Kindle Voyage or Paperwhite 3: Which was better and why? - Page 3

rcentros · 11-01-2025, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Some people may have poor versions of the PW4, and it's not as good as PW3, but it's not inherently rubbish. Why didn't people return bad ones if they were rubbish?

The majority of the comments and reviews i've read stated that the PW4 had a comparatively poor screen.

Quoth · 11-01-2025, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

The majority of the comments and reviews i've read stated that the PW4 had a comparatively poor screen.

That's why I didn't buy it, I read the reviews. It's certainly poorer, so when I saw it in person I was glad I'd got one of the last PW3. However I thought it not as bad as reviews suggested.

rcentros · 11-01-2025, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

That's why I didn't buy it, I read the reviews. It's certainly poorer, so when I saw it in person I was glad I'd got one of the last PW3. However I thought it not as bad as reviews suggested.

Like you and others have mentioned, there is a variation in E-Ink screens. Usually when new models of eReaders come out, they still have bugs to iron out. Most reviewers see the new models. So, over the life of the eReader, the reviews are often skewed against it. I'm guessing that is probably true of PW4 also. But I also think the plastic "flush" screen layer degraded the quality of the PW4 screen. (At least that seems to be the consensus. I believe I did see a PW4 at Best Buy and I wasn't impressed with it.)

Ebookus · 11-01-2025, 08:42 PM

yeah, this isn't software related. The screen sucks. that is all.

In my humble opinion, waterproofing is the worst thing to have happened to kindle. call me old fashion but it is simply the stupidest "feature" ever added to an e-reader. It negatively affects quality for absolutely no gain whatsoever (spoiler: they are not really waterproof)

slm · 11-01-2025, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ebookus

yeah, this isn't software related. The screen sucks. that is all.

In my humble opinion, waterproofing is the worst thing to have happened to kindle. call me old fashion but it is simply the stupidest "feature" ever added to an e-reader. It negatively affects quality for absolutely no gain whatsoever (spoiler: they are not really waterproof)

Actually: I've dropped mine in the bath 3 times and it has continued to work. If it's not "waterproof", it's clearly good enough for the purpose.

DNSB · 11-01-2025, 08:55 PM

One friend of mine had a Voyage and the top of screen was very noticeably brighter than the bottom. It didn't seem to bother him that much but his wife refused to use it due to that gradient.

cellaris · 11-02-2025, 01:53 AM

The problem with my Voyage (I emphasise "my Voyage", as I know that others, fortunately, have not had this problem) was not only the varying intensity of brightness within the same lighting tone, but also that it had two different tones: brown in the upper half and blue in the lower half. It was unbearable to read like that.

There is an overlay image that was posted on a German forum that illustrates the effect quite well (and, in my case, it was even worse).

Ebookus · 11-03-2025, 07:28 PM

that is very interesting, in quite a negative way. I had never seen anything like it. I stand corrected, that IS in fact an enormous brightness gradient...

DNSB · 11-03-2025, 08:03 PM

It didn't seem to be that common but those Voyages that had a gradient seemed to have a very visible gradient.

rcentros · 11-03-2025, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

It didn't seem to be that common but those Voyages that had a gradient seemed to have a very visible gradient.

My Voyage (bought used) has a nice, clear, evenly lit screen. The only issue I have with it is there's a small spot on the screen where the previous owner must have dropped something on it. It doesn't effect the reading.

But had I bought one that looked like the one pictured a few posts back, I would not have been happy with it, especially if I had bought it new. Even used I wouldn't have accepted it.

Sirtel · 11-03-2025, 10:18 PM

My Voyage was pretty unevenly lit. But that was not the main reason I never very much liked it. The main reason was ergonomics - I much prefer asymmetrical shape with the wide side bezel, and the Voyage was never really comfortable for me to hold, even with a cover.

rcentros · 11-03-2025, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

My Voyage was pretty unevenly lit. But that was not the main reason I never very much liked it. The main reason was ergonomics - I much prefer asymmetrical shape with the wide side bezel, and the Voyage was never really comfortable for me to hold, even with a cover.

I like the shape and feel of the Voyage. Never really liked the look of asymmetrical readers, but I've never owned one. I'm guessing I could get used to one if I owned it. I usually read with two hands, even with a small reader so I like the symmetrical shape. I guess it come from years of reading paper books.

Sirtel · 11-03-2025, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I like the shape and feel of the Voyage. Never really liked the look of asymmetrical readers, but I've never owned one. I'm guessing I could get used to one if I owned it. I usually read with two hands, even with a small reader so I like the symmetrical shape. I guess it come from years of reading paper books.

I've always read with one hand, even paper books. That's why I bought mass market paperbacks, not hardcovers.

cellaris · Yesterday, 05:58 AM

The only asymmetrical e-reader that won me over was the 6" Kindle Oasis because it was small and very light (130 g). Everything that came after that seemed unergonomic to me, as they were too bulky and heavy to hold with one hand. I also dislike the aesthetics of the asymmetrical design, where the screen is always offset to one side, and I don't like having to turn the reader over to change hands. And I find the slight (or more pronounced) brightness gradients more tolerable from top to bottom than in the direction of reading. But it's the current trend, so people must consider it acceptable. I accept it because I have no choice, but I would like to see the classic design return.

In any case, I usually use both hands to hold e-readers, or I rest them on a reading pillow if I am sitting or lying down, leaving my hands free. So I consider my dislike of the asymmetrical design to be a minor issue.

Sirtel · Yesterday, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellaris

The only asymmetrical e-reader that won me over was the 6" Kindle Oasis because it was small and very light (130 g). Everything that came after that seemed unergonomic to me, as they were too bulky and heavy to hold with one hand. I also dislike the aesthetics of the asymmetrical design, where the screen is always offset to one side, and I don't like having to turn the reader over to change hands. And I find the slight (or more pronounced) brightness gradients more tolerable from top to bottom than in the direction of reading. But it's the current trend, so people must consider it acceptable. I accept it because I have no choice, but I would like to see the classic design return.

I love the asymmetrical design - it's just perfect for the way I hold my ereaders, and I don't change hands very often either. I guess it's not so nice for folks who hold their devices with two hands or change hands frequently.

As to aesthetics, that's not important to me - I'm not the type who cares much about such things. YMMV.

11-02-2025, 01:53 AM	#37
cellaris Evangelist Posts: 445 Karma: 5898631 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Spain Device: Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, Tolino, Onyx Boox, Bigme.	The problem with my Voyage (I emphasise "my Voyage", as I know that others, fortunately, have not had this problem) was not only the varying intensity of brightness within the same lighting tone, but also that it had two different tones: brown in the upper half and blue in the lower half. It was unbearable to read like that. There is an overlay image that was posted on a German forum that illustrates the effect quite well (and, in my case, it was even worse). Attached Thumbnails

Yesterday, 05:58 AM	#44
cellaris Evangelist Posts: 445 Karma: 5898631 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Spain Device: Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, Tolino, Onyx Boox, Bigme.	The only asymmetrical e-reader that won me over was the 6" Kindle Oasis because it was small and very light (130 g). Everything that came after that seemed unergonomic to me, as they were too bulky and heavy to hold with one hand. I also dislike the aesthetics of the asymmetrical design, where the screen is always offset to one side, and I don't like having to turn the reader over to change hands. And I find the slight (or more pronounced) brightness gradients more tolerable from top to bottom than in the direction of reading. But it's the current trend, so people must consider it acceptable. I accept it because I have no choice, but I would like to see the classic design return. In any case, I usually use both hands to hold e-readers, or I rest them on a reading pillow if I am sitting or lying down, leaving my hands free. So I consider my dislike of the asymmetrical design to be a minor issue. Last edited by cellaris; Yesterday at 06:09 AM.

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11-01-2025, 08:42 PM	#34
Ebookus Digital Grenadier Posts: 211 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Jan 2024 Device: Kindle	yeah, this isn't software related. The screen sucks. that is all. In my humble opinion, waterproofing is the worst thing to have happened to kindle. call me old fashion but it is simply the stupidest "feature" ever added to an e-reader. It negatively affects quality for absolutely no gain whatsoever (spoiler: they are not really waterproof)

11-01-2025, 08:55 PM	#36
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,216 Karma: 174315444 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	One friend of mine had a Voyage and the top of screen was very noticeably brighter than the bottom. It didn't seem to bother him that much but his wife refused to use it due to that gradient.

11-03-2025, 07:28 PM	#38
Ebookus Digital Grenadier Posts: 211 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Jan 2024 Device: Kindle	that is very interesting, in quite a negative way. I had never seen anything like it. I stand corrected, that IS in fact an enormous brightness gradient...

11-03-2025, 08:03 PM	#39
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,216 Karma: 174315444 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	It didn't seem to be that common but those Voyages that had a gradient seemed to have a very visible gradient.

11-03-2025, 10:18 PM	#41
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 14,002 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	My Voyage was pretty unevenly lit. But that was not the main reason I never very much liked it. The main reason was ergonomics - I much prefer asymmetrical shape with the wide side bezel, and the Voyage was never really comfortable for me to hold, even with a cover.

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