I am a diehard ebook fan. And I have stuck mainly to Kindles because that is where my ebooks are located, and there is a lock into a platform once you have thousands of books on that platform. I purchased the very first Kindle in 2007. And then I upgraded in 2009. And I upgraded again and again, owning, or at least using, almost every kindle model that has been released. But over the past few years, I have stuck with older kindles because there have not been compelling reasons to upgrade.
Previous Models and Context
In 2015, the Kindle Oasis came out. In addition to the very lightweight and the new offset design, the Oasis was the first kindle that returned to the page turn buttons after the release of the Kindle Keyboard in 2010. I like page turn buttons. When you do not have a page turn button, you have to move your finger to the screen and get fingerprints on it. Pressing a screen is less precise than a button, especially when you backward pages. In 2018, I purchased a Kindle Oasis 2 when there was a sale because the Kindle Oasis 3 had just been released. The Kindle Oasis 2 kept the offset design, the page turn buttons but increased the screen size (and weight) and was now waterproof. I had been looking for a waterproof kindle since 2010 when I had a floating waterproof case for my Kindle, and I loved it. The problem with Amazon’s waterproof Kindles design is that water, especially seawater, can change the page. On the Kindle Oasis, you can turn off the touch screen and only change pages with the buttons, but that is not an option for the waterproof Paperwhites.
The other problem with waterproof kindles is that they are not floating, unlike my waterproof case. One of my favorite things to do is float in the ocean (or a pool) and read. But if you are floating in the ocean and a wave breaks over you, not only will that wave likely turn your page, it may knock the kindle right out of your hand. I tried all sorts of hacks to make my kindle float. The most effective was to get foam tape and cover the back of the Kindle Oasis in foam tape, which gave it enough buoyancy to keep it at or near the surface. But I always thought the Kindle Oasis 2 was too heavy and the edges too sharp, and I never got used to it. When my mother-in-law needed a new kindle, I gave her my Oasis 2 and went back to my Oasis 1. The Oasis 1 is feather-light and small enough to fit into many of my pockets. But six years later, the battery is shot, and I need to recharge it every day or two.
If you have an old kindle, you can trade in the kindle to Amazon, and they will refurbish or dispose of it properly and give you a minimum of a $5 credit and 20% off of a new kindle. I tend to collect broken kindles and then send them in when people I know need a new kindle to get the discount. But those trade-in credits only last for so long, and I had one that was about to expire. So I picked up the new Kindle Paperwhite (2021), Kids’ Edition when it was on sale before Thanksgiving. I have used it for nearly a month, and my longer-term impressions are nearly the same as my short-term impressions.
Size and Weight
The new Kindle Paperwhite has a 6.8-inch screen, and that 0.8 inches may not seem like a lot, but based on the additional width and height, at the font size I mostly use, there are about five extra lines per screen. The Paperwhite is heavier than I think it should be, 205 to 208 grams depending on the model. That is up from 182 to 191 grams for the 2018 Paperwhite and 194 grams for the 2019 Oasis. Those are all significantly heavier than the 131 grams of the 2015 Kindle Oasis without the battery case. But the Kindle Paperwhite has comfortably rounded edges, which means that weight, even while noticeable, does not hurt to hold. That being said, I do find myself reading in a recliner, resting the kindle on my stomach or the arm’s chair.
The slightly larger screen is offset by smaller bezels which means that the device is barely larger than the older Paperwhite and smaller than the Kindle Oasis. But those smaller bezels make the kindle harder to hold without covering the edges of the text, which I think is the real reason I tend to rest the kindle on something as I am reading it, not the weight itself. The offset weight of the Oasis design made the Oasis more balanced for one-handed use, but the curved edges of the new Paperwhite are more comfortable. Combining both features, a nice comfortable curved edge, and the offset weight would be the best of both worlds.
The slightly larger screen with the smaller bezels means that the dimensions are very close in size. The new Paperwhite is 0.3 inches taller and wider than the 2018 Paperwhite. The Oasis is more square than rectangular, so it is 0.6 inches shorter than the 2021 Paperwhite but 0.7 inches wider. The 1st generation Oasis is 1.3 inches shorter and 0.1 inches narrower. The more rectangular design of the Paperwhite prioritizes the screen instead of page turn buttons and space to hold the device one-handed.
Screen
Until color eink screens are ready for mass production at a minimum of 300 ppi, the differences in screen sharpness will be minor. There is little visible difference between my 2015 Kindle Oasis and my 2021 Paperwhite. They are both 300 ppi. They both have adjustable lighting that shines from the screen down (away from your eyes) toward the print using invisible threads of light in the screen. Each model gets slightly more lighting and more even lighting. The ability to shift the warmth of the light from a colder blue to a warmer yellow is nice, but fundamentally, these are minor differences. If you have any Paperwhite or Oasis from 2015 or later, you have an excellent screen, and the current technology of the eink display cannot really give you a better one. The basic Kindle also includes a light but only has a 167 ppi display, which is visibly lower quality. But there is almost no difference in the quality between the most recent Kindle Oasis and the most recent Kindle Paperwhite.
Battery and Charging
The new Paperwhite claims ten weeks of battery use. That is based on 30 minutes of use per day, so approximately 30-35 hours of use. I have not tracked my use, but I have only charged the Paperwhite once in nearly a month, so I have plenty of battery capacity, even if I doubt that I got 30-35 hours of use. It makes no sense to me why Amazon would increase the battery capacity from 6 weeks to 10 weeks by increasing the weight of the paperwhite. In my estimation, 15 to 20 hours of use should be plenty, and it would be better to decrease the weight rather than increase the battery length.
The new Paperwhite has finally moved to a USB C charger. This is a standard charger that most Android phones and many other devices use. That is a very welcome change. My old kindles were the only device I had that still used the older micro-USB standard. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition also includes wireless charging, but Amazon suggests their own branded wireless charger at an extra $30. I have heard some people say they have been fine using other wireless chargers, but you will need to place the kindle very carefully to have it in the right place. But, again, I don’t see the value in wireless charging on a device that only needs to be charged every week or so, even with extensive use.
This isn’t a battery or charging issue, but the power button is in the worst possible place. I think the Kindle Voyage had the best power button on the back right, toward the top. For right-handed people, it was perfect. You didn’t accidentally turn it on, but it was a natural reach when you picked up the device. The second best place is the top so that there is no accidental button press. But instead, the power button is on the bottom beside the charging port. And that has lots of potential for accidentally pushing it. And there is nothing natural about reaching to turn it on there. Yes, if you use the case, you don’t need the button. But I’m not too fond of the case and use it without the case most of the time (as I detail below.)
Kids’ Edition and Case
I purchased a Kids’ Edition Paperwhite because at the time it was on sale for $45 off, before my 20% discount. The Kids’ Edition has four additional features over a standard Paperwhite. First, the warranty is extended from 1 to 2 years. A case is included with the purchase (otherwise, Amazon cases start at $29 and go up to $49; third-party cases can also be purchased.) And the Kids’ Edition comes with a year’s membership in Amazon Kids+. Kids+ includes a library of kindle books and audiobooks that are free to borrow. I do not know how much I will use this, but the value is $36 a year and I have wanted to try it. The Kids’ Edition also is ad-free, which is a $20 value.
I am not a fan of the case. It is also heavy, 115 grams, adding more than 50% to the already heavy device. The case protects the screen while traveling, and I will use it when traveling, but the edge is uncomfortable to hold, and at least so far, it doesn’t lay flat when folded. I have looked around at reviews for Amazon’s cases for the new paperwhite, and the one I have is the best-liked one. But, unfortunately, no one seems to like the current set of cases.
Overall Cons
Amazon has made several design choices that I would not have made. The power button is in the wrong place. The only color is black. And I think the device is too heavy, does not need as much battery as it has, and the bezels are probably too thin to use with one hand comfortably. But at the same time, everyone likes the look of smaller bezels, and no one directly complains about having extra battery capacity. Finally, I don’t see a purpose of wireless charging or more than 8 GB of storage unless you like to keep many audiobooks downloaded. I have approximately 200 kindle books downloaded right now, approximately two years of reading material for my average reading rate, and I have 3/4 of the 8 GB storage space free.
The additional weight means it is less comfortable to use one-handed, and the additional size makes it harder to throw in a pocket. However, that will not matter for many that are used to throwing it in a purse or bag or are only using it around the house. The Paperwhite is also a fingerprint magnet, although part of that is that it is more grip-able than the Oasis.
Overall Pros
The price has increased, but the Paperwhite is the better value compared to the current generation of Oasis. And even with my preference for page turn buttons, the speed and similar quality of the screen mean that I would recommend the Paperwhite over the Oasis at this point. The Kindle Oasis 2019 is $100 more expensive and rarely goes on sale. On the other hand, the Paperwhite has only been out a bit over a month, and it already has been 25% off, and if history is a guide, there will be regular sales that are 20-25% off.
The build quality is solid, and the device’s feel is good. Generally, people perceive metal devices as higher quality, but in the case of the Kindle Oasis, the metal edge was too sharp, and the back was slippery. So the soft rubberized plastic and smooth edges both have better grip and a more comfortable feel. The USB C may not matter to everyone, but all of my devices that are not iPhone or AirPods use USB C, so I prefer USB C as a charging standard.
The increased screen size does help add more content to the screen. But the additional screen real estate means that I no longer can fit it in as many pockets as I could with my 2015 Oasis, which is much smaller.
Should you upgrade?
The screen on the Paperwhite is excellent, but not a reason to upgrade if you have any Paperwhite or Oasis that has been sold in the past five years. I can tell that there is a faster processor, and the common delay when using the keyboard is significantly less. But I rarely had a problem with the device’s speed except when using the on-screen keyboard. So again, if you have a device that was made in the last 5-7 years and there is no problem, I would probably wait. The operating system and user interface, updated for all devices, are easier to use, so again it is a pro, but not a reason to update. Finally, the battery has been good and continues to be excellent; if your battery lasts for a week under normal usage, I would not upgrade.
On the whole, if you have a kindle, and it works, don’t upgrade. My prediction is that within two, maybe three years, Amazon will have a color eink device and maybe one that will have a pen for basic note-taking like the Onyx Boox Nova 2 or the Kobo Sage. Overall, I am glad I upgraded. I paid less than $100 after the discount. But if my Kindle Oasis 2015 had not had battery issues, I do not think I would have upgraded. I am trading in my Kindle Oasis because Amazon will give me $60 for it, and I am annoyed by the weak battery. (I fully charged it before I sent it to Amazon. I didn’t touch it for two days, and when I turned it on to remove my account from it, the battery was critically low.) So, in the end, my cost for the new Paperwhite will be just under $40.
Current prices and links (affiliate link)
Kindle Paperwhite 2021 version – $139.99
Kindle Paperwhite 2021 Signature Version – $189.99
Kindle Paperwhite Kids’ Edition – $159.99
Kindle Oasis 3 (2019) – $249 (Refurbished is $209.99)