Some people might not know what a Kindle® is, so we will start with that.
A Kindle ® is an Amazon ® product that assists in purchasing, downloading, reading, and enjoying the printed word immediately without purchasing a book or magazine.
In effect, it is an e-reader.
Unlike a laptop, or other mobile devices, such as tablets and cell phones it does not have the functionality of these.
Instead, it is used simply for downloading and reading materials on these devices. That is, you cannot search the web or type documents on a Kindle ®.
How Long Does a Kindle ® Last?
A Kindle lasts on average between 5 to 8 years on average with reasonable usage of the basic models although some go longer, making Kindle devices not costly. Amazon ® makes its money through the sale of e-books and other downloadable reports so “planned obsolescence” was not part of the picture.
Planned obsolescence can exist in most products, meaning that the sale of another device is the primary method of making money.
Kindles exist to last as the money is made from the downloads and when broken no downloads occur!
The Paperwhite Model seems to be the favorite of most and has been the subject of discussion amongst users.
With a Kindle ® the main problem can be the battery and the Paperwhite Model seems to have the longest-lasting battery.
Kindles were first released in 2007, and there are billions of purchases through the Amazon store, with a selection of downloadable reading materials that is quite astonishing.
Users on Quora suggest that their Kindle lasted between 5-8 years.
What Makes Kindle So Popular
It is the ultimate in “backend sales” marketing and the creation of this device are inspirational in marketing plans. Users can quickly download reading materials and e-prints, faster than purchasing a book or other materials online.
The process of e-reading comfort made for the development of the Amazon Kindle ® as upon its first inception e-reading left individuals to stare at their mobile phone screens when trying to read anything downloadable.
However, laptops and computer screens do not block blue light and cannot resemble the pages of a book plus books took time to arrive to consumers and had to be delivered.
So How Long Does a Kindle REALLY Last?
It will depend upon the usage of course, much like any other application or device.
According to Alexander Nix, a web developer, and designer who admits to heavy usage of all mobile devices and applications, he has “pushed his 1st generation Kindle ® device to its limits.” (1)
According to Nix, the main requirement he has had to deal with was in changing the battery many times and he does not feel intimidated by this at all so the shelf life of a first gen Kindle ® even seems quite long, as Mr. Nix wrote on this back in 2007.
Another user, of the Kindle Paperwhite generation which came out later, stated that hers was a gift in 2012 and is still going strong.
Majiec Koslowski does not feel that she will be replacing hers anytime soon as keeping this generation in airplane mode maintains the quality and the duration of the battery.
3 Factors that Affect How Long a Kindle ® Lasts
1. Even the older generations of Kindle ® devices seem to last
As shown in the testimonials above, even the first generations seem to still be in use and there are ways to save the battery.
The rubber backing is removable for battery exchanges and if you are happy with your e-reader then replacement might not be necessary.
Some websites claim 5 to 6 years, others claim longer but each user and generation of device is different so only averages should be considered which seem to be from 5 years to 8 years.
2. Abuse or overuse will impact the e-reader
Although lasting long, running over any device, or overuse of a downloadable application will cause malfunctions.
This is only common sense. Kindle tutorials do exist on how to take proper care of a Kindle ® device and how to extend the battery life.
The battery seems to be what most users consider problematic and the newer versions of Kindle ® now deal with this issue much better than older versions.
3. Refurbishing is possible
Like computers and laptops, some electronics stores can and will refurbish an e-reader or mobile device used for e-reading, saving consumers some money.
Of course, the newer generation of e-reading devices will have more bells and whistles and lead to a greater experience many times.
Unfortunately, the more complex a product is, the more complex (and expensive) the refurbishing.
The Kindle ® Device Backstory
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon ® started the design of the Kindle ® line of products to be the first to create an online e-reader as he predicted, in his usual way, the need for this type of product as the Internet was growing exponentially.
The early Kindle firm wares were not as advanced as they are today but the boom continues even now with more and more advances in speed and ability to enhance the reading experience with each new “generation” of product.
The exact number of Kindles in operation today or that have been sold are never disclosed nor are the exact number of e-books or materials that can be downloaded through the Amazon e-commerce store which also sells firesticks and other similar products.
Firmware is quite simply software with one intended use and this is what Jeff Bezos sought in the development of the Amazon Kindle ® e-readers.
The firmware is used through a Wifi connection much like streaming TV channels, or Amazon’s own Whispernet.
The goal was to reduce glare and make reading online a “booklike” experience.
From the first Kindle ® to the current model, enhancements continue to be made and Kindle ® purchases remain a top-selling item. They also now last longer.
“Generations” of Kindles started appearing with each generation showing improvements.
Bezos again is striving for improvements so that each device lasts longer than the previous model, thus increasing sales of downloadable reading materials.
A generation when used in the terminology of technology simply means a newer version.
Currently, there are several “generations of Amazon Kindle ® for sale, and the type of Amazon Kindle ® does impact the pleasure of using this e-reader.
Reading materials are synced to a Kindle ® device, and the immediate gratification of reading something does appeal to a worldwide audience.
But there is a shelf life for Kindles, although they last longer than most other devices. They are simple in nature, though, affordable, and are capable of lasting for years upon years.
At its release on November 19, 2007, astoundingly enough, the first Kindle ® device sold out within 9 hours.
Its popularity was then and is now because of its non-glare paper type appearance, which is different than staring at a computer screen that can display blue light incessantly.
Blue light can cause Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and up until Kindle ® most individuals tried to avoid staring at screens too long and reading books online was not a pleasant experience.
Frequently Asked Questions about How Long Does a Kindle Last
My Kindle ® stopped functioning after a week of use. Should I return it?
It should be returned. Kindles are very sturdy according to all the data provided above and if purchased through Amazon ® or a reputable reseller online returning it should be no problem.
I do not know which Kindle to purchase. How can I decide?
Research is the only way to decide. Price and functionality determine what is best for you. If you read a lot online then a higher-end model is more appropriate. If working with a limited budget, many deals can exist on Amazon on all versions and Kindles can be purchased through other venues.
Conclusion on How Long Does a Kindle ® Last
Kindle ® devices were built to last and at an affordable cost. The success is attributed to the reduction of blue light rays which made reading downloadable materials difficult for a great length of time.
Money is made from the downloads not the sale of the device so the average lifespan of a Kindle ® is quite long with about 5 to 8 years being the average stated by routine users.
Amazon ® owner Jeff Bezos capitalized on the reduction of blue light rays with the science behind blue light reductions which involves filters and gives a “real book” feeling to reading materials online using a Kindle device.
There are now competitors on the market, and these do also focus on the backlight to cut back on glare from blue light.
How long these devices last, however, is not yet really studied, and Kindle ® remains the top choice of e-reader device for many individuals even in 2022.
