The last releases came in 2021 with the introduction of the new Paperwhite Kids, regular Paperwhite as well as a Paperwhite Signature Edition.
Best Kindle 2022
Which Kindle should I buy?
Here’s a list of things that are the same on all models of Kindle, no matter which you end up buying:
Larger display with colour warmth Longer battery life USB-C
Small price rise
There’s very little to dislike here unless you really need physical page turn buttons. The slightly higher price might put some off so look to the 2018 Paperwhite while it’s still on sale if you need something cheaper.
Great display Stellar battery life Solid performance USB-C and wireless charging
Ineffective auto brightness Some software inconsistencies Expensive No 4G model
This mainly consists of USB-C and wireless charging so you can keep it topped up a lot easier, although great battery life means that may not be very often. It’s also got 32GB of storage if you need a lot of space but is otherwise very similar to the latest regular Paperwhite. If the auto-adjusting sensors worked better it would be in with a shout of topping the chart.
Cheap Front light
No waterproofing No mobile data
The Kindle 2019 offers better value for money and has all the things most people will look for. However, the Kindle Paperwhite has a more premium design and extra features like more storage, mobile data and waterproofing. You pay extra for them, of course, so it really depends how much you have to spend and whether those extra things matter to you. For us, they are both the best eReader you can get, just for different reasons.
Includes case and Kids+ subscription Waterproof Can be shared with an adult
Fire Tablets can be cheaper Kids+ subscription lasts just a year
You’ll benefit from waterproofing which could be device saving as well as a bigger screen, flush design, higher resolution and adjustable warm light (with many more LEDs) Performance is also faster and it’s easy to share the Kindle if you want to use it too. Overall, worth the extra money if you ask us.
Warm light Premium metal design Page turn buttons
Expensive Micro-USB
With the introduction of the Paperwhite Signature Edition, there’s even less reason to buy the Oasis unless you really want a metal design with dedicated page turn buttons.
8GB storage 1-year of subscriptions Accidental damage warranty
No waterproofing
You get a 12-month subscription to Fire for Kids Unlimited / FreeTime Unlimited which includes over 1000 books for kids of various ages. There’s also 8GB of storage which is double the cheapest Kindle. The selection is not the best it could be, but overall this is a decent package for the money. If you’re not too fussed about those extras then you can save money by just getting the regular Kindle. You also have to pay a bit more for the Kindle or the Paperwhite if you don’t want lock screen adverts or ‘special offers’. The Kindle is the most basic device in the range but even that now comes with a built-in light. It’s just not as fancy in other ways such as screen resolution and the number of LEDs in the light. You now get 8GB of storage but there’s no option for cellular connectivity. Moving up to the Paperwhite gets you a better light and a higher resolution display. It’s now 6.8in but has a flush design with the bezels and the device is also waterproof. The Oasis is the premium model, with its ergonomic wedge shape design. It’s made of aluminium and also has dedicated page turn buttons so you don’t have to rely on the touchscreen. The light has more than six times as many LEDs compared to the regular Kindle and also automatically adjusts. The 2019 model adds a warm light but ditches the option for a magnetic case. Check out our round-up of the best Kindle cases here. Opting for a 2021 model will get you a 6.8in screen with 17 LEDs and an adjustable warm light. Those with enough cash for the Signature Edition will get USB-C and wireless charging as well as auto-asjutment via light sensors. For kids there are now two options, the regular Kindle Kids or the newer Paperwhite Kids which has a better screen, flush design and IPX8 waterproofing. Both come with a case and 8GB of storage, though. Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
