Getting ready to join the e-reading revolution for the first time? Or maybe you’ve had a kindle for years and it’s finally time to upgrade?
Whether you’re a new Kindle reader or a seasoned digital reader, if you’re shopping for a new model, you’ll probably have a few questions.
You are reading: How many books does 8gb kindle hold
after all, there is much to consider; Do you prefer the normal paperwhite or the exclusive edition? the oasis or the kindle classic? each option has different pros and cons, but that’s a discussion for another post.
Today, we’ll focus solely on storage capacity and compare the 8GB and 32GB models to find out how many books each can hold. So if you’re in the market for a new kindle and want to avoid the dreaded buyer’s remorse, read on.
the 8gb vs. the 32gb kindle: how many books can each hold?
By looking at the average file sizes for ebooks, graphic novels, and audiobooks, we can get a pretty good estimate of how much you can expect to store on your device.
but first, let’s look at the many benefits of owning a kindle, whichever model you choose.
the benefits of having a kindle
nothing beats the feeling of reading a physical book; the smell, the texture of the pages, the satisfying weight in your hands, not to mention the markers! this is all part of the traditional reading experience.
I’m the first to admit that I’d rather read a “real” book than a digital one. But with that said, I love my kindle and use it a lot.
makes reading on the go so much easier and I love being able to choose from hundreds of titles to suit my mood.
If you’re not yet a Kindle convert, here are 7 things to consider that might change your mind…
1. store multiple books in one place
When you have a kindle in your pocket, you also have hundreds, if not thousands, of books, and they’re ready to read at the touch of a button.
and not only can you store a multitude of books, but you can have multiple titles on the go at once.
so if you’re a reader who’s afraid to commit, then a kindle is a great option.
2. read anywhere, anytime
on the train or on the treadmill, you can read just about anywhere with a kindle. And thanks to clever anti-glare technology, even the brightest sunlight is no problem.
3. save space on your shelves
If, like me, you live in a small apartment, you know how quickly your book collection can start to take over.
When you’re short on space, a kindle is the best tool for book lovers to help you declutter. Plus, you no longer have to feel guilty about buying new titles!
4. new books cost less
ebooks cost considerably less than paperback or hardcover versions, so if you’re trying to save money, a one-time purchase of a kindle is a great investment.
5. adjust font size
If you prefer to read in a larger font, you can instantly make the text larger (or smaller) to suit your preferences.
6. supercharged battery life
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Unlike a cell phone or tablet, Kindle’s battery typically lasts for weeks before you need to recharge it. therefore, there is no need to carry cables or limit its use; you can read as much as you want.
7. a world library at your fingertips
kindle’s epic library lets you discover new authors and titles whenever and wherever. You can also find many books by self-published authors that you probably won’t find in a regular bookstore.
how many books can a kindle hold?
So now that we’ve discussed how truly awesome owning a kindle can be, let’s cut to the chase and find out how many e-books your new device can hold.
In this post, I will compare the 8gb and 32gb versions. however, if you have a lower storage capacity on an older model, you can also use the information below to calculate averages for your current device.
kindle storage: 8gb vs. 32gb
Whether you go for a cheap 8gb or pay a little more for the full 32gb, your kindle will be able to store thousands of e-books.
but to know exactly how many, we need to take into account a few things besides the number on the box.
1. storage space occupied by system files
Which kindle you choose, some of the onboard storage capacity will be taken up by the device’s operating system and system files.
That’s about 1.8GB for an 8GB model and 5GB for a 32GB model.
So, 8gb leaves around 6.2gb of space to play with, and 32gb offers around 27gb for you to fill as you please.
2. average file size: eBooks
The most popular files installed on a kindle are plain text e-books with few or no images and no additional audio files.
These types of e-books take up very little space on your device, around 2mb for an average book.
but of course the longer the book, the larger the file size, so if you love 1000 page epics you can expect them to be 5 or even 10mb.
3. average file size: comics and graphic novels
As soon as we add some images to the equation, like those found in graphic novels or comics, the file size for each title increases significantly.
high-resolution comics take up an average of 1.5mb per page, so a 30-page comic download could take up 45mb per issue. >
For graphic novels, that number is even higher. With an average of 5MB per page and about 50-60 pages per book, expect graphic novels to take up about 250-300MB of your storage space. kindle.
4. average file size: audiobooks
Audiobooks are another big drain on Kindle storage. the average audio file comes in around 15mb per hour in standard quality and 30mb per hour in high quality.
so when we calculate this against an average listening time of 10 hours per audiobook, you can expect these files to take up something between 150 and 300mb of storage space.
the 8gb kindle: how many books can it hold?
So, using the information above, we can estimate the average number of e-books, comics, graphic novels, and audiobooks that will fit in an 8GB Kindle.
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remember, you only have about 6.2gb of free space to play on; the operating system and additional system files take up the rest.
so with that in mind, this is the average storage capacity you can expect from the 8gb kindle.
- 3,100 regular plain text eBooks, with an average file size of 2mb
- 138 hi-res comics, with an average file size of average file size of 45mb
- 21 hi-res graphic novels, based on an average file size of 300mb
- 41 audiobooks in low quality and 21 in high quality, depending on the respective file size from 150 to 300 mb per audiobook.
Of course, there is no such thing as an average ebook, comic, graphic novel, or audiobook, so in reality, the exact number will differ. but hopefully this will give you a rough idea of what to expect from the 8gb kindle.
the 32gb kindle: how many books can it hold?
let’s do the same math for the 32gb kindle and see what difference the extra storage can make.
again, we’ll need to account for the space taken up by the kindle’s operating system and system files, so in reality, 32gb is more like 27gb of available storage for gaming.
so, using this figure, these are the averages you can expect…
- 13,500 regular plain text e-books, with an average file size of 2mb
- 600 hi-res comics, with a 45mb average file size
- 90 hi-res graphic novels, based on 300mb average file size
- 180 audiobooks in low quality and 90 in high quality, depending on the respective file size from 150 to 300 mb per audiobook.
again, this is just a rough guide, and the actual number of files you can fit on your device will vary. but still, these figures should give you an idea of how much you can store on the 32gb kindle.
so which kindle should i choose? 8gb or 32gb?
After reading the calculations above, you may already have a clear favorite in mind. but if you’re still on the fence between the 8gb and 32gb kindle, here are some things to consider.
1. what do you use your kindle for?
If you’re an avid ebook reader who rarely dabbles in audiobooks, comics, and graphic novels, then you’ll probably find that the 8gb kindle offers more than enough space for your needs. after all, it will take a lifetime to read more than the estimated 3,100 e-books that fit on this device.
If audiobooks, comics, or graphic novels are your thing, you may still have more than enough space, depending on how many files you store at the same time.
But if you’re planning a big trip or want a wider range to choose from when you’re on the go, then the extra investment of 32gb might be worth it.
2. what about wifi?
If you plan to take your kindle offline without wi-fi for an extended period of time, it’s important to have as many options as possible.
then the 32gb kindle might be a better choice, especially for storing larger files like audiobooks.
3. are you an eraser or a hoarder?
If, like me, you prefer to keep books instead of deleting them once you’re done, you may end up running out of storage space. In this case, 32 GB can be useful, especially if you are an avid reader.
how often will you update your device?
E-readers are now cheaper than ever, but they’re still not that cheap. and so many of us are happy to use our devices for years until we finally invest in a new model.
If that’s you, then it makes sense to opt for the larger storage capacity, so you don’t have to upgrade before you’re ready.
conclusion
if you’re shopping for a new kindle, we hope this post has helped you determine how much storage you’ll need.
Fortunately, even the basic 8gb version can handle thousands of e-books, but if you’re looking for the ultimate storage capacity, the 32gb might be worth the extra money.
have you recently invested in a new kindle? if so, which model did you choose and why? let me know in the comments below!
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