The brand new Amazon Kindle (2022) has been unveiled, bringing a USB-C port and high-res display to the corporate’s line of price range e-readers – nevertheless, it continues a worrying development amongst the rainforest-named model’s E Ink devices.
The brand new Kindle prices are greater than its predecessor, the Kindle (2019), with an entry worth of $99.99 / £84.99 which means that you simply pay $10 / £15 extra for this new mannequin than you’ll have spent on the most affordable variant of the older one.
We noticed the identical factor occur with the Kindle Paperwhite (2021), in some areas a minimum of, as within the UK it values £10 greater than its predecessor (however the identical within the US and Australia). Different Amazon devices aren’t exempt from these worth will increase, with the Amazon Fireplace 7 (2022) costing $10 / £10 greater than the previous-gen mannequin – keep in mind these are all super-affordable units, so even a low double-figure worth improve is of notice.
Positive, these worth will increase are justified in myriad methods – the newer units all eschew the older micro USB port for the usual USB-C, they usually additionally include extra storage by default, so you are not shedding ou by way of worth.
However, that is to neglect the truth that, in case you simply need the {hardware} without having to spend numerous cash, and without worrying about specs, you are still having to spend extra for the newer devices than you have been for the older one.
Nonetheless, you do not have to be considerably out of pocket when shopping for a brand new Kindle e-reader – no, this can be a good reminder that it is potential to purchase a gadget in a price range.
Earlier-gen variations exist
Whereas Amazon likes to make a tune and dance about its new, flashy Kindles, it typically leaves the older-gen fashions on sale.
Within the case of the usual Kindle, that is the 2019 mannequin, whereas for the Paperwhite it is 2018 on – the high-end Oasis hasn’t had an improvement since 2019 so the current-gen model of that’s somewhat premature at this level.
These older Kindles do not have the upgrades and tweaks of the brand new ones, however, these adjustments aren’t the time price the fee anyway, so some customers may not thoughts that they are getting an older model.
Plus, as we have already mentioned, these variations are cheaper than the newer ones – and that is not even taking into consideration the frequent worth cuts and reductions they see, making them extra inexpensive in general.
Second-hand Kindles
The second-hand marketplace for Kindles is not as bustling as it’s for techs like smartphones or tablets – e-reader devices are typically designed to final lots longer than good ones, which means people are unlikely to do away with one except it is utterly damaged.
However there are a couple of refurbished and renewed Kindles on the net, and shopping for one among these will be a good way to avoid wasting yourself some cash on an older gadget that may run simply in addition to a more modern one.
That is particularly the case forward of the discharge of a brand new Kindle, as numerous individuals might be buying and selling their older fashions for the brand new one, particularly on the condition that the 2022 mannequin has USB-C, which is a well-liked characteristic.
Amazon has its personal refurbished part, however in case you hunt around online, you will discover different refurbished websites too. You may also merely purchase second-hand units, ones which have not been renewed, from a load of different websites, together with eBay and the Fb Market, however, these have much less a high-quality assurance.
It is priced to economize
Extra so than most devices, we would suggest wanting into shopping for older or renewed Kindles.
Whereas shopping for second-hand or older devices typically comes with pitfalls – these devices are generally slower, with lowered battery lives and scuff marks – these points aren’t as problematic on Kindles. Amazon’s e-readers are already gradual, with such long-lasting batteries that it takes years of use to have a noticeable effect on their lasting energy.
As we have mentioned, the second-hand market is not identical for Kindles as it’s for smartphones, however, which makes shopping for previous-generation fashions extra tempting. For those who’re on the lookout for a ‘new’ e-reader, then earlier than shopping for one of many brand-new units, it is a positive price trying out various markets.
