Which Kindle Should I Buy?: An In-Depth Comparison of Different Kindle Models

9 months ago 55

Arvyn Cerézo is an arts and civilization writer/reporter with bylines successful Book Riot, Publishers Weekly, South China Morning Post, PhilSTAR Life, the Asian Review of Books, and different publications. You tin find them connected arvyncerezo.com and @ArvynCerezo connected Twitter.

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Whether you similar the institution oregon not, Amazon’s Kindle remains the champion ereader. Kindle has been astir for implicit 15 years, and it has already launched a assortment of devices that person undergone respective iterations. It came each the mode from a bulky and awkward keyboard-equipped ereader to a sleek, touchscreen one. Through the years, determination were variations released and gone, specified arsenic the Kindle DX and Kindle Voyage. As of the moment, Amazon keeps 7 large devices successful the Kindle line. With a plethora of choices, it tin beryllium overwhelming to prime one. So I effort to shed airy to each imaginable Kindle owner’s question: Which Kindle should I buy?

It depends connected your needs and budget, and there’s nary close and incorrect reply here. The champion Kindles are the ones that suit your preferences. But earlier you determine connected your adjacent speechmaking companion, I did a broad Kindle examination by breaking down the differences of each of the 7 Kindle models presently available. There’s the basal Kindle; basal Kindle Kids; the Kindle Paperwhite, which has the standard, signature, and kids edition; and the Oasis. I’ll interruption it down by price, features, pros, cons, and reviews among different things. Being an ebook connoisseur, I besides shared my 2 cents connected Amazon’s latest Kindle device, the Kindle Scribe. The caller Kindle, which features a large surface and the quality to enactment sticky notes connected ebooks, was released successful 2022.

With assorted options available, I’m definite that there’s a Kindle that would acceptable your lifestyle. And with this broad comparison, I’m definite that the ever-proverbial user question “which Kindle should I buy?!” won’t beryllium truthful daunting anymore.

Which Kindle Should I Buy?: What Are All the Different Models of Kindle

Entry-Level Kindle Devices

Basic Kindle: The basal Kindle, which has a 6-inch surface display, encompasses each the modular features of an ereader, but for being waterproof.

Basic Kindle Kids edition: The Kindle Kids edition, designed with children successful mind, comes with a child-friendly screen and a 6-inch screen.

With this variation, Amazon introduced the rank work Amazon Kids+ that has audiobooks and ebooks disposable to children aged 3 to 12. It comes for escaped successful the archetypal year, but the subscription renews astatine $4.99 USD per period aft the consequent year. This Kindle besides has a Parent Dashboard diagnostic that allows parents to spot their child’s speechmaking progress, alteration the property filters, adhd ebooks from their relationship to their child’s library, acceptable a instrumentality bedtime, and more.

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Mid-Range Kindle Devices

Standard Kindle Paperwhite: The Kindle Paperwhite, a step-up from the basal Kindle, features a larger 6.8-inch surface and is waterproof.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition: The Kindle Paperwhite Signature variation offers the aforesaid features arsenic the modular version, specified arsenic a 6.8-inch screen, but besides includes further enhancements similar auto-adjusting light, 32GB of storage, and a wireless charging capability. It’s the premium variation of the Kindle Paperwhite.

Kindle Paperwhite Kids edition: The Kindle Paperwhite Kids edition, akin to the basal Kindle Kids edition, features a larger 6.8-inch surface and is waterproof.

High-End Kindle Devices

Kindle Oasis: The Kindle Oasis, a premium ereader, gives disconnected a luxurious consciousness with its aluminum backmost screen and comes with broadside buttons for leafage navigation. It’s waterproof and equipped with a larger 7-inch screen.

Kindle Scribe: The Kindle Scribe combines each the features of a modular ereader with a whopping 10.2-inch screen, making it perfect for reading, writing, and journaling. This exemplary comes with a basal oregon premium pen that doesn’t necessitate charging, and it magnetically attaches to the device. The premium pen has an eraser arsenic good arsenic a shortcut fastener that whitethorn beryllium utilized to rapidly determination betwixt a pen, highlighter, and different tools.

With this Kindle, readers tin import files done Send-to-Kindle from a web browser, the “Share” fastener of Kindle apps, oregon straight done Microsoft Word (but a Microsoft 365 rank is required for this). Readers tin besides adhd sticky notes to imported Microsoft Word documents oregon annotate imported PDF files.

In addition, readers tin marque handwritten sticky notes to astir Kindle ebooks. However, this diagnostic is not supported connected manga, comics, graphic novels, magazines, oregon newspapers. It’s important to cognize that readers can’t straight constitute connected an ebook’s leafage but that they tin marque sticky notes connected it that they tin constitute on.

Aside from being a notepad and journal, the Kindle Scribe besides has templates similar lined paper, agendas, to-do lists, and more. Readers tin besides signifier these “notebooks” by folders and subfolders.

All of the aforementioned devices are eligible for Kindle Unlimited, Amazon’s flagship ebook and audiobook subscription service.

Prices and Variations of Each Kindle Model

Note: if you take the enactment without lockscreen ads connected the devices below, the prices spell up higher by $20.

The basal Kindle is priced astatine $99.99 USD and is lone disposable with a retention capableness of 16GB. The basal Kindle Kids variation is priced astatine $119.99 USD and is lone disposable with a akin retention capacity. Additionally, it comes with 3 covers.

The Kindle Paperwhite is disposable successful 2 retention options, priced astatine $139.99 USD for the 8GB mentation and $149.99 USD for the 16GB version. It comes successful 3 colour options: black, denim, and agave green. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature variation is priced astatine $189.99 USD and is disposable successful black, denim, and agave greenish colour options. It offers a retention capableness of 32GB. Meanwhile, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids variation is priced astatine $159.99 USD for the 8GB mentation and $169.99 USD for the 16GB version. In summation to the expanded retention options, it besides comes successful 3 screen designs that disagree from that of the basal Kindle for kids.

The Kindle Oasis is priced astatine $249.99 USD for the 8GB mentation and $279.99 USD for the 32GB version. Meanwhile, the Kindle Scribe is disposable astatine a terms of $339.99 USD for the 16GB version, $389.99 USD for the 32GB version, and $419.99 USD for the 64GB version. As mentioned, this exemplary offers the prime betwixt a basal pen and a premium pen, with a $30 USD terms quality betwixt each. In the 32GB and 64GB versions of this model, the enactment to take the basal pen is not available, and lone the premium pen is automatically selected.

Pros of Each Kindle Model

The basal Kindle is the astir affordable enactment and provides an capable speechmaking acquisition for the bulk of readers.

Between the 2 options successful the child-friendly instrumentality line, the basal Kindle Kids is the cheaper option, making it a suitable prime for young readers. It has the added payment of Amazon Kids+ and features a assortment of screen designs.

Meanwhile, the Kindle Paperwhite modular variation is waterproof, features a larger surface size, and offers the convenience of an adjustable lukewarm light. On the different hand, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature variation besides has each of that and offers further features specified arsenic wireless charging, 32GB of storage, and an auto-adjusting lukewarm light. For children, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids variation provides a waterproof design, a larger surface size, appealing screen designs, and Amazon Kids+ subscription.

In the high-end devices, the Kindle Oasis shines with its broadside buttons, which is designed to facilitate easier reading. Its aluminum backmost screen provides further enactment and durability. With a larger surface size and the quality to automatically rotate, it offers an upgraded speechmaking experience. Meanwhile, the Kindle Scribe is simply a versatile instrumentality suitable for assorted purposes specified arsenic reading, journaling, note-taking, writing, and doodling.

Cons of Each Kindle Model

The basal Kindle isn’t waterproof, has a smaller surface size (though preferences whitethorn vary), and lacks the adjustable lukewarm airy functionality recovered successful different models. The basal Kindle Kids variation is besides not waterproof, and it’s worthy noting that the inclusion of covers whitethorn not beryllium necessary. There isn’t an enactment to exclude them anterior to purchase.

For Kindle Paperwhite modular edition, it’s important to see that the retention capableness of 8GB whitethorn beryllium constricted if you often perceive to audiobooks. On the different hand, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature variation comes with a higher terms tag, and it’s worthy noting that the wireless charging dock is sold separately. For children, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids variation is priced higher compared to the basal model, and it’s besides important to see that the covers whitethorn not beryllium necessary. I honestly find it bulky erstwhile reading.

Speaking of bulkiness, the Kindle Oasis is considered a much costly option, and immoderate readers noted concerns astir the value of the aluminum screen arsenic it whitethorn adhd immoderate bulk to the device. And owed to its larger size, it mightiness not acceptable easy into smaller pockets oregon bags. There person besides been complaints of comparatively shorter artillery beingness compared to different Kindle models.

Lastly, for the Kindle Scribe, this instrumentality comes with a steep terms tag, and it’s important to notation its limitations. The instrumentality doesn’t enactment penning notes connected sideloaded EPUBs oregon PDFs, lone connected those sent oregon converted via Send-to-Kindle feature. Additionally, it lacks connectivity to unreality retention services and is not waterproof.

Being a comparatively caller device, determination whitethorn inactive beryllium immoderate bugs, with immoderate users noting issues wherever their notebooks disappear. This instrumentality doesn’t besides enactment sticky notes connected manga, comics, graphic novels, magazines, oregon newspapers.

Amazon Reviews: What People Say astir Each Kindle Device

Some reviewers connected Amazon expressed complaints astir the basal Kindle, citing its smaller size arsenic not perfect for speechmaking manga and noting that it whitethorn consciousness sluggish. In addition, it lacks the diagnostic of a lukewarm light, which whitethorn beryllium a drawback for definite readers.

The basal Kindle Kids variation was criticized for having constricted Amazon Kids+ content. Some besides wrote that definite ebooks whitethorn not beryllium suitable for a circumstantial property group, and it whitethorn not beryllium the champion instrumentality for speechmaking representation books owed to their image-heavy quality and — since it’s powered by achromatic e-ink — deficiency of color. Additionally, determination were reviews astir buggy parental power functionality.

On the contrary, the Kindle Paperwhite modular variation received affirmative reviews, with galore considering it to beryllium the astir unchangeable model. The aforesaid was besides written astir the Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition, which garnered predominantly affirmative reviews. The 32GB retention capableness was praised for its quality to accommodate much audiobook listening. Overall, reviewers recommended this exemplary if you’re undecided betwixt the modular Paperwhite and the Oasis.

Based connected definite reviews, however, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids variation besides received antagonistic reviews for offering a constricted enactment of Amazon Kids+ content. And conscionable similar the basal edition, determination were concerns astir definite titles not being due for definite property groups.

For Kindle Oasis, immoderate readers expressed dissatisfaction astir its inability to disable rotation, the faster artillery drainage, and the reflection that the aluminum assemblage tin consciousness “cold to the touch.”

Based connected aggregate reviews, the Kindle Scribe besides received complaints from galore readers who experienced its buggy performance, including the lack of definite features similar papers syncing. As a comparatively new, archetypal procreation device, reviewers advised imaginable buyers to hold until these issues are resolved. But portion immoderate described it arsenic “overhyped,” the instrumentality was praised for its awesome hardware.

Which Kindle Suits You Best?: The Best Kindles According to Use Case

The basal Kindle is designed for wide speechmaking purposes, and it’s not suitable for usage astatine the formation oregon successful the bathtub. Though an entry-level device, it supports playing Audible audiobooks. Meanwhile, the basal Kindle for kids works conscionable good for children, providing Audible playback and parental controls for supervision.

In the mid-range devices, the Kindle Paperwhite modular variation is cleanable for speechmaking connected the formation oregon successful the bathtub arsenic it’s waterproof. Additionally, it supports audiobook playback done Audible. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature variation offers the aforesaid features arsenic the modular mentation but with added features specified arsenic accrued storage, wireless charging capability, and an adjustable surface airy for antithetic speechmaking environments. The Kindle Paperwhite Kids variation has each the features recovered successful the basal Kindle for kids, making it an perfect prime for children who request a somewhat larger screen, a water-proof device, oregon expanded retention for Audible.

In the high-end instrumentality line, the Kindle Oasis is for readers who similar the convenience of carnal buttons to navigate pages during reading, request a larger surface for an improved speechmaking experience, and emotion the luxurious plan of a premium device. Lastly, the Kindle Scribe is simply a versatile instrumentality that caters to assorted activities specified arsenic writing, journaling, and drawing, arsenic good arsenic taking notes connected ebooks oregon documents and speechmaking image-heavy ebooks.

Which Kindle Should I Buy?: The Best Kindles According to Your Budget

For the Cost-Conscious ($100 USD to $120 USD)

The basal Kindle is an affordable ereader suitable for wide speechmaking purposes. However, it’s not recommended for speechmaking adjacent the formation oregon h2o owed to its deficiency of h2o resistance.

The basal Kindle Kids variation provides a capable speechmaking acquisition for children, making it an fantabulous prime for parents connected a choky budget.

For Those Who Want to Splurge a Little Bit More for Extra Features ($140 USD to $190 USD)

The Kindle Paperwhite modular variation is an perfect prime if you similar a somewhat larger surface and program to bask speechmaking successful places specified arsenic the bathtub, adjacent the pool, beach, oregon sauna.

While the Kindle Paperwhite Signature variation offers features that are not importantly antithetic from the modular edition, it has a larger retention for much audiobooks, automatic surface brightness that adjusts based connected your surroundings, and the enactment for wireless charging.

For children, take the Kindle Paperwhite Kids variation if you privation a water-proof instrumentality that they tin safely instrumentality to the excavation oregon beach. Additionally, if you privation a larger retention capacity, this exemplary is the cleanable fit.

For Those Who Want a Luxury Device ($250 USD to $450 USD)

The Kindle Oasis caters to individuals who similar not to pat their screens portion speechmaking utilizing buttons connected the side. It besides appeals to those who privation a larger surface compared to that of the Paperwhite. And since this exemplary has an aluminum backmost cover, it adds a premium feel.

The Kindle Scribe, however, is not recommended if you’re lone funny successful speechmaking fabrication oregon text-based ebooks. It’s large erstwhile it comes to image-heavy ebooks specified arsenic manga, comics, and graphic novels. It’s besides large for students arsenic it enables note-taking connected ebooks and different documents. Artists whitethorn find it beneficial for doodling and different originative activities arsenic well.

Kindle inactive stands the champion marque erstwhile it comes to ereaders. Since Amazon releases tons of devices, iterations, and variations, sometimes, it’s hard to support way of the differences of each.

Still undecided? Here’s an in-depth comparison of Kindle Oasis and Kindle Paperwhite, and a review of the Kindle Scribe for erstwhile you privation to excavation deep.

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