Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if I should get the fire or paperwhite?

40 replies

Reallytired17 · 22/12/2017 00:33

Finished work last week and got £50in amazon vouchers.

So, should I buy a Fire outright or out the vouchers towards a paperwhite ... what do you think?

OP posts:
GrimDamnFanjo · 22/12/2017 01:01

Depends. I have a paper white and DH has a fire. Fire is more of a mini tablet and paper white is a dedicated kindle. You can stil read on a fire though. What wil you use the device for the most?

zenasfuck · 22/12/2017 01:02

If it’s mainly for reading go with the paper light
They are brilliant

The fire is a basic tablet that you can read on and the reading experience is not as good as the paper light

Original poster
Reallytired17 · 22/12/2017 01:04

Definitely thinking it would be used as a reader, as I already have an iPad.

OP posts:
Onlyoldontheoutside · 22/12/2017 01:08

Read the paper white reviews.They cost quite a bit and imo do not last above 2yrs before dying.The fires are cheaper and perfectly good as readers with tablet capability in top.The only difference is you can't read the fire in sunlight.

BaliBound · 22/12/2017 01:13

@onlyold I have had the paperwhite for 2.5 years. To my shame, I haven't looked after it especially well, no cover ever and its been dropped more times than I care to admit. Despite all that, I use it 30 mins minimum a day, an hour at least at weekends and it looks a bit battered but works perfectly.

@reallytired I wouldn't be without it, its fantastic.

HiggedyPiggedy · 22/12/2017 01:19

I don't think there is any point getting a Fire if you have an iPad. Just use the Kindle app on hour iPad.

Paperwhite is totally different though. I love mine.

Skowvegas · 22/12/2017 01:48

I love my paperwhite but I'm getting an Oasis for Christmas. I want an eReader that's easier to hold one-handed.

blaaake · 22/12/2017 03:10

Paperwhite definitely. Fires are awful as they have adverts popping up all the time and aren't actually that good at anything, including reading.

TheMasterNotMargarita · 22/12/2017 03:36

my paperwhite is 5 years old and used every single day.
it falls out of bed on a regular basis but it does have a cover and floor is carpeted so possibly not so bad.
battery lasts ages. I love it. my mum has a fire which I'm not so keen on I don't like the screen so much.

DancingOnParsnips · 22/12/2017 03:45

Battery lasts longer on a paperwhite.

Someoneasdumbasthis · 22/12/2017 07:31

Paperwhite all the way. Reading on the fire is even worse than iPad. Love reading on paperwhite and the light / screen is much softer so you can read it in bed without it screwing up your sleep.

If you already have an iPad it's a no brainier.

moggle · 22/12/2017 07:36

I recently bought a Fire for my daughter to use and it's known as the "shit ipad" in our house (out of DD's earshot...). I love my paperwhite and have definitely had it longer than 2 years. I definitely think the Fire will be a brick in 2 years....

StripeyDeckchair · 22/12/2017 07:36

Paper white, it's better outside in the sunshine

TheSameCoin · 22/12/2017 07:36

Get a paperwhite. The fire is just a tablet (and an inferior one to your iPad at that). You could get the same experience using the kindle app on your iPad. A paperwhite on the other hand, is a very good ereader.

EmilyChambers79 · 22/12/2017 07:41

Read the paper white reviews.They cost quite a bit and imo do not last above 2yrs before dying

That's unfortunate. I've had my paper white for 5 years.

I use it every evening as DH can't sleep with light on and I read for about two hours. I occasionally use it through the day but generally use paperbacks on the day.

I've just charged mine yesterday and before that was about 2 months ago.

It's in a good case and I've dropped it about 5 times and still works. It's handy to take on holiday too.

The fire is awful. It's slow, clunky, full of adverts and doesn't feel as nice when reading. The battery on the fire lasts about three days.

BikeRunSki · 22/12/2017 07:44

My Paperwhite is 3 years old and still going strong. I like that it is just an ereader - no temptation to be distracted by the internet when I find a moment to sit down with a book! I am very happy with it.

If you already have an iPad, there is no advantage to getting the Fire unless there is a specific Kindle-only app you want.

Trills · 22/12/2017 07:45

A kindle fire is not "like a kindle, but better"

It is "like an ipad, but worse",

They are very different objects.

Trills · 22/12/2017 07:46

I've had my paperwhite since Dec 2014 and it's still going strong. Use it every day on my commute.

ZenNudist · 22/12/2017 07:47

I love my paperwhite. Have had it forever .

TheTasteOfInk · 22/12/2017 07:59

Fires are utter shit and heavy so wouldnt be nice to read from in bed.

Paperwhites are brilliant. I usually read about 2 hours a night, often more and havent charged it in 5 or 6 weeks. The fire on the other hand, your lucky if it lasts 4 hours.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 22/12/2017 08:10

I've got a standard kindle. It works perfectly well for reading and I've had it for ages. If you want a cheap e-reader I'd go for one of those rather than a fire.

Skowvegas · 22/12/2017 12:59

I got my paperwhite in Dec 2014. Still works absolutely fine. I read on it every night.

Original poster
Reallytired17 · 22/12/2017 13:12

You lot are fabulous.

So, what do the Oasis and the Voyage do that Paperwhites don’t?

OP posts:
ApplesTheHare · 22/12/2017 13:14

Paperwhite all the way. DH and I got ours in Jan 2012. Great reading experience and they're still going strong. We've read hundreds of books on them.

HelloCanYouHearMe · 22/12/2017 13:27

I have had both and would recommend the paperwhite

If you already have an iPad, you wont need the Fire

Swipe left for the next trending thread