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Amazon Kindle Kids Edition 2019 eReader Review: Not only for children

For bookworms. Amazon's Kindle of the 10th Generation receives a Kids Edition. Not only has the shopping giant finally added panel lighting to the current version of its smallest eReader, but the children's version also includes an extended warranty and a flat rate for plenty of reading material.
Amazon Kindle Kids Edition 2019
Processor
NXP i.MX 6SLL 1 x 1 GHz, Cortex-A9
Graphics adapter
NXP PXP
Memory
512 MB 
, LPDDR3
Display
6.00 inch 4:3, 800 x 600 pixel 167 PPI, resistiv, E-Ink Carta 1.2, glossy: no
Storage
8 GB eMMC Flash, 8 GB 
, 5.99 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0 LE
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.7 x 159.75 x 113.25 ( = 0.34 x 6.29 x 4.46 in)
Battery
1500 mAh Lithium-Ion, 4 hours charging time
Additional features
Keyboard: Virtual, Power supply, USB cable, documentation, Kindle-Firmware, 24 Months Warranty, 1 Year FreeTime Unlimited, 2 Year Carefree Guarantee, fanless
Weight
174 g ( = 6.14 oz / 0.38 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
110 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case, Equipment and Operation

The current Amazon Kindle of the 10th generation is also in the Kids Edition. It has a complete plastic housing, which is very stable and cleanly processed. The eReader is unaffected by twisting attempts and does not even creak. The somewhat thicker edges prove to be very practical in everyday life, as the device is more handy and lies securely in the hands. The weight is also balanced so that the arms do not tire quickly. 

The cover included in the delivery not only protects the Kindle, but also gives it a softer haptic, and the cover hits back gives the impression of opening a book. The eReader is activated or put into sleep mode by the process. The pages can be scrolled by simply tapping on the edge of the screen. 

The rest of the equipment is limited to a micro-USB port, which can be used to charge the device and exchange data with a computer, and a power button. Both elements are located at the bottom. The WLAN module only operates in the 2.4 GHz range and can be used more leisurely. However, since the data volumes are rather small, this is not noticeable in everyday life. Headphones or loudspeakers can be connected to the Kindle via Bluetooth, for example to have audio books read aloud. 

The Amazon Kindle has the firmware version Kindle 5.13.0.5 at the time of the test. The beta version of a browser is also available, but it can only be used for a simple website. 

Kids Edition with added value

The Kids Edition of the Amazon Kindle includes a strong equipment package. In addition to the obligatory charging cable, a power supply unit is not included, there is also the aforementioned protective cover in blue or pink. In addition, there is a FreeTime unlimited subscription free of charge for one year. This includes access to over 1,000 child-friendly books and Audible audio books. Those who own a Fire-Tablet can also use the subscription there and the children receive additional apps, films and series. 

Via the parent dashboard, the content can be restricted and the learning goals and reading duration can be controlled. Young readers are also supported by functions such as an integrated dictionary and a vocabulary trainer. 

The two-year carefree guarantee covers damage of all kinds, provided it is caused by normal use and is not intentional.

In addition, the Kids Edition offers twice the storage capacity of the conventional model.

Display - Good E-Ink panel in the Kindle

The Amazon Kindle has a reflective e-paper display with E-Ink Charter 1.2 technology, which has a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels. We perceived the sharpness of the text as sufficient. Although individual pixels are visible to the naked eye, this does not play a role in the reading flow. 

In contrast to luminous displays, this panel technology uses the reflections of ambient light to visibly display content. It behaves similar to real paper and is therefore easier to read in sunlight than in the dark. In order to ensure unrestricted reading pleasure even in the evening, Amazon has installed a front light that distributes its light over the actual panel through a diffusion layer. The brightness can be adjusted in 24 steps. The determined maximum luminosity and contrast for an E-Ink panel are on a very good level. The illumination is also very uniform. 

In everyday life, the brightness level 6 was actually always sufficient for us. The text was so easy to read both in dim places during the day and in the evenings in bed. The grayscale representation of the monochrome display shows a warm white balance, which is less stressful for the eyes and more reminiscent of real paper, especially when reading for long periods. 

90
cd/m²
88
cd/m²
88
cd/m²
92
cd/m²
91
cd/m²
88
cd/m²
90
cd/m²
92
cd/m²
92
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 92 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 90.1 cd/m² Minimum: 0.28 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 96 %
Center on Battery: 91 cd/m²
Contrast: 17:1 (Black: 5.42 cd/m²)
ΔE Greyscale 12.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 1.46


Grayscale measurement
Kindle on a gloomy day outdoors

Performance, Emissions and Battery life

The Amazon Kindle Kids Edition is powered by an NXP i.MX 6SLL. Behind the cumbersome name is a single-core CPU, which is supported by 512 MB RAM. There is also a comparatively large 8 GB internal memory for your own content. Above all, audiobook lovers will appreciate the memory doubling compared to the conventional model.

The Kindle doesn't even have loudspeakers, and we can't offer the obligatory battery life and surface temperature tests at this point, because they couldn't be done because the display timeout couldn't be switched off. However, the eReader doesn't warm up at all when you feel it, only with maximum LED brightness can you feel a minimal temperature difference in the long run.

In standby mode, the Amazon eBook Reader requires hardly any energy. As soon as the communication modules are switched off, standby times of several weeks are no problem and even with WLAN activated, the battery loses only one percentage point of its charge within four days. When Bluetooth is switched on, the charge level drops considerably faster. Active reading is also not an energy-intensive process, as long as the LED lighting fails to light up, several weeks of battery life are also possible; in the dark months of the year, this can be less than a week, depending on reading behavior.

Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Amazon Kindle Kids Edition 2019
NXP i.MX 6SLL, PXP, 512
6771 ms *
Apple Watch 5 44 mm Stainless Steel Cellular
Apple S5, , 1024
2014 ms * +70%
Average NXP i.MX 6SLL
 
6771 ms * -0%
Average of class Tablet
  (65.2 - 204, n=2, last 2 years)
134.5 ms * +98%

* ... smaller is better


Pros

+ illuminated E-Ink display
+ more memory
+ one year FreeTime Unlimited included
+ extended warranty and ad-free
+ long battery life

Cons

- panel resolution might be a bit higher
- no protection against dust and water
- communication modules suck power from the battery

Verdict - A Kindle not only for adolescents

Amazon Kindle Kids Edition (2019) Review. Test device provided by Amazon Germany.
Amazon Kindle Kids Edition (2019) Review. Test device provided by Amazon Germany.

The Amazon Kindle Kids Edition surprised us very positively in the test, because for less than 110 Euro the buyer gets a rather complete package: eBook reader, protective cover, extended warranty and even free reading material for the little ones. 

A little patience is certainly required at times during operation, especially if you switch from a tablet or smartphone to an eReader, you will have to get used to it for a short time. However, this is not only due to the comparatively weak processor, but also to the panel technology. On the other hand, the reading experience is considerably more natural and less tiring than with other portable devices. 

With the Kids Edition of the Kindle, Amazon has put together an attractive offer for young and young-at-heart readers.

The Kindle also lies well in children's hands and is not too heavy. The long battery life and the good parent mode make it easier, especially for younger readers, not to be overwhelmed by a wide range of products. Also positive: the Kids Edition is only available as an ad-free version. 

For just 20 euros more than the standard version, the buyer gets twice the storage space, a practical protective cover, a two-year carefree warranty and a year of FreeTime Unlimited. So the Kindle Kids Edition is certainly not only interesting for children. 

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Amazon Kindle Kids Edition 2019 eReader Review: Not only for children
Daniel Schmidt, 2019-11-14 (Update: 2019-11-14)