the same old Kindle feel with a bigger screen and some minor improvement touches.

Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) Display and Performance: The best available today

Display and Resolution: 7-inch and 300ppi

Processor - Dual-core processor

Battery: Up to 12 weeks (claimed, varying with usage)

The most exciting feature of the new Kindle Paperwhite is its display. It boasts the largest screen on a Paperwhite model and is also said to be the thinnest. Compared to Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021), the larger screen is not immediately noticeable. Nevertheless, you have a taller position, and it certainly seems to provide a better screen-to-body ratio for enhanced reading. The 1264x1680 pixels screen resolution looks crisper, although the 300PPI pixel density is the same as the last Kindle. The display technology of the new Kindle is based on an oxide thin-film transistor, which according to the company, takes reading to a better level with crisp texts and visuals that jump out from the screen.