Kindle Paperwhite 6 wishlist: All the features I want to see

Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite is one of the best e-readers on the market and is perfectly suited for all your e-book needs, but it’s also almost two years old. When will we see a next-generation model? While nothing is set in stone, I have a wishlist of features and upgrades I’d like to see when the reader is ready. Here is everything I want to see on the Kindle Paperwhite 6, which could also be referred to as the Kindle Paperwhite 12th gen.

Dedicated page-turn buttons

One of my favorite things about the Kindle Oasis is the physical page-turning buttons on it. I’d love to see this feature make its way to the Paperwhite as well. It would make one-handed reading much easier, and provide an alternative way to flick through pages if you can’t reach the display.

Immersion Reading mode

Immersion Reading is one of my favorite Kindle features, but unfortunately, the Paperwhite doesn’t support it. For those unaware, this mode highlights the text in the book while reading out loud to you. It’s great for those who want the best of both audiobooks and text.

More base storage

While the mainline Kindle includes 16GB on the base model, the Paperwhite starts at just 8GB. Considering the Paperwhite is billed as the more premium experience, the next iteration should address this. Onboard storage is pretty affordable, so there’s no practical reason why the Paperwhite shouldn’t address this.

A smaller/lighter model

The Paperwhite 5 upgraded the display to a larger size, moving from a 6-inch display to a 6.8-inch screen. For many, the larger size makes for a better experience. Of course, some prefer a lighter weight and smaller screen.

While these consumers could certainly get a standard Kindle, some features on the Paperwhite can’t be replicated. Offering a large and small screen model of the Paperwhite 6 would be an easy way to please both crowds.

Will there be a Kindle Paperwhite 6?

The Kindle Paperwhite series began in 2012, with the latest version (Kindle Paperwhite 5, also known as Kindle Paperwhite 11th gen) arriving in 2021. Considering its long history, I don’t see the line going away anytime soon. So yes, there will be a Kindle Paperwhite 6/Paperwhite 12th gen. What’s harder to determine is when it will happen.

I don’t have any official details on the Kindle Paperwhite 6 release date, but I can make some educated guesses. While the original Kindle Paperwhite generations were a bit more sporadic, release years have been pretty consistent since the release of the Paperwhite 3. Typically, the releases happen every three years, though the ranges quite a bit, as you can see above.

Given the last two generations launched in the October-November timeframe, I’d say a fall 2024 release date is pretty likely for the new Kindle Paperwhite. That would be around three years after the last generation arrived. Of course, the industry has slowed down a bit with the economy, so it wouldn’t be too strange of a move if Amazon decides to wait a bit longer, say until 2025.

Should you wait for the Kindle Paperwhite 6?

There’s really no reason to wait for the Kindle Paperwhite 6, especially since it’s hard to predict when we might see it. I’d recommend picking up a Paperwhite 5 ($139 at Amazon) if you’re interested in its slightly improved features over Amazon’s standard Kindle. The device is already pretty solid as it stands, and while there’s always room for improvement, the Paperwhite is a pleasure to use with one of the clearest and easiest-to-read displays out there.

Another option would be to pick up a different Kindle model. The Kindle (2022) ($99.99 at Amazon) is probably the most obvious choice. It’s lighter than the Paperwhite and has an excellent display that’s almost as good as the latter. There’s even a built-in light and modern improvements like USB-C. The Paperwhite is also getting more and more expensive with every iteration, whereas the Kindle (2022) will only set you back $100.

Looking for something a bit more upscale? The Kindle Oasis is the premium champion of the Kindle world, offering dedicated turn-page buttons, a large display, and an easy-to-hold design. At $250 retail, it’s also pretty pricey. Lastly, you can also consider the ultra-pricey Kindle Scribe ($339.99 at Amazon) as an alternative if you like the idea of an e-reader that also doubles as a digital notebook to become an e-Ink tablet.