Amazon Kindle's digital manga experience review

Here's an overview of the digital manga experience within Amazon's Kindle ecosystem. In general, it receives high praise for its availability, reasonable pricing, and user-friendly interface. It's an excellent choice for digital manga collectors who are comfortable with Amazon's content ecosystem and the associated limitations.

Next, let's dive into a more detailed description of the experience when purchasing digital manga from the Amazon Kindle store.

This overview is based on my own experience, living in the continental United States. I mention this because prices, availability, and features might vary from region to region.

Buying: pricing, sales, and subscriptions

Amazon, as one of the largest online retailers globally, naturally offers competitive prices when it comes to buying digital manga. Their status as a retailer allows them to frequently provide discounts and sales, making them a compelling option when compared to other online digital stores.

The first volume of Attack on Titan was being offered for free on Bookwalker's digital manga store. Coincidentally, it was also being offered for free on Amazon Kindle store.

In my experience, if a manga volume is on sale on another platform, there's a strong likelihood that Amazon will offer a similar price. This consistency may be attributed to the pricing set by the publishers themselves.

What sets Amazon apart in the world of digital manga is its comics brand, Comixology. They offer a subscription service called Comixology Unlimited, which allows readers to 'borrow' and enjoy the first several volumes of qualifying manga series for free. While the library of complete series available via Comixology Unlimited may be limited, it's an excellent way to sample a series before committing to the purchase of the remaining volumes.

It's rare, but sometimes complete series can be read with Comixology Unlimited. For example, all 48 volumes of Initial D are available via the subscription.

As of the time of writing, Comixology Unlimited is available for a monthly subscription fee of $5.99. Given that individual manga volumes typically cost between $6 and $12 at full price, this subscription represents a worthwhile deal if you read at least one volume a month.

Unfortunately, only the first 8 volumes of Attack on Titan are included with Comixology Unlimited. You'll find this to be a recurring theme amongst Amazon Kindle's digital manga selection.

How to read your digital manga purchases

Reading digital manga on Kindle e-readers

The Kindle brand is closely associated with their black-and-white digital e-readers, so it comes as no surprise that you can enjoy your digital manga purchases on a Kindle e-reader. What's particularly convenient is that any digital manga you buy can be automatically downloaded to your Kindle e-reader, either at the time of purchase or directly through the e-reader itself when connected to Wi-Fi.

There is, however, one caveat to consider: Digital manga can be wirelessly delivered to Kindle Touch e-readers and all later models. For older models, including the original Kindle, Kindle 2 (2nd generation), Kindle 3 (Keyboard), or Kindle 4th generation devices, the process involves downloading digital manga purchases, converting them to the appropriate format, and transferring them via USB connection to a computer.

Wireless delivery of your digital manga purchases is a great feature of Amazon Kindle.

Reading digital manga on Kindle Desktop app

The Kindle desktop app is accessible for both Mac and PC, and you can download it via this link: https://www.amazon.com/b/node=16571048011

Reading digital manga through the Kindle desktop app is a pleasant experience for the most part. It offers features such as support for double-page spreads, full-screen mode, zooming, and convenient page navigation options, including the table of contents or the ability to jump to specific pages.

The overall reading experience for digital manga on the Kindle for PC desktop app is pretty good.

While it may not offer the most comprehensive manga reading experience on desktop, the Kindle desktop app excels at managing your digital manga purchases. This is particularly handy when you need to search for or filter through your manga collection.

Additionally, it allows you to organize your manga by creating custom collections. If you prefer to group your manga by criteria other than title, author, or series, you can easily create custom collections to suit your preferences.

One distinctive feature of the Kindle desktop app is its ability to upload non-Kindle manga purchases, which will then appear as 'documents' in your Kindle library. These 'documents' can be managed just like your Kindle store purchases. There are, however, two important caveats to keep in mind:

documents do not have thumbnails, and
only specific document formats can be uploaded (PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF, HTM, HTML, PNG, GIF, JPG, JPEG, BMP, EPUB), and they must be less than 200MB.

When viewing with the desktop app, my collection of non-Kindle digital manga has no cover thumbnails :(

Reading digital manga on the Kindle mobile app

The Kindle app is also available for iOS and Android, and for the most part, it maintains feature parity with the desktop app. All the search, filter, and management features are present. However, there are two notable changes when it comes to the reading experience:

On mobile devices, double-page spread reading is not available. If you're using a tablet, it functions the same as the desktop app.
Mobile devices feature a page turn animation that cannot be disabled. One workaround is to use the volume buttons for page turns, although some users might find this method slightly uncomfortable, especially when switching between left-to-right and right-to-left manga reading.

Phone (left) vs Tablet (right). On devices with larger screens within the Kindle app, you can enhance your reading experience with double-page spreads in digital manga. Simply tilt your device to landscape mode to enjoy these spreads fully. This feature is particularly nice for a title like "One Punch Man", which makes excellent use of double-page layouts

One interesting feature available on the Kindle mobile app (as well as on Kindle e-readers) is "Kindle Panel View" or "Guided View." According to Amazon, "Kindle Panel View is a guided navigation experience that allows the author to control the story flow as readers progress through the book. Kindle Panel View provides a better customer experience on smaller form factor devices, such as the Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle iPhone app, and Kindle Android app." Essentially, when you click on a manga panel, page turns will proceed from panel to panel rather than turning the entire page.

The North American release of "Blade of the Immortal" can be tricky to read due to its altered layout from the Japanese original. Fortunately, the panel view feature comes to the rescue, guiding readers through the correct panel order and significantly improving the reading experience

As suggested, this works well for smaller screen sizes. In my experience, this also works well when it's not clear what the correct reading flow should be (i.e. The Blade of The Immortal's English translation).

Reading kindle manga purchases via web browser

Amazon Kindle's expansive library is not just limited to hand-held devices; you can delve into your collection of titles through their web-based reader by navigating to Kindle Cloud Reader, available at https://read.amazon.com. This platform largely mirrors the functionality of the desktop app with a few distinct variations worth noting.

Minor differences in Kindle Cloud Reader (left) vs Kindle for desktop PC (right)

Library Groupings: Both interfaces categorize your library on the left side of the screen, yet they curate the categories differently. Notably, the web version boasts a 'Comics' section, catering to graphic novel enthusiasts. In contrast, the desktop app replaces this with 'Documents,' a section devoted to your uploaded personal digital documents linked to your Amazon account.
Collection Management: A feature exclusive to the desktop app is the ability to manage your collections. While the web version falls short here, it compensates by granting access to your 'Notes & Highlights' for non-manga Kindle books, ensuring that your annotations are not lost in the cloud.
Content Accessibility: Some books, particularly older titles or (manga-adjancent) light novels, cannot be opened in the browser. Although I haven't conducted comprehensive testing, it is worth noting if you're going to be using Amazon Cloud Reader exclusively.

Some kindle titles can't be read in the web browser.

To determine whether a title is compatible with Kindle Cloud Reader, you can visit the store page for the book and look for the "Available on these devices" section, where 'Kindle Cloud Reader' should be listed if it's supported.

Check if the digital manga you want to read is compatible with your reading device.

Offline reading

A notable limitation of the Kindle Cloud Reader is its necessity for a constant internet connection to access your digital manga library. However, the content does load swiftly, sparing you from the potentially lengthy download times associated with the desktop and mobile apps, as well as Kindle e-readers. This instant access can be particularly advantageous for manga enthusiasts, considering the typically large file sizes of manga volumes.

Airplane mode can easily be found by swiping downward from the top of your touch-enabled kindle.

Once you've downloaded a title to your device using one of Kindle's apps or e-readers, an internet connection is no longer necessary. There's no expiration on downloaded content, so you're free to enjoy your reading offline for as long as you like—perfect for those times when you're away from reliable internet service.

It's worth noting, though, that going offline does come with a trade-off. One of the stellar features of Kindle's ecosystem is the ability to sync your reading progress across all your devices—desktop, mobile, e-reader, or Cloud Reader. To take advantage of this seamless experience, you do need to be online. Thus, if staying in sync is crucial to your reading experience, maintaining internet connectivity is essential

DRM (digital rights management)

Addressing the realm of digital content inevitably brings us to the conversation about DRM, or Digital Rights Management. For most who purchase and indulge in digital manga through Kindle's exclusive apps and e-readers, DRM may not present a day-to-day concern. For many readers, that level of simplicity is sufficient.

Without delving deep into the ethical and legal debates surrounding DRM and Kindle Store content, it's important to understand that when you "buy" a Kindle book, you're essentially acquiring a license to read the content, not owning the book in the traditional sense. While Amazon retains the right to revoke access to the content, my personal experience since 2009 has been positive, with no revocations. However, other users have reported different experiences.

The presence of DRM essentially means that purchasing, reading, and transferring your digital manga is subject to certain limitations. These constraints become particularly evident in a couple of scenarios that I've encountered:

Device Compatibility: Kindle's DRM can be a hurdle if you're trying to read your manga on non-Kindle e-readers or devices. Despite the popularity of alternative e-readers like Kobo among digital manga fans, content purchased from the Kindle Store isn't directly compatible with them.
Device Limitations: Each Kindle book is typically tied to a limit on how many devices you can simultaneously use to read it, often ranging between 3-6 devices. If you reach this limit, you must deregister the title from one device before you can open it on another. While most users are unlikely to encounter these limits, they can become a nuisance for those who juggle their reading across multiple platforms.

Reading the same title on multiple devices can lead to this awkward situation.

For avid Kindle users with multiple devices, such as myself, these DRM-related restrictions are something to be mindful of, although they may not impact the average user.

Removing DRM from digital manga

Despite the constraints imposed by DRM, it's important to note that it can be removed from Kindle books. This addresses the two main limitations I previously mentioned:

Wider Device Compatibility: Once DRM is removed, your digital manga can be enjoyed on a variety of e-reader devices, as well as mobile and desktop apps, vastly expanding your reading options.
No Device Limit: Removing DRM also eliminates the device limit, allowing you to access your manga on any number of devices without restrictions.

While I'm not delving into the specifics of DRM removal from Kindle purchases in this post, it's certainly feasible with some effort. For those interested in exploring this further, here are a couple of resources that could be a good starting point:

Considering the complexities and nuances involved in navigating digital manga collections on Amazon Kindle, I'm contemplating adding a comprehensive guide to this blog. This guide will aim to demystify the process, covering everything from acquiring manga to understanding and managing DRM restrictions.

The methods for removing DRM can vary significantly depending on the source of your manga. Such a guide would not only clarify these variations but also provide step-by-step instructions tailored to different scenarios. My goal is to make your digital manga experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible, even in the face of these technical hurdles.

So, stay tuned for this upcoming guide, which I hope will serve as a valuable resource for both seasoned collectors and newcomers to the world of digital manga.

Overall digital manga experience on Amazon Kindle

In summarizing the experience of amassing a digital manga collection via Amazon Kindle, let's weigh the advantages and drawbacks:

Pros:

Competitive Pricing: Amazon often offers decent pricing, usually matches cheapest prices, making it an economical choice.
Comixology Subscription: This service is excellent for sampling the initial volumes of a series, particularly if you're undecided about making a purchase.
Synchronized Page Progress: The ability to sync your reading progress across devices is highly convenient, complemented by effective library management.
Offline Reading: The option to read downloaded manga offline enhances flexibility and accessibility.

Cons:

DRM Restrictions: Depending on how you prefer to consume your manga, DRM can be a limiting factor.
Limited Library Portability: Kindle books are not readily accessible through non-Amazon apps, which can be a drawback for those using multiple platforms.
Incomplete Series: Amazon’s manga library, while extensive, sometimes has series with missing volumes, which can be frustrating for collectors aiming to complete a series.

Overall, I recommend Amazon Kindle as a platform for purchasing digital manga, but it's wise to keep these considerations in mind. Whether these factors weigh heavily will depend on your personal reading habits and preferences.

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