Kindle Aluminum offers a more luxurious appearance, good scratch resistance and compact design. However, a screen omission can make this e-reader model lose points for many people.

Amazon đã nâng cấp dòng máy đọc sách Kindle nhỏ gọn (các phiên bản tiền nhiệm có tên Kindle Basic) bằng phiên bản Aluminum với thân máy bằng kim loại thay cho nhựa truyền thống.

Accordingly, the product also has a more premium design, larger storage capacity and support for magnetically attached accessories. However, these changes mainly focus on the usage experience, while the reading ability remains similar to the popular version.

In Vietnam, Kindle Aluminum has a genuine selling price of nearly 7 million VND, about 1 million VND higher than the plastic version. With this difference, users need to consider whether the design upgrades are really worth the money or not.

High quality aluminum shell, slightly increased weight

Kindle Aluminum uses a 6-inch E Ink Carta 1300 screen, 300 ppi pixel density, flat front design and monochrome lighting system. The device has 32GB of internal memory, double the 16GB capacity of the plastic version.

And in fact, the biggest difference from its predecessors lies in the design. The aluminum body is rounded on all four sides and comes in two color options: Alpine Sky and Seaglass Green. The surface of the back is rough, helping to increase grip when holding, limiting the feeling of slipping when used.

Metal material also helps the device resist scratches better than a plastic case. For a device that is often carried in a bag or backpack, this is a notable advantage, because small scratches can appear after a period of use.

However, the aluminum shell increases the weight of the device from 140g to 162g when compared to the plastic version. The difference of 22g is not too large and is difficult to notice when first held in the hand, but for those who often read books with one hand for many hours, this difference can still be noticed. Therefore, if you prioritize lightness in terms of weight when reading for long periods of time, the plastic version still has the advantage.

Another notable point is that the batteries of both aluminum and plastic versions can be easily replaced according to new regulations of the European Union (EU). However, the back of the Kindle Aluminum is fixed with two small screws, instead of the clamps like on the plastic version. This makes opening the device to replace the battery a bit more complicated.

The screen is beautiful but lacks yellow light

The screen is one of the advantages of Kindle Aluminum. Compared to the 2024 Kindle, the display text has higher contrast, deeper blacks and clearer dark background mode. The screen surface is also less glossy and less prone to fingerprints than the previous generation of Paperwhite.

When reading books in daylight or outdoors, the content is clearly visible and easy to see. The front lighting system is relatively evenly distributed, has a neutral color tone, and meets the needs of use in normal lighting conditions.

However, the device does not have the ability to adjust color temperature and the background panel is grayer and slightly yellowish compared to Kindle Basic generations. When reading books at night, the lack of yellow light can make many people feel disappointed because they cannot change the color of the light to better suit personal preferences.

This is an unfortunate limitation on a device that costs nearly 7 million VND, while the current 6-inch e-reader is equipped with a yellow light, allowing users to adjust the light according to the environment and time of use.

Dark mode can be an alternative for those who like to read white text on a black background. However, when using this mode, light may reflect on the inner edge of the screen bezel, forming a faint light line surrounding the display area.

Therefore, Kindle Aluminum is more suitable for people who often read books during the day or like dark background mode. For those who have the habit of reading before bed, the lack of yellow light is a factor to consider before buying.

Built-in magnets help extend the accessory

Another notable upgrade is the magnet system on the back. According to the manufacturer's announcement, this allows the machine to be firmly attached to metal surfaces and opens up the possibility of using additional stands, brackets or magnetic accessories.

Amazon currently offers a Kindle Aluminum Slim Cover leather case specifically for this version. The leather case has a book-shaped design, uses a magnetic folding cover to protect the device, and exposes the edges and bottom of the device. Accessories are not compatible with plastic Kindle because this version does not have built-in magnets.

Additionally, if users want to turn pages with the click of a button, they can consider the Kindle Click Bluetooth remote control. However, at the present time, these accessories are not yet sold in the Vietnamese market, so it is not possible to provide actual experience.

The software has not had many improvements

In terms of software, Kindle Aluminum has significantly faster navigation and response speeds compared to the 2024 Kindle. Menus, dictionaries and libraries respond faster, but page turning speed is almost unchanged.

The device does not have a touch lock option or page turning area option, making it possible for users to accidentally touch the screen while reading, and arranging books into Collections directly on the device is also not convenient.

The device does not have a built-in speaker, so if you want to listen to audiobooks, you must connect a Bluetooth headset and use supported Audible content. The device also cannot play audiobooks at the same time as reading e-books on the same device.

Battery life as announced by Amazon reaches a maximum of 6 weeks, equivalent to the plastic case version, and actual usage time can last from 1 to 2 weeks if reading continuously for 1 to 3 hours a day. This is still quite a long usage level for an e-reader, but does not create a prominent advantage over more advanced Kindle models.

Is it worth buying for nearly 7 million VND?

In fact, Kindle Aluminum is suitable for people who want to own a compact book reader, with a premium design and better scratch resistance. 32GB memory and magnet system are also plus points for people who want to use the device for a long time and expand accessories.

However, if you prioritize light weight and cost savings, a plastic-shell Kindle priced at nearly 6 million VND is still a reasonable choice. The Aluminum version mainly brings differences in material and feeling of use, but does not significantly improve the reading experience.

For people who often read books at night, models with adjustable yellow lights are worth considering. Although Kindle Aluminum has a beautiful screen, sturdy design and premium appearance, the lack of color temperature adjustment feature makes the product not truly comprehensive.

Overall, this is the choice for those who value build quality and compact size.