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Comparing Formats

To determine how to prepare a book for the best Kindle experience, key elements in the source are identified and evaluated against the different conversion formats. Some formats are specifically designed for certain types of books (e.g., panel view for comics), but more complex books must be analyzed to determine the best fit for the title. Only one format can be used for each Kindle book.

This chart compares our most common Kindle book formats.

Conversion Format Best Suited To Key Features Supported Devices Limitations Supports Enhanced Typesetting Guidelines
Reflowable Text-heavy titles Adjustable orientation

Adjustable font settings

Dictionary look-up

Highlighting

Supports screen reader and refreshable braille displays

Word search

X-Ray
All Kindle devices and applications Some complex layouts may be difficult or impossible to replicate Yes Creating Reflowable Books
Fixed Layout with Text Pop-Ups Image-heavy books with a low volume of text, such as children's picture books or coffee table books Fixed layout

Text popups
Fire tablets

Kindle for Android

Kindle for iOS

Kindle Cloud Reader

Kindle E-reader (on a case by case basis)
No text selection, dictionary, or user font settings

No screen reader support
No Creating Fixed-Layout Books with Text Pop-Ups
Fixed Layout with Image Pop-Ups (Panel View) Comics or graphic novels of low complexity with uniform rectangular panels Fixed layout

Image popups
Kindle Ereader (3rd generation and later)

Fire tablets

Kindle for Android

Kindle for iOS

Kindle Cloud Reader
No text selection, dictionary, or user font settings

No screen reader support
Yes, if there is no hybrid text (see details) Creating Fixed-Layout Books with Image Pop-Ups or Virtual Panels
Fixed Layout with Virtual Panels (Manga) Highly complex comics that use irregularly sized panels or art that extends past the borders of pop-ups, such as manga Adjustable orientation

Virtual panels

Synthetic spreads (in landscape)

Pinch-to-zoom
Fire tablets (2 nd generation and later)

Kindle E-reader (touch screen models only)

Kindle for Android

Kindle for iOS

Kindle Cloud Reader
No text selection, dictionary, or user font settings

No screen reader support
No Creating Fixed-Layout Books with Image Pop-Ups or Virtual Panels
Fixed Layout without Pop-Ups Image-heavy books with large text Fixed layout

Dictionary look-up

Highlighting

Word search

X-Ray
Kindle E-reader (text selectability features are not supported)

Fire tablets

Kindle for Android

Kindle for iOS

Kindle Cloud Reader (text selectability features are not supported)
Only for use on books with type large enough to be read on all devices without magnification

No user font settings

No screen reader support
No Creating Fixed-Layout Books Without Pop-Ups
Kindle Edition with Audio/Video Text-heavy titles with audio and/or video content Adjustable orientation

Adjustable text settings

Dictionary look-up

Highlighting

Word search

X-Ray

Inline audio and video
Fire tablets (2nd generation and later)

Kindle for iOS
KF8 features are not currently supported in Kindle Edition with Audio/Video content (see details)

No screen reader support
No Creating Kindle Edition with Audio/Video Content

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