Which will be better for comics? Amazon Fire 7 or Kindle?

[Hop-frog]

Amazon.com currently has low prices for the Amazon Fire 7 ($29.99) and Kindle ($49.99), so I want to purchase one of these. I need a device for reading comics and wonder which of these will work best.

I previously bought a used SONY PRS-505, but it is impossible to read my comics on it. I read Chinese comics, but the low screen resolution of the PRS-505 meant I could not read the characters clearly, as all of the details of the characters just blurred together. Additionally, it had slow page-turning. I've attached a screenshot.

• All comics are black and white, so color is not important.
• A high resolution is needed, as the comics are in Chinese.
• I like how Kindles are easy on the eyes, but worry page-flipping will be slow on the Kindle, as file sizes are 40 MB PDFs.

[Pizza_Cant_Read]

*IF* battery or glare or whatever it is that concerns people about LCD screens doesn't bother you then go for the 7 inch Fire tablet. You can use the Kindle app from there, or for even more elite status use the Calibre Companion app. It is a more functional device whereas the ereader is only an ereader. It also has more storage which I understand is an issue with comics. Any Kindle besides the KO2 is 4 gb

But go try one out somewhere because the ereader likely has a 300 ppi screen which is better than the Fire. Has better battery life, and if you buy all your comics from Amazon and regularly remove your unread stuff then then it sounds like you can safely rely on the cloud and the aforementioned is a nonissue.

Good luck,

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Pizza_Cant_Read

But go try one out somewhere because the ereader likely has a 300 ppi screen which is better than the Fire. Has better battery life, and if you buy all your comics from Amazon and regularly remove your unread stuff then then it sounds like you can safely rely on the cloud and the aforementioned is a nonissue.

The Kindle Basic has 167 ppi and Fire 7 has 171 ppi – so neither of these is high resolution. I think the Sony PRS-505 is also 170 ppi. I'm guessing the Kindle has a newer (maybe sharper) screen, but I've never seen a PRS-505 so can't guarantee it. I'm also guessing that the new Kindle has a faster screen (for zooming) but can't guarantee that either.

I have both of these devices but I don't read comics, so I'm not much help there. Mainly I'm writing to let the OP know that the Kindle Basic can be bought, refurbished, for $40. I think it has the same warranty as the new one.

If there is a sample comic book similar to the ones the OP reads I may try to download one and try it out on the two devices and report back.

[soulfuldog]

Don't comics on anything (either e-ink or tablet) really require a bigger screen? So if your choice is between those two cheap devices, it's got to be the Fire tablet. One of the larger screen e-ink readers with 300dpi is likely to be the best option, but at a far, far higher cost. Perhaps even consider spending an extra $20 on the Fire HD 8?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

Don't comics on anything (either e-ink or tablet) really require a bigger screen? So if your choice is between those two cheap devices, it's got to be the Fire tablet. One of the larger screen e-ink readers with 300dpi is likely to be the best option, but at a far, far higher cost. Perhaps even consider spending an extra $20 on the Fire HD 8?

Yup. If you're willing to spend $50 on an unlit Kindle with a 6" screen and a resolution of 167 ppi, with the relatively poor performance of PDFs on eink, you really must buy instead the 8" Fire HD, 189 ppi, lit, and better PDF display and faster performance for $50 instead.

[Richwood]

The 2016 Kindle Basic has the same resolution screen as the Kindle 1 of 10 years ago. A lighter background as it is now e-ink Pearl but otherwise the screen is close to 10 year old technology. For PDF comics in Chinese I would think you would want the largest screen readily available and the highest resolution. The Fire HD10 has the current highest display resolution of a new Kindle tablet at 224 PPI. Not bad for $100 on sale currently.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Richwood

The 2016 Kindle Basic has the same resolution screen as the Kindle 1 of 10 years ago. A lighter background as it is now e-ink Pearl but otherwise the screen is close to 10 year old technology.

Actually my 2016 Kindle has a grayer screen than my Kindle 4 (no-touch) or my Kindle Touch (both of which also have Pearl screens), or even the Kindle 3 (Keyboard) I used to have – which also had a Pearl screen.

But I think you're right about your main point. At $50, the 8" tablet would almost definitely be better for reading comics.

[barryem]

I find comics all but unreadable on my Fire 7". The screen is too small and the resolution is too low. I have tried reading a graphic novel from Amazon on the Voyage and I found it nearly as bad as the Fire tablet. The screen is just too small even though the resolution is good enough.

I also tried it on a 720p 10" tablet and that was a lot better but still difficult. On my full HD 10" tablet comics are just fine. I'm not a big reader of comics but I do enjoy one now and then and if I didn't have my full HD 10" tablet I wouldn't bother.

For reading a book resolution matters a lot more than it does for a video or picture. For comics it's even more important. It makes a huge difference in readability.

Size is also important. Comics are just too small on a small screen. The text is very difficult to read. It's hand drawn text and doesn't have the clarity even of the text in a book.

I'm sure it can be done if you have no choice but my suggestion is save up for a full HD 10" tablet. The Fire HD 10" is $99 right now and I suspect that would be excellent although I haven't actually seen one.

Barry