Amazon Inc. today announced the redesigned Kindle Paperwhite eReader with waterproofing capability.
Now with an IPX8 rating, the Amazon Kindle PaperWhite can withstand being submerged for 60 minutes under 2m of water.
The newly 0.3″ thick chassis carries a 6″, 300 pixels-per-inch electronic ink screen. Unlike LCD displays, electronic ink uses tiny particles that stick to the screen’s surface when energized, creating a paper-esque look.
The screen is lit with five LEDs for reading in the dark. The lighting levels can be adjusted or disabled. Because eInk uses less power than LCD displays, the Kindle Paperwhite can last up to six weeks on a full charge.
Wifi support comes on both the 8GB and 16GB models. In addition, the 32GB model has free 3G cellular connectivity for on-the-go access to the Amazon bookstore.
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is available for pre-order through Amazon, landing at $139.99 for the 8GB model and $169.99 for the 32GB model. The 32GB model with free cellular connectivity is $239.99.