Avid readers know just how convenient the right e-reader can make their lives. Amazon Kindles are some of the most popular, but with so many models in the line, it can be tricky to find the best one for your reading habits. The Kindle Oasis and the Kindle Paperwhites are some of the most feature-packed models, so choosing between them can be especially difficult.
Amazon discontinued the Kindle Oasis in early 2024, but its wedge shape still makes it a favorite of readers who prefer the feel of a book in their hand. The Kindle Paperwhites, including the Kindle Paperwhite Signature and Kindle Paperwhite, have a traditional rectangular e-reader design but feature extended battery life that lets you go over two months between charges.
To see how they really stack up, the BestReviews Testing Lab tested the Kindle Oasis, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature and the Kindle Paperwhite in real-world conditions. We evaluated crucial features like battery life, display quality, page-turning speed and customization options. We also focused on the size and design of each model to see how easy each was to travel with and how well we could read each in different lighting conditions.
Ultimately, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature was our favorite. Its extended battery life makes it perfect for avid readers, while its travel-friendly, waterproof design makes it ideal for the beach or poolside reading. Best of all, its display is easy to read even in direct sunlight and doesn’t cause eye strain or fatigue.
The Kindle Oasis and the Kindle Paperwhites are Amazon’s premium e-readers, so it’s no surprise that they have many standout features that make reading more comfortable and convenient.
While the Kindle Oasis and Kindle Paperwhites are premium e-readers, they also have some limitations that may make them a poor option for some readers.
During our testing, the Kindle Oasis stood out for its many customization options, which made reading more comfortable. Its shape was another plus, making one-handed reading easier.
Product specifications
Battery life: Up to 6 weeks | Display size: 7” screen | Resolution: 300 ppi | Storage capacity: 8GB/32 GB | Weight: 6.6 oz | Waterproof: Yes
When we tested the Kindle Oasis, we were immediately struck by its shape and design. Unlike the Kindle Paperwhites and other Kindle models, it isn’t rectangular and doesn’t have a uniform thickness across the entire device. Instead, the Oasis has a wedge shape, with the device slightly thicker on one side than the other. When reading, this gave it a similar feel to a paper book and made it more comfortable for one-handed reading. It’s thinner than the Kindle Paperwhites, though slightly larger overall. However, we had no trouble fitting the Kindle Oasis in a backpack, tote bag or even a midsize handbag.
We were also big fans of the Oasis’s large 7-inch screen. The slightly larger size allowed it to fit even more text than the Kindle Paperwhite Signature or Kindle Paperwhite for more efficient reading. The screen also boasted 24 brightness levels that allowed us to choose our favorite setting, as well as an automatic brightness setting that adjusts the screen based on the light in the room. We used this automatic setting at night when reading in bed and found it worked perfectly. We also loved the adjustable warm light settings. Warmer light is gentler on the eyes than blue light, but we sometimes get a headache if the light is too yellow. With the Oasis, we could choose from 24 screen-warmth settings to ensure we had the most comfortable reading experience.
However, the Kindle Oasis’ page-turn buttons are probably its most convenient feature. We didn’t have much trouble turning pages with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature or Kindle Paperwhite, but it was even easier with the Oasis. Instead of relying on a touch screen to respond to our fingers, we only had to press the button to instantly turn the page. It made for a more comfortable reading experience.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature and the Kindle Paperwhite offered the longest battery life of the Kindles we tested, making them an excellent option for avid readers.
Product specifications
Battery life: Up to 10 weeks | Display size: 6.8” screen | Resolution: 300 ppi |Storage capacity: 32GB | Weight: 7.3 oz | Waterproof: Yes
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature was a standout during our testing because of its generous battery life and travel-friendly design. When it arrived at our testing area, its battery was at 50%, but we were still able to read two and a half books before needing to recharge it. Overall, we got more than eight weeks’ worth of reading time from a single charge. Even better, we loved how quickly it took to recharge, needing just over an hour to reach full power.
Another feature we appreciated was its display. Despite its name, it doesn’t exactly resemble paper, but we found its screen much softer and gentler on our eyes than a smartphone or tablet screen. As a result, we never experienced any eye discomfort. We could also adjust the display’s brightness and font size to read comfortably in any setting. The anti-glare design even ensured that we could read outdoors.
Additionally, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature’s compact design makes it one of the more travel-friendly e-readers available. We could easily fit it in our purse or backpack, but it was compact enough to fit in a Lululemon belt bag, making it an ideal model for frequent travelers or anyone who commutes to school or work. You’ll never have to worry about running out of titles to read, either. In addition to having access to the entire Kindle catalog, we could transfer books we rented through our local library card to the Kindle Paperwhite Signature via the Libby app, so we didn’t even need to spend any money to read the latest titles.
Product specifications
Battery life: Up to 10 weeks | Display size: 6.8” screen | Resolution: 300 ppi | Storage capacity: 8GB | Weight: 7.23 oz | Waterproof: Yes
Like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature, the Kindle Paperwhite boasts an excellent battery life that can go weeks between charges. We read on it for 10 days, and after all that time, the battery was still at 86%. According to those numbers, we could expect to get the advertised 10 weeks of battery life from the Kindle Paperwhite, provided we kept it at a medium brightness. It took a bit longer to charge than the Kindle Paperwhite Signature, needing three hours to reach full power.
Its large display is a noticeable improvement over the screens for entry-level Kindles. The warm, consistent brightness across the display made reading even for periods as long as three hours more comfortable. In fact, we never experienced any eye fatigue or strain with the Kindle Paperwhite. We could easily adjust the screen brightness and font size, too, so we could read comfortably in any conditions, even in direct sunlight.
Like the Kindle Oasis and the Kindle Paperwhite Signature, the Kindle Paperwhite is also waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally submerging it in water. We held it under gently running water, and while the display glitched slightly, it functioned normally as soon as we dried it off. We were also pleasantly surprised by the speaker quality on the Kindle Paperwhite — we listened to an audiobook through Audible and found the sound quality superior to other tablets and e-readers.
The Kindle Oasis and the Kindle Paperwhite Signature share some similar features, but they differ in a key area: battery life. The Kindle Oasis has an advertised battery life of up to six weeks, while the Paperwhite Signature’s battery can last up to 10 weeks. During testing, we certainly found that its battery lasted longer than the Oasis. After reading for just six days, the Oasis’ battery was down to 61%. But the Paperwhite Signature allowed us to read two and a half books even when the battery was at 50%, so it may get the edge for travelers or anyone who has trouble remembering to charge their devices.
Both the Oasis and Paperwhite Signature are waterproof, so they work well for those who like to read in the bath or at the beach or pool. They also offer customizable brightness options to make reading more comfortable, but only the Oasis has an automatic brightness adjustment that responds to the light level in the room and ensures the ideal brightness. It also has page-turn buttons that make turning pages faster and easier. The Paperwhite Signature instead relies on its touch screen for turning pages, which can sometimes get frustrating if it doesn’t respond immediately. It also makes reading one-handed more difficult.
The Kindle Oasis and Kindle Paperwhites share many of the same features, but their differences in key areas can affect their ease of use. In particular, the differences in their battery life and page-turning capabilities may make one a better fit than the other.
The Kindle Paperwhites are traditional rectangular devices measuring 6.9 inches long, 4.9 inches wide and 0.32 inches thick. They are the same thickness throughout and are easy to take on the go. On the other hand, the Kindle Oasis has a wedge-like shape, measuring 6.3 inches long, 5.6 inches wide and between 0.13 and 0.33 inches thick.
The differing thickness across the Oasis gives it a book-like feel in hand, which we appreciated. Like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature and Kindle Paperwhite, it was also easy to travel with. However, because the Kindle Paperwhites are narrower than the Oasis, they can fit in smaller bags or areas. During testing, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature fit inside a Lululemon belt bag, making it extremely easy to take on the go. The Oasis is too wide to fit in such a small bag.
The Kindle Oasis has a larger display than the Kindle Paperwhite Signature and Kindle Paperwhite. It measures 7 inches, while the Paperwhites’ displays measure 6.8 inches. The difference is not as significant as it is with the standard Kindles, which only have a 6-inch display, but we noticed the Oasis fits slightly more text on the screen than the Paperwhites, which may lead to more efficient reading.
Both the Oasis and the Paperwhites feature 300 ppi resolution and e-paper technology, making their displays very easy to read. The Oasis also offers 24 brightness settings and an automatic brightness setting that adjusts the screen itself based on the room's lighting level. We loved that we could easily adjust its brightness based on our preferences, as well as the overall warmth of the screen. The auto-brightness feature also came in handy when we read in bed at night, and the room’s light was dimmer than usual. During testing, though, we never experienced eye fatigue or discomfort with the Kindle Oasis, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature and the Kindle Paperwhite, so all three provide a comfortable reading experience.
Additionally, both the Oasis and Paperwhites have glare-free displays, allowing us to read easily in nearly any situation. In particular, we were impressed with how comfortable it was to read the Kindle Oasis, the Paperwhite Signature and Paperwhite in direct sunlight, making them perfect for outdoor reading.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature and the Kindle Paperwhite both stood out during testing for their long-lasting battery life. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature arrived at our testing area with the battery at 50%, but we were still able to read two and a half books before recharging. We read with the Paperwhite for 10 days, and its battery only reached 86%, living up to Amazon’s claim that the device can go 10 weeks between charges.
On the other hand, the Kindle Oasis was quite as impressive in the battery department. During testing, we read for an hour a day with the Oasis, setting it at medium brightness. After six days, its battery was at 61%. Amazon advertises up to a six-week battery life for the Oasis, but based on our experience, it might be closer to four or five weeks. That’s still an excellent battery life for an e-reader, but the Paperwhites may be a better option if you don’t want to worry about your device’s battery life for months at a time.
Another significant difference between the Kindle Oasis and the Kindle Paperwhites is their page-turning capabilities. The Oasis has page-turning buttons on the side of the display, while the Paperwhites have a touch screen that requires tapping to turn pages. During testing, we found that the Oasis’ page-turning buttons allowed us to move between pages instantly, so we could read more efficiently. We didn’t notice much delay when turning pages on the Kindle Paperwhite Signature and Kindle Paperwhite, but it usually took a few seconds to move from one to the other.
Since the Kindle Oasis has been discontinued, it is difficult to find. However, we did spot them for sale on eBay, but the price varies.
The Kindle Paperwhite typically costs $149.99 and is available at Amazon and Best Buy.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature usually retails for $189.99 and can be found at Amazon and Best Buy.
The Kindle Oasis and the Kindle Paperwhites are all premium e-readers that we enjoyed reading with during our testing. All three are waterproof, compact enough for travel and allow for comfortable reading without any eye strain or fatigue.
However, we give the overall edge to the Kindle Paperwhite Signature because of its impressive battery life, storage space and generous, glare-free display that makes reading comfortable in any lighting. It is one of the priciest Kindle models, but avid readers will likely find it’s worth the investment, especially since it’s often discounted during Amazon sales days.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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