What's the advantage of a kindle over the app on the iPad?

[Budgetating]

At the moment, I read all my books via the kindle app on either the ipad or phone. Will my life improve with a kindle or is it not much different?

[UnaOfStormhold]

Ereaders are easier to read in sunlight, use a lot less power and are much more gentle on the eyes because even the backlit screens don't emit as much light as a tablet screen. I read mine before bed and not having screen light in my eyes helps me sleep.

[SoupDragon]

Yes, pretty much everything Una said.

Plus they are cheaper so you don't have to worry about, say, leaving them on your sun bed when you go for a swim.

Reading on an iPad converted me to the idea of digital books but I then bought a Kindle to actually read on. They all synch together so
I can pick up my book on my phone/iPad if I'm stuck somewhere.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I bought a kobo instead so I could get free library books.

[Kanaloa]

They are very light and my kindle is quite plasticky compared to the iPad. I have dropped it a few times and I don’t worry about it breaking as it’s really tough compared to iPads which crack easily. Also, because all you can do is read, it’s harder to be distracted by emails popping up/notifications.

[YewandOak]

It's very different. But in a good way.
Lighter, slimmer, easier to read in sunlight, better battery life.
I love my paperwhite.

[NakedAttraction]

Being able to read in the sun is the number one for me.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

A kindle is a lot lighter to hold than a tablet.

[GoFishFingers]

I agree with everyone however now that I have a fairly large iPhone - think it's a 10 - I have basically stopped using the kindle and just use the app on my phone. The phone is light and always in my pocket.

I have changed the colours on the kindle app so the background is black and the text is white which helps with the blue-light at night issue and reading in the sunshine too 🤷‍♀️

[BlijEi]

I have a Kobo and not a Kindle but the principle is the same:

• Easier to read in the sun
• Dont have to worry about it getting stratched or damaged by sand, dirt etc or by being dropped
• Dont have to worry as much about it getting stolen, can leave it under your beach towel and go swimming etc
• Easier on the eyes at night
• Easier to hold with one hand and in cramped/weird positions in bed, on the plane, on a bus etc
• Battery goes for ages and ages and ages, think weeks, sometimes even months, not days like a tablet.
• Smaller size and weight makes it easier to carry everywhere and read while waiting, even while standing up
• You dont get distracted by social media, notifications etc

[mindutopia]

We’ve had two kindles. In both cases, the memory filled up very quickly (only using it to stream tv and films, not for reading). It’s then unusable because not enough memory. I tried to delete and it’s all in some special folder that can’t be deleted. A quick Google and I discovered this is a thing with kindles, apparently meant to encourage you to buy a new one. Most recent one only a year old. I’d never buy another. We are going for a secondhand iPad instead.

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

I have a kindle oasis, rather than the kind you can watch videos on.
I really like it for reading before bed, and reading in the sun, and also reading in the bath as it's water resistant.
It also plays audible books when paired with headphones so it saves the battery on my phone going down.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

@mindutopia

We’ve had two kindles. In both cases, the memory filled up very quickly (only using it to stream tv and films, not for reading). It’s then unusable because not enough memory. I tried to delete and it’s all in some special folder that can’t be deleted. A quick Google and I discovered this is a thing with kindles, apparently meant to encourage you to buy a new one. Most recent one only a year old. I’d never buy another. We are going for a secondhand iPad instead.

Thats the Fire tablet, not the kindle which is just books.

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

I have an ipad with Kindle app, a kindle and phone with app.

I much prefer to read on the Kindle because the back light is superior and I don't get distractions from numerous notifications.

I do still read kindle books on my phone, not usually the ipad as it's heavier and not comfy to sit with on the sofa and read.

For me I'd get a Kindle again and again. I have the paperwhite and it's excellent.

[BertieBotts]

It's not a back-lit screen so it doesn't hurt your eyes or keep you awake.

It doesn't get hot

You can't just switch apps and start scrolling Facebook etc.

Charge lasts longer.

[Cosmosgrowinmygarden]

For me it’s because I can lie on my side in bed and read my Kindle, I find my iPad is too heavy for that, although I sometimes read my book during the day on the iPad. Also the Kindle is smaller and lighter to carry about in my handbag, which is useful for travelling, doctors/hospital appointments etc.

[RustyBear]

@mindutopia

We’ve had two kindles. In both cases, the memory filled up very quickly (only using it to stream tv and films, not for reading). It’s then unusable because not enough memory. I tried to delete and it’s all in some special folder that can’t be deleted. A quick Google and I discovered this is a thing with kindles, apparently meant to encourage you to buy a new one. Most recent one only a year old. I’d never buy another. We are going for a secondhand iPad instead.

I think you must mean a Kindle Fire, which is a tablet, not a Kindle e-reader, though it does function as one.
A 'proper' kindle such as the Paperwhite doesn't run out of memory easily - I have over 800 books on mine as well as some Audible books and I've only used about 5Gb. And if you do start to run out of space, you can take books off your Kindle & re-load them if you want to read them again.

[BertieBotts]

The above applies to a proper e-ink style kindle, not the tablet style ones.

[Ozanj]

Depends on personal preferences. I am dyslexic and so prefer to read on smaller devices like the iphone. Also, most ebooks are now designed to be read on Apple devices or Kobo, especially classics. Depending on the types of books you read the formatting goes wonky on a Kindle even when you buy the book from the Kindle store!

[GravityFalls]

The actual Kindle readers are better to read on, lighter, very sturdy and with better battery life. For the price they last years and years, so I do think they're worth having even if it's just for taking on holiday or long journeys. I use mine a lot and have one for the DC as well and I do feel they were well worth the money. I put library books on it (download from library app then convert using Calibre) so you don't even need to spend a lot, or the Daily Deal books are also good value.

[LadyofMisrule]

I have a backlit one for home use, and a cheaper basic one for holidays so I don’t need to worry as much about it being stolen. (Not that holidays are looking likely at the moment.) I find it easier on the eyes than the phone app, even on a big iPhone 12, and lighter than the iPad.

[Cherryana]

None. I wouldn’t bother.

My kindle basically just sits on my bedside table and I use the app on my phone daily.

[BertieBotts]

Oh that's interesting about the formatting. I found it a bit crap in a book I read recently but didn't know if it was just that book. Perhaps not.

[SoupDragon]

I've rarely noticed any formatting problems on my Kindle.

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

I was going to replace my ancient kindle but I downloaded the app for my phone and prefer it so I won't bother now. Much prefer the app.

[Bonedry]

My main snag with my Kindle (other than the fact that you don't own the books you download on it) is that you can't fit many words per page because it' so small, so, as I read very fast, I'm always having to flick to the next page, which I find distracting.