Are you a bookworm looking for the best device to help you with your reading? You have certainly landed on the right spot since we’ve compared the two most popular devices in this league in this guide. The Apple iPad and the Amazon Kindle are two of the ultimate choices and top alternatives that every reader considers when purchasing an electronic book reading or listening device.
If you’re having trouble picking which gadget to buy, read this guide post instead of flipping a stupid coin. We always recommend making an informed and sensible decision because you will be spending significant money on any gadget you buy.
In the sections below, we will give you an overview of the Amazon Kindle vs iPad. We would discuss different benefits, pros, cons, and other important information to help you choose according to your requirements and budget. So, without delay, let us dig into the details of both gadgets.
Overview of Kindle
The Kindle is one of the most popular gadgets produced by Amazon. Amazon specifically designed and developed the Kindle device for readers who wanted to shift to eBooks instead of physical books. Amazon provided a complete collection of eBooks on Kindle that readers could download, some for free and some for a small fee. Not so long ago, the Kindle was only used for reading, but today, users can also listen to audiobooks. This feature of the Kindle is getting quite popular these days.
Here, we have discussed some of the pros and cons of the Kindle that you should know about!
Pros of Getting an Amazon Kindle:
- The Kindle is specifically designed for e-reading and listening. Users can also access a built-in dictionary that shows the meaning of any word they want on the spot.
- The Kindle is a very economical option for readers compared to other savvy gadgets, including the iPad.
- The Kindle has a very good battery life. Users can run the Kindle for weeks once it is fully charged.
- The Kindle is built on e-ink technology, meaning it doesn’t emit any light from the screen. This protects the reader from eye strain and other common issues when using other small-screen devices.
Cons of Getting an Amazon Kindle:
- The Kindle cannot be used as a regular tablet as it only supports e-reading. You cannot install or use third-party apps on this tab.
- Most users consider the Kindle screen unappealing as it appears black and white. There are no intriguing graphics on this tab.
- When you use Kindle online, you can easily get irritated with advertisements, even if you have locked your screen.
Now that you know about the common pros and cons of the Amazon Kindle, you must know that this is a very affordable reading device for those who only want to read or listen to books. This means you should only buy the Kindle if your sole requirement is book reading and you don’t need any other services that other small-screen tablets can provide.
Overview of iPad
The iPad is one of the most popular products of Apple Inc. This full-functioning tablet is designed and produced in multiple variants, including Mini, Air, etc. You can do whatever you want with the iPad, including reading books, watching videos, listening to music, and browsing content online.
You can also download the Kindle application and other eBook apps that allow you to use the iPad as a reading gadget. Simply put, you can easily get the same functions from the iPad as an iPhone, except for making a cellular call. Below, we have discussed some pros and cons of having an iPad for reading.
Pros of Getting an iPad
- The iPad is not just a reading gadget but a fully functional tablet that you can use for different purposes.
- The iPad has a responsible and colorful screen, unlike the Kindle. This feature allows you to read graphical books and illustrations without any hassle.
- You can easily magnify your iPad screen to read small-sized text. This feature is not available on the Kindle, as you would have to change the font style on the Kindle device manually.
- The iPad has a larger screen than the Kindle. We have seen many users prefer the iPad because of its larger display.
Cons of Getting an iPad
- The colorful screen of the iPad can result in eye strain, especially if you use it for longer hours.
- The iPad is a fully functioning tablet, so you would be tempted to use other apps like Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, which naturally kills the purpose of reading books.
- The iPad is one of the most expensive gadgets, especially if you compare it with the Kindle.
- If you compare the iPad with the Kindle, you will find it heavier, larger, and less portable.
- The iPad has an extremely low battery life compared to the Amazon Kindle.
Having stated all the pros and cons, we can say that the iPad is best for occasional readers looking for a fully functioning tablet that offers different features, including eBook reading. But if you want a gadget just for reading books, the Apple iPad might not be your best choice.
Kindle vs iPad Comparison
Here, we have discussed some key differences between the features and options of the Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad.
Display
As we have told you before in this guide, the Amazon Kindle comes with an e-ink display designed to mimic the screen of a traditional book; this means that the Kindle screen would be black and white. On the other hand, the iPad display is colorful and is best for reading with illustrations. The reading screen of the Kindle is less harmful to the eyes than that of the iPad.
Screen Readability
Regarding screen readability, the Apple iPad is considered to be better than the Kindle because iOS devices have an IPS display. The iPad screen is naturally brighter and more colorful, which makes readability better. The Kindle has a matte display, which is undoubtedly soothing for the eyes but is certainly not as good as the iPad.
Eye Strain
Reading books on an iPad is not good for your eyes, which is already a fact. This is generally because of this device’s bright and sharp screen colors. Reading books or using them for a longer period of time can cause eye strain. On the other hand, the Kindle has a black-and-white display, which doesn’t cause any strain to the eye even if you are using it for a longer time.
Content Options
Regarding content options and library, you would be surprised to know that the Kindle has more than one million eBooks in its library, whereas the iPad’s eBooks are not more than 20,000. This makes the Kindle a better option for bookworms who are fond of reading. But you must also keep in mind that you can install many eBook apps on the iPad, which can certainly increase the number of collections compared to the Kindle.
Storage
Clearly, the Apple iPad is the winner for this feature, as it has more storage than the Amazon Kindle. The Kindle has a basic space of 8 GB, which is much less than an iPad’s standard space, which is 32 GB.
Portability
The Kindle is smaller and lighter in size as compared to the iPad. You would be surprised that the Kindle doesn’t weigh more than seven ounces, whereas the mini iPad weighs more than 14 ounces. This means the iPad weighs more than the Kindle and is less portable. Also, the size of the iPad is generally more than 9 inches, which is larger than the 6.7-inch screen of the Kindle.
Performance
Well, there is no doubt that iOS devices are unbeatable in terms of their performance. The iPad has an A4 chip, which is superfast in its performance and is certainly better than the Kindle. The response time of the Kindle screen is higher than that of the iPad, and its overall functioning is slow.
Battery Life
The Kindle wins in this department, as the battery life is the strongest suit of the Amazon reading screen. You would be surprised to know that the Kindle screen, when fully charged, can go out for weeks. The iPad and other fully-functioning tablets would not only stay alive for one complete day if you used them for long hours. So, the iPad would require regular charging, which is not the case if you get the Kindle.
Budget
Another advantage of the Kindle over the iPad is its low cost. The basic model of the Kindle would cost less than $100, whereas the basic model of the iPad costs more than $300. This is at least three times more expensive than the Kindle. So, if you want a gadget for reading on a low budget, you should choose the Kindle.
Drawbacks of Kindle Over an iPad
There are a few shortcomings of a Kindle that you should know about before you get one:
- The Kindle doesn’t play videos or songs or even let you play games. This device is designed specifically for reading books, so if you are looking for an all-in-one device that lets you read, listen to music, play games, watch movies, and do a lot more, you need to get the iPad.
- The Kindle only allows you to download and save books from Amazon. You cannot get books from other eBook apps as you cannot download or install them on the Kindle. On the other hand, you can install different books and apps on your iPad from the Apple Store.
So, the key point is that the Kindle can only be used as a book and not for any other multimedia function.
Which is Better?
Now that you have read about the pros and cons of both the Kindle and the iPad, you can decide which device works best for you. But if you are still unsure about what works best for you, we would recommend you buy a Kindle in case you want to read books and are looking for a budget-friendly option, but if you want an all-purpose gadget and don’t have any budget constraints, you can always go for an iPad.
Conclusion
In this article, we have compared the two most popular devices that readers generally use for eBook reading. In our opinion, the purpose of this post is not to debate which device is better for reading but is intended for people who don’t know much about the differences between these two small-screen devices. What device you choose depends on your requirements; you can buy the Kindle if you want a device for reading and an iPad if you want a multi-purpose and more interactive gadget.