Do the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) and Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen) use the same screensaver size?

The Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) needs a 1236 x 1648 pixel screensaver and the Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen) needs 1072 x 1448. They do not share a panel, so one image cannot fit both — export each separately.

Which has the sharper screen?

Neither — both panels run at 300 ppi, so fine detail reproduces identically on the two devices. The 6.8-inch and 6-inch screens differ in physical size, but the density is matched.

Which should I size for if I own both?

Keep two files. Sizing for one and scaling it to the other reintroduces exactly the softness you avoided by cropping precisely in the first place. Export at 1236 x 1648 for the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) and 1072 x 1448 for the Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen).

Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) vs Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen)

The Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) needs 1236 × 1648 px and the Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen) needs 1072 × 1448 px. They do not share a panel, so one image cannot fit both. Both panels run at 300 ppi.

This is the upgrade path most Paperwhite owners have taken, and it is where a screensaver that worked for years suddenly stops fitting. The 10th generation was the last of a long run of 6-inch Paperwhites; the 11th broke that run with a 6.8-inch panel that Amazon has never used anywhere else.

Specifications Side by Side

Screen specifications for the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) and the Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen)
	Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)	Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen)
Screensaver size	1236 × 1648 px	1072 × 1448 px
Screen size	6.8-inch	6-inch
Pixel density	300 ppi	300 ppi
Aspect ratio	1:1.33	1:1.35
Panel	Greyscale e-ink	Greyscale e-ink
Manufacturer	Amazon	Amazon

The bottom line: The old image does not carry over. What makes this pair worth understanding is the reuse: a 10th Gen image also fits the basic Kindle 11th Gen, three Kobo Claras and the Nook GlowLight 4, while an 11th Gen Paperwhite image fits that one model and nothing else in the range.

Choosing an Image for Each

Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)

At 6.8 inches this sits between the 6-inch and 7-inch Kindles, and its 1236 x 1648 panel is shared with no other device on this list. An image sized for any other Kindle will be cropped or letterboxed.

Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) screensaver size →

Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen)

Paperwhites up to and including the 10th generation all use the same 6-inch 1072 x 1448 panel, so one image covers every model in that range — and also fits the 11th-generation basic Kindle.

Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen) screensaver size →

Setting a Screensaver on Either Device

Both models use the same procedure, so whichever you own, the steps are identical once the image is the right size.

The procedure

Kindle has no official custom screensaver setting. The standard non-jailbreak workaround is to turn your image into an EPUB whose cover is that image, send it to the device, and let the lock screen show the current book's cover. The cover setting is hidden entirely on ad-supported Kindles, so ads have to be removed from the device first.

Resize the image. Size the image to your Kindle's exact screen resolution using the resizer above, then download it.
Convert it to an EPUB cover. Use Calibre or an image-to-EPUB converter to build an EPUB whose cover image is the file you just downloaded.
Send it to your Kindle. Email the EPUB to your Send to Kindle address, or upload it through the Send to Kindle web page.
Turn on the cover setting. On the Kindle, open Settings > Device Options and enable the setting that shows the current book's cover on the lock screen. Depending on firmware it is labelled Show Cover or Display Cover, and it does not appear at all on ad-supported devices.
Open the book and sleep the device. Sync, open the new EPUB so it becomes the current book, then put the Kindle to sleep. The lock screen shows your image.

Full Kindle screensaver guide →

Kindle PW (11th Gen) vs Kindle PW (10th Gen & earlier) FAQ

Do the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) and Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen) use the same screensaver size?: The Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) needs a 1236 x 1648 pixel screensaver and the Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen) needs 1072 x 1448. They do not share a panel, so one image cannot fit both — export each separately.
Which has the sharper screen?: Neither — both panels run at 300 ppi, so fine detail reproduces identically on the two devices. The 6.8-inch and 6-inch screens differ in physical size, but the density is matched.
Is the setup process different?: No. Both are Amazon devices using the same method. Kindle has no official custom screensaver setting. The standard non-jailbreak workaround is to turn your image into an EPUB whose cover is that image, send it to the device, and let the lock screen show the current book's cover. The cover setting is hidden entirely on ad-supported Kindles, so ads have to be removed from the device first.
Which should I size for if I own both?: Keep two files. Sizing for one and scaling it to the other reintroduces exactly the softness you avoided by cropping precisely in the first place. Export at 1236 x 1648 for the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) and 1072 x 1448 for the Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen).

Related Comparisons

See every e-reader screensaver size →