Amazon
Kindle (11th gen)
2022
82
/ 100
From $109
VS
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) wins by 10
Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)
7″ · 300 ppi · 12-week battery
92
/ 100
From $159
Specdex verdict
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Kindle (11th gen) lands at 82 and Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) at 92. That puts Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) ahead by 10 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Kindle (11th gen) if…
- ✓Weeks of battery life
- ✓Glare-free E Ink
- ✓Lightweight
Pick Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) if…
- ✓Snappiest Kindle yet
- ✓Larger 7″ display
- ✓IPX8 water resistance
Score breakdown
Kindle (11th gen)
82 display 82
speed 82
battery 94
ecosystem 84
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)
92 display 94
speed 92
battery 96
ecosystem 88
Specs side-by-side
Spec
Kindle (11th gen)
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)
Release year
2022
—
Display
—
7″ E Ink, 300 ppi
Storage
—
16 GB
Battery
—
12 weeks
Water
—
IPX8
Kindle (11th gen)
Pros
- +Weeks of battery life
- +Glare-free E Ink
- +Lightweight
Cons
- −Slow refresh vs LCD
- −Ecosystem lock-in
- −Color E Ink muted
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)
Pros
- +Snappiest Kindle yet
- +Larger 7″ display
- +IPX8 water resistance
Cons
- −Still Amazon walled garden
- −No buttons
- −Lockscreen ads unless paid off
FAQ: Kindle (11th gen) vs Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)
Which is better, Kindle (11th gen) or Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen)? +
Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 10. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Kindle (11th gen) worth the price? +
At $109, Kindle (11th gen) delivers a Specdex score of 82 — strongest in battery.
Is Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) worth the price? +
At $159, Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in battery.
Does Kindle (11th gen) or Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.