Are all Kindle model screens easily scratched?

[TJ82]

Had a Paperwhite which got damaged after a month by putting it into my bag and something was on top of it and the inside got scratched. When turned on, a little ray of bright white light would shine through. Too distracting to keep. Case wasn't strong enough I guess. Sold on eBay for next to nothing.

Want another Kindle now, but wondering if the higher up versions have less flexy screens. Would pay for the strongest model as it does worry me how easily it gets written off if you make one mistake.

Anyone know?

 

[0388631]

It's not so much the flexing screen but the coating of the screen. I'd advise the installation of a screen protector next time around in addition to a case. Because of how thin the device is and how flexible it can be, I'd recommend putting your next kindle on top last rather than something else on top of it.

In the same vein, you wouldn't want to put a light ceramic mug atop an iPad, screen protector or not.

 

[TJ82]

Would a screen protector reduce the flex? The coating is on the inside I'm thinking?

 

[0388631]

It won't reduce flex, no. You can't do much about flex. Even a phone screen has minute flex when there's pressure on it. It will protect the matte coating on the screen, though. when your device was scratched, it took off that matte coating and allowed what looked like brighter light to shine through. If you recall, a few years ago some MacBook Pros had their matte coating fail and come off in places leading to a highly splotched look. Same concept. If you want something more hardcore, I'd aim for a hard shell case. They're referred to as "heavy duty kindle cases" and have a somewhat rugged look. They do add some weight, but what weight is added protects your Kindle a lot more than a traditional Kindle case. Griffin and Otter are two companies I recommend for rugged cases when it comes to phones, tablets or Kindles.

You could probably drive over your Kindle in an Otter encasing and nothing would happen. The cases range from $60-120.

 

[Huntn]

Is the screen glass? If yes, my guess a glass screen protector (made of glass) would mitigate or elevate the issue.

 

[0388631]

Is the screen glass? If yes, my guess a glass screen protector (made of glass) would mitigate or elevate the issue.

Only the Voyage. But you can put a plastic film or glass screen protector on all Kindles.

 

[TJ82]

Ah so the Voyage has a glass screen. It wouldn't have this issue about the matte coating getting scratched off as easily you think?

 

[LizKat]

Had a Paperwhite which got damaged after a month by putting it into my bag and something was on top of it and the inside got scratched. When turned on, a little ray of bright white light would shine through. Too distracting to keep. Case wasn't strong enough I guess. Sold on eBay for next to nothing.

Want another Kindle now, but wondering if the higher up versions have less flexy screens. Would pay for the strongest model as it does worry me how easily it gets written off if you make one mistake.

Anyone know?

Thanks for starting this thread. I don't use my Paperwhite much except during summer (i just flipped it open and was greeted with an icon of a battery with an exclamation point inside it LOL) but when I do carry it around in my bag, I can see how the case might permit sand or dust to get in there and scratch it. think I'll resort to the cheap solution for now... pop it into a food storage bag before tossing in my tote bag. And now off to plug the thing into some juice since I didn't mean to let the charge run down to nothing!

 

[Plutonius]

Had a Paperwhite which got damaged after a month by putting it into my bag and something was on top of it and the inside got scratched. When turned on, a little ray of bright white light would shine through. Too distracting to keep. Case wasn't strong enough I guess. Sold on eBay for next to nothing.

Want another Kindle now, but wondering if the higher up versions have less flexy screens. Would pay for the strongest model as it does worry me how easily it gets written off if you make one mistake.

Anyone know?

For reading, I wouldn't consider anything but a paper white.

That being said, the paper white screen does scratch easily (any E Ink screen can scratch). You could always get a non E ink Kindle Fire but then you might as well get an iPad (I find them both difficult to read in direct sunlight).
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Is the screen glass? If yes, my guess a glass screen protector (made of glass) would mitigate or elevate the issue.

I'm not sure how that would effect the E Ink touch screen.

 

[Huntn]

For reading, I wouldn't consider anything but a paper white.

That being said, the paper white screen does scratch easily (any E Ink screen can scratch). You could always get a non E ink Kindle Fire but then you might as well get an iPad (I find them both difficult to read in direct sunlight).
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I'm not sure how that would effect the E Ink touch screen.

Are there screen protectors made for the Kindle, I wonder.

 

[Plutonius]

Are there screen protectors made for the Kindle, I wonder.

I'm not sure. I have no case or screen protector on my Paperwhite.

 

[0388631]

Yes, there are. You can get plastic film or a thin sheet of Gorilla or similar tempered glass.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I've had a second generation Paperwhite for several years and keep it in the Amazon case without any issues.

 

[statik13]

I loved my Kindle when it worked, but I've now had two Kindles brick on me from being left uncharged too long. Kobo is my system of choice now

Screen scratches on any of the devices were never an issue as I kept them in a case when not used.

 

[0388631]

You should have contacted Amazon. They're pretty reasonable with defective units outside of the warranty period.

 

[statik13]

You should have contacted Amazon. They're pretty reasonable with defective units outside of the warranty period.

Good to know. These are original Kindle 3g keyboard units... so probably 7 years out of the warranty period now. Maybe I'll touch base with them anyways as they are still sitting in a drawer.

I love my new Kobo. Water proof, 7.8" screen and backlit with a night time reading mode that reduces exposure to blue light.

 

[0388631]

Good to know. These are original Kindle 3g keyboard units... so probably 7 years out of the warranty period now. Maybe I'll touch base with them anyways as they are still sitting in a drawer.

I love my new Kobo. Water proof, 7.8" screen and backlit with a night time reading mode that reduces exposure to blue light.

Oh, wow! Those are some of the first couple of generations. There's a few diagnostics you can try on your own, but if you state your case to Amazon, they could try fixing it. The chances of being sent new units is fairly slim at this point. They could also give some credit. The units would be deregistered from your account but your purchases are tied to the account and not the device.

I've played with the Kobo and didn't like it much. Their site's difficult to use and Rakuten got caught up in some CC fraud several years back that turned me off from the company.

 

[statik13]

Oh, wow! Those are some of the first couple of generations. There's a few diagnostics you can try on your own, but if you state your case to Amazon, they could try fixing it. The chances of being sent new units is fairly slim at this point. They could also give some credit. The units would be deregistered from your account but your purchases are tied to the account and not the device.

I've played with the Kobo and didn't like it much. Their site's difficult to use and Rakuten got caught up in some CC fraud several years back that turned me off from the company.

Hard reboots, taken apart, new battery, checked all chips & connections... no luck. It's ok, I got my value from them both. Plus, with the exception of the Oasis, none of the new kindle models appeal. Fingers crossed for colour e-ink. Once that happens I'll definitely be in the market again.

 

[0388631]

Hard reboots, taken apart, new battery, checked all chips & connections... no luck. It's ok, I got my value from them both. Plus, with the exception of the Oasis, none of the new kindle models appeal. Fingers crossed for colour e-ink. Once that happens I'll definitely be in the market again.

I think we'll see something like that in the next few years. The Fire is too power hungry and isn't a good product.

It wouldn't surprise me if it does come out because your post reminded me that Amazon bought some comic book seller and they now publish graphic novels and comics to it, and alongside general Kindle books listings on the Kindle Books website.