6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite 2021 – full specs and comparisons

The 2021 Kindle Paperwhite is an essential upgrade, with larger 6.8-inch display, warm light, and USB-C. The Signature variant offers three exclusive features.

After almost three years, the next-generation middle-range Kindle model is revealed. If you assumed nothing exciting could happen in the e-reader development, think twice.

For a price $10 higher than the previous generation, Kindle Paperwhite 2021 offers a slim design, with considerably reduced bezel, and a set of long-expected features listed below.

Just like in the case of Amazon Fire HD 8, there are two variants of the device. They are so different that they could be separate product lines. In fact, they are listed on Amazon with different product identification ASIN numbers.

Kindle Paperwhite 2021 Regular (from $139.99) comes with:

  • Larger 6.8-inch glare-free 300 ppi E-ink display
  • 8 GB or 16 GB storage (the latter added in September 2022)
  • Warm light – the feature borrowed from Kindle Oasis
  • USB-C port for faster charging and data transfer
  • Battery life extended to even 10 weeks
  • Eco-friendly manufacturing of the device and packaging

Kindle Paperwhite 2021 Signature (from $189.99) has all the benefits of the Regular version, and adds three more:

  • 32 GB memory (no other storage is available)
  • Auto-adjusting front light – there is no need to manually increase or decrease the brightness level
  • Wireless charging – you can use your current charging station or buy a dedicated Wireless Charging Dock.

How to call the Kindle Paperwhite released in 2021?

The most common way to call the previous model was “Kindle Paperwhite 4,” after the Paperwhite-specific generation number.

However, the 5th-generation Paperwhite was already available back in 2015 – and the “5th-generation” was referring to the overall Kindle generation number, not the one specific to the Paperwhite model. What’s more, “Kindle Paperwhite 5th Generation” listing is still available on Amazon – it may be a source of confusion for many users.

That’s why, in this overview and all upcoming posts, we will be calling the 2021 Paperwhite model as “Paperwhite 6.8,” after its display size. It’s the same idea as “iPad 10.2” for the entry-level Apple tablet.

Last but not least, when looking for relevant case covers and accessories, it’s always good to put the release year in a search phrase, for instance, “Paperwhite 2021 sleeve”.

It’s worth noting that the 2021 Paperwhite is the next step on the way of removing or avoiding extra features in Amazon e-readers: cellular connection, microSD card, headphone jack, or speakers.

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 comes together with dedicated Amazon accessories: fabric covers, leather covers, cork covers, wireless charging dock, as well as a new antimicrobial screen protector from NuPro.

There is also a dedicated version for kids. It’s called Kindle Paperwhite Kids, and it includes one free year of Amazon Kids+, 2-year worry-free guarantee, and a kid-friendly cover available in three designs. The kid-friendly bundle of the Paperwhite 6.8 is worth $269, but costs only $159.99.

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 (2021) – main features

Bigger 6.8-inch display with front light

The new display is 13% larger than in the previous-generation Kindle Paperwhite, released in 2018. Its diagonal length (the distance between opposite corners) is 6.8 inches, instead of 6.

The screen resolution is not yet revealed, but with the pixel density of 300 ppi, it should be at least 1600 × 1200 px. The front light is now even smoother, as it’s provided by as many as 17 LED lights, instead of 5 in Paperwhite 2018.

Only a bit bigger size

Despite the considerably larger screen, the overall size of the 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite is not dramatically higher. Its height is 6.9 inches (174 mm), instead of 6.6 inches (167 mm) – only 7 mm bigger. It was achieved by reducing the bezel around the display.

The overall shape is the same as in the previous Paperwhite, with one outstanding difference – the display is closer to the top edge, making the device look lighter than the 2018 Paperwhite.

Adjustable warm light

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 with warm light
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 2021 with warm light

The 2021 Kindle Paperwhite is the second Kindle model, after Oasis, to get the warm light.

Adjustable warm light lets you control the color of the front lighted screen. In the evening, you can switch from blue light with to a warmer tone to reduce eye strain and minimize the negative effect on sleep.

USB-C port for faster charging

The Paperwhite 6.8 is the first Kindle to sport the USB-C port for faster charging and data transfer. It’s a useful feature if you still add own books and audiobooks via the cable.

You will need less than 3 hours to fully recharge Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 via 5W USB-C charger.

Over twice longer battery life

You won’t need the USB-C port too much, however. The battery in the 2021 Kindle Paperwhite will need recharging not after 4 but even 10 weeks.

Climate friendly product

The 6.8-inch Paperwhite is one of the first Amazon devices to have a Climate Pledge Friendly badge.

The device is made with 60% post-consumer recycled plastics and 70% recycled magnesium. Plus, 95% of the packaging is made of recycled sources or materials from responsibly managed forests.

Premium features available only in Signature Edition

Signature Edition is a premium version of the Kindle Paperwhite 6.8, with three exclusive features that are not available in the regular version:

32 GB memory – the regular variant is sold with either 8 or 16 GB.

Wireless charging – even the Oasis doesn’t offer this feature. If you have a wireless charging station or pad, you can use it to charge Paperwhite Signature.

Automatically adjustable front light – the Signature comes with an auto-adjusting light sensor. it means that the front light will be automatically adjusted to changing light conditions, so there is no need to do it manually.

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 – pros and cons

BenefitsDisadvantages
▸ Large 6.8 inch display
▸ Warm light
▸ Extended battery life
▸ Slim design
▸ Small, paperback book dimensions
▸ Sustainable production process
▸ IPX8 waterproof level
▸ USB-C port
▸ No cellular variant
▸ No adjustable light in the Regular version
▸ No microSD card
▸ No USB-C power charger included in the box
▸ Only Black color variant
Original Amazon case for Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 2021

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 – specs comparisons

Let’s dive into side-by-side tech specs comparisons that will help you decide which Amazon device suits your needs more.

Below, you will see three comparison charts:

  • Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 Regular vs. Signature
  • Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 vs. Basic Kindle 2022
  • Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 vs. Amazon Fire HD 8

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 (2021) Regular vs. Signature

RegularSignature
Screen6.8-inch6.8-inch
8 GB StorageYesNo
16 GB StorageYesNo
32 GB StorageNoYes
microSD cardNoNo
SpeakersNoNo
Headphone jack 3.5 mmNoNo
Front lightYes, 17 LEDsYes, 17 LEDs
Warm lightYesYes
Auto-adjusting lightNoYes
USB-C portYesYes
Wireless chargingNoYes
Battery lifeUp to 10 weeksUp to 10 weeks
Cellular variantsNoNo
WaterproofYes, IPX8Yes, IPX8
Climate Pledge friendlyYesYes
Kindle Unlimited free planNoNo
ColorsBlackBlack
Pricefrom
$139.99
from
$189.99
Kindle 11 vs Paperwhite 5 size comparison
Size comparison: Kindle Paperwhite 5 (2021) vs. Kindle 11 (2022) / Image: Ebook Friendly

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 vs. Basic Kindle 2022

PaperwhiteBasic
Display6.8-inch6-inch
Pixel density300 ppi300 ppi
TouchscreenYesYes
Front lightYes, 17 LEDsYes, 4 LEDs
Warm lightYesNo
Storage8 GB, 16 GB16 GB
microSD cardNoNo
SpeakersNoNo
Headphone jack 3.5 mmNoNo
USB-C portYesYes
Dark ModeYesYes
Wireless chargingNoNo
Battery lifeUp to 10 weeksUp to 6 weeks
Cellular variantsNoNo
WaterproofYes, IPX8No
Climate Pledge friendlyYesYes
Kindle Unlimited free planYes, 3 monthsYes, 4 months
ColorsBlackBlack
Denim
Weight7.23 oz / 205 g5.56 oz / 158 g
Dimensions6.9 × 4.9 × 0.32 in
174.2 × 124.6 × 8.1 mm
6.2 × 4.3 × 0.32 in
157.8 × 108.6 × 8.0 mm
Release dateOctober 27, 2021October 12, 2022
Pricefrom
$139.99
from
$99.99
Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 2021 vs Amazon Fire HD 8 comparison
Size comparison: Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 (2021) vs. Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) / Image: Ebook Friendly

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 vs. Amazon Fire HD 8

PaperwhiteFire
Display size6.8-inch8-inch
Display technologyE-paperLCD
Screen resolutionN/A1280 × 800 px
Pixel density300 ppi189 ppi
TouchscreenYesYes
Warm lightYes, via front lightYes, via Blue Shade software feature
Storage8 or 16 GB32 or 64 GB
microSD cardNoYes, add up to 1 TB of additional storage
SpeakersNoYes
Headphone jack 3.5 mmNoYes
USB-C portYesYes
Wireless chargingNoNo
Battery lifeUp to 10 weeksUp to 12 hours of mixed usage
Cellular variantsNoNo
WaterproofYes, IPX8No
Climate Pledge friendlyYesYes
Kindle Unlimited free planNoYes
ColorsBlackBlack, Plum, Twilight Blue, White
Weight7.23 oz
205 g
12.5 oz
355 g
Dimensions6.9 × 4.9 × 0.32 in
174.2 × 124.6 × 8.1 mm
8.0 × 5.4 × 0.4 in
202 × 137 × 9.7 mm
Release dateOctober 27, 2021June 3, 2020
Pricefrom
$139.99
from
$89.99

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 (2021) – full tech specs

Below, you will find the full specs of the 5th-generation Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 released in September 2021. Scroll down to see full specs of Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 Signature Edition (2021).

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 Regular (2021)

ScreenAmazon’s 6.8-inch Paperwhite touchscreen display
Levels of gray16
Front lightYes, 17 LED lights
Auto adjusting lightNo
Adjustable warm lightYes
Screen resolutionN/A
Pixel density300 ppi
WaterproofYes
Waterproof ratingIPX8 – tested to withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes
Storage capacity8 GB
16 GB (added in September 2022)
microSD cardNo
Body colorBlack
USB-C portYes
Wireless chargingNo
Battery lifeA single charge lasts up to ten weeks, based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 13
Charge time• 5 hours from a computer via USB cable
* Under 2.5 hours using 9W USB power adapter (sold separately)
Weight7.23 oz / 205 g
Dimensions6.9 × 4.9 × 0.32 in / 174.2 × 124.6 × 8.1 mm
Kindle Unlimited freeNo, a variant with a free Kindle Unlimited plan is not available
Climate Pledge FriendlyYes, built with 60% post-consumer recycled plastics and 70% recycled magnesium; 95% of the packaging is made of wood fiber-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources
Wi-FiSupports 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz networks with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security using password authentication or Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)
CellularNo
BluetoothYes, with Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from Kindle Paperwhite to your Bluetooth speakers or headphones. Bluetooth speakers requiring PIN codes are not supported
SpeakersNo
Headphone jackNo
Audible-readyYes; capable of playing both Audible audiobooks and Audible companions for Kindle ebooks. Pair with Bluetooth-enabled speakers or headphones
Accessibility featuresVoiceView screen reader, available over Bluetooth audio, provides spoken feedback allowing you to navigate your device and read books with text-to-speech (available in English only). Kindle Paperwhite also includes the ability to invert Black and White, adjust font size, font face, line spacing and margins
Supported formatsKindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX)
Original case coversYes; sold separately. Cork, leather, and fabric covers in multiple colors, including Deep Sea Blue, and Lavender Haze
Warranty1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 1-year, 2-year or 3-year Extended Warranty available for US customers sold separately
Generation number• Kindle Paperwhite generation – 5th
* Overall Kindle generation – 11th
Included the box• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 Regular (2021 release)
* USB-C charging cable
* Quick Start Guide
Launch dates• Announcement: September 21, 2021
* Pre-orders: September 21, 2021
* Release: October 27, 2021
Prices• 8 GB, Wi-Fi, with special offers – $139.99
* 8 GB, Wi-Fi, without special offers – $159.99
* 16 GB, Wi-Fi, with special offers – $149.99
* 16 GB, Wi-Fi, without special offers – $169.99

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 Signature (2021)

ScreenAmazon’s 6.8-inch Paperwhite touchscreen display
Levels of gray16
Front lightYes, 17 LED lights
Auto adjusting lightyes
Adjustable warm lightYes
Screen resolutionN/A
Pixel density300 ppi
WaterproofYes
Waterproof ratingIPX8 – tested to withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes
Storage capacity32 GB (approximately 27 GB available to the user) – thousands of books or over 160 Audible audiobooks
microSD cardNo
Body colorBlack
USB-C portYes
Wireless chargingYes
Battery lifeA single charge lasts up to ten weeks, based on a half hour of reading per day with wireless off and the light setting at 13
Charge time• 5 hours from a computer via USB cable
* Under 2.5 hours using 9W USB power adapter (sold separately)
* Fully charges in less than 3.5 hours with any compatible 10W Qi wireless charging pad (sold separately)
Weight7.34 oz / 208 g
Dimensions6.9 × 4.9 × 0.32 in / 174.2 × 124.6 × 8.1 mm
Kindle Unlimited freeNo, a variant with a free Kindle Unlimited plan is not available
Climate Pledge FriendlyYes, built with 60% post-consumer recycled plastics and 70% recycled magnesium; 95% of the packaging is made of wood fiber-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources
Wi-FiSupports 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz networks with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security using password authentication or Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)
CellularNo
BluetoothYes, with Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from Kindle Paperwhite to your Bluetooth speakers or headphones. Bluetooth speakers requiring PIN codes are not supported
SpeakersNo
Headphone jackNo
Audible-readyYes; capable of playing both Audible audiobooks and Audible companions for Kindle ebooks. Pair with Bluetooth-enabled speakers or headphones
Accessibility featuresVoiceView screen reader, available over Bluetooth audio, provides spoken feedback allowing you to navigate your device and read books with text-to-speech (available in English only). Kindle Paperwhite also includes the ability to invert Black and White, adjust font size, font face, line spacing and margins
Supported formatsKindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX)
Original case coversYes; sold separately. Cork, leather, and fabric covers in multiple colors, including Deep Sea Blue, and Lavender Haze
Warranty1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 1-year, 2-year or 3-year Extended Warranty available for US customers sold separately
Generation number• Kindle Paperwhite generation – 5th
* Overall Kindle generation – 11th
Included the box• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 Signature Edition (2021 release)
* USB-C charging cable
* Quick Start Guide
Launch dates• Announcement: September 21, 2021
* Pre-orders: September 21, 2021
* Release: October 27, 2021
Prices• 32 GB, Wi-Fi, with special offers – $189.99
* 32 GB, Wi-Fi, without special offers – $209.99

Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 (2021) product description

Here are the highlights from the Kindle Paperwhite 2021 product page on Amazon.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 6.8-inch (2021 model)

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 6.8-inch 2021 front

Black / 8 GB

Lose yourself in a book – wherever, whenever
Kindle Paperwhite is thin, lightweight, and travels easily, so you can enjoy your favorite books at any time. With our signature 300 ppi glare-free Paperwhite display – now 10% brighter at its max setting – you can read in any light. And now, a single battery charge via USB-C lasts up to 10 weeks. Battery life may vary depending on use.

Goes beyond a book
Now you can adjust the shade of your Kindle Paperwhite display from a white light to a warm amber, or schedule when the light changes for a personalized reading experience. You can also adjust the size and boldness of text for whatever suits you best.

Make a splash
With the waterproof Kindle Paperwhite, you’re free to read and relax in more places – from the beach to the bath. Kindle Paperwhite is IPX8 rated to protect against accidental immersion in up to two meters of fresh water for up to 60 minutes, and up to 0.25 meters of seawater for up to 3 minutes.

Your reading experience, reimagined
Enjoy a new, intuitive, and easier Kindle reading experience with the latest software update. Now with easier access to your device Settings and a new bottom navigation to easily switch between Home, Library, or the book you are currently reading. Plus an alternative fast setup experience using the Kindle app on your phone.

Better together
Designed by Amazon to perfectly fit your Kindle Paperwhite, these slim, form-fitting covers attach securely and fold back for one-handed reading. They automatically put your device to sleep when closed and wake upon opening, making it easy to get back to your story.

Every day is an Earth Day
You don’t have to be an environmental scientist to make sustainable choices. We considered sustainability in the design of this Kindle device. 60% post-consumer recycled plastics and 70% recycled magnesium is used in a device. 95% of the packaging is made of wood fiber-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources.


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8 responses to “6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite 2021 – full specs and comparisons”

  1. […] new, Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 model was announced just a few days ago. It features a larger 6.8-inch display, a long-expected […]

  2. […] new Kindle Paperwhite 2021 has finally arrived. Do you consider getting it? Don’t rush to order it, but make sure you […]

  3. […] 5th-generation Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 was released in October 2021. Its regular price is […]

  4. […] many demanding ebook lovers, Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 is an e-reader of the first choice, and they plan to buy it in the near future. It’s probably […]

  5. […] 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite 5 was released in October 2021. Its regular price is […]

  6. […] ⇢ Tech specs ⇢ Best cases […]

  7. […] you consider getting the most affordable Kindle model, a comparison to the 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite 5 is inevitable. It’s a question of spending the equivalent of an original Amazon case cover […]

  8. […] Are you looking for information about the newest Kindle Paperwhite? Check out the Kindle Paperwhite 6.8 (2021) […]

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