Amazon Kindle Voyage Review: A great e-reader made even better

Smartphone, tablet, e-book reader; you’d imagine that the average user would prefer convergence and carry fewer devices on a business trip or a holiday. A slew of high-end e-book readers launched in the recent past suggest otherwise. Amazon’s new Kindle Voyage is the latest device to target the ‘compulsive’ reader with a premium e-book reader, building from where they left off with the Paperwhite. Does the Kindle Voyage justify a price point at which you can snag a capable 7-inch tablet? 

While we loved the build quality of the Kindle Paperwhite, the Voyage raises the bar; yet again. It’s ultra-slim (just 7.1mm) and is lighter than quite a few phablets (Just 180g). The device stands out with its clean lines and elegantly sculpted back. A power button sits at the back of the device while a micro-USB port is located at the base. The Kindle has opted for a flush glass front with chemically strengthened glass in a bid to reduce scratches on the surface. You will also notice a set of pressure-sensitive page-turn buttons that flank both ends of the bezel. These buttons generate haptic feedback depending on where you place your fingers. This is one of the standout features in the Voyage, especially if you dig physical buttons for every page turn. 

The glare-free display is one of the other big improvements. Kindle’s E-ink displays have offered great visibility even under direct sunlight, one of the reasons why they are perfect for the pool deck at your favourite beach getaway. The 6-inch Carta E-ink HD touchscreen display stays in that zone despite it being a brighter screen. With 300 pixels per inch (PPI) it is a considerable jump over the Paperwhite (212 PPI) but the killer feature is how the front light adapts to the ambient light conditions, ensuring you won’t go to bed with a piercing light from your Kindle. The screen is very responsive too; you don’t really need the PagePress feature to flip through pages.  
There are no major improvements on the hardware spec sheet. The device is powered by a 1GHZ single-core processor with 512MB RAM; that’s enough fire-power for this device. There’s 4GB memory onboard, enough to store all the books you can possibly read in a lifetime. The battery life does not match the Paperwhite – that could be due to the more powerful screen on this device and yet a single charge could last you for weeks together. Quite a contrast from the daily charging routine of your smartphone or tablet. The Voyage comes in both Wi-Fi Only and Wi-Fi plus 3G options. Just like other Amazon Kindles the 3G is effectively free and, unlike the US, users in India don’t encounter any promotional ads. 

The Voyage is packed with all the features we have come to love on the Kindle and instant access to Amazon’s bottomless book store. One of our favourite features is Smart look up, where full dictionary definitions are integrated with other reference information, via the ‘X-ray’ function, and Wikipedia. There’s also Whispersync where the last page read is saved and synchronised across devices – just in case you are flitting from one device to the other. Kindle devices also allow you to quickly share book recommendations or sections from your e-book on Facebook and Twitter, just in case you want to appear more ‘evolved’ on your social networks! 

The Kindle Voyage makes a compelling case for a dedicated e-book reader at a time when quite a few users are catching up on their reading on tablets and even 5-inch smartphone displays. You will never have to worry about that ‘unputdownable’ book being interrupted by an e-mail from your boss. The improved display elevates the user experience while Kindle’s intuitive features and book store are a given. It’s also one of the best designed e-book readers ever, light enough to curl up on the couch for long periods of time with your favourite book. Kindle’s cool origami cover is a clever accessory that allows you to prop up your Kindle on a stand. It’s not bundled with the Voyage and comes at a stiff price tag (Rs 2,999 onwards). The Voyage might not justify an upgrade (given its steep price tag) for Paperwhite owners but if you’re an avid reader looking for the best possible e-book reader experience look no further.