Do the Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) and Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) use the same screensaver size?

The Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) needs a 1264 x 1680 pixel screensaver and the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) needs 1236 x 1648. 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 7-inch and 6.8-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 1264 x 1680 for the Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) and 1236 x 1648 for the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen).

Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) vs Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)

The Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) needs 1264 × 1680 px and the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) needs 1236 × 1648 px. They do not share a panel, so one image cannot fit both. Both panels run at 300 ppi.

These two sit next to each other in almost every buying guide and are near-impossible to tell apart in photographs, which is exactly why they cause more mis-sized screensavers than any other pair on this site. The 12th generation grew the screen from 6.8 to 7 inches, and the panel resolution moved with it.

Specifications Side by Side

Screen specifications for the Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) and the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)
	Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen)	Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)
Screensaver size	1264 × 1680 px	1236 × 1648 px
Screen size	7-inch	6.8-inch
Pixel density	300 ppi	300 ppi
Aspect ratio	1:1.33	1:1.33
Panel	Greyscale e-ink	Greyscale e-ink
Manufacturer	Amazon	Amazon

The bottom line: Size for the generation you actually own — the difference is only 28 pixels across, but it is enough to leave a visible band or a soft, rescaled image. If you are not sure which you have, Amazon's Manage Your Content and Devices page names the generation of every device registered to your account.

Choosing an Image for Each

Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen)

The 12th generation grew to a 7-inch panel, so an image sized for an 11th-generation Paperwhite will not fill it correctly. Check which generation you own before exporting.

Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) screensaver size →

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 →

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 (12th Gen) vs Kindle PW (11th Gen) FAQ

Do the Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) and Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) use the same screensaver size?: The Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) needs a 1264 x 1680 pixel screensaver and the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) needs 1236 x 1648. 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 7-inch and 6.8-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 1264 x 1680 for the Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) and 1236 x 1648 for the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen).

Related Comparisons

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