Let's compare a Paper white and a voyage

jbcohen · 10-27-2014, 08:02 AM

I am curious will someone with a voyage and a paper white 2 compare the two. Other than the obvious differences: the voyage has a light sensor, page turn buttons and better screen resolution, how do they compare? Is your voyage faster than the paper white? Is the book light better quality?

haydnfan · 10-27-2014, 08:46 AM

The resolution difference might look staggering on paper, but in real life it is subtle. The Voyage has slightly better contrast imo.

The Voyage does not feel faster to me than the Paperwhite. The new basic is significantly faster than both of them.

Well it seems that everyone is mad about the light, but for my model it is better on the Voyage. It is very uniform, clean white and the black font doesn't wash out as quickly.

The light sensor sometimes works correctly, sometimes not all. The page turn buttons are not really satisfying.

jbcohen · 10-27-2014, 08:59 AM

Hmm, the sensor sometimes works properly. I am seeing a trend here, it s a bad idea to buy new technology the first year that amazon comes out with it, its a better idea to leave it alone the first year and let Amazon's techs work out the bugs and buy it the second year. The book light was the same thing, the year it came out it disapointed a lot of people, the second year amazon got it right. So perhaps the 2015 Voyage will get the sensor right, will probably be known as the voyage 2.

Microsoft tends to blunder about like that as well, they seem to get it in their collective heads that a new direction for windows is a better idea and when they come out with the new technology they tend to irate a lot of their customers. Windows 8.0 was just like that and so was Vista (also sometimes known as Windows 6).

I guess Amazon is not the only one that tends to get these things wrong.

sparklemotion · 10-27-2014, 11:20 AM

I'm returning my voyage, but I still have it atm, and I have used it enough to compare it to my PW2.

My experience is the Voyage has slightly sharper text and slightly better contrast than my PW2. It's nice, but it's not a huge difference. Since the PW screens vary quite a lot, others may have a different experience.

I find the voyage to be slightly slower than my PW2.

The light quality is better on my PW2. My voyage has an uneven light (Brighter at the bottom on mine) and also a two toned screen. Warm at the top, cool at the bottom. My PW2 is even.

I also do not find the light sensor on the voyage I have to work well. Most times it doesn't work at all. I turned it off after using it for a day.

The page press buttons I don't like at all. I would have preferred actual buttons. So overall, my voyage experience has not been satisfying and I much prefer my PW2.

pghaworth · 10-27-2014, 11:40 AM

I have a new PW2 2014 and a KV.

The contrast is superb on the KV and the pixel count is nice. The lighting is brighter compared to the PW2. The interface is faster as long as you aren't changing pages (that's all I care about). My KV's screen is touch iffy in several places, including the "buttons", and they don't work well so I turned them off, which leaves the screen - lovely, but flawed - and everything else is a no go for me.

The buttons also don't function in logical places - the store, the settings interface, are a couple of examples. I didn't try using the buttons for the experimental browser or Goodreads, but I suspect they don't work there either. I'll try to remember to test that before I box it up for return.

I use my Kindles without a case when reading so with the KV it's like holding a metal tray or touching a cold piece of glass. When it's cold, the KV is uncomfortably cold to hold. By contrast, the PW is much more comfortable in cold conditions and warms quickly, the screen is warmer to touch also. The PW's screen is much more even in comparison, but then I have a KV with the color graduation. I like the more white color of the KV screen, but my PW1 also has the whiter screen.

The KV is a nice idea that for me doesn't translate well. The hard edges and the metal back were concerns for me before I got it and they remain as part of the issue. I have somewhat adapted to the hard edges, but I really dislike the backing.

guspasho · 10-27-2014, 01:28 PM

Did I understand that correctly, that the new basic model is significantly faster than both the PW and the Voyage? If I was a Voyage owner, I'd be pissed. Has anyone measured the speed difference?

pghaworth · 10-27-2014, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guspasho

Did I understand that correctly, that the new basic model is significantly faster than both the PW and the Voyage? If I was a Voyage owner, I'd be pissed. Has anyone measured the speed difference?

For reading, IF you have "Page Refresh" ON, then the speed is about equal, less ghosting on the KV than with it OFF, but still there, and you have the "black page" between turns. With Page Refresh set to OFF, the KV has more ghosting and is a bit slower than the PW1, noticeably to me - it was making me nuts. I hate seeing the dreaded black page so I keep it off.

On the other screens where no book reading is involved, the KV is noticeably zippier and I like that.

BrentB · 10-27-2014, 02:20 PM

I put my PW1, PW2, and Voyage all side-by-side the other day, and I think the screen difference was striking. The Voyage had a much brighter white screen as well as MUCH sharper text. Also, I think the Voyage's processor does show a noticeable speed advantage over the PW2. About the same difference when upgrading from the PW1 to the PW2.

pghaworth · 10-27-2014, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrentB

I put my PW1, PW2, and Voyage all side-by-side the other day, and I think the screen difference was striking. The Voyage had a much brighter white screen as well as MUCH sharper text. Also, I think the Voyage's processor does show a noticeable speed advantage over the PW2. About the same difference when upgrading from the PW1 to the PW2.

I love the brighter/whiter screen of the KV. No doubt there.

Skibble · 10-27-2014, 03:06 PM

I answered your question in another thread, but I'll copy/paste it here since it's really more relevant to this topic:

Quote:

The lighting is much more even in tone than on my PW. Moreover, the lighting can get both brighter and darker than on the PW, which has been helpful when I read at night in bed. (I have the sensor turned on, and it has worked flawlessly for me.) My husband no longer wakes up and complains that the light is bothering him.

I have found the page turn buttons to be the most useful addition. Being able to turn the page without swiping makes reading much more comfortable for me. I'm left-handed, so the existence of the page buttons on the left side means that this is the first time I've really been able to read without using both hands. I have the buttons set to medium sensitivity, and have had no issues with accidental page turns, even though my thumb rests right on top of the button when holding the Kindle.

That said, I would agree with some of the reviewers who have stated, "If you have a PW already, the Voyage probably isn't worth buying." Unless you really want the light sensor, flush screen, higher resolution, and page turn buttons, you won't find the Voyage to be a huge upgrade for you. I haven't noticed any greater speed or responsiveness, and the software is virtually (if not precisely) the same as on the PW.

I upgraded because I wanted the page turn buttons. Also, my mother "inherits" my old readers, and she was really, really ready to get her paws on my PW. She's been using my old Sony PRS-300 for years!

David58117 · 10-27-2014, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guspasho

Did I understand that correctly, that the new basic model is significantly faster than both the PW and the Voyage? If I was a Voyage owner, I'd be pissed. Has anyone measured the speed difference?

Why would you be pissed about that?

The screen and reading experience is still much better on the voyage (and paperwhite).

When reading, the LAST thing I'm thinking is "damnit, this screen and contrast is so nice, but other models are slightly faster...I'm pissed!"

Antoinekamel · 10-27-2014, 08:12 PM

Video comparison:

Conclusion: same speed and only subtle contrast improvement.

haydnfan · 10-28-2014, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guspasho

Did I understand that correctly, that the new basic model is significantly faster than both the PW and the Voyage? If I was a Voyage owner, I'd be pissed. Has anyone measured the speed difference?

lol the basic kindles are usually faster than the premium ones. That has always been my experience. I still remember how lightning fast the kindle 4 was compared to the slugglish kindle touch.

But yes online shopping, navigation are all faster. The screen turns are actually I think slightly faster on the Voyage. If that's what matters to you, then you don't have to be mad. The Voyage wins on screen turns.

pghaworth · 10-28-2014, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrentB

I put my PW1, PW2, and Voyage all side-by-side the other day, and I think the screen difference was striking. The Voyage had a much brighter white screen as well as MUCH sharper text. Also, I think the Voyage's processor does show a noticeable speed advantage over the PW2. About the same difference when upgrading from the PW1 to the PW2.

I see a considerable "zippiness" difference between my PW1 and PW2 2014 and I'm enjoying it. I'm sure now that I've made the right decision for me. I'm going to get one more PW2 2014 and wait for the KV gen 2 in hopes that the things I don't like have been addressed.

My KV#1 and KV#2 are packaged for return and waiting for UPS.

jbcohen · 10-28-2014, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guspasho

Did I understand that correctly, that the new basic model is significantly faster than both the PW and the Voyage? If I was a Voyage owner, I'd be pissed. Has anyone measured the speed difference?

See my other thread on this subject, however I am a paper white owner, a 2013 paper white owner, and I am pissed extreemly pissed. However I am still willing to pay the extra $40 of the light.

10-27-2014, 08:59 AM	#3
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Hmm, the sensor sometimes works properly. I am seeing a trend here, it s a bad idea to buy new technology the first year that amazon comes out with it, its a better idea to leave it alone the first year and let Amazon's techs work out the bugs and buy it the second year. The book light was the same thing, the year it came out it disapointed a lot of people, the second year amazon got it right. So perhaps the 2015 Voyage will get the sensor right, will probably be known as the voyage 2. Microsoft tends to blunder about like that as well, they seem to get it in their collective heads that a new direction for windows is a better idea and when they come out with the new technology they tend to irate a lot of their customers. Windows 8.0 was just like that and so was Vista (also sometimes known as Windows 6). I guess Amazon is not the only one that tends to get these things wrong. Last edited by jbcohen; 10-27-2014 at 09:03 AM.

10-27-2014, 08:12 PM	#12
Antoinekamel Addict Posts: 278 Karma: 2511467 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: ABC W p2	Video comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTlD1Kfib6E</a>?wmode=opaque&origin=https://www.mobileread.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen> Conclusion: same speed and only subtle contrast improvement.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
speed difference between paper white and paper white 2	jbcohen	Amazon Kindle	13	03-07-2014 04:24 PM
Compare a paper white 1 to a paper white 2	jbcohen	Amazon Kindle	52	01-21-2014 02:32 PM
Edge's size/weight ratio compare to paper books	valcho	enTourage eDGe	4	03-21-2010 01:14 AM

10-27-2014, 08:02 AM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Let's compare a Paper white and a voyage I am curious will someone with a voyage and a paper white 2 compare the two. Other than the obvious differences: the voyage has a light sensor, page turn buttons and better screen resolution, how do they compare? Is your voyage faster than the paper white? Is the book light better quality?

10-27-2014, 08:46 AM	#2
haydnfan Guru Posts: 650 Karma: 5632364 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle PW 4, Oasis 2	The resolution difference might look staggering on paper, but in real life it is subtle. The Voyage has slightly better contrast imo. The Voyage does not feel faster to me than the Paperwhite. The new basic is significantly faster than both of them. Well it seems that everyone is mad about the light, but for my model it is better on the Voyage. It is very uniform, clean white and the black font doesn't wash out as quickly. The light sensor sometimes works correctly, sometimes not all. The page turn buttons are not really satisfying.

10-27-2014, 11:20 AM	#4
sparklemotion dangerous when cornered Posts: 1,855 Karma: 22891237 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Device: Kobo H2O, Kindle Paperwhite	I'm returning my voyage, but I still have it atm, and I have used it enough to compare it to my PW2. My experience is the Voyage has slightly sharper text and slightly better contrast than my PW2. It's nice, but it's not a huge difference. Since the PW screens vary quite a lot, others may have a different experience. I find the voyage to be slightly slower than my PW2. The light quality is better on my PW2. My voyage has an uneven light (Brighter at the bottom on mine) and also a two toned screen. Warm at the top, cool at the bottom. My PW2 is even. I also do not find the light sensor on the voyage I have to work well. Most times it doesn't work at all. I turned it off after using it for a day. The page press buttons I don't like at all. I would have preferred actual buttons. So overall, my voyage experience has not been satisfying and I much prefer my PW2.

10-27-2014, 11:40 AM	#5
pghaworth Fervent Pleasure Seeker Posts: 1,224 Karma: 712073 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Windmills of My Mind Device: Clara HD	I have a new PW2 2014 and a KV. The contrast is superb on the KV and the pixel count is nice. The lighting is brighter compared to the PW2. The interface is faster as long as you aren't changing pages (that's all I care about). My KV's screen is touch iffy in several places, including the "buttons", and they don't work well so I turned them off, which leaves the screen - lovely, but flawed - and everything else is a no go for me. The buttons also don't function in logical places - the store, the settings interface, are a couple of examples. I didn't try using the buttons for the experimental browser or Goodreads, but I suspect they don't work there either. I'll try to remember to test that before I box it up for return. I use my Kindles without a case when reading so with the KV it's like holding a metal tray or touching a cold piece of glass. When it's cold, the KV is uncomfortably cold to hold. By contrast, the PW is much more comfortable in cold conditions and warms quickly, the screen is warmer to touch also. The PW's screen is much more even in comparison, but then I have a KV with the color graduation. I like the more white color of the KV screen, but my PW1 also has the whiter screen. The KV is a nice idea that for me doesn't translate well. The hard edges and the metal back were concerns for me before I got it and they remain as part of the issue. I have somewhat adapted to the hard edges, but I really dislike the backing.

10-27-2014, 01:28 PM	#6
guspasho Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle Touch	Did I understand that correctly, that the new basic model is significantly faster than both the PW and the Voyage? If I was a Voyage owner, I'd be pissed. Has anyone measured the speed difference?

10-27-2014, 02:20 PM	#8
BrentB Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 30012 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage	I put my PW1, PW2, and Voyage all side-by-side the other day, and I think the screen difference was striking. The Voyage had a much brighter white screen as well as MUCH sharper text. Also, I think the Voyage's processor does show a noticeable speed advantage over the PW2. About the same difference when upgrading from the PW1 to the PW2.