Difference between Kindle and Paperback

Key Difference: Kindle is an electronic e-book reader where the reader needs to download books, magazines, blogs, etc. On the other hand, paperback is like a normal book; it is something a reader can hold in his hand, and is basically like paper.

What a difference does a Kindle and a Paperback makes in one's life? Let’s first understand both the terms briefly and find out what people think today by differentiating both the terms.

Kindle Kindle started out as an E-book reader. It is an easy way for readers to carry a number of books with them in one, small mini thing. An e-book reader is essentially a mobile electronic device whose main use is for reading digital e-books and periodicals. The Amazon Kindle is a series of e-book readers designed and marketed by Amazon.com. The first version of the Kindle was released in 2007. The word Kindle refers to ‘kindling a fire’. The Kindle first started out as an e-reader, and then eventually developed into a tablet.

Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Paperwhite 3G, and Kindle Keyboard are e-readers, which feature the electronic paper technology. The electronic paper, also called e-paper looks like traditional paper and has several advantages, such as better readability, less glare, etc. Whereas, Kindle Fire Tablet, Kindle Fire HD Tablet, Kindle Fire HD 8.9” Tablet, and Kindle Fire HD 8.9” 4G Tablet are tablets, which feature LED screens.

A paperback can be classified as trade paperbacks and mass-market paperbacks. Paperback is a book which is also known as softback and soft cover. This type of books are less heavy but prone to folding, bending, and wrinkles with use and over time.

The paperbacks are much cheaper as compared to a Kindle. Though, they both give the same newsprint effect, but the Kindle is a gadget and paperback is a normal book. A Kindle can hold many e-books in it, unlike a paperback. The reason of paperback being cheaper is to lower production costs and being readily made available for masses. The paperback books are smaller in size and have small font size.

Thus, one can easily afford paperbacks than Kindle. As Kindle costs higher and may be heavier than a typical paperback to carry out at any place.

Comparison between Kindle and Paperback:

	Kindle	Paperback
Description	Kindle is an electronic e-book reader where reader needs to download books, magazines, blogs, etc.	Paperback is like a normal book; it is something a reader can hold in his hand, and is basically like paper.
Actual difference	Kindle is an E-book (Electronic book).	Paperback is a book of soft cover.
Century	20^th century	19^th century
Heavier	Kindle is heavier as compared to a paperback.	A paperback is much lighter as compared to Kindle.
Preferable	One may prefer buying Kindle because lods of books, mazazines, blogs, etc. can be downloaded in the particular thing that is an e-book reader.	It may be less preferable as compared to Kindle, because one can carry a particular book at one point of time. It will be burden for a person to carry many paperbacks.
Purpose	The purpose of buying Kindle is for flexibility. One can carry thousands of books in one mini device.	The purpose of purchasing paperback books because it’s much lighter in weight and one can return it, or sell it anytime.
Size	Mostly 6 inch	Paperback books can be of any size.