Kindle Touch Spec Sheet Review: What You Need To Know

The Amazon Kindle Touch eReader, also known as the Kindle 5 or K5, is offered in both Wi-Fi and 3G versions and retails for $99 and $149 respectively. The 3G version also accesses Wi-Fi, and neither Kindle Touch model requires a wireless contract of any kind. Global Wi-Fi access is supported on both the 3G and Wi-Fi version, and e-books can be downloaded in 60 seconds or less. There are a lot of similarities and a few differences between the two models, so let’s take a look at the technical specifications of the Amazon Kindle  Touch eReaders.

Both the Wi-Fi and 3G versions of Amazon’s first touch-activated eReader can hold up to 3,000 e-books at a time, and come with 4 GB of onboard storage. Amazon designed the Kindle Touch eReader to be as small and lightweight as possible, and that means excluding extras like a microSD slot which could allow for storage expansion. However, Amazon provides free and unlimited Cloud Storage for all Amazon content on both versions of their Kindle Touch eReaders. This effectively gives the Kindle Touch limitless storage access and capability.

With each iteration of their eReader, Kindle has been able to make the device smaller and or lighter. The Amazon Kindle Touch is no different, and appears 8% lighter and 11% smaller than the previous Kindle. This comes at no sacrifice to the size of the the screen. The same 6 inch E-ink Pearl display is on board, and it offers 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 pixels per inch. That display is offered in 16 level grayscale, effectively reproducing the experience of reading a physical hardback or paperback book.

• Buy the Kindle Touch Wi-Fi starting at $99
• Buy the Kindle Touch 3G starting at $149

The display technology allows for enjoyable and easy reading even in direct sunlight, and the smaller overall size results in dimensions of 6.8 x 4.7 x 0.40 inches. The Kindle Touch Wi-Fi eReader weighs 7.5 ounces, while the 3G version is slightly heavier at 7.8 ounces. Both Kindle Touch eReaders come with special offers advertised on the home screen and screen savers. These special money-saving offers are never displayed in the middle of content such as books, magazines and newspapers.

A custom-made version of Android’s operating system is on board, and the Amazon Kindle Touch eReader models can both hold a charge for up to 60 days, reading 30 minutes per day with Wi-Fi turned off. Amazon recently announced a Library Lending program with thousands of libraries across the US, which allows Kindle Touch owners to “check out” books from their local library without the bother of leaving their home, or having to return them before a due date. The Kindle Touch comes with a set of stereo speakers on the back, and is the only eReader which offers audio book, text to speech and MP3 support.