Why the Kindle Paperwhite blows away previous Kindles

Amazon has just announced the Kindle Paperwhite, the newest edition to the Kindle family. It has a higher resolution screen and adjustable lighting. It completely blows away the older Kindle models that put Amazon on the e-reading map.

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The Paperwhite with Wi-Fi runs for $119, while the Paperwhite model with 3G connectivity costs $179. Amazon also slightly updated the old Kindle and has dropped it to an astoundingly low $69. (How soon before it’s $29 or even free?)

While the older Kindle is cheaper, the Paperwhite is still a way better e-reader, based on its just announced specs. E-readers are still much better than tablets for reading lengthy books, so we can see why it’s important for Amazon to keep innovating in this area.

Here are the big points that we know so far that make the Paperwhite better than its predecessors:

• Higher resolution screen at 221 pixels per inch — 62 percent more pixels than previous Kindle
• 15 percent faster page turns
• New font choices
• 25 percent more contrast — whiter whites, blacker blacks
• 8-week battery life
• Adjustable back lighting
• Shows time left in reading your book
• 9.1mm thick, weighs 7.8 ounces
• New “X-Ray” feature shows most popular characters in chapter or book

Let us know in the comments if you plan to buy a Kindle Paperwhite.