The Amazon Kindle 2022 deserves a spot in your bag (or carry-on)

I got my very first Kindle as a Christmas present over a decade ago. My boyfriend at the time rightly thought I was a nerd and introduced me to the convenience of e-book readers. If we learned anything from Beauty and the Beast, it’s that you can probably count on a library to make a girl swoon.

Now, twelve years later, I’ve stuck to the gift recipient, but I’ve swapped out the e-reader a few times. My latest upgrade is the base 2022 model from Amazon. After a few weeks of using the device, it’s clear that the Kindle 2022 is closing the gap to Amazon’s more expensive offerings.

For me, the glory of a Kindle is its portability. For my partner, who I keep telling to hold my stuff, size matters. The Kindle 2022 measures just 6.2 inches and fits comfortably in pockets, bags and bedside drawers. While Amazon hasn’t decided to increase the screen size on this model, the trade-off is that it remains delightfully compact. At only 158 grams, it is most likely lighter than your smartphone. You can hold it in just one hand and keep the second free for a cup of tea. It also means devouring page-turners without burning out your wrist.

Despite its small size, the Kindle 2022 offers the ability to have hundreds of books and audiobooks in tow at all times. In fact, the device packs 16GB of storage, which is double the base Kindle Paperwhite (2021) model. Not only is this handy for everyday use, but also for longer trips – important for someone who lives a chilly six-hour flight from any other major landmass.

Stuffing a Kindle in your carry-on is more important than comfortable clothing or inflight snacks (although those are priorities number two and three). Not only do I like the immediately anti-social vibe that an e-reader creates, I appreciate that no one can spy the spine of my paperback to find out which book caught my eye. The Kindle 2022 ticks both boxes, entertaining me for hours before slipping into my sweatshirt pocket when I doze off.

Especially when traveling, the ability to switch to an audio book is crucial for drowning out fellow travelers. The extra storage space on the Kindle 2022 is arguably more important for listening than reading. An audio book takes up around 280MB to 350MB of storage space, while an e-book needs a meager 4MB. About 1.2GB is used by the Kindle software, but 6GB or so would be enough for even the most avid reader. Once you add audiobooks to your rotation, those gigabytes will fill up much faster. Large audio files make the jump from 8GB to 16GB more consistent. In addition to the staples I’ve already downloaded, I can add enough books and audiobooks to last an entire trip and never think about storage space (in my pocket or on my Kindle).

Additionally, the option to send PDFs and other documents to the device underscores just how valuable additional storage space can be. Using Amazon’s unique email address, I’ve sent everything from itineraries to a draft of a maid of honor speech to my Kindle. Reading personal documents on the e-reader helps users avoid screens with more distracting elements (you look, iPhone).

Storage certainly isn’t the only feature of the Kindle 2022 that a jet-set bibliophile will benefit from. Upgrading the e-reader to a USB-C charger helps it charge significantly faster than previous models. The Kindle 2022 can be charged from zero to 100 in about four hours from a computer using a USB cable. You can cut that time in half by charging with a 9W USB-C wall charger. It’ll also likely share a charger with other electronics you already own, so there’s less worry about packing the right cords. With a long enough stay, you can pack up a dead device and still arrive at your destination to tackle a new series.

According to Amazon, reading 30 minutes a day will drain the battery in about six weeks. When you charge your Kindle a second time, you should also replace your toothbrush head. Even if you regularly start books at midnight and accidentally read until dawn, you’ll likely finish your book before the battery dies. That means audio streaming drains the battery faster. You may not want to fall asleep regularly while your device is running too often.

With that in mind, anyone who enjoys finishing off with a good read will also be happy to hear that Dark Mode has made its way to the Kindle 2022. Reversing the text to white on a black background makes it easier for users to enjoy books while sleeping without disturbing others. As we covered at Android authority, Research shows that dark mode isn’t always the best idea, but personal experience has shown that it’s best for marriages. Instead of a bright screen to keep your partner busy, dark mode lets you read guilt-free. If you’re already using dark mode on your other devices, the option for consistency is a nice addition.

Literally where the Amazon Kindle (2022) really shines is in its updated display and front light. Amazon eventually ditched the 167ppi E Ink display in favor of the 300ppi screen on its higher-end models. Text on the updated screen is extremely sharp and legible, even if you choose a small font size to view more words at once. Its four LED lights offer adjustable lighting (but still no adjustable heat). You can conveniently use the device in low light conditions or in bright sunlight. The reading experience is very close to the clarity of a printed copy.

As for responsiveness, there’s still a slight lag when turning the pages or selecting a book. However, it’s certainly faster than older models and not really annoying. Plus, with the update that Amazon brought to the Kindle ecosystem in early 2022, navigation is easier and more efficient. The ability to stack series of books in your library is by far my favorite user experience improvement.

In terms of materials and durability, this is still a basic Kindle. There are no physical buttons to turn pages. It’s not waterproof like its more expensive siblings, so reading poolside next to cannonballing kids is still a risk. You won’t find auto-brightness or adjustable display heat either.

That means this is the best base Kindle model yet. In reality, it would have only taken a display refresh to raise the line, but luckily Amazon didn’t stop there. The company also gave its base model more storage and faster charging for a device that’s updated, reliable, and incredibly convenient. You can now buy an ad-free version of the Kindle 2022 for only $99.99. Each device also includes four free months of Kindle Unlimited.