Kindle Touch Versus Kindle 3
Yesterday Amazon make a predictable step to touch screen for Kindle Family. So, here it is Kindle Touch.
Amazon keep the same base recipe for models in the new Kindle touch generation: two ebook readers with the same design and features with only difference in terms of communication: WiFi or WiFi + 3G.
In technology the new generation is always better at least in terms of performances.
But let’s see together if Kindle Touch is a big step or just a old Kindle with touch screen display. So, as usual I bring those two ebook readers in a eight rounds comparison .
| Round 1. Display: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch Round 2. Storage: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch Round 3. Portability: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch Round 4. Autonomy: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch Round 5. Books: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch Round 6. Interface: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch Round 7. Connectivity: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch Round 8. General experience: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch Final round:My conclusion |
Display: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch
There are no questions, Kindle Touch display is better because touch feature. So, Kindle Touch Vs Kindle3: 1-0. I was a little disappointing of resolution of Kindle Touch as iRiver is still better as you can see in below table.
| Model | Display | ||||
| Color Display | Display technology | Touch screen | Resolution | Display size | |
| Kindle Touch | No | eInk Pearl | Yes | 800×600 | 6inch |
| Kindle | No | eInk Pearl | No | 800×600 | 6inch |
| Nook | No | eInk Pearl | Yes | 800×600 | 6inch |
| Nook Color | Yes | LCD | Yes | 1024×600 | 7inch |
| iRiver Story HD | No | eInk Pearl | No | 1024×768 | 6inch |
Storage: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch
Nothing was changed in storage. Still 4GB (3GB free for books) internal memory and no SD or microSD or microSDHC card reader… So, no points in this round.
Portability: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch
Kindle Touch is lighter and smaller. Complete data in the table. I add the Nook in table to have a better comparison. Kindle Touch – Kindle 3: 2-0
| Kindle 4 | Kindle 3 | Kindle touch | Nook | |
| Weight: | 8.70oz (246 grams) | 7.80oz (220grams) | 7.48oz (212 grams) | 7.48oz (212 grams) |
| Height: | 6.5in (166mm) | 7.5in (190mm) | 6.8in (172mm) | 6.5in (165mm) |
| Width: | 4.5in (114mm) | 4.8in (122mm) | 4.7in (120mm) | 5.0in (127mm) |
| Depth: | 0.34in (8.7mm) | 0.335in (8.5mm) | 0.40in (10.1mm) | 0.47in (11mm) |
Autonomy: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch
The autonomy is the same (1 – 2 months depend of how you use it, 3 weeks with WiFi/3G on), so no points for this…
Books: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch
Nothing change in how you will buy books. Maybe is easier now with touch but still no points for this.
Interface: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch
Here I should give one point to Kindle Touch because it has touch screen interface.
Kindle Touch – Kindle 3: 3-0
Connectivity: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch
Kindle Touch is with WiFi or WiFi + 3G, same like Kindle 3G. But there is one big difference: with Kindle Touch you cannot browse Web over 3G! With Kindle keyboard you can. Anyway, to browse Internet with an eink ebook reader is not a pleasant experience but is nice to have the possibility to quick check some website over 3G for free almost everywhere in the World.
Final score: Kindle Touch – Kindle 3: 3-1
General experience: Kindle 3 Vs Kindle Touch
The touch screen make the difference. For example it is easy to teach your grandmother how to use a touch screen ebook reader. Also, the content formats supported by Kindle Touch was improved: Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion.
The touch screen come natural for an ebook reader. Now, Amazon bring the Kindle to our times. I like the keyboard of Kindle 3 but a touch can erase it from my mind.
If you already have Kindle 3 keep it and do not upgrade yet to Kindle Touch. If you don’t have any Kindle this is the moment to buy one: Kindle Touch!
Buy Kindle Touch at Amazon US
Kindle Touch at Amazon UK – coming soon.
I think I’ll upgrade to Kindle Touch 3g! it looks great!!!
your choice 🙂
if you like to have a ebook reader with touch screen Kindle Touch 3g should be the right decision.
Ho Ho Ho! What a great gift for Christmas!!!!
Hi Santa 🙂 Thanks to stopping by. I’ll send you a letter with all my wishes 😉
Seems Sony, Nook, Kobo and now Amazon are using the same Neonode Zforce infrared touch screen. Kind of boring they all have the same tech
Hi Fire,
Indeed they all have the same display technology but each of vendors (Amazon, Sony, Nook, etc) has own implementation. not boring at all from my point of view.
This is a review? Can you explain HOW the touch is better than the previous interface? Specifically, can you talk about page turning?
Hi John,
With touch you can access items faster and page turning is like on iPad/iPhone. I update the article with a short video. In the end you can see how pages are turn.
Also, don’t forget about X-Ray! Amazon invented X-Ray, a new feature that lets customers explore the “bones of the book.” With a single tap, readers can see all the passages across a book that mention ideas, fictional characters, historical figures, places or topics that interest them, as well as more detailed descriptions from Wikipedia and Shelfari, Amazon’s community-powered encyclopedia for book lovers. Sounds cool? It is cool!
[…] just read a Kindle Touch versus Kindle 3 review and already I know my Christmas gift… (I hope that my wife still read this […]
From my point of view Nook is better than Kindle Touch. Can you please write an article about Kindle Touch versus Nook?
I wanted to know if it is harder to type with the touchscreen or it is better the keyboard of kindle3 (since i use a lot of notes) which one is faster and with less errors?
to type is not doubt that the keyboard of kindle3 is faster and with less errors. But with touch you can access items on the screen much faster.
will the touch keyboard have a swype feature/app
There isn’t really a comparison of the display clarity. On other makes the addition of the touch screen reduces the clarity of the screen. If the new Kindle is using the same touch screen with the same eInk display, then it’s unlikely they’ve done much better.
I’m a little tired of the ‘touchscreen is automatically better’ thing.
The Kindle is a good example of why this isn’t necessarily true. Firstly, the Kindle 3 has two buttons on each side, which are for page forward and reverse. This means that for anyone, right or left handed, reading is a totally one handed affair. A touch screen requires one hand to hold, one hand to page turn.
Secondly, it occurred to me in the bath (where all good thoughts come from) while reading my Kindle 3 in it’s waterproof case, that this simply wouldn’t be possible with a capacitance touch interface. You’d need a very quick bath with a very small typeface, because there’s no way you’re turning the page without skin to screen contact.
Kindle Touch won’t browse Web over 3G
Thank you. I update the review with this info. Anyway, is annoying to browse with an eink technology device.
I’ve had three kindles die within 8 months with the same top half of screen frozen, This seems to be a common problem on the kindle 3 – try googling broken screen kindle. So I like the kindle but gave up on kindle 3 – is this likely to be any more robust having a touch screen?
The Kindle touch holds over 1,000 books but the Kindle 3 holds over 3,000 books and with no 3G I think I think the Kindle 3 wifi and 3G is a much better Kindle. I prefer the buttons at the side for page turning. Much easier in bed than swipping a screen. The new Kindle definitely isn’t superior in any way!
Hmm, the Kindle Touch 3G would have to be the best option on the e-reader market. Kindle “keyboard” 3 is old. The interface is poor. It is very hard to play some of the games that can be played on it and I over-all prefer touch interface. The 3G browsing is not a big deal. All of the video and photo websites are ruled out because of the processor. Plus, Wikipedia is the only website you’ll need. Book reviews are already on the kindle store, dictionary is built into the kindle and the processor is unable to handle a lot of websites. Kindle Touch 3G is the best!!! Amazon makes the best e-readers
i havent got the touch, however i found there are several problems with the kindle 3, first the navigaton button seem to be hit and miss, when navigating a page or website, also the zoom is terrible it should be adjustable not slicing a page into four.After reading the review of the touch, it should have an optional keyboard and side buttons just in case you are in the bath ,also extendable storage which most e-readers have.
A newby here, our local library has given us the option to have e books to computer. I have broadband and Windows 7. Do I download to computer then to e reader or how please?
Hi,
what kind of ebook? which format? is it pdf?
Cool review. I had checked another site but they didn’t list the Kindle Touch, and that’s the one I was thinking of getting for my wife.
This review made my decision easy!
Thanks,
hi , i read it,and learning a lot
” Kindle Touch you cannot browse Web over 3G! ” …… i decided to buy a wifi one
No compelling reason to upgrade? Only wish you could read it while a plane is taking off. Reading it with the radios turned off should not cause harmful interference.