Disclosure: Some links on this page are monetized by the Skimlinks, Amazon, Rakuten Advertising, and eBay, affiliate programs, and Liliputing may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on those links. All prices are subject to change, and this article only reflects the prices available at time of publication.

The Amazon Kindle devices are some of the most popular eBook readers with electronic paper displays due to ease of use, tight integration with the world’s most popular eBook store, and probably most importantly, their relatively affordable price tags.

Starting prices range from $100 for an entry-level Kindle to $350 for a Kindle Scribe with a large screen, pen support, and special features like automatic screen rotation. Amazon also tends to run sales several times each year that lowers the prices on at least some of these models.

Left to right: Amazon Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis

The current-gen Kindle has some features that used to be reserved for higher-priced models like the Paperwhite, including 16GB of storage and a front-lit display with a pixel density of 300 pixels per inch.

Amazon’s new 11th-gen Kindle Paperwhite, introduced in 2021, has a bigger, brighter, and more pixel-dense display, among other things. It also supports adjustable color temperature. And the Signature Edition model has 32GB of storage, support for wireless charging, and an ambient light sensor for automatic brightness adjustments.

The Kindle Oasis, meanwhile, is a premium model for folks willing to pay extra for a more ergonomic design and features like physical page turn buttons and automatic screen rotation. But since the latest Kindle Oasis is two years old, folks who don’t need those features may get more bang for their buck from the Kindle Paperwhite models, which offer longer battery life, faster charging, and USB-C ports.

And the brand new Kindle Scribe rounds out the family with a 10.2 inch display and an emphasis on writing as well as reading.

Amazon Kindle Scribe

Here’s a run-down of key specs for every current member of the Kindle family:

Kindle (2022)Kindle Paperwhite (2021)Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021)Kindle Oasis (2019)Kindle Scribe (2022)
Starting Price$100$140$190$250$340
Display6 inch, 300 ppi
recessed
6.8 inch, 300 ppi
flush-front
6.8 inch, 300 ppi
flush-front
7 inch, 300 ppi
flush-front
10.2 inch, 300 ppi
Storage16GB8GB or 16GB32GB8GB or 32GB16GB, 32GB, or 64GB
Front light4 LEDs17 LEDs17 LEDs25 LEDs32 LEDs
Writing support✓
Pen included✓
Adjustable warm light✓✓✓✓
Flush-front✓✓✓✓
IPX8 waterproof✓✓✓
Adjustable warm light✓✓✓✓
Auto light sensor✓✓✓
Page Turn buttons✓
Automatic page rotation✓✓
Bluetooth/Audible✓✓✓✓✓
WiFiWiFi 52.4 GHz and 5 GHz2.4 GHz and 5 GHzWiFi 42.4 GHz and 5 GHz
Charging & batteryUSB-C
9W
6 weeks battery life
2 hours full charge
USB-C
9W
10 weeks battery life
2.5 hours full charge
USB-C
9W (wired)
Qi wireless charging
10 weeks battery life
2.5 hours full charge
micro USB
5W
6-weeks battery life
3 hours for full charge
USB-C
9W
Up to 12 weeks battery life (reading)
Up to 3 weeks (writing)
2.5 hours full charge
Dimensions108.6 x 157.8 x 8mm
4.3″ x 6.2″ x 0.33″
124.6 x 174.2 x 8.1mm
4.9″ x 6.9″ x .32″
125 x 174 x 8.1mm
4.9″ x 6.9″ x .32″
159 x 141 x 3.4 – 8.4mm
6.3″ x 5.6″ x 0.13″ – .33″
196 x 230 x 5.8mm
7.7″ x 9″ x .22″
Weight158 grams
5.56 ounces
205 grams
7.23 ounces
208 grams
7.34 ounces
188 grams
6.6 ounces
433 grams
15.3 ounces
ColorBlack or Denim (blue)BlackBlackGraphite or Champaign GoldTungston

Amazon also sells Kindle Kids ($120) and Kindle Paperwhite Kids ($160) edition devices. These feature hardware that’s nearly identical to the entry-level Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite, but Amazon throws in a few perks including:

  • Colorful cover options
  • No ads on the lock screen
  • 2-year worry-free guarantee
  • 1 year Amazon Kids+ subscription
Left: Kindle Kids Edition / Right: Kindle Paperwhite Kids Edition

This article was first published September 21, 2021 and most recently updated September 28, 2022. 

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,545 other subscribers

5 replies on “Compare Kindle specs: Amazon Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis”

  1. Still exporting you to pay $150 extra for page turning buttons. And then they’ll slap another $20 on there to take their trashy ads off.

  2. Once again, Kindle devices do not support Immersion Reading for who knows what reason. It is available on the iOS app and Fire Tablets. I happen to love the feature. I will not buy a Kindle until that feature is enabled.

  3. Typo:
    “The current-gen Kindle has some features that used to be reserved for higher-priced models like the Paperwhite, including 8GB of RAM and a frontlit display.”
    8GB of storage, flash, not RAM. It has 512 MB RAM, which isn’t of much interest as there’s a not a ton you can do with it even if you jailbreak it.

  4. When are they going to make one with support for using a connected device for page turns like a bluetooth keyboard or mouse?

Comments are closed.