So, starting my experiences with the new $69 Kindle vs. Kindle PW and other models. For brevity, I will name the new black "$69" dollar non-touch Kindle as the "Kindle 5". I will refer to the previous generation, grey "$79" Kindle as the "Kindle 4".
The box:
As I said before, Kindle 5 comes in black, angled and rip-sealed a box very similar to Kindle PW - so it has the dark look, instead of the brown boxes of past generations. On the side reads Kindle on shiny black, instead of Kindle Paperwhite. Inside the USB cord (white) and a couple of pieces of paper, just like on the PW.
The looks:
At first glance the Kindle 5 is just like the Kindle 4, only black, with a white Kindle logo on top (where as Kindle 4 is two-tone grey with a grey logo). The buttons are the same: power on the bottom, two page change buttons on each side and four buttons + the five-way controller on top.
From the top Kindle 5 looks a little shinier, where as the Kindle 4 is bit more matte. Things are reversed on the back, which is more matte on the Kindle 5. The black back of Kindle 5 feels a little more rubbery than the grey-painted back of Kindle 4, there may be either a change of material or coloring process on the back.
Kindle 5 colors are pretty much like those on the Kindle Paperwhite, although PW has a rubbery edge, where as Kindle 5 edge is plastic. Of the three, the grey Kindle 4 seems least prone to fingerprints, Kindle PW most prone - and Kindle 5 in between. It is possible that the bezel on Kindle 5 is the same material as Kindle PW, but Kindle 5 did feel a little less prone to fingerprinting than PW.
Overall, the differences between Kindle 4, 5 and even PW are very subtle. PW is a little larger and certainly heavier, but overall all three devices look very similar next to each other. I do prefer the dark, singularly black look of the Kindle 5 and Kindle PW over the grey fourth generation, the two-tone grey is a little busy on the previous generation. The fifth generation black may look a little more plasticy than the fourth generation grey due to being a little shinier, but it also looks more durable and in the end, probably helps the screen pop out better too.
Amazon lighted leather cover:
Kindle 5 obviously fits the (disappointing) black Kindle 4 lighted leather case from Amazon. The holder part of the case is black or dark grey, much darker than the grey Kindle 4, but lighter than the Kindle 5. So the lighted leather case fits both Kindle 4 and Kindle 5 equally well or bad, however you want to look at it, neither blend in with the case colors. Not that it really would bother anyone. If you like the Amazon lighted cover for Kindle 4, it will work equally well with the Kindle 5 too. (I don't like the case on either one and am looking forward to receiving an alternative I have ordered. More on that when it gets here.)
Safe to say, the black Amazon leather case for Kindle PW is miles above and beyond the Kindle 4 leather case. The official PW case is very high quality and the magnetic closing mechanism (which turns Kindle PW on and off as needed) is obviously a great bonus over the Kindle 4/5 case, which has no such feature and is inferior in quality too. So, if you can live with the PW and without a case light, the Kindle PW leather cover from Amazon is certainly wondeful.
The software:
The new Kindle 5 runs software version 4.1.0, exactly the same as has been updated to my grey Kindle 4 - so functionally expect these devices to be identical. Of course this version is a far cry from the Kindle PW software, missing cover view, missing changeable fonts and missing X-Ray. It does have parental controls and panel view for comics, though, but it is a much simpler, more traditional Kindle experience. If you want the latest goodies, you better keep your eyes on the touch-enabled Kindles.
Kindle 4/5 does have some things Kindle PW doesn't, though, such as easy chapter skip, reading progress bar on the bottom and four-way screen rotation, since Amazon has decided to simplify certain software features in the PW.
The screen:
This was, of course, the (at least temporary) deal-breaker on the Kindle PW for me. I like the pure e-ink experience without integrated lights - and the screen-likeness - adding those introduced to e-ink. Obviously Kindle 5 is pure e-ink, no capacitive touch layer or frontlight light guide layer like on the Kindle PW. Just that magical e-ink right there, on top of the screen.
When the frontlight is set to minimum on the PW in a well-lit room, it doesn't really look all that different compared to the Kindle 4 and 5, so those additional layers on top aren't that much of distraction when the frontlight is not visible. The topmost layer on all three Kindles shines under a light in a very similar way, so in a lighted room without the Kindle PW frontlight glaring, they look quite the same.
Differences in the screens start to appear when looking closer. Compared to Kindle 4/5, the Kindle PW screen, even with the frontlight to minimum, looks more washed out. The fonts are not nearly as black on the PW. Although font-to-font differences are part of the reason, I doubt they are the whole reason. It seems that the higher resolution and those two additional layers on top of the PW screen are resulting in a lower contrast on the PW compared to the higher-contrast Kindle 4 and 5.
Comparing the new Kindle 5 to Kindle 4, I can confirm the differences many have reported here. While the technical specs are roughly the same, it is clear that there is more than just a bezel-color change going on. The black bezel on Kindle 5 does increase the contrast somewhat, but the text on Kindle 5 is definitely darker than on Kindle 4 and darkest of the bunch here. (My old Kindle 2 looks really washed out next to the Kindle 5.)
I don't know how much it is because of a new screen or font adjustments on the Kindle 5 - I'm guessing it is a new screen, because the software on my Kindle 4 and 5 is the same.
The verdict:
I am yet to get a satisfactory reading lamp for either the Kindle 5 or Kindle PW (if I'm ever going to get such a thing), so comparisons in the dark will have to wait. I will also do comparisons with Kindle 3 Keyboard and more PW testing later on, as has been suggested above. But for now, in a lighted room, which one of these feels the best when reading?
Holding in front of me, without covers, all three: Kindle PW, Kindle 5 and Kindle 4... it is clear that two of these look better and one is the best. Unfortunately for the PW, the ones that look better are Kindle 4 and 5. Even though the PW can be made whiter by turning the light up, it still doesn't really feel white, as much as glowing - and the e-ink magic, to me, is lost. Kindle 4/5 may be "pocket book drab" in the color of their page, but the great contrast, black text, flawless screen (no light unevenness to think about, like on the PW) just put the baby Kindles miles above the PW. They are just that much better.
The PW does have an edge when displaying pictures due to the added resolution, but when displaying text it seems to loose that - the text on Kindle 4/5 looks sharper, crisper, where as the added resolution on the PW seems to just make the text feel more shallow somehow.
As for the best of the bunch, clearly Kindle 5 is superior to all of the three. The difference compared to Kindle 4 is distinct enough. Whether it is the bezel color or the screen or whatever, definitely the blackest text can be had on the new Kindle 5.
Wow. It's just wonderful. I better go read now! I'll look into lighted cases, PW under lighting, Kindle 3 Keyboard comparisons and so forth later, when I get the goods and the times.