Amazon Kindle 4 vs Kindle 3 ebook readers- comparison, with video

Even though they are still not as popular as high-end tablets, e-book readers have significantly increased in popularity in the last couple of years, especially due to the Amazon Kindle family.

Lacking most of the features that make tablets so great, but impressing in terms of portability and price, it is no wonder that so many technology enthusiasts right now own or plan to own an e-reader.

And after the latest generation Kindle’s release, it is no longer a problem of whether to get an e-reader or not, but rather which one to choose. You have the old Kindle 3, which has been discounted and is still extremely functional, the new Kindle 4, the cheapest and lightest e-reader right now, and the Kindle Touch, with an exciting new interface.

In the following lines we will take a short comparative look at the old Kindle 3, now marketed as the Kindle Keyboard, and the Kindle 4, trying to find out which one of the two is actually better and more suitable for your needs. Stay tuned for the written article, but also for an exclusive video comparison at the end of the post.

Design and display

The biggest difference between the new and the old Kindle is probably the design. While the Keyboard comes with a pretty old-fashioned and classical look, the new Kindle 4 is more elegant, more classy and, most importantly, lighter and more compact.

The Kindle 4 (on the left) and the Kindle Keyboard (on the right)

And if you thought the Keyboard was portable, at a 8.5 ounces weight, the new Kindle, weighing in at 5.98 ounces, is light as a feather and will become your perfect travel companion. The new Kindle is also shorter, lacking the keyboard and featuring instead a cool and nice 5-way controller.

In terms of display, we can’t seem to notice any difference between the two, both devices sporting the same 6-inch E Ink screen with 800 x 600 pixels resolution and a 16-level gray scale.

Hardware and features

While both these gadgets are basically intended for the same purpose, reading e-books, there are a couple of subtle, but important differences in terms of features. First of all, the Kindle 4 lacks the speakers and the microphone jack that are featured by the Kindle Keyboard, meaning that you don’t have audio support anymore and you can’t play music or audiobooks on the new generation e-reader.

The Kindle Keyboard is the only one of the two with audio support.

Secondly, while you can browse on both the Kindles through wireless connection, only the Keyboard comes with optional 3G. There is also the problem of the battery life, which is satisfactory on both devices, but is clearly better on the old Keyboard.

The third generation e-reader could go for up to two months with light use and wireless off, while the new Kindle 4 can only last up to a month between charges.

Finally, in terms of storage space, the Keyboard is yet again superior, featuring 4 GB of internal memory. The new Kindle 4 only comes with 2 GB, but this is actually more than enough, giving that you will still be able to store around 1,400 books on your device.

The Kindle 4 is more compact, but the Kindle Keyboard is more functional.

Software and interface

While in terms of hardware the differences are subtle, when it comes to the interface things are pretty far apart. As I already mentioned, the Kindle 4 lacks the keyboard, which is a good thing in terms of design and weight, but a pretty bad thing when it comes to the device’s functionality.

The virtual keyboard of the Kindle 4 is far from being perfect for a 21st century gadget.

While on the Keyboard you could surf the web pretty easily and post comments on websites and blogs, the new Kindle 4 is an e-reader and that is pretty much all. It is true, the 5-way controller allows you to write in theory, but the actual writing process is difficult and annoying. You have to select each letter individually from an on-screen keyboard, which is far from ideal.

In terms of apps supported on the e-readers, you get access to millions of books, newspapers and docs on both devices (including PDF files), but only the Keyboard also allows you access to music and audiobooks.

Pricing

While the Keyboard comes with more features and with extra functionality, the new Kindle 4 has its own ace up its sleeve, the price. The fourth-generation e-reader starts at 79 dollars (the ad-supported version) and is also available for 109 bucks, without ads, in an internationally available version.

The Kindle Keyboard is itself pretty affordable, starting at 99 dollars (the Wi-Fi only version with ads), but that’s the US version. The International version goes for $139, and if you want the 3G enabled Kindle, prices for those go for between $139 to $189, based on where you need it delivered.

Check out the links above for more details about each tablet, plus pictures, reviews for buyers and the option to buy them yourself.

It is pretty difficult to state which one of the two devices is actually better.

Wrap-up

Without beating it around the bush, it is very clear that both these devices have their strong, but also their weak points. The old Keyboard is far better for browsing, offers audio support, optional 3G and more storage. On the other hand, the Kindle 4 is lighter and more compact than ever before and also comes at the best price possible.

All in all, it is almost impossible to say which one of the two is the better overall device because they are both great and also because they pretty much have different targets. If you only want to read e-books and you are looking for the best deal on the market, the Kindle 4 is clearly the perfect device for you, but if you also want to type on your device, listen to music and you don’t have a problem in spending an extra buck, the Keyboard remains the ideal choice.

If you want to compare the Kindle with some other good ebook readers, also check my Kindle vs Nook vs Sony Reader post here on the site.

For more details about the two, don’t forget to check out the following video:

Tags: Amazon, digital readers, ebook, eReaders, Kindle