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Original poster

Kindle vs kindle app on phone?

59 replies

Yebbie · 06/01/2022 00:08

Read on my phone most nights but always end up replying to a WhatsApp or scrolling mumsnet instead (like right now)

Want to buy a kindle so I can have my phone turned off at night and left on dresser and not by bed. Also thought will help to generally reduce my screen time a bit as I'm on my phone way too much

Dh saying huge waste of money as can use kindle app on phone like I already do? I have a £50 Amazon gift card so if I get the basic kindle it's only costing me £19 and seems worth it. We already pay for kindle unlimited

Is it worth it? Is the basic kindle crap and better to go straight to paper white also? Help please!

OP posts:
RagzReturnedUnwrapped · 06/01/2022 00:12

Ahh, I have had this same mental dilemma for years. I still haven't bought a Kindle! Wanted one for Christmas but I'd want a Paperwhite one or I don't think it will be as good as my phone. I am quite fussy about the text settings and background colour and the cheap ones don't do what I want, as far as I know.

I completely agree with your reasoning though and for £19 I'd definitely give it a go. It's cheap for a hobby (if you have kindle unlimited, otherwise, not so cheap!).

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 06/01/2022 00:14

Basic models don't work for me.

I then went onto the paper white with back lighting. Still not light enough to read at night for me as I like to turn my lamp off

I've not picked up my kindle for so long but over Xmas I got an Amazon voucher so decided to use it for kindle unlimited and books and downloaded the app on my phone

I'm bak to being really engrossed in books again and loving it. Grin

If I nod off reading at least I don't get woken up by the lamp still being on.

I find once I'm reading I don't respond to anything that pops up because I'm too interested in the books.

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 06/01/2022 00:15

Also wanted to add I've got one of them round pop out thingys on my phone case so I don't get cramp holding it like I do a kindle

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bsc · 06/01/2022 00:25

I have a paperwhite, and it's honestly my favourite item I own. The screen is good, far better on my eyes than my phone.
Far more words on a page on a kindle (matters to fast readers, I think).
I'm not tempted to browse with a kindle, just crack on with my book.

bsc · 06/01/2022 00:27

And unlike @wtfisgoingonhere21 I find it doesn't keep DH awake if he wants to sleep, no problem with just the backlight and no lamp for me.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 06/01/2022 00:32

@bsc

I have a paperwhite, and it's honestly my favourite item I own. The screen is good, far better on my eyes than my phone. Far more words on a page on a kindle (matters to fast readers, I think). I'm not tempted to browse with a kindle, just crack on with my book.
Agreed. 100%.

I use my kindle every day, several times a day.

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 06/01/2022 00:33

@bsc

Maybe I should update mine and give it another go.

It's been a long time since I got my paper white so maybe it's been improved since then

Nat6999 · 06/01/2022 00:34

I prefer my phone as I have some books on Kobo & some on Kindle. I turn on the blue light blocker & put do not disturb on.

bsc · 06/01/2022 00:35

Possibly the backlight is going? The scale of brightness is quite a broad range I find.

Lordoftheflyingpan · 06/01/2022 00:39

Buy a Kindle! And then use it to read “Digital Minimalism” for the accidental scrolling.

ladyrattles · 06/01/2022 00:42

My DH uses his phone to read kindle books but he gets distracted by alerts popping up. I always think his screen looks very bright, and it gives off blue light.

I use my kindle every single night. No pop ups, and I have the screen set quite dark so I can read it in the dark without disturbing DH. I've never regretted buying it. I think you should use your voucher to get one :-)

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 06/01/2022 00:44

I've started reading the 50 book challenge thread on here having just found it so off the back of this thread I'm going to order a paper white Grin

ilovesooty · 06/01/2022 00:47

I've decided to use my kindle paperwhite instead of my phone for reading in bed in the hope that I'll get off to sleep more easily.

Cabbagepie · 06/01/2022 00:52

Love my kindle - so much more comfortable to read than a phone or tablet as no blue light or glare. Bonus for me is that I cm adjust the size of the text so I don't need my reading glasses in bed.

Dogfacepacer · 06/01/2022 00:57

How does paperwhite compare to Not-paperwhite?

Original poster
Yebbie · 06/01/2022 00:59

@Dogfacepacer

How does paperwhite compare to Not-paperwhite?
This is what I'm wondering as the basic kindle has a backlight now unlike older models and is £60+ cheaper
OP posts:
SuperLoudPoppingAction · 06/01/2022 01:02

I prefer paperwhite but I did love my old kindle. I had a case with a little light so I could read at night.
The really nice thing about paperwork, for me, is being able to read in bright light like outdoors on a sunny day.

Either way, I do think a kindle is much better than reading on your phone.
It isn't as distracting. I find I need it to wind down (currently I have skewed bedtimes as ds2 has bad jetlag but usually I read from around 10.30 and my phone is on silent so I don't think about anything but my book and how sleepy I am).

I'm reading a book on Google play, I can only read it on my phone and it's taking me ages, honestly.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 06/01/2022 01:05

Oh the paperwhite is waterproof as well.
But they're both pretty similar.

LadyGAgain · 06/01/2022 01:18

@bsc

I have a paperwhite, and it's honestly my favourite item I own. The screen is good, far better on my eyes than my phone. Far more words on a page on a kindle (matters to fast readers, I think). I'm not tempted to browse with a kindle, just crack on with my book.
Novice question. Can you use the paper white outside in the sun? Using iPhone in the summer is impossible. My very first generation kindle is amazing in the sun as no back lighting. Please can you advise me?
SuperLoudPoppingAction · 06/01/2022 01:22

Yep the paperwhite and oasis are legible in the sun

LadyGAgain · 06/01/2022 01:37

Thank you

BarbaraofSeville · 06/01/2022 05:31

The cheapest kindle is now basically a paperwhite. Unless you want it to be waterproof, the cheapest one is absolutely fine and not a waste of money at all. Your DH is wrong.

Reading on the app on your phone isn't like using a kindle at all. The light is all wrong, it's hard to see in bright sunlight, and you have the distraction issue.

Reading on a kindle device is just like reading a proper book but better because you can do it in the dark and it's easier to hold than a book.

tunainatin · 06/01/2022 05:51

Definitely go for a kindle, it's a totally different reading experience, basically like reading a book, and therefore much more conducive to sleep.

ExtremelyDetermined · 06/01/2022 07:02

I'd have to disagree, I have a paperwhite and hardly every use it, I much prefer my phone. It's easier to hold and swipe (I'm a fast reader too), you can adjust the brightness at a touch, I have it on Do Not Disturb at bedtime anyway so no interruptions. Never sit in bright sunlight to read although I concede that is an issue. I can go weeks without using the actual kindle but use the app all the time.

FindingMeno · 06/01/2022 07:52

Absolutely a kindle.
The ability to change font size is a game changer.

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