Wondering About The Next Kindle Paperwhite Model Release?

Wondering About The Next Kindle Paperwhite Model Release?

It has been a while since the last Kindle Paperwhite was released, and the tension around the next Kindle Paperwhite release date is slowly building.

The last Kindle Paperwhite was released back in 2018, and 2020 was the first year ever that Amazon did not release any Kindle e-reader. So, it is not unusual to wonder about the next Kindle Paperwhite model release. It is, after all, Amazon’s most universally beloved, best-selling product.

We cannot blame the latter for the delay as the recent lockdowns due to COVID-19 pandemic have caused almost every manufacturer to face many obstacles and difficulties in fulfilling their orders.

Kindle Paperwhite Release Date – When to Expect the Next Kindle Paperwhite Model?

There are plenty of baseless claims all over the internet that the next Kindle Paperwhite model is right around the corner, whereas in reality, there is no solid proof of that. The rumors suggest that the next Kindle Paperwhite model release date is to be in late 2021 or early 2022.

Now before you get your hopes down, there might be a strong hint that the above expectation might be a bit more accurate. How? If we look at the Kindle release timeline of Amazon, it usually takes Amazon 2 to 3 years to release the next Kindle Paperwhite model. So, by this calculation, we can expect the new Kindle Paperwhite release date pretty soon.

For a more accurate prediction, let us calculate the next Kindle Paperwhite model release. If you look at the chart below, it makes a pretty good prediction on when the next Kindle Paperwhite model release date will be. 

After the 1st generation release back in 2012 (which is also known as 5th generation), the 2nd generation was released in 2013 (also known as 6th generation). After that, the 3rd generation (also known as 7th generation) was released in 2015. Finally, the 4th – and currently the latest – generation (also known as 10th generation-Amazon skipped the 8th and 9th generation) was released after 3 years in 2018.

There has been a maximum gap of 3 years between the Kindle Paperwhite generations. So, If we look at the numbers, we can expect the new Kindle Paperwhite model to arrive sometime between July of 2021 and March of 2022 (being the worst-case scenario).

However, spoiler alert, July 2021 is a very short notice as there is so far no news of the new Kindle Paperwhite model. However, given the current COVID-19 pandemic, with manufacturing and parts distribution being delayed, there is a strong chance that we will hear about the next Kindle Paperwhite release sometime between the end of 2021 and the start of 2022, as per initial predictions.

 A timeline chart depicting the release dates of all generations of Kindle Paperwhite models, including the guesses at the next one.

 

What to Expect from the Next Kindle Paperwhite Model?

Kindle Paperwhite is an elegant e-reader with great features and accessories, but it can be better. Amazon has been following the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” approach for some years, and now it may be time for a change with the introduction of some new features.

While we can’t expect something outrageous like a 4K screen or dual-facing speakers as we don’t need those, it is fair to expect features that would make the reading experience a lot better. The following are some of the features that we anticipate will be added with the introduction of the new Kindle Paperwhite model.

Dark Mode or Night Mode

A conceptual dark mode representation of upcoming Kindle Paperwhite model

It comes as no surprise that the dark mode feature has gained a lot of popularity. Since it has  first been introduced by smartphone manufacturers, more and more users want it on their devices. Kindle users are no exception, especially those who read a lot at night, before going to sleep, and don’t want to strain their eyes.

Many users have complained about the lack of night mode in previous Kindle devices, so we can expect it to be introduced with the next Kindle Paperwhite release.

Fast Charging USB-C Port

The plug end of a USB type C connecting cable is shown in this picture.

The world has moved to USB-C because it offers high speeds and other benefits, but the Kindle Paperwhite still comes with a micro-USB. It may seem like a small thing, but it is always a discomfort to carry different cables around with you.

Nowadays, almost no new device comes with a micro-USB slot. We can expect that the new Kindle Paperwhite model release will come with USB-C.

Always on Display

A snapshot of a tablet with an always-on AMOLED display.

The always-on display will be a great addition to the new Kindle Paperwhite model release. Most people put their Kindle Paperwhite on their side table, and the always-on display can show the clock at all times. Which will come in handy if you want to get a glance at what the time is.

It is not a highly demanded feature as most people use e-reader sleeves or covers, but we can still hope for it to be included in the next Kindle Paperwhite model release. 

When, when, when, when…..?

Given the chart above,  it is safe to assume that the next Kindle Paperwhite model release is just around the corner, so you shouldn’t have to wait long. If Amazon doesn’t break its own record of 3 years and four months, we can expect the next Kindle Paperwhite model release sometime by March 17, 2022.  Let’s see how our predictions turn out.