As much as paper books have their undeniable value, even as a physical media enthusiast, I consider my Kindle to be among my favorite pieces of tech. Being able to store literally thousands of titles on a single device offers a degree of convenience that’s hard to pass up.
However, you might wonder whether it’s worth investing in a Kindle if you already have a smartphone or tablet. Can’t you just download the Kindle app and skip paying more money on another device?
Technically, this is an option. And yes, accounting for practical factors like your budget is always critical before making a purchase.
That said, if you can justify the cost, there are a few reasons worth investing in a Kindle, even if you can already access Kindle content via the app. Consider these points:
A Kindle’s screen is often more pleasant to read from
Most Kindle models use E Ink technology
It’s important to understand that a Kindle isn’t just a single device. It’s a brand of device from Amazon that comes in several versions. You need to explore the pros and cons of each to determine which is right for you.
That said, many Kindles leverage “E Ink” technology rather than typical LCD or OLED tech for their displays. Because this technology was designed specifically for the purposes of displaying text on a screen, many find it’s more pleasant to read from than a phone or tablet. It can also guard against glare. This may be particularly appealing to someone who enjoys reading outdoors.
There may even be reason to believe that reading from a Kindle’s E Ink screen is healthier for your eyes than reading from a tablet’s screen. That said, the research on this is currently too limited to say this is definitely the case.
A Kindle allows for greater focus and concentration
A Kindle is the rare digital device that mimics the strengths of physical media
Nostalgia is by no means the only factor driving some people’s desire to stick with paper books when reading. One of the benefits of physical media is that it’s distraction-free. When you’re reading a printed book, you’re less inclined to click away and check your socials or email, primarily because you, well, can’t.
Most digital devices fail in this regard. The Kindle is an exception. Again, while different Kindles offer different features, all are essentially devices made almost exclusively for reading. It may be easy to understand how this can promote greater engagement with the specific content you’re reading.
When you read content via the Kindle app on a phone or tablet, at any point, it’s far too easy to close the app and switch to another task. Even if you return to what you were reading after completing said task, breaking your concentration like this stops you from focusing on what you’re consuming. This can negatively affect everything from enjoyment to information retention.
Kindles offer longer reading sessions
The battery life of a Kindle is far greater than that of a phone or tablet
Anyone who uses their mobile device every day knows that daily usage tends to require daily charging. If you want to read from the Kindle app when you don’t have access to an outlet, the battery of your phone or tablet might drain relatively quickly. This can theoretically prevent you from reading for as long as you would like. Even if the battery can theoretically last for an entire reading session, you might not be comfortable draining the battery like that when you have to use your mobile device for other purposes.
That’s not something you have to worry about with a Kindle. Again, every model is slightly different, and various factors can affect battery life, but often, a Kindle can last from days to weeks on a single charge. That makes it a much stronger option than reading from the Kindle app on a phone or tablet. With a full charge, you can read to your heart’s content, without worrying about how much battery you’re draining.
Some Kindle models are water-resistant
A Kindle may be a safer option for reading near water
Before getting into this last “honorable mention” point, it’s important to understand that you should never jeopardize one of your digital devices by carelessly exposing it to water. In general, you should also be careful about the way using various electronic devices near water can affect your own safety.
Nevertheless, Amazon has indicated that Kindle models offer varying degrees of water-resistance. Obviously, you should check the water-resistance rating of your model to determine how safe it is to use around water.
Still, you may be able to imagine situations in which having a water-resistant e-reader is preferable to reading from a phone or tablet. For example, maybe you want to read outside in the park, but you’ve checked the weather, and you’re worried it might start drizzling without warning. A Kindle is a better option than a phone or tablet if so.
The main point to understand is that the Kindle app isn’t necessarily a replacement for a Kindle itself. While the app offers plenty of value, a dedicated e-reader allows for more intentional reading. That’s the key reason you might buy a Kindle even if you already have the app on another device.
