Amazon’s new 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite starts shipping this week, and there are some differences with the new model regarding charging times and chargers that can be used.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is the first Kindle to support wireless charging. You can still charge it using the included USB cable if you’d like, but it also supports using Qi wireless chargers, which typically sell for $10-$20, and Amazon offers a wireless charging dock for $29.99 that also doubles as a stand.
Before buying a Qi wireless charger, make sure it’s not on this list of incompatible chargers. Also note that only the Signature Edition supports wireless charging.
Below are Amazon’s estimated charge times for the new Kindle Paperwhite:
Kindle Paperwhite Charge Times
5 hours – USB cable to computer
2 hours – Amazon’s wireless charging dock
Less than 2.5 hours – 9W USB power adapter
Less than 3.5 hours – 10W Qi wireless charger
*Amazon’s estimates often don’t make sense and take less time than stated.
As noted on the list, Amazon now recommends using a 9W charger for the new Kindle Paperwhite. If you bought a USB wall charger for an earlier Kindle, it’s most likely the 5W version. The 5W version will still work fine; it’ll just take longer to charge.
If you’re buying a new USB power adapter for your Kindle Paperwhite make sure to get the 9W version for faster charging. Amazon sells both and they cost the same so it makes no sense to get the 5W version anymore.
You can usually just use whatever USB power adapter you have laying around and it will work fine to charge your Kindle. In the box Amazon includes a USB cable for charging, but they do not include power adapters with Kindles for some reason, despite including them for free with all Fire tablet purchases.
Amazon must be having problems with the PW5 charging stand. I did an Amazon search for it and it’s not listed. Went to the Amazon PW5 page couldn’t find it. Tried the three Signature Bundles and they’re “Not in Stock.”
Is this a shipping issue or a product issue?
I had to go track down an old link from an earlier article to find the wireless charger page too. It must be a supply issue since they haven’t started shipping yet.
It looks like they’re having the same problem with the new covers. Right now the only ones available are the Lavender fabric and leather covers. Kind of a bummer I’ll get my my new Paperwhite today but no cork cover. But I might end up liking it without the cover, we’ll see.
The charger is in stock with a December 1st ship date.
Hello. I have a question. I have an 18 Watts charger that I use to charge my phone. Could I use it to charge the Kindle Paperwhite 5?
By the way, I am a big fan of your videos. You are very impartial and don’t strike me as biased as other Ebook Reviewers in YouTube.
It’ll probably work fine. I use my phone charger and haven’t had any problems.
Thank you for the reply. I’ll do that too
How many hours do you have to charge the kindle paperwhitewhen it is the first charge?