The developers behind the NewPipe open-source YouTube client have released a new update for the app. The latest release (v0.23.1) brings playback improvements thanks to DASH support, along with several bug fixes. In a blog post regarding the update, the team reveals that the DASH support should result in the app feeling a whole lot faster. Following the update, videos should load faster, and you should see a noticeable performance improvement while seeking through videos.
Along with DASH support, NewPipe 0.23.1 fixes repeated buffering while playing YouTube videos, lets users view recently ended YouTube livestreams, and introduces support for more resolutions and formats. Check out the section below for a list of all the significant changes in the latest release.
NewPipe 0.23.1 changes and bug fixes
Now DASH is used as the preferred means for YouTube playback instead of progressive HTTP, improving loading times in playback and seeking. This has made the app faster by an order of magnitude! No more waiting after tapping on a YouTube video!
According to some users, repeated buffering while playing YouTube videos also seems to have become an issue of the past.
Recently ended YouTube livestreams are now fully playable, right from the beginning.
In YouTube, some more resolutions and formats are now available for playing.
Fixed seeking on PeerTube videos with only HLS streams (that is, most PeerTube videos). Now PeerTube is finally usable!
Fixed crash on PeerTube videos with an audio-only stream.
Fixed playback of SoundCloud HLS-only tracks.
The blog post further adds that the team won’t release a new build of NewPipeExtracter along with the latest update, even though most of the changes mentioned above were made to the NewPipeExtractor. Furthermore, it notes that following the update users should be able to convert a remote playlist into a local NewPipe playlist. The release also brings a few more improvements and bug fixes, and you can learn all about them by clicking on the source link below.
Microsoft has updated the preview version of Windows Terminal to version 1.15, bringing along a couple of significant improvements to the user experience. First off, there’s now the ability to use mark mode to select text using the keyboard.
By pressing Ctrl + Shift + M, users can enter mark mode, and once it’s enabled, you can hold Shift while pressing the arrow keys to select text. You can also press Ctrl + A to select all the text in the Terminal’s buffer. It’s a seemingly small improvement, but if you’re used to selecting text with the keyboard in other apps, it can be very beneficial.
In addition to this, Windows Terminal Preview 1.15 adds experimental support for scroll marks, so you can more easily find something specific in your terminal history. Scroll marks can be navigated using terminal actions to jump directly to a specific mark, or you can also enable the ability to see scroll marks on the scroll bar so you can manually search for the text you want. As mentioned, this feature is still experimental and Microsoft warns that it’s subject to changes, but it’s certainly another welcome addition for those that heavily use the Windows Terminal.
This release also comes with a few smaller improvements, including support for the DECPS escape sequence, which allows users to play sounds through the terminal, plus new keyboard accelerators for the Windows Terminal’s shell extension, so you can use keyboard shortcuts to open files or folders in Terminal, Terminal Preview, or Terminal (Dev).
Alongside the Windows Terminal Preview 1.15 release, Microsoft has also made the previous preview version, 1.14, available in the stable channel. This version includes the ability to set a single background image for Terminal layouts with multiple panes, spreading the image across the panes. It also packs some visual changes to various elements of the UI, including tabs, the scrollbar, and more to bring it more in line with the Windows 11 design language.
You can update Windows Terminal Preview through the Microsoft Store, or download it using the link below if you’re interested. You can also install the stable channel of Windows Terminal, though it should be pre-installed on Windows 11.
All recently released Kindle e-readers come with a built-in front light, which you can activate when reading at night or in the dark. If you like to read at bedtime, the blue light emitted by the white front light may disrupt your sleep or lead to eye strain.
Thankfully, some Kindle models come equipped with Warm Light that adds a nice yellow-orange tint to the display for a comfortable reading experience. Similar to your phone’s night mode, the feature cuts down on harsh blue light. Here’s how to activate it.
Which Kindle e-readers support Warm Light?
Unfortunately, only select Kindle models support Warm Light.
Apart from the above two models, the feature isn’t currently available on other Kindle e-readers. Since the Warm Light feature requires a series of amber LEDs in addition to the white LEDs for the front light, it can’t be backported to older models with a software update.
How to activate Warm Light on Kindle
If you own a Kindle Paperwhite 11th Gen or Kindle Oasis (2019), you can enable the Warm Light feature in a few steps.
To enable Warm Light from the home screen, tap on the drop-down arrow. If you’re reading a book, tap anywhere in the top portion.
Below the Quick Actions toggles, you’ll see a slider for adjusting warmth.
Drag the warmth slider or tap on the Plus or Minus buttons to adjust the screen temperature.
The screen will turn yellowish or orangish depending on the intensity of warmth you’ve set.
You can also set an automatic or manual schedule for Warm Light. To enable it, bring down the Quick Actions panel and tap on the Schedule button next to the warmth slider. Select Automatic if you want to have Warm Light gradually change with sunset and sunrise. Or, use the manual mode to create a custom start and end time for warm light.
Prolonged exposure to blue light at night is shown to decrease the level of melatonin, a chemical that controls sleep and wake cycles. This could disrupt your sleep schedule and make it harder to fall asleep. If you like to read on your Kindle at bedtime, use the Warm Light feature to cut down on the hard blue light. If your Kindle doesn’t support the feature, you can use dark mode to reduce eye strain at night.
Xiaomi’s flagship phones are really good, and devices like the Xiaomi 12S Ultra can easily compete with anything made by Apple or Samsung. Xiaomi’s budget phones are also among the most affordable and reliable Android devices around. But it is arguably in the mid-range segment — that sweet $300 to $500 spot — where Xiaomi truly leaps ahead of the pack by offering significantly better value than anyone else.
The Poco F4 fits that description to a tee (by the way, I am aware that Poco markets itself as an independent brand separate from Xiaomi in some regions, but let’s not kid ourselves here). At a starting price of around $410, it obviously can’t compete against, say, Samsung’s $1,200 Galaxy S22 Ultra, but it mops the floor with Samsung’s $450 Galaxy A53 5G, or anything else from anyone under $500 for that matter. It’s a solid phone to buy in the mid-range, although it may not present enough improvements over its predecessor to warrant a year-on-year jump.
Poco F4: Specifications
Specification
Poco F4
Build
Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Colors: Moonlight Silver, Night Black, Nebula Green
About this review: Poco sent me an F4 for testing. This review was written after eight days of using the device. Poco did not have input in this review.
Poco F4: Price and Availability
The Poco F4 is on sale now in select European markets, as well as in Asian regions like India and Hong Kong. The device comes in two RAM/storage variants, which are priced as follows:
6GB + 128GB: €399
8GB + 256GB: €449
Poco F4: Hardware and Design
The Poco F4, to the layman, looks as good and premium as any flagship phone. It’s a glass slab, with thin bezels wrapping around a 6.67-inch 120Hz OLED display. The panel is bright and vivid, supporting HDR10+ and has Dolby Vision certification.
Around the back is a triple camera system, and the phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chip that supports 5G, with LPDDR5 RAM and a decent-sized 4,500 mAh battery. The haptics are precise and strong. If I hand the Poco F4 and, say, an iPhone 13 or Galaxy S22 to my middle-aged mother, she wouldn’t be able to tell why the Apple and Samsung devices are considered “more premium.” The point I’m trying to make is that the Poco F4 can pass for a modern flagship to the untrained eye.
I find the back design a bit bland, but it's also inoffensive
But those who are more familiar with smartphones will spot tells, like the fact this sandwich is not a glass-aluminum combo, but glass-plastic. The fingerprint scanner is embedded into the power button instead of being burrowed underneath the display. The screen is also “only” 1080p and not 2K (this doesn’t really matter), and the refresh rate is locked to 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz instead of being able to dynamically adjust itself.
The fingerprint scanner is embedded into the power button on the right side of the device.
But you do get stereo speakers, 67W fast charging (charger included), and an IR blaster. I do find the back design a bit bland, but it’s also inoffensive. The overall in-hand feel is comfortable, with the 7.7mm thickness and 195g weight among the thinner/lighter end of modern Android phones.
Cameras
This triple camera system is more like a double camera system. The 64MP, f/1.8 main camera is very good for the price, and the 8MP, f/1.9 ultra-wide is solid, though the field of view is narrower than other Xiaomi phones at 119 degrees. That third lens, however, is a 2MP macro sensor that produces shots that are neither macro-enough nor usable. The 20MP selfie camera is the usual hole-punch affair, but it is impressively small compared to other Android hole punches.
The Poco F4 hole-punch (top) and the Galaxy S22 Ultra hole-punch (bottom).
Photos captured by the main camera with good lighting look sharp. The 1/2-inch sensor isn’t large by any means, but Xiaomi’s software processing does a good job producing a shot that is well detailed and exposed.
In low light conditions, you will have to rely on night mode to compensate for the small-ish image sensor and dated sensor, and night mode does do a good job of producing a well-lit and balanced shot, if not looking a bit over-processed. But the ultra-wide camera is so lacking in resolution and image sensor size that even night mode won’t change much. This is an ultra-wide camera that’s best reserved for daytime use.
That selfie camera is the same story as ultra-wide: fine during the day, but at night really struggles.
The Poco F4 can record videos up to 4K/60, but there’s virtually no stabilization at that setting. Shoot at 4K/30 and you get some decent (for its price range) EIS. These video quality obviously can’t compete with Android flagships, but it’s better than most phones under $500, except for the iPhone SE 3.
Poco F4: Performance and Software
The Poco F4 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870. This chip is a year old, but it’s actually two years old because the 870 is a souped-up rehash of the Snapdragon 865. Still, considering the 865 was a top-of-the-line SoC just two years ago, it’s still more than powerful enough today, especially for a sub-$500 device. This octa-core CPU, combined with the UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5 RAM, lets the phone zip around without issues. I didn’t experience dropped animations or apps taking a beat longer to launch as I did on Samsung’s Galaxy A53.
The Snapdragon 870 with UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5 RAM lets the phone zip around without any issues
The Poco F4 also continues Xiaomi’s trademark of giving its phones flagship-level haptics all the way down to the $250 range. With Samsung, Huawei, or OnePlus phones, you get precise, top-notch haptics at the flagship level, but for anything below $600, you’re getting mediocre mushy haptics. With Xiaomi, you’d have to get to the sub-$200 devices before you get an average vibration engine. Great haptics aren’t exactly marketable, but they’re part of little things that add up to more than the sum of their parts. Kudos to Xiaomi for not skimping here.
Benchmark scores are solid, and the phone was able to pass the 20-minute Wild Life Extreme Stress Test on 3DMark, while the scores aren’t the highest, stability was acceptable.
Software
I suppose part of the reason the Poco F4 feels fast is that MIUI is a well-optimized software with zippy animations. Running over Android 12, the MIUI 13 here performed like any other Xiaomi or Poco phone in the past, so it’s a software experience that strays a bit from how Google does things, but has its own unique character. Not everyone is a fan of MIUI’s whimsical touches (like an app “exploding” into bits when it’s uninstalled), but I don’t mind them. You have an app tray, a one-hand mode, and various shortcut gestures like quickly grabbing a screenshot with a three-finger swipe down.
There are some nitpicks to be had: the MIUI here cannot open apps in floating windows. Other Xiaomi phones running MIUI can do this, so it may be Poco wanting to simplify the UI, or trying to keep the software from doing too much to bog down the older SoC. There’s also quite a bit of bloatware in this European model of the Poco F4, with Amazon, Facebook and a couple of games already pre-installed onto the phone.
Gaming
Those who follow Poco may be aware that this is the second device named F4 from the brand this year, as there was already a POCO F4 GT released in April that was a gaming phone. Well, this F4 can handle gaming quite well too thanks to the LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, and an app called “Game Turbo” that prioritizes the phone’s resources to running mobile games. Game Turbo also lets you turn off notifications, or disable swipe gestures
Battery life
Battery life is a bit below par. The 4,500 mAh battery can’t quite power the 120Hz panel all day, especially since I leave the refresh rate at 120Hz and I’m a heavy user. On average I get about four hours of screen on time with about 10 hours of total use before the phone dips below the scary sub-5% mark. At least the phone supports fast 67W charging and the charger is included.
Poco advertises that the 67W charger can top up the phone from 0-100% in 38 minutes. I have not done an entire 0-100% charge, but I marked down these charging stats: 11% to 53% in 15 minutes; and 7% to 86% in 25 minutes. These numbers are fast and indicate that the Poco F4 shouldn’t be too far off from the advertised charging speeds.
Miscellaneous thoughts
The dual-firing speakers are located at the top and bottom of the display, so audio output is even (instead of one speaker located in the earpiece like many Android phones). This, along with the flat panel and relatively boxy design makes for a good video-watching machine around the house, as the phone is easy to securely hold with one hand.
Should you buy the Poco F4?
If you’re looking for a new Android phone and your budget is under $500, then I’d say go for it. The Poco F4 is clearly better than the Galaxy A53, which runs on a weaker processor, with significantly slower software and inferior haptics, and about similar display and main camera quality. You also get a charger and a case with the Poco F4, which matters to those on a budget. But before pulling the trigger on the purchase, remember that the Poco F3 still exists.
The Poco F4 isn’t a major upgrade over the Poco F3, which is still very good and available for about a hundred dollars less give or take. And to be fair, most phones are not great year-on-year upgrades, which is why OEMs end up discounting predecessors or discontinuing them altogether. The Poco F3 is available, so you may want to weigh your decision around.
And if you’re okay with using an iPhone or thick bezels, then the iPhone SE 2022 runs on a more powerful silicon, and the superior Apple app ecosystem, although you’re sacrificing a lot of modern smartphone technology like an OLED screen, thin bezels, and ultra-wide camera by going with the iPhone SE.
Ultimately, I think the Poco F4’s biggest competition is itself (or rather, the Xiaomi umbrella of brands). The Poco F3 is still here as mentioned, and there’s also the Poco X4 GT that launched at the same event as the Poco F4. There was also a Poco F4 GT earlier that costs a bit more, not to mention the myriad of Redmi devices, and a rumored version of a Xiaomi 12 Lite.
I guess when Xiaomi says it wants to offer “innovation for everyone,” it literally meant releasing a phone at every price range down at the hundred dollar mark. There’s a $300 Xiaomi phone, a $400 device, a $500 device, a $600 device, and so on. The Poco F4 is the best $400 phone, but Xiaomi’s $300 and $500 phones are also here vying for your attention too.
If you do end up choosing the Poco F4, you will not be disappointed. After all, it’s still a great value smartphone, and Xiaomi knows how to make those very well.
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is Korean tech giant’s answer to the iPhone SE, and it’s one of the best value smartphones of 2022 so far — particularly in the North American market. For its sub-$400 price, the phone offers a vibrant Samsung AMOLED screen that stretches the entire face of the device, with 120Hz refresh rate to boot. While the ultra-wide cameras are just average, the main camera is quite capable day and night thanks to Samsung’s improved computational photography algorithms. The huge 5,000 mAh battery is also a major selling point, as it’s large enough to power the phone all day for even the heaviest of users, thanks to its efficient Exynos 1280 SoC. It’s also one of the most comfortable phones to hold due to its lighter form factor and flat-ish design, and there’s even IP67 water- and dust-resistance.
While the Galaxy A53 supports dual physical SIMs for unlocked models (carrier models do not) and also an SD card for memory expansion (this is available for all models), some consumers may wonder if it also supports eSIM (electronic SIM), the relatively new technology in which the SIM data is entirely virtually “embedded” into the device so consumers don’t have to insert a physical SIM card.
Unfortunately, no, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G does not support eSIM, so inserting a physical SIM card is the only way to get data connectivity on this device. This makes sense, considering the Galaxy A53 5G is a mid-ranger, and mid-range phones are more likely than a flagship model to be purchased unlocked and used as a shorter-term phone or a secondary phone, which means the ability to quickly swap SIM cards is beneficial. Electronic SIMs, for all their benefits right now, still require a bit of time and effort to move from one device to another — you’ll usually have to contact a carrier to request the switch.
It’s no secret that the tablet space in 2022 is mostly being dominated by Apple’s iPad options. Unless you’re specifically searching for an “Android tablet” you’re likely to end up on a list recommending you to buy an iPad of some sort. But that’s not to say you can’t find good Android tablets out there. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 lineup is making huge waves in this space right now. In fact, the vanilla Galaxy Tab S8 is the one we recommend for most people out there, even though the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the one that is the most impressive.
The Galaxy Tab S8, however, is attached to a $699 price tag which makes us wonder just how good is it when compared to the already excellent Galaxy Tab S7 that can save you a few bucks. Well, that’s exactly what we’re here to find out, so let’s take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 vs Galaxy Tab S7 comparison to find out which one’s better to buy.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S7: Specifications
Before we begin the comparison, let’s take a look at the specifications table to find out just how powerful these tablets are on paper:
Specification
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
Build
Metal unibody
Metal unibody
Dimensions & Weight
253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3mm
503g (Wi-Fi)/507g (5G)
253.8 x 165.3 x 6.3mm
498g (Wi-Fi)/ 500g (LTE)
Display
11-inch LTPS TFT LCD
WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
120Hz refresh rate
11-inch LTPS TFT LCD
WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
120Hz refresh rate
SoC
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus
RAM & Storage
8/12GB RAM
128/256GB storage
microSD card support (up to 1TB)
6/8GBGB RAM
128/256/512GB storage
microSD card slot for expansion (up to 1TB)
Battery & Charging
8,000mAh
45W wired fast charging support
No charger in the box
8,000mAh
45W wired fast charging support
Comes with a 15W charger in the box
Security
Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)
13MP, f/2.0 primary camera
6MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
13MP, f/2.0 primary camera
5MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
Front Camera(s)
2 MP, f/2.4, 120-degree (ultrawide)
8MP, f/2.0, wide
Port(s)
USB 3.2 Type-C
USB 3.2 Type-C
Audio
Quad-speaker setup tuned by AKG
Dolby Atmos certification
Quad speakers tuned by AKG
Dolby Atmos certification
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth 5.2
5G (optional, in some regions)
Bluetooth v5.0
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax dual-band Wi-Fi
GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo
Software
One UI 4.1 based on Android 12
Promised four Android OS upgrades
One UI 4.1 based on Android 12 (current)
Promised three Android OS upgrades
Other Features
S Pen included in the box
S Pen included in the box
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 was already a pretty good upgrade over its predecessor, so we had our expectations set for the Galaxy Tab S8 too. The company spent a good amount of time working on the Galaxy Tab S8 to polish it further and it shows in the specs sheet. Let’s dive a little deeper into each individual section to see just how much of an improvement the new tablet offers over the last one.
Design and Display
Both the Galaxy Tab S7 and the Galaxy Tab S8 are virtually indistinguishable from the outside. They both have the same dimensions, as you can see in the specs table, meaning they’re equally thin and have the same footprint overall. The Galaxy Tab S8 weighs a few grams heavier but you won’t really notice the difference while using it. Both tablets also have a magnetic bar at the back where the included S Pen attaches. While Samsung tried to color match this bar on the Galaxy Tab S7, it’s just a black-colored bar on the Tab S8, regardless of the color variant you choose.
Speaking of colors, that’s perhaps one of the main differentiating factors when it comes to these tablets. The Galaxy Tab S7 is offered in Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Silver, and Phantom Navy. The newer Galaxy Tab S8 meanwhile comes in three colors — Graphite, Silver, and Pink Gold.
Moving over to the front, both tablets feature an 11-inch LTPS TFT LCD panel with support for a maximum screen resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. These aren’t AMOLED panels, but they’re pretty good for your day-to-day usage, be it for media consumption, gaming, and more. As we mentioned in our Galaxy Tab S7 review, this display offers HDR10+ support, and watching HDR content on the tablet is an absolute pleasure. You can expect it to be a similar experience on the Galaxy Tab S8 considering it’s using the same display.
While we’re discussing media consumption, it’s worth pointing out that both tablets also feature a quad-speaker setup tuned by AKG. You essentially get two speakers on either side and they offer great stereo separation. Overall, it’s safe to say that both tablets are equally good when it comes to media consumption.
Hardware and Performance
As noted in the specs sheet, both the Galaxy Tab S7 and the Galaxy Tab S8 pack different hardware on the inside. The newer Galaxy Tab S8 is powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset whereas the Galaxy Tab S7 is powered by the Snapdragon 865 Plus. Despite being a relatively older chip, we think the Snapdragon 865 Plus chip inside the Tab S7 should be able to keep up with all your needs even in 2022.
The base model of the Galaxy Tab S8 comes with 8GB of RAM, whereas you only get 6GB of RAM with the Tab S7’s base unit. The Galaxy Tab S7 also tops out at 8GB RAM while the Tab S8 can be purchased with up to 12GB memory. You get the option to purchase the Tab S7 with more internal storage but you can also add a microSD card to both tablets, so it’s not necessarily a big deal.
As far as the battery life is concerned, both the Galaxy Tab S7 and the Galaxy Tab S8 are packed with an 8,000 mAh battery inside, which we think is enough to keep the lights on for at least two days with light to moderate usage. Your mileage may vary based on your day-to-day workload but we doubt if you’ll be running around looking for a charger to top up these tablets all the time. Both tablets support 45W wired charging but you’ll have to spend more money to actually buy a charging brick that supports 45W charging speed. The Galaxy Tab S7 only comes with a 15W charger but it’s still better in our books compared to the Galaxy Tab S8 which doesn’t ship with any charger inside the box.
Cameras
There’s not a lot of difference between the two tablets in the camera department too. Both the Galaxy Tab S8 and the Galaxy Tab S7 feature a 13MP primary sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. You get an additional ultra-wide camera on both tablets but Samsung has used a slightly different 6MP sensor for the Tab S8 instead of the 5MP sensor found on the Tab S7. Cameras — especially the rear ones — usually don’t take the center stage when it comes to tablets but we think both devices in this comparison offer a decent set of optics to get the job done.
The front-facing camera is what we’d say is more important on a tablet these days as they can be used for video calling. Samsung has improved the selfie camera on the Galaxy Tab S8 by adding a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. The Galaxy Tab S7, in comparison, only comes with an 8MP wide camera which is just okay-ish at best.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 vs Galaxy Tab S7: Which one should you buy?
Well, now that we know what each of these tablets are made of, it’s time to figure out which one’s best for you. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is currently going for $699 for the base variant with Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab S7 starts at $649. If you don’t mind spending the extra money then we think the Galaxy Tab S8 is worth considering over the last year’s model. Not only does the new tablet come with a better chipset for improved overall performance, but you’ll also get extended software support up to at least four years. Notably, it’s also good for those who tend to attend a lot of video calls as it comes with a better front-facing camera.
That’s not to say that the Galaxy Tab S7 is a bad option. It’s definitely not worth upgrading to the Galaxy Tab S8 if you already have the Tab S7. In fact, it may not entirely be a bad idea to consider buying a Galaxy Tab S7 over the Tab S8. It’s still a great option to consider if you don’t necessarily need the latest processor or the best set of cameras on your tablet. It’s currently running One UI 4.1 based on Android 12 and is likely to get at least a couple of updates before it sees the end of the line. You’re also likely to find a good deal on the Galaxy Tab S7 to save some money considering it’s a relatively older device now.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 offers a decent set of upgrades over the last year's model. You get updated internals and a better selfie camera this time around.
So which Samsung Galaxy tablet are you looking to buy? Let us know by dropping a line in the comments below. If you’re planning to buy the new Galaxy Tab S8 then be sure to stop by our best Galaxy Tab S8 deals page to see if you can find some good deals for it. You can use the extra money to buy yourself one of the best cases for it and add some protection.
We’ve reached a point on the modern timeline where there are subscription services for almost anything. That’s especially true when it comes to digital content. You’ve got music streaming services, TV streaming services, cloud gaming, etc.
Perhaps one of the lesser-known subscription services is Amazon Kindle Unlimited. So what’s this paid addition all about? What does it include, and is it worth it? Here’s everything you need to know regarding this particular matter.
What’s Amazon Kindle Unlimited?
Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service from Amazon that revolves around reading. By paying $9.99 per month, the company gives you access to:
Over 2 million digital books to read.
Thousands of books to listen to.
Up to three magazine subscriptions, such as Men’s Health.
Think of it as any paid streaming service. You pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to a certain catalog instead of buying the titles individually. The downside is that you own none of the releases, and when you stop paying, you lose access to everything. Many people prefer this business model, though. Amazon Kindle Unlimited spares you the hassle of needing to pay for every single book you plan on reading. Notably, though, not all books on Amazon are included in this service.
Is Kindle Unlimited for you?
If you’re an active reader who goes through several books per month, then this subscription might make sense to you. If it typically takes you more than a month to finish a book, then you will save more money by just buying the books you want to read individually. Ultimately, you get a 30-day free trial before paying for the subscription, so you can try and decide accordingly. If you change your mind down the road, you can cancel your subscription at any given point.
Note: you don’t actually need to own a Kindle ebook reader for you to enjoy a Kindle Unlimited subscription. However, as expected, the Kindle hardware and the Kindle Unlimited subscription complement each other.
Will you subscribe to Amazon Kindle Unlimited? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.
