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What Is the Difference Between an iPad and a Kindle?
Date Updated: July 28, 2025
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Kindles and iPads are both tablet-sized devices, but the main difference is an iPad is a regular, fully functional tablet while a Kindle is mainly an e-reader designed for reading digital books. An iPad offers more functionality, making it a more versatile tool for seniors.
Tablets for seniors offer entertainment, engagement and social connection. They help seniors communicate with family, read digital books, play games that keep them mentally sharp and read news articles and blogs. Choosing a tablet that fits an individual senior’s needs makes it more useful.
Kindles Focus on Reading
For seniors who mainly want a device for reading digital books, the Kindle may be a good choice. There are different versions of Kindles with varying features, but they’re all designed to be easier on the eyes during extended reading. Kindles tend to have a longer battery life than iPads, which is a benefit for people who read several hours per day. They’re also typically much cheaper than iPads, so they’re ideal for seniors who are on a budget.
However, Kindles only have black and white displays. This makes any book with graphics, such as a textbook or comic book, more difficult to read on a Kindle. While they do have some limited web browsing capabilities, the browser only allows users to read text since there’s no color or multimedia support. Users can download some games and apps, but they’re typically more limited than what’s available on an iPad.
iPads Offer All Tablet Functions
An iPad works well as an e-reader, but it’s also a fully functioning tablet with the option to download any app in the Apple App Store. There’s even a Kindle app available for the iPad. Users can also choose different e-book platforms, so the device offers more versatility. They have full-color displays to make books with graphics easier to read. The device makes it easy to connect with friends and family via FaceTime, which can be important for seniors who live alone.
The main drawback of an iPad is the higher cost compared to a Kindle. However, seniors who have a larger budget can get more out of an iPad. There are different versions of iPads, which can accommodate different budgets. iPads typically need to be recharged more often than Kindles, and they might cause more eye strain for seniors who read often.
Which Is Better?
When choosing a Kindle vs. iPad, it comes down to budget and purpose. Kindles are ideal for people who mainly want a device for reading, especially if they’re worried about eye strain. They’re also ideal for a limited budget if the extra features of an iPad aren’t important to the user.
iPads are ideal for seniors who want more than just an e-reader. It’s a convenient all-in-one device to use for a variety of functions instead of having a separate e-reader and tablet.