2023-10-09 21:04:00
In this article, we will compare the differences in image quality and performance between the standard Kindle model “Kindle Paperwhite” (pictured) and the entry model “Kindle”.
E Ink e-paper is well known for its paper-like appearance, which is easy on the eyes, and its power-saving features. On the other hand, the screen does not switch instantaneously like an LCD screen, but rather has a unique behavior in which the screen switches while flipping, and it is common to hear people say that they stopped using the product because they might not get used to it. That’s what I did.
However, the latest generation of E Ink e-paper has significantly improved rewriting speeds compared to previous models. In addition, e-paper devices such as Amazon’s Kindle that use these devices have improved performance and become more comfortable to use with each successive generation due to improved specs and improved algorithms.
So, how much of a difference is there actually when you buy one of these electronic paper terminals from an older model to the latest model? This time, we will use the actual machines to check the differences between the initial and current models of Amazon’s e-paper device “Kindle”, the standard model “Kindle Paperwhite” and the entry model “Kindle”. I tried to.
Please note that unlike PCs, electronic paper terminals cannot be upgraded by replacing parts, so unlike previous articles in this series, this comparison involves replacing each device. In addition, the e-book sample below uses Ume’s “Tokyo Toy Boxes Volume 1” as the comic and “Botchan” as the text by Natsume Soseki.
Compare the standard model “Kindle Paperwhite”
First, let’s take a look at the Kindle Paperwhite. When Amazon’s Kindle Store arrived in Japan in 2012, the Kindle Paperwhite was the only e-paper device introduced. By being equipped with a front light, you can read on a paper-like white screen compared to the grayish screen typical of E Ink e-paper.
[Old]Kindle Paperwhite (5th generation)
The first generation Kindle Paperwhite (listed as the 5th generation on the Amazon site). Screen size is 6 inches, weight is 213g
What we will be comparing this time is the 5th generation model, which is the first generation model. Currently, when it comes to “Kindle”, there are multiple lineups including the entry model mentioned below, but when it was first released, there was only one model, the Kindle Paperwhite, so many users must have picked up this 5th generation model for the first time. . By the way, the screen size is 6 inches.
The current 11th generation model to be compared is a model released in 2021, and the screen size has increased to 6.8 inches, the front light supports both cool and warm colors, and it also has a waterproof function. It also features the latest form factors, including the adoption of a USB Type-C terminal. There is even a lineup of high-end models that are equipped with wireless power transfer.
[New]Kindle Paperwhite (11th generation)
Current Kindle Paperwhite (11th generation). The screen size has increased to 6.8 inches. Weight is 205g
Now, let’s put these two devices side by side and check how they work.
5th generation on the left, 11th generation on the right. The 11th generation’s front light supports not only cool colors but also warm colors.The 5th generation has already been updated, and the design of the top menu bar etc. remains old.
Difference in reaction rate
The smoothness of an e-paper device’s movements is determined by two main factors: “How long does it take to respond following you tap?” and “How long does it take from the start of a page change to the end?” come.
In the case of the 5th generation, when played in slow motion, the former takes 30 frames and the latter takes 30 frames, whereas the 11th generation takes 9 frames for the former and 17 frames for the latter, dramatically shortening the time required. ing.
Among the former, the time between tapping and responding is a long time in which it is impossible to determine whether the tap has been accepted or not, which can easily lead to direct stress for the user. The 11th generation has been shortened to less than one-third, so it is relatively stress-free. Please check the video below for details.
[Compare the difference in page turning times]
Comparison of response and time required when turning pages by tapping and swiping. 5th generation on the left, 11th generation on the right. The difference is obvious when you use them at the same time.Also, in terms of image quality, lines appear thicker on the 5th generation, which has lower resolution, and you can see that the original details are lost.
Additionally, in the 5th generation, the screen cannot keep up with the movement of your fingers as you continuously turn pages, causing you to have to wait for a while. If you wait, it’s fine if you can catch up properly, but you may end up with a processing lag where you thought you turned 10 pages but actually mightn’t turn 9 pages. This is due to the low performance of the e-paper terminal’s CPU, and is a phenomenon that often occurs with low-end e-paper terminals.
Opportunities to turn these pages one following the other include going back a few pages to review what you finished reading last time, or skipping over the annotation pages summarized at the end of each chapter, without actually thinking regarding it. There are many things that are done frequently, and the 5th generation who cannot do these things smoothly is now quite fatal.
In the first place, with e-books, in addition to turning the pages, you can open the settings screen and adjust the font size, look up the meaning of a word from the option menu, or close the book and return to the library and open another book. Such operations are common.
These operations are more difficult to process than page turning, and if you get stuck at the page turning stage, it’s a dream come true to be able to perform these operations comfortably. In that sense, it can be said that there is a big difference between the two.
Difference in image quality
Another thing I would like to mention is the image quality. The resolution of the two is 212ppi for the 5th generation and 300ppi for the 11th generation, so there is a difference in the specifications themselves, but this 5th generation has much sharper sharpness than later models, and the lines are abnormally thick. There are visible characteristics.
Particularly in comics, the ink often appears to smudge, and it often feels like the original drawing cannot be faithfully reproduced. There is a big difference between this model and the current model, which can express fine details.
5th generation has lower resolution and sharpness
5th generation on the left, 11th generation on the right. Not only are the resolutions different, but the 5th generation has unusually thick lines.The 5th generation is on the left, and the 11th generation is on the right. Again, due to the thickness of the lines, the ink looks like it’s blurred.The one on the left is the 5th generation, and the one on the right is the 11th generation.The low resolution is obvious when displaying text.
Finally, as a side note, the 5th generation differs from later models in that the anti-slip coating on the back has deteriorated and become sticky. Not only is it uncomfortable when you hold it in your hand, but it also tends to attract dust and dirt, and it also looks very unsightly as it gets scratched easily. From this point of view, it is desirable to upgrade to a new model.
The back coating of the 5th generation is prone to deterioration.
The 5th generation’s back coating deteriorated easily and was discontinued in later models (Kindle Fire had the same coating at the time).By the way, this 5th generation model is the only one whose back logo says “Kindle” instead of “Amazon”.
Compare the entry model “Kindle”
Next, let’s compare the entry model “Kindle”. The target is the 7th generation model released in 2017, the entry-level “Kindle” that first appeared in the Japanese Kindle store, where until then only the Kindle Paperwhite was available. The resolution is as low as 167ppi, it does not have a front light, and it is not waterproof, so its functionality remains at the bare minimum. The casing is also quite large and chunky.
[Old]Kindle (7th generation)
Kindle (7th generation). The screen size is 6 inches, the resolution is 191g, and the weight is 191g.
The 11th generation model to be compared is the current model released in 2022, and while the screen size is the same 6 inches, the resolution has been increased to 300ppi. It also has a front light, and boasts specs comparable to the Kindle Paperwhite before the screen size increased to 6.8 inches. The body is thin and small, and its overwhelming weight of 158g is also attractive.
[New]Kindle (11th generation)
Kindle (11th generation). The screen size remains 6 inches, but the resolution has been increased to 300ppi. Weight is 158g. 7th generation on the left, 11th generation on the right. Although they are the same type 6, their body sizes are significantly different.The front light, which was not included in the entry model, is also included in this 11th generation.
Difference in reaction rate
Now, regarding the response between the two, there is not that much difference when turning pages.
In terms of the two factors introduced earlier, “how long does it take to respond following you tap” and “how long does it take from the start of the page change to the end?”, the 7th generation model has a 90% increase in the former. frames, the latter 26 frames. The 10th generation model has 9 frames for the former and 21 frames for the latter. The time required for rewriting is somewhat shorter, but surprisingly there is no difference.
[Compare the difference in page turning times]
Comparison of response and time required when turning pages by tapping and swiping. 7th generation on the left, 11th generation on the right. There isn’t as much of a difference as with the aforementioned Kindle Paperwhite.Since the image quality of the 7th generation is lower, the amount of data to be processed each time a page is turned is smaller, which is thought to result in snappier operation.
This is because the 7th generation model has a lower resolution, so the load on the CPU is lower, and it runs faster. Naturally, if the amount of data per page is small, the load of rewriting the page will be low, which in turn compensates for the low specs.
Difference in image quality
However, there is a considerable difference in image quality, and the difference is obvious when compared.
The 7th generation clearly has lower resolution
7th generation on the left, 11th generation on the right. The resolution is 167ppi and 300ppi, respectively, so there is a clear difference in detail.The left is the 7th generation and the right is the 11th generation. Again, due to the difference in resolution, thin lines may or may not be expressed.The left is the 7th generation, and the right is the 11th generation. The difference in text is also obvious.On the left, the ruby attached to the kanji is faded.
If this was all there was to say, it would be easy to conclude that “the image quality is just different,” but when I read a book for a long time with both products, I found that the behavior of the 7th generation model when switching screens was quite obtrusive. On the other hand, the 11th generation model notices that these are considerably reduced. Where is this coming from?
The reason for this can be clearly seen by watching the page change frame by frame. In the 7th generation model, the previous and following pages are displayed in reverse black and white, overlapping each other, and the previous page disappears in the process of returning to its original state, making it difficult to tell what is displayed on the entire page. The condition will continue for a while. This is the reason why it feels like an eyesore.
On the other hand, with the 11th generation model, only the parts where black and white are switched between the previous and next pages are reversed, so the white parts remain white from beginning to end, and the entire page does not become completely black. Since the area of the black and white inversion is narrower, it is less likely to be an eyesore. Please check out some representative cuts below.
The behavior when turning pages on the 7th generation is an eyesore.
The state before starting page turning. A comparison of the 7th generation on the left and the 11th generation on the right, regarding one-third of the way following page turning started. In the 7th generation (left), the front and back pages overlap with each other in reverse black and white, resulting in an overall mess. In the 11th generation (right), the previous page first disappears, and then the next page appears, and the area of the black part is relatively small. Comparison of regarding two-thirds of the page following page turning begins. . In the 7th generation (left), the previous page disappears and the next page appears in reverse black and white. In the 11th generation (right), the previous page remains until relatively late, but at that point the black and white reversal of the next page is almost complete and page turning is complete.In this way, even though the page turns are the same, the process in between is very different between the 5th generation and the 11th generation.
Actually, this is the same with the aforementioned Kindle Paperwhite, and it is thought that the algorithm has been improved with the new generation of E Ink electronic paper.
E Ink electronic paper is rewritten by reversing microcapsules containing white and black particles, but the fewer the number of particles, the less the load and the time required. The new algorithm seems to pursue this even further, and by rewriting only a small area, it seems to speed up the response and reduce the unsightliness.
When you compare these two machines side by side, you can see that there is a difference, but it’s hard to explain in words what the difference is, but if you look at it frame by frame, it makes sense that it’s Naruhodo. It can be said that this is an evolution that can only be achieved through successive generations.
Before thinking regarding replacing it, first update the firmware.
As mentioned above, the newer generation Kindle models become more comfortable to use due to changes in the E Ink electronic paper, improved algorithms, and improvements in the hardware specs of the device itself. Even if you’re someone who says, “I don’t like E Ink’s unique black-and-white reversal…”, if it’s been a few years since then, it might be worth trying out the latest device.
If you are wondering whether to replace your Kindle, you should try updating the firmware first. There are cases where Kindle has achieved speed increases of 25% and 33% with past updates (this is also the case with the Kindle Paperwhite 5th generation introduced this time), and if it has not been turned on for a long time, it may be necessary to By enabling this, the firmware will be updated to the latest version, which may improve performance. You should try this first.
On the other hand, the 5th generation model of the Kindle Paperwhite introduced this time and the 7th generation model of the Kindle have already had their firmware updated, so no new features or performance improvements can be expected in the future.
If you consider the timing of when the firmware update is completed as a guideline for replacement, both of these products are definitely past their prime. Although it may be difficult to replace your product every time a new product comes out, using these criteria to determine whether to purchase a new product is a good idea.
The 5th generation Kindle Paperwhite (left) has already had its firmware updated, and unlike the 11th generation (right), the home screen design remains old.Because the terminology used is different, it may be confusing if you are also using Kindle on a smartphone or tablet.
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