Complete Guide To The Different Types Of Kindle In 2020

While not everyone is a huge fan of e-readers, it’s hard to disagree that they have completely changed the way we read.

Books have never been more accessible and portable than they are now. Our phones have allowed us to carry entire libraries in our pockets, but e-readers bring reading to an entirely new level.

amazon kindle

There are many brands of e-readers on the market today; one of the most popular is the Amazon Kindle. Because of its sleek design and a good selection of books, Amazon Kindle has been dominating the e-reader market ever since its release in 2007.

For more than a decade, Amazon Kindle has continually improved on their e-reader design, adding newer and better features with each reiteration.

If you’re in the market for an Amazon Kindle, you may be a bit overwhelmed with all the different models available. Amazon Kindles come in design, each model with its own functions. All of them make fantastic e-readers, but the model you choose should depend on the features that you need from your e-reader.

The three latest models of Kindle are the Kindle Oasis, Kindle Paperwhite, and the All New Kindle. In the following sections, we’re going to be breaking down their differences, their strengths and weaknesses, and what type of reader they will be perfect for.

Kindle Oasis

Of all three models, the Kindle Oasis is the oldest, released back in October of 2017. Since its release, the Kindle Oasis has been touted as the ideal Amazon Kindle reader, despite its price.

Within this line-up, the Kindle Oasis is also the most expensive, with a base price of $250. However, its features and sleek design made it popular among e-book lovers.

Hardware

Business Insider considers the second-gen Kindle Oasis to be the best of the Amazon Kindle line-up. The design of the Kindle Oasis completely changed the landscape for e-book readers.

It was Oasis that introduced a sleek, flat surface and a thin body. The button placements were intuitive, making for a comfortable reading experience.

The Oasis was very portable as well; its sleek design made it very light, and it could go for weeks on a single charge. The Oasis was also one of the first e-readers to be waterproof, making them very popular among bookworms who loved to travel or lounge by the pool.

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Internal Specs

Depending on how many books (and other types of media) you want to take with you, the Kindle Oasis comes in either 8 or 32 GB of storage.

With Bluetooth capabilities, you could also connect your earphones if you want to listen to audiobooks. The second-gen Kindle Oasis can also use Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity.

Best for Serious E-Book Readers

The latest model of the Kindle Oasis is available in graphite and champagne gold, at a base price of $250. When it comes to people who truly want to invest in an e-reader, the Kindle Oasis is the model for you.

Of all the models that are currently on the market, the Oasis brings all the innovations that make e-readers enjoyable and puts them together in a smart and aesthetically pleasing design.

The price range may be a bit too high for some people, but the features speak for themselves.

All New Kindle Oasis

For those who want to stay ahead of the curve, Amazon is also gearing up to release the newest design of the Kindle Oasis: the All New Kindle Oasis. The All New Kindle Oasis is slated to be an update on the second-gen Kindle Oasis.

Compared side by side, there isn’t much of a difference between the second-gen Kindle Oasis and the All New Kindle Oasis. They both still have the same specifications: a 7-inch screen display at 300 ppi, waterproof capabilities, and a similar design to its body.

The biggest difference between the two models is that the All New Kindle Oasis has an adjustable warm light.  While it may seem like a small feature, warm light capability can be vital.

Digital screens are very harsh on our eyes, and we look at screens so much in our day to day lives that strain is a routine cause of migraines. Bright screens have also been linked to a lack of sleep in our general population; a lack of sleep almost always leads to poor health and illness.

For a device that can be very damaging to our eyes, a warm light capability is an excellent step toward having a healthier relationship with our electronics.

Best for New Readers Who Want to Invest In New Models

The All New Kindle Oasis is slightly more expensive than the second-gen Kindle Oasis, starting at about $280 (compared to the second-gen’s $250.)

If you already own a Kindle Oasis, buying this new model may not be too much of an upgrade (although you can always resell your old model through the trade-in program).

For those who are planning to buy an entirely new Kindle model, however, the All New Kindle Oasis may be a good investment.

kindle reader

Kindle Paperwhite

Like the Oasis, the Kindle Paperwhite introduced new functions that changed the way e-readers work, due to its illumination feature.

Other than that, it was also a great go-to model for those who wanted a quality device but didn’t have the budget for a Kindle Oasis.

Hardware

The first-gen Kindle Paperwhite was the first e-reader to have front light illumination. After the initial Kindle Paperwhite, subsequent models have then included the front screen illumination in their design.

Front screen illumination was a smart feature, allowing readers to enjoy a more natural reading experience. Rather than emitting light from the screen into the reader’s eyes, light was now illuminated onto the page.

Front-lit screens mimicked the way that books are read in real life, which also lessened the glare on readers’ eyes. Less glare meant that you could read more books for longer, as your eyes wouldn’t be working so hard.

Subsequent models improved on the front-lit screen function of the first-gen Kindle Paperwhite. The current Paperwhite model, called the fourth-gen Paperwhite, was released back in November of 2018. Unfortunately, unlike the Kindle Oasis, this model does not have automatic brightness adjustment.

Automatic brightness adjustment means that your e-reader can detect the light conditions in your environment, and then automatically adjust its brightness levels. In other words, you can keep reading, even if you’re moving between different areas or if light changes when you’re reading outdoors.

If you feel like automatic illumination is important to you, the Kindle Oasis may be the better investment. Despite its illumination, its battery can last very long. A single charge can last you weeks, even if you are constantly reading with the brightness turned up to the highest setting.

Like the Oasis, the Paperwhite is also waterproof. They both also have the same storage capabilities; you can choose between 8 GB of storage and 32 GB of storage. Both also have Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity.

When it comes to its screen, the Paperwhite has similar specifications to the Kindle Oasis. They both have the same 300 ppi display, and they only have an inch of difference between screen size (6 inches for the Paperwhite and 7 inches for the Oasis.)

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The most significant difference between the display of the Oasis and the Paperwhite is the number of front light LEDs; the Kindle Oasis can create brighter illumination at 25 LEDs; the Paperwhite, meanwhile, only has 5.

The biggest drawback of the Kindle Paperwhite is its lack of buttons. You will need to swipe the screen to switch between pages. If you feel like this is going to be a problem for you, you’re better off buying the Kindle Oasis.

Other than the lack of buttons, there isn’t that much of a difference in the design between the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Oasis.

Internal Specifications

The Kindle Paperwhite has similar storage capabilities to the Oasis, at 8 GB and 32 GB.

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular connectivity are also available.

Here’s a video explaining more about the Kindle Paperwhite.

Best for Readers on a Budget

For those who are on a budget, but can still afford to splurge a bit on an e-reader, the Paperwhite is the model for you.

The Paperwhite is available on Amazon for the base price of $130, almost $100 cheaper than the Oasis.

For its price, it doesn’t have as many functions as the Oasis, although it has all the functions it needs to make reading an enjoyable experience.

All New Kindle

Also known as the Kindle 9, the All New Kindle is the latest release from the Amazon Kindle line-up.

It also is the cheapest e-reader among this collection at a base price of $90, making the ideal entry-level e-reader for those just dipping their toes.

Despite its price, the Kindle 9 has all the necessary features that you need from a reliable e-reader.

There is a strong price difference, but the hardware for the All New Kindle and the Kindle Paperwhite are almost the same. It has the same screen size as the Kindle Paperwhite at 6 inches and it’s also glare-free.

What’s great about the Kindle 9 model is, unlike its predecessors, it now has illumination. It has one less LED with the Kindle Paperwhite, however, which means that it will have a slightly dimmer display.

Of course, this may not truly impact your experience if you don’t often read in bright areas.

kindle paperwhite

Internal Specifications

The Kindle 9’s screen display is at the lowest resolution at 167 ppi. It also has the smallest storage capacity of all the models currently on the market at 4 GB.

However, the Kindle 9 also has Bluetooth functions for those who like listening to audiobooks and it can last weeks on a single charge. Apart from that, however, there isn’t much to the Kindle 9.

Perfect for Casual Readers

Despite its drawbacks, the Kindle 9 is the lightest model on the market. This lightweight design makes it perfect for those who don’t do a lot of reading, but who still want to own an e-reader.

It’s also great for those who aren’t yet sure if they’re comfortable with e-readers.

Finally, this design would suit parents who don’t want to splurge on a gadget that their kid may forget in less than a week. At its incredibly low price of $90, the All New Kindle does the job.

This video goes into more detail on the All New Kindle.

Which is Right for You?

No matter your reason for buying a new Kindle, there is something in this line-up for you. The three models on the market today cater to everyone looking to buy a Kindle.

The best model for you depends on two main things: your budget and how often you will be using your Kindle to read.

If you’re regularly reading or listening to audiobooks, the Oasis is the perfect model. Despite its price, you are bound to get your money’s worth from the Kindle Oasis. It’s also a good investment for people who know they will be using their Kindle often.

For those who don’t want to splurge too much on an e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite is a great choice. The Oasis does have a lot of fancy functions, but the Kindle Paperwhite is a reliable model at a reasonable price.

It’s also an excellent middle ground between the Kindle 9 and the Oasis. If you like to do a spot of reading now and then, the Paperwhite is a great model for you.

Lastly, the Kindle 9 is there for people who are still unsure about e-readers. They’re a great way to introduce yourself to e-books.

Even if it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, the Kindle 9 gets the job done, and it does it pretty well. Now that it has front light illumination, the Kindle 9 has never been more budget-friendly.

Picking an e-reader may feel like a daunting task, but here, we have determined the essential aspects of the different Kindles, so you can make the best choice. So, go out there and read!


What’s your favorite Amazon Kindle?

Staff Writer

1 Comment

  1. Good article but you mentioned nothing about the screen. I just lost my beloved Kindle Voyage and the glass paper like screen was incredible, plus the haptic page turning. I don’t see the Oasis, expensive as it is, filling the Voyage’s shoes. Any chance they will bring it back?

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