What is the difference between an Amazon Kindle Basic, Paperwhite, Oasis and Scribe? Which is best?

Dear loyal reader, do not turn the page as I talk about a divisive topic: e-readers.

In the modern world, many people are winding back the clock and going for the ‘retro’ options for consumer goods. Whether it’s ‘dumbphones’ or refurbished iPods, plenty are rejecting modern tech and going manual.

However, with Amazon Prime Day coming up, we thought it would be a good idea to have a look at the best e-reader on the market - the Kindle - and take a deep dive into what makes each option unique.

Kindle Basic

The basic model is the cheapest option, and sits at just under $120 before the Prime Day offers kick in. This option is the lightest of them all, clocking in at just 5.56 oz, and has a 6 inch screen that has a 300 ppi high-resolution display. Amazon also claim that “a single charge via USB-C lasts up to 6 weeks”.

It’s not waterproof, but it is perfect for slipping in a bag or even your pocket, and certainly offers the most comfortable experience when it comes to the Amazon e-reader world.

Kindle Paperwhite

Moving up in the ladder, we have the Kindle Paperwhite, at $149.99. This has a slightly different screen to the basic edition, with an auto-adjusting backlight making it perfect for nighttime reading. It also has a yellow light, giving the screen a slightly warmer feel, perfect for bedtime reading.

The Paperwhite is a smidge larger than the basic version and slightly heavier (6.8 inches, 7.23 oz) and is also waterproof - perfect for the beach, the bath, or around little ones.

Kindle Oasis

The big daddy of the Kindle world, the Oasis is for the hardcore readers. Coming in at a $250, it’s a big step up in price which is justified by the use of premium materials such as metal and glass. It also has a whopping 7 inch screen and weighing in at 6.6 oz, so the Oasis is not ideal for a quick withdrawal from a trouser pocket while waiting in line at the Post Office.

However, the comfort rating of the Oasis gets some points with the page turner buttons, making it prefereable for those who want a physical way to manually turn the page. It has a wider screen and back-grip, ideal for those who want to go for comfort over practicality.

Kindle Scribe

At $234.99, the Kindle Scribe is another option for those with deep pockets. The only Kindle with a pen and the option to annotate, the Scribe could be an ideal choice for students who need to get their head into the textbooks and highlight the juicy bits with handwritten comments.

Full screen

At 10.2 inches, it’s also the largest option, perfect for jotting in the margins and sketching/doodling during long lectures about the immune system.

Sticking with the student theme, it’s also compatible with both PDFs and Microsoft Word, and Amazon also claim that the battery, which is the best of the range, offers months on a single charge.