If you're an avid reader, buying a Kindle might be a great investment to take your reading with you everywhere. Kindles are easier on the eyes, they read more like paper than phones do, they can carry thousands of books, and they have incredible battery life.

Convinced? Good. Now, there are several Kindle models you can choose between. Here's how you pick the right kind of Kindle for your particular needs without wasting any money.

The Kindle Oasis

The Kindle Oasis is Amazon's greatest offering in the Kindle line of e-readers. Think of it as the luxury model—extravagantly expensive, remarkably gorgeous, and ultimately the most comfortable to use.

Kindle on Side in Case

Ergonomically speaking, the Kindle Oasis is the thinnest and lightest Kindle device ever made. As you can see above, it comes with a bulge on one side that tapers out to just 3.4mm at its thinnest point. This does mean the device can't lie flat, but the grip is perfect for one-handed reading, and at 188g, it isn't unreasonably weighty on the wrist.

The physical build is also incredible. The Oasis is made entirely of smooth, anodized aluminum, with glass covering the flush screen. While it does look astonishingly beautiful, you might want to consider using a Kindle case or sleeve to protect your device.

Perhaps its biggest selling point is the presence of physical page-turn buttons. Absent on all other Kindle models, the two buttons are located on the same side as the bulge, perfectly positioned so you can use your thumb to turn pages while you're reading.

Kindle in Case

The Oasis has gone through multiple iterations since it first came out in 2016. The latest, released in 2019, lets you use and schedule a warm light function paired with adaptive brightness. The 25 LED lights (more than double the number on the next model down) ensure the screen is evenly front-lit. You can pick between an 8GB and 32GB option for storage, though you're unlikely to need the latter unless you chiefly listen to audiobooks.

Other notable features include a high-resolution 300 PPI 7-inch display, waterproof design rated at IPX8, Bluetooth pairing with audio devices, and Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. Crucially, however, it still charges via a dated micro-USB.

Kindle Oasis: The Bottom Line

Get the Kindle Oasis if you absolutely prize the reading experience, and you'll be spending a lot of time with it. The page-turn buttons are its most practical feature, and the hand-grip is ergonomic, but are they worth at least $250? Only you can decide.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
Image Credit: Amazon

Now that the Kindle Voyager has been discontinued, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (released in 2021) emerges as the second-most premium device in the Kindle lineup, following the Oasis. At 207g, it's marginally heavier, with a 6.8-inch display that also has a 300 PPI resolution. Many other internal features are similar as well, such as an IPX8 waterproof rating, adjustable warm light, and adaptive front lighting (though it has only 17 LEDs, less than half that on the Oasis).

The greatest difference, of course, is in the hardware. Where the Kindle Oasis has its eye-catching, asymmetric design, the Paperwhite Signature Edition resembles a typical e-reader: a flat rectangular tablet with a flush glass screen and plastic back. There are no buttons. There are no buttons, but there is a USB-C charging slot and a wireless charging feature, which is something you mostly find on the best Amazon Fire tablets, but not on an e-Reader.

At 32GB, the Signature Edition has quadruple the amount of storage available compared to the next model down, the basic Kindle Paperwhite.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition: The Bottom Line

This model costs about $190, and you're basically paying $50 over the following model for wireless charging, adaptive brightness, and more storage. There's no doubt that this device features a lot of compelling reasons to buy a Kindle, but we consider that if you can afford the Kindle Paperwhite Signature, you might as well save up for the Kindle Oasis.

The Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle Paperwhite
Image credit: Amazon

The Kindle Paperwhite is, without a doubt, the most popular Kindle model. It used to be better than the most basic model in every single way, although some refreshes to the standard Kindle in 2019 have narrowed the gap somewhat.

It weighs in at 205g with the same dimensions as the Signature Edition (174 x 125 x 8.1 mm). Though they're both heavier than the Kindle Oasis, the actual difference isn't all that noticeable for everyday reading.

Like the Signature Edition, the Kindle Paperwhite has a high-resolution 300 PPI 6.8-inch display, Wi-Fi (but no 3G) connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity, and an IPX8 waterproof rating. Though there is still a built-in system of 17 LED lights for dark reading, it's not adaptive: there's no ambient light sensor as there is in the more expensive models, so you'll have to change the brightness and warm light settings yourself.

Kindle Paperwhite: The Bottom Line

Thinking of buying your first Kindle? You can't go wrong with the Kindle Paperwhite. It's good for portability and long-term reading, and it doesn't skimp on any fundamental features. At $140, it does cost $50 more than the basic Kindle, but there are some fairly significant upgrades justifying the price difference (far more than, say, between the Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition).

The Basic Kindle

Basic Kindle
Image credit: Amazon

The basic Kindle used to be a disappointment, but it all changed in 2019. The biggest difference, by far, is the addition of an illuminated screen. Four LEDs might not sound like much, but they revolutionize the reading experience, which used to be totally dependent on an external light source. The device also weighs in at 174g, which makes it the lightest of all Kindle models and the best for longer reading sessions where your arms are prone to wearing out. It comes with Bluetooth connectivity for audio and Wi-Fi connectivity but no option for 3G.

Physically, however, the Kindle Basic is inferior to the Kindle Paperwhite. It has a 6-inch touchscreen but no high-resolution display (only 167 PPI). The screen is not flush. Instead, there are chunky raised bezels that look quite ugly and trap dirt. It also isn't waterproof, a deal-breaker for most of us since we killed one by dropping it in the bathtub.

The Bottom Line

Once, we wouldn't have recommended the Kindle Basic to anyone since front-lit screens should be the absolute minimum in an e-reader. Now that it has one, it's a little easier to recommend for those on a tight budget or who don't plan to use it much. However, any heavy-duty Kindle user should certainly consider upgrading to at least the Paperwhite.

Is an Amazon Kindle Right for You?

If you plan to use an e-reader, the Amazon Kindle or a Kobo e-reader are pretty much your only options. While the latter gets some good reviews, the former's vast e-book store means it's almost cornered the market here.

The Paperwhite is the most popular and sufficient for any general reader of the four Kindle model options (the Oasis, Paperwhite Signature, Paperwhite, and the basic Kindle). You may, however, try something more expensive or affordable, depending on what you need.