Most of the time, when someone says that they want an e-reader, they typically mean that they want an Amazon Kindle. But with so many options available in Kindle models, it can be hard to choose just one. This is when a comparison of the Kindle Oasis vs. Paperwhite comes in handy.
Picking which Kindle to purchase depends on your reading habits, preferences, and budget. The best Amazon Kindles that you can purchase are the Kindle Oasis and the Kindle Paperwhite.
Once you’ve figured out which Kindle is the best for you, you’ll find that you read more often. This is often because you have a lightweight and well-lit book anywhere you go, something that is difficult to do with real books.
Kindle Oasis vs Paperwhite
This article is going to put the Kindle Oasis vs Paperwhite to figure out which one is the better option for the money you pay.
Kindle Paperwhite
- Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.6 x 0.3 inches
- Weight: 6.4 ounces
- Battery life: about 6 weeks
- Page-Turning Buttons: No
- Water Resistant: Yes
- Screen Size: 6 inches
When thinking about getting the most bang for your buck, the Amazon Paperwhite is considered to be the best Amazon Kindle made.
Not only is the display a crisp 300-ppi panel that’s supported by solid backlighting, but the device is also waterproof and offers 8GB of storage. Plus, there have been many changes done to this model of the Paperwhite that makes it stand out among the other e-readers.
1. Design
The Paperwhite that just came out is almost identical to the previous model. It features a soft-touch matte-black case that feels and looks like its predecessors, although now the Kindle logo is in a light gray color that contrasts with the case.
The Paperwhite is also slimmer than other Amazon Kindles, which is a huge plus for those looking for a light and slim e-reader to carry around.
The 6-inch screen is standard for the industry, the backlighting – which is an improvement over previous Amazon Kindle devices – is also appreciated on this device because you never realize how nice it is to have it until you don’t.
This is especially true if you’ve ever read on a previous Kindle model because none of them look as fully lit when you’re reading a book at night as the Paperwhite does.
There’s another design change that will be appreciated by users, and that is that the screen is now flush with the bezel, which ditches the awkward design that made the device look chunky.
2. Display
We’ve already mentioned the 6-inch screen and the 300-PPI display on the Paperwhite. However, we never mentioned that the screen of the Paperwhite features an anti-glare display, which makes this e-reader great for reading outside.
The Paperwhite also allows you to read graphic novels without any issues. The only downside is that the grayscale display is unfriendly for colored publications.
3. Durability
The best feature on the Paperwhite is that it’s now waterproof. It can now withstand being submerged in 2 meters of water and survive for up to 60 minutes. This makes it so you can read at the beach, at the pool, or in the bath without having to worry about the device getting wet.
4. Battery Life
Amazon states that the new Paperwhite can last up to six weeks on a single charge. This is based on 30 minutes of reading per day with the light setting at 13 and the wireless turned off.
This will obviously vary depending on your reading habits and how bright the screen is, but you can typically expect a few weeks of battery life from one charge.
5. Configurations
The default Kindle Paperwhite comes with 8GB of storage, which is twice as much as what the previous model of the Paperwhite boasted.
If you want four times that much storage, so you never have to think twice about downloading graphic novels and audiobooks, the 32GB Paperwhite is also available.
6. Book Selection
With an Amazon Kindle, you get access to the Amazon bookstore, which offers thousands of books for you to choose from — it’s not often that you won’t find what you’re looking for. It’s said that the Amazon bookstore offers four million books, including over a million Kindle exclusive titles.
Amazon also offers Kindle Unlimited, which is a subscription that will provide you with access to millions of free books and audiobooks.
The Paperwhite also supports borrowing books from the local library in case you don’t want to spend lots of money buying books to read.
Plus, Prime members can take advantage of the First Reads program, which gives you early access to editor picks books. Members can also get two books a month for $1.99 each and get discounts on hardcover books.
7. Audiobooks
Amazon has also provided users with access to Kindle audiobooks. The option comes via the Bluetooth headphone support, which was previously restricted to other Kindles.
Now you can listen to your audiobooks without being bound by a wired headphone, making it so you can walk around your home without losing any audio quality from your Kindle.
8. Pros and Cons of the Kindle Paperwhite
Pros:
- Waterproof
- The screen is flush with the bezel
- Offers Bluetooth for audiobooks
Cons:
- The power adapter is sold separately
Kindle Oasis
- Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.6 x 0.13-0.33 inches
- Weight: 6.6 ounces
- Battery Life: About 6 weeks
- Page Turning Buttons: Yes
- Water Resistant: Yes
- Screen Size: 7 inches
The new Oasis offers one of the most luxurious reading experiences on an Amazon Kindle.
Especially with its well-lit screen, automatic light adjustments, physical buttons, large screen, and its machined aluminum back.
1. Design
The Oasis has an aluminum back that is considered to be one of the most elegant aspects of this Kindle.
Unlike the Paperwhite, the Oasis has buttons that you use for turning pages and navigation, and it also has a tapered back. The buttons are large, which is a plus for most users.
2. Durability
The water-resistant feature of the Oasis is no longer a unique feature because the Paperwhite now matches the waterproof rating of the Oasis.
But the device can withstand being submerged in 2 meters of water for up to 60 minutes without the device breaking.
3. Display
The Amazon Kindle screen has learned a new trick: warmth. The Oasis’ screen isn’t just larger than the Paperwhites; it also can change color.
The warmer display option makes most users think of a blue-light filter that is often used to help people fall asleep easier when on electronic devices before bed.
The Oasis offers a 300-PPI, 7-inch screen. Therefore, the display on the Oasis is super crisp, just like on the Paperwhite; the text looks like it’s been physically printed on the screen.
Plus, the extra inch of screen is valuable to anyone reading anything other than a traditional book (e.g., PDFs or graphic novels).
4. Battery Life & Storage
The Oasis boasts a good battery life; you won’t need to charge it every day, maybe about once a week – however, this can vary.
Amazon states that the Oasis, just like the Paperwhite, can give you six weeks of battery life. However, this is based on 30 minutes per day, with the Bluetooth and wireless turned off and the lighting set to 13.
One of the downsides to the Oasis is that it doesn’t come with a charger: it must be bought separately. This can be annoying because the price that you pay is so expensive that you would expect a charger to be included with the device.
You can store thousands of books on the 8GB version of the Oasis. If you love audiobooks, it’s recommended that you splurge for the 32GB model because they take up more space on the e-reader.
Of course, you do have the option of archiving all of your content and redownloading it at a later time.
5. Audiobooks
The Oasis gives you the ability to listen to audiobooks from Audible. The device doesn’t have an internal speaker or a headphone jack, which means that you have to listen to your audiobooks over Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
6. Pros and Cons of the Kindle Oasis
Pros:
- Physical page-turning buttons
- Well-lit sharp display
- Sleek metallic design
- Water-resistant
Cons:
- The charger isn’t included
- Expensive
- Bloated interface
- Displays lock-screen ads
Kindle Oasis vs Kindle Paperwhite: The Bottom Line
The Kindle Oasis vs Kindle Paperwhite is a hard comparison to do because they are both great e-readers that offer spectacular features not yet seen on these Kindles.
In the case of the Kindle Oasis vs Paperwhite, the reigning champion is the Kindle Paperwhite.
Read more about why we think the Kindle Paperwhite is the best e-reader to buy in 2024!
This is due to the remarkable upgrades that have been made to this e-reader when compared to other models of the Kindle.
It’s also the thinnest e-reader that you’ll find on the market. Plus, it’s designed in a way that makes it so you can use it for long periods of time without any eye strain.
So, if you’re stuck deciding between a Paperwhite vs. Oasis, you should go with the Paperwhite because it’s the best e-reader in 2024.
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| Kindle Oasis vs Paperwhite |