Using a Kindle in 2019 - Is It Worth It?`

As a first year university student, I’ve been reading more books this year than I have ever before. But as much as I’m an avid learner, I am also a tech enthusiast. In the vein of trying to better mingle both interests, I’ve come across the Amazon kindle, a piece of technology that has created a whole new category in the technology market - but in the age of bezel-less iPads, are Kindles still worth your money?

To answer that question, it’s important to first ask another question: what can kindles provide that smartphones and tablets can’t? Firstly, Kindles have their well-renowned e-ink display, which is way easier in the eyes than a normal Retina display. Secondly, Kindles are distraction-free, offering none of the catchy colours, notification buzzes and other nags that make normal devices so much more distracting. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Kindles have long lasting batteries that will have you reading for weeks on end before needing to reach for the charge - the same of which can’t be said even of the latest iPad Pro.

But what if you’re more a paperback person, are Kindles still worth it then? The answer largely depends on you. For some people, reading a paperback is an experience in itself, from feeling the texture of the cover to seeing physical progress and your page marker consumes more and more of a book’s length. In those user cases, a Kindle simply won’t suffice. Other readers however, simply read paperbacks because it’s the most convenient way for them to access books - and in that scenario, Kindles triumph traditional media in every way.

Photo from WIRED

To be more specific, Kindles are not only lightweight, but also feature a very paper-like display that makes reading possible even in pitch black conditions. Further more, in markets such as the US and Canada, Kindles have come a long way in regards to becoming library friendly, allowing you to rent e-books just as you would normally. It’s in these regards that Kindles are simply unmatched.

As a technological device, I also find the latest 2019 budget Kindle to be a beautifully minimalistic device. From its simple plastic build, to straightforward OS, I feel like Amazon has come a long way throughout the years to ensure that its Kindles deliver on the single promise it has made to its consumers: to make reading more convenient.

Should you buy a Kindle? If you’re looking for the easiest way to access books, and don’t mind missing out on the so called authentic experience of flipping real paper, then odds are you already own a Kindle. But if you don’t, then for its low entry price of sub $100, Amazon has found a way to make me read more amidst the hurdle of being an university student - making it a strong recommendation.

Pixel 4 After The Buzz: Perfect - While It Lasts

I’m not one to usually buy flagship phones, I just find them oddly unnecessary seeing as the budget market is as capable as it is. This year for my birthday however, I decided to treat myself, and got my hands on a Google Pixel 4, the most expensive phone I’ve yet to own. After spending roughly a week or so with it, I can say that for the most part my experience was perfect - but I’d still have a hard time recommending this device to anyone.

Original Impressions

Upon first unboxing the Pixel 4, I was in awe, in both the best and worst ways. Holding the phone case less made me just appreciate the machinery that went behind constructing such a beautiful device. From its perfectly aligned speaker grills to the soft finish in the back, I felt from the very start that I was getting what I paid for.

Unfortunately, once covered with a case, which you will most likely want to do, the phone’s squared camera has an awful resemblance to Apple’s new IPhone 11 Pro. This resemblance is so striking in fact, that upon laying my phone on a table with the camera facing upwards, most of my friends asked me how I was liking my new iPhone 11.

Google Pixel 4 in “Clearly White”

Perhaps more striking than the phone’s resemblance to Apple’s iPhone 11, is the lack of accessories bundled with the phone. Besides the phone itself and its charger, there is nothing else to be found in the box. This is disappointing, especially when you’re already paying so much money for what should be a premium device. Personally, I opted to purchase an Otterbox case, which provides military grade protection at the cost of style points, and Google’s own pair of USB C earbuds, which for 35 Canadian, offer what I can easily call “decent” audio quality

The Good

I’m going to phrase this as simply as humanly possible: The Google Pixel 4 is an absolute blast to use. From its beautiful 90hz OLED screen to the extreme fluidity that comes with Google’s stock Android powered by the beastly Snapdragon 855, this phone flies through everyday tasks.

But the Pixel is more than just an everyday performer - it’s also a great audio companion. With its stereo speaker setup, I found myself not needing my Bluetooth speaker as much as I did with prior phones, a feature that is definitely nice to have when you’re spending as much as you will be with this device.

When the fun is over (and trust me, it will be - more on that later) the Pixel 4’s quick charge feature should give a full charge in around 50 minutes, meaning that you can get a sufficient enough boost for a couple more hours of fun within a typical shower’s time.

It is no understatement by now that I feel like the Google Pixel 4 absolutely blows it out of the water as a phone - but how does it handle as a camera? The answer is: really good actually. Comparing my photos with that of my friend’s three thousand dollar camera, the Pixel 4 offers a surprising amount of detail. This detail, when paired with Google’s AI smarts, can result in photos that will leave everyone in awe.

Having never personally owned another Pixel phone, I can’t exactly comment on just how much of an improvement the Pixel 4 is, but when side by side with all other modern smartphones I have had a chance to test, I am quick to say that the Pixel 4 offers the most true to life colours, and vest dynamic range that I’ve yet to see coming from a smartphone.

The camera experience is by no means perfect however, in fact, while I’m writing this review, I still can’t come to understand any logical excuse that can explain Google’s choice to opt for a 2x telephoto camera instead of an extra wide lens now that the Pixel lineup finally has moved on from its single lens infancy.

The Ugly

With so many predominantly awesome features, you may be wondering why I am not recommending anyone to rush to their nearest tech store and grab themselves a new Pixel 4. The main answer: battery life. Featuring a 2800 mAh battery capacity on my smaller variant, the Google Pixel 4 lasts me the entire day - but that’s because as a busy university student, I barely interact with my phone as much as the average user.

Throughout my days of use, the Pixel 4 never managed to give me more than 5 and a half hours of screen on time. To make this matter worse, I must specify that these hours were mainly spent on apps such as Google Chrome and WhatsApp, making me wonder how it might stack up for someone who sees themselves using this device as a video streaming or gaming device.

Equally as bad are the memory options. With the roughly 1000 Canadian Dollar version sporting only 64 GB (with no way to expand its memory), I often find myself wondering if I - despite Google’s 5 years of guaranteed software updates - made a wise long-term investment.

Also as “eh” worthy were the new “features” Google introduced to the device, like the smart 90hz display and its radar gestures. Attempting to force the phone to always run at 90hz proved itself disastrous, with almost an hour of usage being discounted from the already mediocre battery life. As for the gestures, I - along with the few people I demonstrated these features to - found them not more than a “gimmick”, specially considering just how easy it is to use the phone’s touch screen to complete the same functions the radar achieves.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Google’s Pixel 4 is a reliable, beautifully (and unoriginally) designed phone that carries as much potential to be your daily driver as it does to be your hobbyist camera. With that said, not all is perfect, and with what feels like weird gimmicks and less than subpar battery life, I find it hard to recommend the Pixel 4 to anyone that may consider themselves a “power user”.