New Amazon Kindle 2019 Review: Worth The $90 Investment?

For a lot of shoppers, there are specific cut offs when it comes to setting a budget. Anything that is priced under $100 for technology these days is considered very budget friendly, and that is especially true for something they can do as much as Amazon’s new Kindle. Available for just $90 (with special offers), the new release is aimed towards people who want to use it as a true book reader. Does it do enough to bring value to the table?

First Thoughts

The new Amazon Kindle 2019 fits comfortably in one hand.

Amazon has been hyping up their new Amazon Kindle as being a very light weight option for people to take with them virtually anywhere. As soon as I was able to unboxed my delivery, it was pretty clear to me that this did feel different. I have not owned every single model of the Kindle, but this is certainly not my first device from Amazon. It’s not as small as my smart phone, but it certainly feels much more like that than a tablet. That is exactly what I was going for, as one handed reading is essential for a lot of people on the go.

The screen is 6 inches, and the Kindle officially weighs in at 6.1 ounces. Thanks to a very reduced bezel size, the Kindle itself is 6.3“ x 4.5“ x 0.34“. This makes it’s more lightweight and less cumbersome than any standard book out there, which is perfect for those people looking to finally replace carrying around even a single standard book.

If there is one complaint about my first thoughts, it is that the Kindle is not as grippy as I would like. For something that is focusing on single-handed holding, the back should be a bit easier to grip. A cover can be purchased, but that does add to the overall cost and put it over $100.

Examining The Screen

A reduced bezel and sharper screen makes for easy reading.

With a 6 inch screen, there is a lot of space for words to fill up the screen. Text is very easy to read, but the screen does have a pretty low resolution. That is really not going to matter too much though, as reading text is all most people are going to do on this Kindle. Compared to the Kindle Paperwhite, which has 300 pixels per inch, this Kindle only has 167 PPI.

Make no mistake: the text is crystal clear, and the PPI does not really affect the performance of reading in any way. It just is noticeable in other ways, such as looking at pictures or using the basic web browser. That’s not the purpose of this Kindle though, so most are going to be more than fine.

Making up for the relatively low PPI is the adjustable screen front light for the new Kindle. This is the first time it has been available on something as affordable as this. It really helps with the reading experience, in all different types of lighting situations. I have yet to find a location where I could not make a few adjustments and read perfectly fine. Yes, this even includes reading in direct sunlight. It certainly gets hot, but it is amazing to see that it can still be done.

I was secretly hoping for a blue light filter, especially when you think about all the different ways it can affect sleep and overall health. Amazon has included it on some of their top tablets out there, but this Kindle did not get the same treatment. If it is a huge deal for people, they might need to look at other Kindle options available through the company.

Overall, I would rate the screen as slightly above average for the price. It does exactly what needs to be done as far as providing great, rich text for people to read in a bunch of different situations. It’s not going to be the best screen in the world, but no one should really be expecting that out of a $90 option.

Usability

When working with a stripped down, affordable option like this Kindle, some people might be a little bit worried about how responsive it is and just how well the user interface works. So far, it has been very surprisingly good for something so affordable. The Kindle is very responsive to touch, and everything moves around very quickly.

What makes the Amazon Kindle very enticing to a lot of people is that it is a simple option for those who just enjoy reading. It would be silly for them to make the Kindle very complicated to use, which is why the overall layout is very simplistic. Going to the homepage allows a person to view their entire library and reading list. Touching on text will allow a person to utilize a number of different features built into the Kindle in a matter of seconds. It only comes with 4 GB of internal storage, but that is equivalent to thousands of books. Since there is not going to be a lot of large files stored on something like this, four gigabytes is more than enough for just about anyone out there.

Searching for new items, recommendations and even specific terms are all extremely easy to do. The store is integrated into the Kindle, and it just makes things easier in general. Even those who are not exactly text savvy will find this Kindle to be extremely user-friendly. That is why it is a perfect option for people who are trying to finally replace the old way of reading books. In many ways, it works much like a traditional book.

Bonus Features and Other Goodies

With a straightforward product like this, most shoppers are not going to expect a lot of bonus features and other goodies that might be available. While there is certainly not as much available compared to other tablets, there are some added benefits to the Amazon Kindle that makes it very much worth the price.

Bluetooth for Audible

Bluetooth connectivity works very well with the Amazon Kindle, which is perfect for anyone with an audible account. Having a hands-free option gives a person another way to use the Amazon Kindle without having to switch to another Device.

X-Ray

This feature has been around for a while with Amazon, but it is great to have it on this Amazon Kindle. Additional information about characters, places and more can be found automatically by using this feature from Amazon. It is a great way to learn more while reading.

Smart Lookup

Being able to look up a definition quickly for certain words is a huge tool for any reader. It just makes sense to have a very simple option like this available, and it works very well. Not only that, but it is very quick to find information for people, which is always a plus.

Battery Life

The battery for the new Amazon Kindle can last for weeks.

Amazon claims on their website that the Kindle can last for weeks without needing a charge. It is always going to be dependent on just how much a person uses their Amazon Kindle, and at what brightness the screen is. With that being said, early tests done by me have shown that this has some of the best battery life out there.

After the first week of pretty heavy use, I am still sitting at about 30% battery life. During normal usage, I feel confident that I can easily get two weeks out of a single charge. That is perfect for me, because nobody really likes to constantly re-charge all their devices. Having something that can last a long time like that is certainly beneficial.

Final Thoughts

As far as e-book readers are concerned, this is currently the best option available. The Amazon Kindle has always been a very dependable solution for people who do not want to spend a lot of money, but this upgrade is a very good one. They were still able to stay under $100, and it should be able to last for years to come.

There are always going to be alternatives out there for people who want to spend a little bit more money. For example, if a person does need to use a web browser on a more consistent basis, they might need to upgrade to something like the Kindle Paperwhite ($129.99) or the Kindle Oasis ($249.99). However, for a simple, affordable way to read and listen to books, the Amazon Kindle 2019 ($89.99) has the best value.

Aaron Knight

Sports. Music. Philly Native. Not Rude.