Amazon discounts last-generation Kindle Paperwhite by 30 percent

Amazon is offering a 30 percent discount on its last-generation Kindle Paperwhite, a deal that comes with fewer compromises than typically expected from an older-generation device.

Devices labeled "last-gen" often carry significant drawbacks compared with their current counterparts, but the gap between this Kindle Paperwhite and the newest model is comparatively narrow. The newer Paperwhite can open books about 30 percent faster than the previous generation, though that improvement applies to opening books rather than the speed of turning pages while reading. The current model's aluminum design is also about a millimeter thinner than the discounted predecessor.

What buyers give up

For shoppers considering the discounted last-generation Paperwhite, the trade-offs appear limited mainly to that modest difference in book-opening speed and the slight difference in physical thickness, rather than a more substantial gap in core e-reading features.

The 30 percent price cut makes the older Paperwhite a notable option for readers who want a dedicated e-reader without paying for the newest hardware, particularly if the differences between generations are not significant to their everyday use of the device.

As with most retailer discounts on previous-generation hardware, the deal offers a way to get much of the current Kindle Paperwhite experience at a reduced price.