The “purse Kindle” is the latest trend to hit BookTok, and it’s causing quite a stir. This small MP3 player with the Kindle app loaded up on it has divided readers and brought into question the ideas of want and need. So, why did I buy one? Let’s dive in.
Purse Kindle Origins
The purse Kindle made its first appearance in a TikTok video as a background actor. The creator was inundated with questions about the device people saw in her video, so she made a separate video detailing what it was. She called it her “purse Kindle.” It’s a small mp3 player that has the Kindle app loaded up on it. You can also load other apps like Audible, TikTok, etc., but the point of it in this realm is as an e-reader.
Now, BookTok is flooded with team purse Kindle and team “you don’t need that.”
Do I Need a Purse Kindle?
If I’m being honest with myself, the answer is no. It’s a cute trend, but it’s not necessarily something I have to have. Keeping that in mind, my bust of Disney’s Hercules with Pain and Panic’s splattered paint on it was also not a “need,” but I’m still happy I bought it. So, do I need a purse Kindle, no. Did I buy one anyway because life isn’t about only buying what you need but sometimes what brings you joy? Yes.
Some people argue that the newness will wear off and people will forget they have them. Since reading on my purse Kindle, I’ve discovered that it’s not just about if I will read more. It’s about making it easier, which brings me to accessibility and how it surprisingly improves my reading experience.
Less Distractions, More Reading
I have ADHD and my phone has over 100 apps on it. That leaves a lot of room for distractions while I’m trying to read. I have the app Opal, which shuts down social media, but it doesn’t stop text messages, email, or any of the other 90+ apps that can distract me.
I could put the phone in focus mode, but I can’t miss certain alerts, so that won’t work. What I need is something off the grid with no other apps on it so I can’t skip between them instead of reading.
Enter the purse Kindle (or in my case, the lanyard Kindle).
I put my purse Kindle on a lanyard and hang it from my neck. While waiting in lines at the theme parks, it’s easy to hold, and if I drop it to start walking, it won’t hit the ground. Have you tried putting a Kindle Fire on a lanyard and hanging it from your neck? (Let me know how that worked out for you if you did.) Personally, I don’t see how that would work. Maybe a crossbody strap? Either way, you get my point.
Finally, I get overwhelmed seeing a lot of words on the page. It can be intimidating. The purse Kindle screen is small enough for me to focus on the words a little easier, and I can turn the page more often, making me feel like I’m actually making progress in my book. And unlike my Kindle, which requires me to touch the screen to turn the page (or use a separate page-turner device), the purse Kindle lets me turn the page using the volume buttons, which are easy for my fingers to reach.
The regular accessibility features of the Kindle are still available in the app including text-to-speech (which I think is easier to locate in the app versus on the e-reader itself).
Overall, I feel the purse Kindle is more accessible for someone like me than a regular Kindle.
Cost Comparison
Let’s talk cost.
The cheapest Kindle is around $80 when not on sale. For $80 you get the device and a charging cable. A case for the Kindle is going to run you at least $10+ depending on the one you get.
The MP3 player most people are getting to make into their purse Kindle is around $50. For $50 you get the device, SD card, case, screen protector, wired headphones, and a charging cable. The only thing you need to get, and it’s entirely optional, is a pop socket to help hold it and a wristlet or lanyard strap.
Pros and Cons
The full-sized Kindle has the size going for it. If you do a lot of highlighting, I can see where the regular Kindle would work better for you. There’s also the fact that the smallest Kindle will still fit in a Loungefly bag (my standard for small bags).
The MP3 player has the advantage of being less expensive and comes with everything you need. And if you need more space, depending on the MP3 player you bought, you can just up the storage with a new SD card. The MP3 player I bought can accept up to a 512GB SD card. And did I mention there are no ads on the purse Kindle? Well, now I have.
Android 9 Warning
The current purse Kindle has one major downside and that is that most of the mp3 players on the market right now run Android 9. With Android 15 on the verge of release, it’s likely the Android 9 OS will be obsolete before you can get much use out of it. If you plan on going the purse Kindle route, make sure to get an mp3 player with Android 12 or above to get the most use out of your money.
Purse Kindle Makes Sense for Me
A purse Kindle makes sense for me. The size, ability to put it on a lanyard without breaking my neck, and ease of reading on it all make it my personal choice at the moment for when I’m out and about. It may not seem like the most practical thing to spend $59 on, but it’s not breaking my bank either. For some, this might be a passing fad and the shine will lose its glisten eventually, and if it does, so be it. It’s a fun, harmless fad that for now has me reading when I’m out of the house and enjoying the experience more.
