Amazon on Tuesday announced a new entry-level $99 Kindle e-reader with several improvements over the prior model.
The biggest change is the display, which is a lot sharper than the earlier $89 Kindle. That means text will look clearer when you’re reading, instead of slightly blurry. The sharpness is now on a par with Amazon’s more expensive $140 Kindle Paperwhite. The new Kindle also comes with twice the storage, 16 gigabytes instead of 8 GB, which should be more than enough for most digital book libraries. You’ll be able to store thousands of books.
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The new Kindle also has a backlight, but it doesn’t have some of the more advanced backlight features in the Kindle Paperwhite, like the option to change the white balance to an orange hue for reading comfort. It also isn’t water-resistant, so you’ll still want to consider the more expensive model if you’re worried about getting splashed by the pool.
And, lastly, as with other updates to the Kindle line like the Paperwhite, Amazon has added a newer USB-C charger, which is the more common port used by Android phones, Apple tablets and more. It replaces the aging micro USB port that gadgets have mostly ditched in recent years.
Amazon also introduced a new Kindle Kids model with similar upgrades. Both devices are available for preorder beginning Tuesday.