This Kindle WiFi Review is based on about an hour of playing around with the Kindle 3 – courtesy the Kindle Team.
Kindle WiFi comes in for the ridiculously low price of $139. It doesn’t have 3G wireless and that means if you can’t find a WiFi network – no free Internet, no browsing the Kindle Store, no 60 second book downloads. It weighs in at 8.5 ounces and is a little lighter than the Kindle 3 (8.7 ounces). In every other way Kindle 3 and Kindle WiFi are identical.
Please check out my Kindle 3 Review for a detailed list of improvements and a discussion of Kindle 3 strengths and weaknesses. Except for the 3G wireless part all of these apply to the Kindle WiFi.
Kindle WiFi Review – Lighter, Easier, and Much Better
Amazon’s focus with Kindle WiFi and Kindle 3 seems to have been to focus even more on reading, make the Kindle even easier, and add on as many improvements as possible.
Here are the key improvements -
- 50% better screen contrast.
- 15% more compact.
- 21% lighter.
- 20% faster page turns.
- Double the memory.
- Double the battery life with wireless off (up to 1 month). With wireless on you get just 10 days.
- Much better usability of buttons and keys.
There are also some improvements in the various features -
- Better PDF support including the ability to add notes and highlights to PDFs and use the dictionary. Kindle WiFi also supports password protected PDFs.
- Better Accessibility – All the menus and the home page now have Text To Speech enabled.
- Sharper Fonts – Amazon is using some complicated algorithms to draw sharper fonts.
- Page turn buttons no longer make a loudish clicking noise.
- There are now 3 Font types – Serif, Sans-Serif, and Condensed.
Overall, the Kindle WiFi is a very compelling eReader and at $139 it’s insanely good value for money.
Kindle WiFi Review – Disadvantages
All the disadvantages mentioned in the Kindle 3 Review post apply. There are some Kindle WiFi disadvantages worth going over again - the lack of 3G, being dependent on a WiFi network for book downloads, the tiny size and accompanying fragility (perhaps, not sure how sturdy it is), lack of ePub support, the missing row of number keys, lack of an SD card slot, lack of a replaceable battery. If one of these is a deal breaker skip the Kindle WiFi.
Not having 3G wireless is a significant drawback – However, if you can get by on WiFi or by using your PC it shouldn’t be a concern.
Kindle WiFi Review – Kindle WiFi keeps the focus on reading
Perhaps the best part of playing with the Kindle 3 was seeing that the Kindle 3 and Kindle WiFi continue to be dedicated reading devices focused on reading books and on making everything very simple.
You see this in a lot of ways – much better screen contrast, faster page turns, no multi-purposeness added, no touchscreen, keys moved to be more convenient, page turn buttons improved. Amazon has refused to let the iPad’s success poison the Kindle’s focus on reading and that’s a beautiful thing.
Kindle WiFi Review – Kindle WiFi is Very Strongly Recommended
Kindle 3 and Kindle WiFi are instantly the best available eReaders. Kindle WiFi exceeds every other eReader (including the Kindle 3) in providing value for money by coming in at $139. Basically, there’s nothing close to the Kindle WiFi other than Kindle 3 and that’s $50 more.
Kindle WiFi undercuts the Nook WiFi by $10 and also has significant advantages – the eInk Pearl screen, better PDF support, faster page turns, more memory, more battery life, better usability, etc. Nook WiFi has its own advantages - lending, ePub, the promise of Android, Chess and Sudoku. Overall though, Kindle WiFi easily beats Nook WiFi.
Kindle WiFi is very strongly recommended. It’s a beautiful little eReader with lots of impressive features. Hopefully this Kindle WiFi review helped you – let me know if you have any questions.
Filed under: kindle wifi | Tagged: kindle wifi, kindle wifi review
[...] 3 vs Kindle 2 Posted on July 28, 2010 by switch11 The Kindle 3 is [...]
[...] book browsing and buying at AT&T WiFi hotspots. There’s also a Kindle WiFi for $139 (my Kindle WiFi Review) although the only difference is the lack of free 3G in Kindle [...]
[...] Kindle WiFi Review [...]
Apart from the bookstore, what else is the internet access good for on the Kindle? Is it easy to access Facebook, email and other sites?
Yes, though you have to use the mobile versions of the sites.
Email works with mobile sites – so m.gmail.com instead of normal site.
Facebook – think it works. haven’t tried it and don’t have an account to try it for you. You can send passages of a book you’re reading to Facebook from within books itself.
Browsing works – It’s slow on 3G. Will be fast on WiFi. There’s a new browser and it supposedly improves the browsing.
Thank you! And thanks for the great reviews. I just need to decide if I need the 3G option or not.
Actually am writing a post on that. It should be up in 45 minutes.
Great, looking forward to it. You mentioned over at the Amazon forum that the K3 graphite was not as nice as the K2 graphite. Which in your opinion is nicer, the K3 white or the K3 graphite?
Here’s the comparison – Kindle vs Kindle WiFi.
In a nutshell if you have WiFi (a wireless network) at home and at the places you usually read (work, coffee shops, etc.) OR don’t mind using a PC to download books then Kindle WiFi is a good choice.
If you travel a lot – then Kindle 3 with 3G is better.
I am so technologically inept. I travel extensively for periods of one to two months at a time always carrying with me a bag of books. I think I want an ebook reader, but I am so confused–Kindle vs. Nook. I am not sure I would ever load a book while I am traveling. What would you recommend and have you had a Nook?
Ann,
I do own a Nook.
The Kindle is much better if you’re travelling.
If you’re based in the US you’ll have Kindle Store browsing, free book downloads and free Internet all over the world. I’d recommend the Kindle 3 3G+WiFi model as you won’t have to hunt for WiFi hotspots.
Also worth getting is a physical plug adapter – Kensington sells one that works all over the world. Kindle’s adapter can handle voltages worldwide – however, it needs something to adjust to the different wall sockets.
WIth the Kindle WIFI, if you subscribe to newspapers will they automatically be pushed to the Kindle if it is connected to a WIFI network?
Not sure – However, I think that is how it should work. Your Kindle WiFi would be able to connect to Amazon’s servers and check for and download upgrades.
Why only make the wifi available in graphite? Thanks for all the info!!
Not sure. The page doesn’t have an option for white.
I am European, every time I buy an e-book I pay 2$ more for whispernet delivery (VAT is another story). Do you know if the delivery will be free with WIfi K3 ? It would pay it very quickly!
And thanks for your blog, so interesting
Michelle – not sure.
Hi there, thanks for the reviews!
One question on the value of the covers and if it is recommended?
The covers seem to be fairly expensive e.g. the cover with light is almost 50% of the Wifi
Ed, I’m trying to get my hands on a review copy. If you need a reading light and a cover then it’s worth it. It doesn’t need batteries so that helps too. However, I agree that $60 is too much – It should have been $30 or $35.
[...] Kindle WiFi Review [...]
I heard the Kindle WiFi uses an older technology screen. Is this true? Is the only difference between K3 and KWiFi the 3G? Thanks
Kindle WiFi uses the new eInk Pearl screen. The only difference is the 3G and Kindle WiFi is a little lighter (8.5 ounces vs 8.7 ounces).
What exactly is the difference between the WiFi and what the Kindle 1′s whispernet uses? Does the Kindle 1 use a 3G network?
Yes, Connie.
Kindle 1 uses a 3G network like cellphones do so it can connect wherever a Sprint cellphone could connect. Kindle 3G+WiFi uses AT&T’s 3G network and WiFi.
Kindle WiFi uses just WiFi. Kindle WiFi would only be able to connect where there is a WiFi network that you have access to. A WiFi network is any wireless network like we set up at homes for wireless Internet for our laptops or the wireless network that coffee shops have.
Kindle WiFi also connects to all the AT&T hotspots for free – for browsing books and downloading books.
Will i be able to access the Kindle store if I use the device outside of US?
Yes. Find a WiFi wireless network and you can access it. Or you can find a PC.
Thanks for the review, which is very useful for me who is contemplating purchasing an e-book reader. As I live abroad, I am very concerned about carrying useless peripheral space and weight that I cannot use as I will be using the device outside of the USA. So, do I care for carrying extra rows of keyboard buttons that I never get to use to access the Amazon Web site to order books from the Kindle 3/2? Do I need the added 3G internal device, and hence the added cost, that will never get connected free of charge in my part of the globe (if I can configure it to access local 3G provider, for a charge)? Do I have the luxury of sending the device back to Amazon to get a battery replacement when the original runs out? The answer is obviously “no.”
Can you check email and log on to all internet sites other than Wikipedia with the Kindle 3G?
Yes.
On kindle 2 the browser could only handle mobile versions of sites.
The browser in Kindle 3 is webkit based and in help guide they show espn.com loaded. So perhaps it works for all sites.
The mobile email sites will definitely work.
3G browsing is a bit slow though. Over WiFi it’ll be pretty fast.
Hi there, I have another question.
Regarding the costs of the books delivered to international users – what about if it was the other way around in that I bought the Kindle WIFI in the US but returned to Australia – would the additional costs and range be restricted?
No. If you set your home country to US then you’d get US prices and US range. However, if you took a subscription like a newspaper or a magazine the delivery would be very expensive unless you did it via WiFI – which I guess is the only option with Kindle WiFi. Do check on the subscription part with Amazon.
I have been waiting for the kindle wi-fi and going to get it.but what you said about having to pay for internet. is it just better to get kindle wi-fi and 3g becuase if it is i think it might just be better to get that! do you think i should becuase i’m only 10 but use the internet alot! thanks so much
Claire
Claire,
Where do you most expect to use your Kindle?
If it’s at home and in places like coffee shops that will have free WiFi then Kindle WiFi will be fine.
All AT&T WiFi hotspots get free access to browsing the store but not to Internet.
Coffee shops and McDonalds and some cafes have free Internet through WiFi.
Depends on where you plan on using your Kindle. Let me know if you want more details.
[...] Kindle WiFi Review [...]
Can anyone tell me what is the biggest font size that is available on kindle (139$] and if that particular font size is available for all the ebooks that we download or convert from pdf ?
Biggest font size is size 40 font in word. Check out the Kindle 3 Videos page for a video showing it.
It works for all books – even ones converted from PDF format. PDFs can be zoomed up to 300%. If you have access to change font size in the PDF on your PC then Kindle will show the new PDF font size.