I Finally Swapped my iPad for a Kindle

I have been pretty anti kindle for a while now. I didn’t have anything specific against the brand or product, I just didn’t see a need. I love reading a physical book. I will never get tired of browsing bookstores, picking up a book based on the cover or author, and smelling that fresh new book smell.

I’d been an iPad user since around 2015, and downloaded the Kindle app there even though I hardly used it until maybe 1-2 years ago. My e-book consumption has just always been low. Physical and audio books have been, and honestly still are, my preferred way to consume books.

But when I got Covid, physical and audiobooks were just hard for me. It was Christmas time and I was stuck in my apartment, sick, sad and with very little energy or strength. I wanted to read short, sweet and sappy romance books whenever I wasn’t attempting to work or falling back into 2-3 hour naps, and the Kindle app showed up in a big way. Also the Kobo app, which had a bunch of short romance novellas that I poured through.

I was moving from couch to bed, trying to keep my blue light glasses on as a got through book after book on my iPad. It wasn’t the best, but it was fine. I was also reading more advance reader copies of book via Netgalley through the Kindle App, so my ebook reading had increased significantly.

Fast forward to January, I upgraded from my older iPad mini to the new 8th generation iPad. I still kept the Kindle app there, and had been diving into the Bridgerton novels on ebook exclusively. The bigger iPad was definitely more uncomfortable to read on and I was finally ready to consider moving over to a Kindle. So I did!

I’ve had my kindle for a little over a week now, and I’m really loving it. I don’t think that ebooks will become my primary reading method, but I’m glad I have the option and think this will be great whenever we can travel again! I’m going to share my quick first week impressions and answer some of your questions about making the switch.

The Basics

I decided to go for the 8gb Kindle Paperwhite after reading a bunch of online reviews. Not to mention, Phoebe got the same one, and she’s forever influencing my bookish discussions! I got the version that displays ads, which don’t bother me at all. They only display when your Kindle is locked/not in use. Though I’ve heard some people complain that it influences them to buy more books!

Overall, I was blown away at how small and lightweight it is. Much more comfortable than holding even an iPad mini, in my opinion. I will likely get a case or pop socket to help with gripping, especially when reading in bed.

Your Questions, Answered

What’s the biggest difference between the Kindle and reading on an iPad?

There are a few key things for me. First, the Kindle is just for reading. There are no notifications and alerts disrupting you, so I tend to be way more focused on reading. On my iPad, I’d sometimes get distracted and end up checking my emails or online shopping just because the option was there. The paperwhite also doesn’t omit blue light the way an iPad screen would. It’s so gentle on my eyes, especially in dark mode, and I love that I don’t have to keep blue light glasses on while reading to avoid headaches. And finally, just the comfort level. My iPad is great, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable to curl on the couch and read with. The Kindle is super lightweight and tiny and easy on my wrist when holding it.

I also love that I can buy books right on my device, which you can’t do in the Kindle app.

Overall, if you have an iPad that you read on and it’s working for you, I don’t think it’s essential to switch to a Kindle. Nice to have, but not necessary.

How is the speed and battery life?

Both have been great, in my opinion! I can read for days before even dipping below 50% battery. I’ve never used a Kindle before now, so I can’t compare to previous models speeds but I haven’t noticed any lags or delays when reading or downloading books.

Have you connected it to your library or Netgalley?

I have connected it to my Netgalley account, which is great for keeping up with digital advanced copies! You can connect your NetGally to the Kindle App as well, which I’d done previously. I haven’t connected it to my library because I really only get physical books from the library, and lean on Scribd (and now Kindle) for audio and e-books. You can connect it to your Libby or Hoopla account though! If I do that, I’ll report back!

Are e-books cheaper than physical books?

They are! On average, I’ve paid about $7-12 for a book on Kindle, versus $17-30 for a physical copy.

Do you read faster on the Kindle?

It feels like I do, but I honestly don’t think there is much difference in my reading speed. I will say, having books loaded on my Kindle make it much easier to have longer reading sessions. I have the Bridgerton books loaded and I go through them like candy! And I’m really excited to get through bigger books in my library on Kindle.

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Physical books will always be my first love (that new book smell is just everything!), but I’m so glad I got this other option for reading! When the world is finally open again and we’re traveling, I can’t wait to pack up my Kindle and bring way too many books on every adventure without taking up too much space in my carryon.

If you have any more Kindle questions, drop them in the comments!