Compare paperwhites

jbcohen · 08-21-2015, 10:43 AM

How do the three paperwhites compare in quality? Does the increase in screen resolution mean a lot to you?

Anthem · 08-21-2015, 10:59 AM

The 300ppi screen resolution makes a huge difference. The 212ppi of the previous models always looked like blurry gel to me. The third generation Paperwhite and the Voyage are the first models where the text is finally approaching print quality, IMO. Still not quite there, but so so close.

oblox · 08-21-2015, 11:01 AM

I've not got a previous PW but i've seen my sisters PW2 and Ive previously had a K4 NT and whilst I hadn't been bothered about resolution (and ppi) I certainly appreciate it now on my PW3.

The different in the text crispness and overall quality look of the page is dramatic from my old K4 (600 x 800 167 PPI) to the PW3 and id honestly hate to go back now. Even my wife Kobo Glo (768 x 1024 212ppi i believe) has nothing on the new resolution.

ametzler · 08-21-2015, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

How do the three paperwhites compare in quality? Does the increase in screen resolution mean a lot to you?

I have gone from pw2 to pw3. While I can see the difference when I place them side by side, I do not feel any difference when actually reading. - I am myopic and read without glases, though.

cu Andreas

cvkemp · 08-21-2015, 12:44 PM

I have the PW2 and just over a week ago I got the voyage and there is no way I can go back and read with the Pw2 now the text and the screen is so much better.

Derek87 · 08-21-2015, 12:59 PM

i think i can speak to this as i went through a pair of defective PW2s (and also having owned two refurbished PW2s) which eventually led Amazon to send me a PW3 (long story)

my detailed review is here on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...SIN=B00QJE3MGU

but in summary and now having lived with PW3 beyond that review, i'd say:

- without comparing them side by side, i felt initially, there was no huge improvement with the PW3
- yet, when comparing them side by side, it was evident that the font on the PW3 is cleaner and appears to be "lighter in weight" regardless of the font chosen. i am guessing this is what some people view as lighter contrast and some people actually prefer the PW2.
- finally (what is not in that review posted above): just the other night, i picked up my wife's PW2 and was immediately struck by the lower resolution compared to my PW3, even though i wasn't comparing them side by side. it's not that her PW2 looked bad, but it just didn't have the crispness that i had grown familiar with and accustomed to with my PW3. i think initially, it would be hard to go back to a PW2, now that i've used my PW3 for a couple of weeks.

for someone on the fence, i think it's hard call. i can see how someone might prefer the PW2 due to the "thicker" looking font which may come off as "blacker." but for me, i'd prefer a better defined cleaner font, even if the font weight appears lighter.

the only thing that i think is truly in favor of the PW2 and may matter to some is the extra 25% battery life. the PW3 is no slouch, but the fact remains that it has a 21 hour vs 28 hour specified battery life (me extrapolating the Amazon 8 vs 6 week spec at 0.5 hours a day).

Caveat: i have never had the pleasure of looking at Voyage, but from what i understand, there appears to be a higher contrast with the fonts due to the different screen. that would make sense given my experience with the later generation iPhones having more of a "pop" as the screen has gotten closer and closer to the front glass.

ps PW1. i've borrowed a friends which actually had a reasonable backlight (not too shadowy and nothing i noticed -- i am less picky when someone is loaning me something as opposed to me spending my own cash to own an item

). i don't think there is a huge perceivable difference between the PW1 and PW2 except perhaps a more uniform backlight.

JSWolf · 08-21-2015, 01:09 PM

I cannot say how the PW3 compares to the PW2. But the PW1 stay away. Lots of people have written about the uneven lighting and the color blotches. I've seen this is numerous photos. The PW2 is better than the PW1.

I have seen the PW3 and it does look good. It didn't have uneven lighting or color blotches and the resolution made the text look good. Bookerly is a bit light (IMHO). I've seen Bookerly on the PW3 and on my H2O and it's in need of added weight. With the added weight Bookerly looks good on my H2O.

Barbara1955 · 08-21-2015, 01:36 PM

No way to compare I just got my 1st PW its a 2 do to Longer Battery life! I have discovered the Blue Problem & what causes it

When the PW2 is Clean & free of Swipe smears it has a Bright white look But after reading & swiping page turns it looks Blue..

Now How do I turn pages without getting finger oils on the dang screen!

eschwartz · 08-21-2015, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I cannot say how the PW3 compares to the PW2. But the PW1 stay away. Lots of people have written about the uneven lighting and the color blotches. I've seen this is numerous photos. The PW2 is better than the PW1.

I've seen the same... but it only happened with the early PW1's.

The general consensus is "quality control issues in the first production runs".
Yet somehow this zombie meme that the PW1 is blotchy absolutely refuses to die!

Rizla · 08-21-2015, 03:33 PM

The PW1 had super-crappy lighting. Apart from that, they are all the same. The higher-res makes little difference. The Voyage is a teeny-bit better, but not much.

barryem · 08-21-2015, 08:35 PM

I have a Paperwhite 1 and a Paperwhite 2 and a Voyage, which has the same resolution as the Paperwhite 3. My eyes are old but they do correct to 20/20 and I still can't tell the difference in the higher density screen on the Voyage. I can see some color difference but only when they're side by side. Other than that, nothing. I prefer the Voyage because of it's flat screen and smaller size and weight but that's about it.

It is true that my Paperwhite 1 light is less even and it's a bit slower but it's fine for reading. I'm glad I have the Voyage but I'd be happy with any of them as my only reader if it was all I could have.

Barry

HYPE · 08-21-2015, 10:37 PM

I still read on my Paperwhite 1st, and the text is alright to me. I do imagine that I'd prefer a higher resolution, but I'm okay with what I have now and I do not feel that it'd be worth paying a significant amount of money just for the sake of a better screen.

08-21-2015, 10:43 AM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,030 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Compare paperwhites How do the three paperwhites compare in quality? Does the increase in screen resolution mean a lot to you?

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08-21-2015, 10:59 AM	#2
Anthem Guru Posts: 704 Karma: 1622328 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle Oasis, OnePlus Nord	The 300ppi screen resolution makes a huge difference. The 212ppi of the previous models always looked like blurry gel to me. The third generation Paperwhite and the Voyage are the first models where the text is finally approaching print quality, IMO. Still not quite there, but so so close.

08-21-2015, 11:01 AM	#3
oblox Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 1007000 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen)	I've not got a previous PW but i've seen my sisters PW2 and Ive previously had a K4 NT and whilst I hadn't been bothered about resolution (and ppi) I certainly appreciate it now on my PW3. The different in the text crispness and overall quality look of the page is dramatic from my old K4 (600 x 800 167 PPI) to the PW3 and id honestly hate to go back now. Even my wife Kobo Glo (768 x 1024 212ppi i believe) has nothing on the new resolution.

08-21-2015, 12:44 PM	#5
cvkemp Loving life Posts: 1,430 Karma: 7991496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Device: PaperWhite 6 SE, Fire HD8	I have the PW2 and just over a week ago I got the voyage and there is no way I can go back and read with the Pw2 now the text and the screen is so much better.

08-21-2015, 12:59 PM	#6
Derek87 Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10000 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: Kindle PW3	i think i can speak to this as i went through a pair of defective PW2s (and also having owned two refurbished PW2s) which eventually led Amazon to send me a PW3 (long story) my detailed review is here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...SIN=B00QJE3MGU but in summary and now having lived with PW3 beyond that review, i'd say: - without comparing them side by side, i felt initially, there was no huge improvement with the PW3 - yet, when comparing them side by side, it was evident that the font on the PW3 is cleaner and appears to be "lighter in weight" regardless of the font chosen. i am guessing this is what some people view as lighter contrast and some people actually prefer the PW2. - finally (what is not in that review posted above): just the other night, i picked up my wife's PW2 and was immediately struck by the lower resolution compared to my PW3, even though i wasn't comparing them side by side. it's not that her PW2 looked bad, but it just didn't have the crispness that i had grown familiar with and accustomed to with my PW3. i think initially, it would be hard to go back to a PW2, now that i've used my PW3 for a couple of weeks. for someone on the fence, i think it's hard call. i can see how someone might prefer the PW2 due to the "thicker" looking font which may come off as "blacker." but for me, i'd prefer a better defined cleaner font, even if the font weight appears lighter. the only thing that i think is truly in favor of the PW2 and may matter to some is the extra 25% battery life. the PW3 is no slouch, but the fact remains that it has a 21 hour vs 28 hour specified battery life (me extrapolating the Amazon 8 vs 6 week spec at 0.5 hours a day). Caveat: i have never had the pleasure of looking at Voyage, but from what i understand, there appears to be a higher contrast with the fonts due to the different screen. that would make sense given my experience with the later generation iPhones having more of a "pop" as the screen has gotten closer and closer to the front glass. ps PW1. i've borrowed a friends which actually had a reasonable backlight (not too shadowy and nothing i noticed -- i am less picky when someone is loaning me something as opposed to me spending my own cash to own an item ). i don't think there is a huge perceivable difference between the PW1 and PW2 except perhaps a more uniform backlight.

08-21-2015, 01:09 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,247 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I cannot say how the PW3 compares to the PW2. But the PW1 stay away. Lots of people have written about the uneven lighting and the color blotches. I've seen this is numerous photos. The PW2 is better than the PW1. I have seen the PW3 and it does look good. It didn't have uneven lighting or color blotches and the resolution made the text look good. Bookerly is a bit light (IMHO). I've seen Bookerly on the PW3 and on my H2O and it's in need of added weight. With the added weight Bookerly looks good on my H2O.

08-21-2015, 01:36 PM	#8
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	No way to compare I just got my 1st PW its a 2 do to Longer Battery life! I have discovered the Blue Problem & what causes it When the PW2 is Clean & free of Swipe smears it has a Bright white look But after reading & swiping page turns it looks Blue.. Now How do I turn pages without getting finger oils on the dang screen!

08-21-2015, 03:33 PM	#10
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	The PW1 had super-crappy lighting. Apart from that, they are all the same. The higher-res makes little difference. The Voyage is a teeny-bit better, but not much.

08-21-2015, 08:35 PM	#11
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I have a Paperwhite 1 and a Paperwhite 2 and a Voyage, which has the same resolution as the Paperwhite 3. My eyes are old but they do correct to 20/20 and I still can't tell the difference in the higher density screen on the Voyage. I can see some color difference but only when they're side by side. Other than that, nothing. I prefer the Voyage because of it's flat screen and smaller size and weight but that's about it. It is true that my Paperwhite 1 light is less even and it's a bit slower but it's fine for reading. I'm glad I have the Voyage but I'd be happy with any of them as my only reader if it was all I could have. Barry

08-21-2015, 10:37 PM	#12
HYPE Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1057078 Join Date: Dec 2012 Device: Kobo Aura One	I still read on my Paperwhite 1st, and the text is alright to me. I do imagine that I'd prefer a higher resolution, but I'm okay with what I have now and I do not feel that it'd be worth paying a significant amount of money just for the sake of a better screen.

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