The Kindle DX is the largest of the eReaders, in terms of screen size, manufactured and sold by Amazon. Whilst the DX retains the same features and functionality as the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+3G models (other than Wi-Fi mode – see below for more details) if you are looking for a reader with a bigger reading screen then the DX is a good choice.
Physical Size
Whilst no thicker in size than its smaller siblings, the Kindle DX offers an additional 3.7 inches of screen from which to read from (remember that screen size is measured from opposite corners of the screen in a diagonal). This is achieved by increasing the overall size of the DX to 10.4” by 7.2” making it similar in size to a small laptop or netbook without the thickness or weight associated with these devices.
At 536 grams the DX is just over twice the weight of the smaller model Kindles.
The larger screen could be useful for a number of reasons: firstly, the increased screen size means less page turning (although to be honest turning a page on a Kindle is easier than turning the page of a book!); secondly, and probably a more realistic benefit, the increased screen size allows readers to increase the font size of the text without adversely affecting the reading experience. I can imagine this would be very beneficial for someone with impaired vision or young children who are just starting to learn to read.
Equally as important, for people intending to read books or view documents that contain intricate images and diagrams (such as students or professionals within the design field) the larger screen would be a more suitable choice as the rendering of images on the smaller screen devices can result in slightly reduced quality and image size.
Battery Life
The larger screen of the DX does incur a slight penalty in terms of battery life. The smaller models offer a battery life of 1 month with the Wi-Fi turned off (although, with my Kindle the battery life has exceeded this by at least 1 week on several occasions) whereas you are likely to get anywhere between 2 to 3 weeks out of the DX. Overall, this is still remarkable achievement for an electronic device.
Another point worth noting is that the Kindle DX does not come with Wi-Fi capabilities meaning that the device is always linked to the Amazon Store via the free service offered by Amazon. If you forget to switch off the 3G internet connection the battery life of the DX will drop to about 7 days. This is because it requires more power to stay connected via 3G than it does to stay connected to your home W-Fi.
Useability
Whilst the increased size does offer a better reading experience for certain people this must be balanced against the overall useability of the device. If you are a frequent traveller and do not need the increased screen size then you may want to consider the selection of your Kindle model carefully.
Take into account how you intend to protect the device (the Amazon Store offers protective cases for the DX) and the type of bag that you will carry your Kindle in; the DX may be too large for a handbag, yet suitable for a briefcase.
Whilst it might seem silly, you should also consider where you will store your Kindle day to day. Will it be beside your bed? If so, do you have enough room on your bedside table to store the DX alongside your alarm clock and other bits and pieces?
Again, it’s just something to think about before making your final purchase!
Overall Thoughts
We are big fans of the Kindle! So much so, that we own three of them! And whilst the DX was not our first choice (we prefer the smaller device as we travel a lot so ease of carriage and battery life are important to us) we can see the benefits of the larger Kindle for those people who need a bigger screen or font size to make reading easier.
The DX can store the same number of eBooks (3,500) as the smaller models, but the increase in size does mean a slightly reduced battery life. However, as charging the DX (and all Kindle models) is simply a case of connecting the device to your laptop or PC via the supplied cable then recharging should not become too much of a chore (unlike my smart phone that needs charging every day!).
Kindle DX Review
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