# Which Kindle to buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 16, 2023, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627 "2023-06-16T14:01:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/21 "2023-06-16T21:28:18Z")
I’ve gone with the Oasis for screen size reasons. I like reading in landscape mode and the battery blob on the lower part works well with that. But if size doesn’t matter for you, go with a cheaper model. I’m on my second Oasis. The first one “locked up” and no attempt to reset it has worked. I’d take it apart and check connections and such but that’s not possible. Grrrr. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/22 "2023-06-16T21:42:02Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > cite? if I google “does Kindle have backlighting” I’m not told no…?? By its very nature electronic paper can’t have a backlight, because it is completely opaque. You can’t shine a light through it to read it any more than you could with a sheet of cardboard. > **[E Ink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink)** > > E Ink (electronic ink) is a brand of electronic paper (e-paper) display technology commercialized by the E Ink Corporation, which was co-founded in 1997 by MIT undergraduates JD Albert and Barrett Comiskey, MIT Media Lab professor Joseph Jacobson, Jerome Rubin and Russ Wilcox. > It is available in grayscale and color and is used in mobile devices such as e-readers, digital signage, smartwatches, mobile phones, electronic shelf labels and architecture panels. > The notion of a low-power paper-like d... ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/23 "2023-06-16T22:13:09Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > and what I really want to know is what difference does it make to me as a reader? It makes no difference. It’s just an implementation detail of the technology. What _does_ matter is that the unit is e-ink instead of LCD, etc. LCDs are backlit, but that’s not why they’re inferior in sunlight. It’s because e-ink is a reflective display, and thus naturally reflects the sun, which means that if ambient lighting is 10x brighter, so is the display. As opposed to an LCD, where the backlight can’t compete with direct sunlight, and thus washes out. e-ink displays are front-lit due to their construction, but not all reflective displays are front-lit. And the lighting is totally irrelevant on reflective displays unless you read in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/24 "2023-06-17T04:14:15Z")
I have an Oasis, and I bought a very pretty third-party cover for it. The Kindle snaps into the back of it and the front folds back to make a stand. Unfortunately, the cover makes it too heavy and unwieldy to comfortably hold in one (arthritic) hand, so I only use it on trips. I tried doing without a cover at all, and it’s very light and sleek, but it’s also extremely slippery and rather cold to the touch. So I ended up getting a case that just covers the back of the device, and that gives it enough friction that it doesn’t slide off the arm of an easy chair without making it much thicker or heavier. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/25 "2023-06-17T04:26:52Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > What _does_ matter is that the unit is e-ink instead of LCD, etc. LCDs are backlit, but that’s not why they’re inferior in sunlight. It’s because e-ink is a reflective display, and thus naturally reflects the sun, which means that if ambient lighting is 10x brighter, so is the display. As opposed to an LCD, where the backlight can’t compete with direct sunlight, and thus washes out. Technically there is a such thing as a reflective LCD screen. They work by having a reflective surface on the back. They can even in theory have a light behind the reflective part if the reflective part isn’t opaque (i.e., like a “two way mirror”). But I’ve not seen that technology used since the Game Boy and its variations. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that also used a backlight, even though it is theoretically possible. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/26 "2023-06-17T04:36:33Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Technically there is a such thing as a reflective LCD screen. Agreed, though that felt like it was getting into the weeds a bit. My last car had one, for exactly the reason that it needed to be visible in direct sunlight (and at the time, high-powered LEDs weren’t available). The color quality was pretty terrible, but it remained legible in the sun. It did have a backlight (or possibly a frontlight), of course, since it had to be visible in the dark as well. Regardless, the artificial lighting was irrelevant in the sun–what mattered was that it was a reflective display. And yeah, it’s been many years since I’ve seen one of those. My car was from 2003. I guess it was a little newer than the Game Boy Color. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/27 "2023-06-17T04:47:15Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > As opposed to an LCD, where the backlight can’t compete with direct sunlight, and thus washes out. There was once a line of ebook readers that used a reflective LCD. > **[ECTACO jetBook eBook Reader Graphite - ECTACO](https://www.ectaco.com/ECTACO-jetBook-Graphite/)** > > Read anywhere, the jetBook is a complete library at your fingertips! Your jetBook Allows you to add and remove content completely independent from us. Seemingly unlimited features like Font zoom, viewing angles, and multilingual support. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/28 "2023-06-17T15:45:04Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > I bought the Oasis for no good reason–it’s very nice, but not worth the money. Worth it to me, for the screen size, physical buttons, warm light and dark mode. I think they all have dark mode now. I’ve looked at other models (I used to have the extravagant habit of buying a new Kindle every year - I’ve had the Paperwhite, Voyage, etc.) but they would all be a step down from the Oasis. I mostly use it before bed in dark mode and sometimes in the tub - I have a waterproof version. I really appreciate the ability to read in the dark without getting too much blue light. Given the options provided by the OP. I’d go for the new Paperwhite. Paperwhites are fantastic across the board, and even better than they were before I had one. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/29 "2023-06-17T15:52:31Z")
I have a Kindle paperwhite thats getting old and the decline in battery life is getting noticeable. I’ll be replacing it with an Oasis. Is the slightly more premium build worth an extra $100 to do the same thing? It is to _me_, but I use mine all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/30 "2023-06-17T17:31:21Z")
The Oasis was a no-brainer for me and when mine dies, assuming no major announcements, that’s what I’ll get again. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned that seems like a small detail but matters to me: the flush screen. The base Kindle has an inset screen under a small bezel. The Paperwhite and Oasis have a totally flush face. No cracks for lint and dirt to accumulate in. I treat my Kindles poorly; they’re forever getting lost in the couch cushions, jammed deep in a travel bag or recently, taken backpacking in a dusty environment. The flush face makes them super easy to wipe down. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/31 "2023-06-18T02:23:16Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I’d go for the new Paperwhite. that’s what I ended up getting, with a leather cover. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/32 "2023-06-18T02:23:36Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > The Paperwhite and Oasis have a totally flush face. No cracks for lint and dirt to accumulate in. that’s good news! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/33 "2023-06-20T16:39:55Z")
I find the talk of covers interesting. I have never used one for an ereader (had a basic Nook before the Oasises (?)). I gave up using ones for my tablets since they just got in the way. I guess I just have a loooong history of being careful with devices (and other stuff). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/34 "2023-06-20T16:45:27Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I just have a loooong history of being careful with devices (and other stuff). I’m extremely careful with my stuff (when people toss their phone around I cringe). I see the covers as part of my extreme care. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/35 "2023-06-20T18:05:29Z")
I always use cases on tablets, ebook readers, and phones. (Usually an “always on” case, but sometimes one I take it out of when using and store it in when not.) ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627/36 "2023-06-21T14:56:21Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I bought a PaperWhite ~ 5 years ago. It is wonderful to be able to read in full sunlight, or in bed with all the lights off. > > I don’t need or want a tablet type thing that I can email or watch movies and stuff so YMMV. > > My wife and I both bought covers. One thing I like about them is that when you open the cover, the kindle turns on and goes to the last page you where reading. I donno, I find that easier than hitting a button (yeah, modern problems) My wife’s cover is sort of pink. She bought that so that it would be easier to find. I agree with all of this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kindle-to-buy/985627.md?page=1)