Kindle Touch Review
September 2012 Update: The Kindle Touch is getting replaced by the Kindle Paperwhite which is going to come with several new and amazing updates. Please read the information below, and choose the appropriate link.
You can read our review of the new Kindle Paperwhite by clicking -> Kindle Paperwhite Review
If you’d like to see the new Kindle Paperwhite on amazon – click HERE
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Read the above information.
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The Kindle Touch is Amazon’s ereader with a touchscreen. It’s similar to the “regular” Kindle with the exception of the touchscreen instead of buttons, 2GB of extra storage, longer battery life, and it also includes speakers with a headphone jack which the regular Kindle does not have. Considering all of those benefits, the Kindle Touch might be worth the extra $20 to you.
Display Quality
The display is very crisp and clear, on par with a high quality hardcover book’s ink. The screen is not backlit, which is part of the reason why it’s easy on the eyes and doesn’t strain them like a computer screen. It also means that the Kindle Touch’s screen is not viewable in the dark without a light. There are lighted covers which help protect the screen and also act as a convenient light source at night, however your favorite reading light will work just fine as well. The other benefit of the e-ink screen is that it has very little glare from bright lights and is perfectly viewable outside in direct sunlight.
Reading Books
The Kindle Touch is excellent for reading books, and turning pages is done by simply tapping the screen on either the right side or anywhere near the middle. Tapping the far left side of the screen will turn a page back, and tapping the top of the screen will bring up a menu that will allow you to access several features such as changing font size/spacing or controlling your mp3 player. You can also easily highlight and make notes by tapping and dragging to highlight the text you want to make a note on. Lastly, you can bring up the definition for any unfamiliar words by simply touching and holding down over the word you want defined.
Music and Audiobooks
You can easily listen to music while you read or start up an audiobook. The Kindle Touch has built-in speakers, and also a headphone jack for headphones or external speakers. Transferring music is as simple as connecting your Kindle to your computer and transferring mp3 files over. Be aware that you must have your songs in mp3 format in order for it to work.
Web Browser
The web browser is very simple and can be used to read text (video obviously won’t work), however we wouldn’t recommend relying on it as a primary way to view the web since it’s rather slow and limited. Text, of course, is very clear and readable. You can also pinch zoom to view any part of a webpage or article. The browser is probably best used when you don’t have another web browsing device handy and want to look something up really quickly. For more frequent web browsing we would recommend the Kindle Fire.
PDFs and Textbook PDFs
You can view PDFs on the Kindle Touch, but we generally wouldn’t recommend it if you plan on using that feature frequently. The screen is simply too small to fit much text on the screen without frequent zooming, and the zoom settings are lost every time you turn a page.
Summary
Positives
- Clear screen, easy on the eyes
- Lightweight (lighter than a paperback)
- Easy to download books instantly
- Music and web browser are nice extras
- Long battery life
- Viewable in bright sunlight
Negatives
- Screen can get smudged and needs to be cleaned while turned off
- PDFs are tough to view
Overall Rating: 9/10
The Kindle Touch is a great e-reader and an excellent value for the money.
September 2012 Update: The Kindle Touch is getting replaced by the Kindle Paperwhite which is going to come with several new and amazing updates.
If you’d like to see the new Kindle Paperwhite on amazon – click HERE
You can also read our review of the new Kindle Paperwhite
