iPad iPad Mini 5 or Kindle for poolside reading?

[rui no onna]

Thanks. I get 25-30 hours usage from a Paperwhite and I'd be happy enough with half of that.

Some of the reviews on Amazon are laughable, even for the Paperwhite. People read 'weeks' of battery life and think they can use it for hours per day and achieve that goal. Then they give it one star because they have to charge it once a week while they're asleep as if that was a real problem.

No one reads the fineprint.

Iirc, the disclaimer was:
6 weeks, 30 minutes/day, brightness 10, wifi off

So around 21 hours.

Mind, there was an issue with some PW4 firmware versions being overly aggressive at pinging Amazon for automatic updates. My PW4 was draining at 1% per hour on standby with no indexing going on if I don't put the PW4 on airplane mode. Thankfully, someone found a fix.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3804435&postcount=326

Note, since e-ink consumes power with page turns, the more frequent the page turns, the faster you run through the battery. Using larger fonts or reading content like manga (Japanese comics) use up battery more quickly. When reading manga, I actually just get the same battery life on both iPad and Paperwhite.

 

[JBGoode]

No one reads the fineprint.

Iirc, the disclaimer was:
6 weeks, 30 minutes/day, brightness 10, wifi off

So around 21 hours.

Mind, there was an issue with some PW4 firmware versions being overly aggressive at pinging Amazon for automatic updates. My PW4 was draining at 1% per hour on standby with no indexing going on if I don't put the PW4 on airplane mode. Thankfully, someone found a fix.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3804435&postcount=326

Note, since e-ink consumes power with page turns, the more frequent the page turns, the faster you run through the battery. Using larger fonts or reading content like manga (Japanese comics) use up battery more quickly. When reading manga, I actually just get the same battery life on both iPad and Paperwhite.

That works for me.

Interesting about the font size and battery life. That's something I never considered but of course it makes sense. I use smaller fonts (2/3) but I imagine using the bigger ones can consume battery very quickly with many more turns required for the same book. This also explains how a considerably smaller battery can provide almost comparable life as the Oasis 2's larger screen requires less page turns.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Infinitewisdom]

Here’s a counter point: if you’ll be reading poolside, but covered by some sort of shade, then the iPad mini won’t necessarily be a bad choice. I can’t stand reading on Kindles just because it feels like I’m back in the Stone Age (in relative terms). I’d probably use my iPhone before I use a Kindle, to be honest.

 

[Seamaster]

They'll have to prise my Voyage from my cold dead fingers.

Seriously, I would give up every Apple device I own before I'd give that up.

 

[YaBe]

If it is for reading, Kindle, the paperwhite is amazing.
Sure it cannot do other stuff, but for reading it is unbeatable!

 

[danmart]

The newer screen technologies in iPads are great and really make a difference when reading in the sun. I can use my iPad Pro out on the sun deck, no problem.

It’s the lamination in the screen that provides this benefit, IIRC. The earlier screens had an air gap in them which meant sun light would bounce around inside the screen and cause the glare. The new mini says that screen is laminated, not sure if the old one was?

If you don’t like kindles then I would say buy a Mini and just check reading in bright light during the return period to be sure?

 

[KarimLeVallois]

Kindle Oasis 2 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall day long for reading both outside and inside. I love the fact that I don't have other 'distractions' on it, just books.
[doublepost=1553264797][/doublepost]

According to this article, Amazon will release a Kindle Voyage 2 this year. We'll see...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/gooder...e-and-voyage-2-will-be-released-this-year/amp

I'd take anything that website says with a pinch of salt, they just seem to guess on things and haven't exactly been that successful with their predictions.

 

[LibbyLA]

There’s a new $90 basic Kindle with front light and waterproofing. It has a lower resolution than the PaperWhite or Oasis 2 but it costs less. Just another option.

 

[KarimLeVallois]

There’s a new $90 basic Kindle with front light and waterproofing. It has a lower resolution than the PaperWhite or Oasis 2 but it costs less. Just another option.

But the Paperwhite is still the better option as it is often on sale.

 

[IJBrekke]

There’s a new $90 basic Kindle with front light and waterproofing. It has a lower resolution than the PaperWhite or Oasis 2 but it costs less. Just another option.

New front light, but not waterproof, according to The Verge article.

To the OP: Echoing from other comments, the Paperwhite with the light turned off is the best recommendation for poolside. Waterproofing could come in handy and the higher resolution screen is nice. I personally would return the base Kindle you just bought and get one of those for $30 more.

 

[rui no onna]

To the OP: Echoing from other comments, the Paperwhite with the light turned off is the best recommendation for poolside. Waterproofing could come in handy and the higher resolution screen is nice. I personally would return the base Kindle you just bought and get one of those for $30 more.

The PW4 regularly goes on sale for $100 and has even gone down to $90 (MLK weekend).

That said, I believe the last gen basic Kindle has been on clearance sale for $50 or something.

 

[rhinosrcool]

[/QUOTE] I'd take anything that website says with a pinch of salt, they just seem to guess on things and haven't exactly been that successful with their predictions.[/QUOTE]

You may be right. I just googled Kindle Voyage being discontinued and it was a response that showed the recent date of Feb 2019.

As for their predictions, I am unaware. However, they do show some interesting ereaders, especially ones with styli for note taking and markups.

 

[LibbyLA]

New front light, but not waterproof, according to The Verge article.

To the OP: Echoing from other comments, the Paperwhite with the light turned off is the best recommendation for poolside. Waterproofing could come in handy and the higher resolution screen is nice. I personally would return the base Kindle you just bought and get one of those for $30 more.

The announcement on Amazon (Kindle help forum) said is was waterproof. Perhaps Amazon’s announcement about their product was incorrect.

Here’s the product page and the comparison chart shows that it is not waterproof.

I have an Oasis 1 and an Oasis 2. If I were looking for a lower cost reader, I’d go for a PaperWhite on sale, as other posters have mentioned.

 

[lyceumHQ]

Kindle. I have an iPad and a Kindle paperwhite, for reading there's no comparison, Kindle wins in every category.

 

[rui no onna]

The announcement on Amazon (Kindle help forum) said is was waterproof. Perhaps Amazon’s announcement about their product was incorrect.

I checked out the forum and it said the PW4 and Oasis 2 are waterproof. Could easily have been missed if skimming/speed reading. Also, it's not just Amazon staff that post on the Kindle forums. Best to go with official press release rather than forums.

https://www.amazonforum.com/forums/...new-kindle-now-with-an-adjustable-front-light

The new device joins Kindle Paperwhite, which features a high-resolution, 300 ppi display with a flush-front design and waterproofing, and Kindle Oasis, which includes a seven-inch, high-resolution display, waterproofing, and an ergonomic design.

 

[Shanghaichica]

A kindle is much better for reading. I can only only read for 10 minutes or so on an LCD or OLED display but I can read on an eink kindle for hours. I first got a kindle in 2010 and I’ve had one ever since. None of my iPads have ever been able to replace my kindle.
[doublepost=1553330411][/doublepost]The only waterproof kindles are the latest kindle paperwhite and the oasis 2.

 

[eneisch]

I read poolside during the summer season. There is no comparison in sunlight. Kindle wins hands down. I would suggest the new Paperwhite for $129. In addition to being able to be read in direct sunlight, it is now waterproof.

 

[apolloa]

I thank you all for the replies. I should’ve mentioned I lost one eye and eye strain is, of course, now more important to me than ever. That’s why I didn’t get the Paperwhite, but use a yellow clip-on book light instead.

Man do I wish that Apple would just put out a cross-app-compatible e-reader. I don’t like being tied to just one service like Amazon, which is in the background of my question.

I missed your post here, I do t think you’ll have a choice with eye strain risks. I would stick to eink and the Kindle, being tied to one service is better then not being able to read at all if you get eye strain. Plus st least Amazon does have tons of books to choose from?
Looking at screens is what helps to reduce our eye sight over the years, I’m not 100% sure but I don’t think reading text on paper does the same thing, ergo reading an eink display won’t either?

Stick to your kindle and special light you use, the things last and last, my mums Kindle 3 is still going strong and she refuses to upgrade. But when your in a town next why not pop into a store and try out the new Kindle with backlight and iPad Mini to see how they feel? Help with your curiosity.

 

[KarimLeVallois]

A kindle is much better for reading. I can only only read for 10 minutes or so on an LCD or OLED display but I can read on an eink kindle for hours. I first got a kindle in 2010 and I’ve had one ever since. None of my iPads have ever been able to replace my kindle.
[doublepost=1553330411][/doublepost]The only waterproof kindles are the latest kindle paperwhite and the oasis 2.

I’ve never actually been much of a reader to be honest, but my Kindle has changed that.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I’ve never actually been much of a reader to be honest, but my Kindle has changed that.

I’ve always loved reading but the ability to carry around so many books on one device and being able to buy multiple books at a time and not have to worry about storage etc has made me read more. The first year I got an e-reader I read 60 books that year. Before that if maybe read 25 or 30.