Perhaps you’ve been looking around and decided that investing in a Kindle sounds like a good idea. Logically, then, the next step is to decide which one you want—and there are a lot of options.

There are some features that every Kindle can boast. They all have free wifi, which allows Amazon to send the books straight to the device as soon as they have been ordered (and which allows you to shop directly from your Kindle instead of having to go to a computer), provided that there is a wireless network nearby. They all have at least 2G of storage space, within which you can fit hundreds (if not thousands) of books. All of the readers have no backlight, which means they can be read in direct sunlight without a glare, and the text is E Ink, which means that it looks like a book instead of a computer text.

Aside from those similarities, though, the e-readers are all different—some of those differences are extreme, some are miniscule. This article will compare and contrast several of the different types and offer a list of pros and cons to give you a better idea about which one will suit you best.

 

Amazon Kindle with WiFi, 6” Display
This is one of the smaller makes, weighing less than six ounces and sporting a six-inch screen and no keyboard—it is operated by several clicker arrows at the bottom of the device.
Pros:
It is the least expensive Kindle at $79 with special offers.
One three-hour charging session will last for an entire month.
2 GB of storage space, which roughly equates to 1,400 books.
Cons:
If you’re a note-taker or want your children to take notes, the lack of a keyboard is slightly inconvenient.

Kindle Touch
This version has neither a clicker nor a keyboard and is operated instead by touch. It is very sleek at about 7.5 ounces and is definitely the best option for someone enamored by touchscreens, and the $99 price tag is reasonable.
Pros:
This device has speakers, so text-to-speech technology is enabled, as is mp3 playing and other sound-related options.
Stays charged for up to two months, and one full charging session takes only four hours.
4 GB of storage space, or about 3,000 books.
Cons:
Again, there is no keyboard, so note-taking can get a little tricky.
There’s no way to get around the fact that touch screens get dirtier faster, so you’ll need to clean it more often.

Kindle Keyboard
This version is far different in design from the previous two, with silent page-turning arrows on both edges (so you don’t have to be a righty or a lefty to use it comfortably) and a full keyboard on the bottom. As a result, it’s a bit bigger, but at $99 is the same price as the Kindle Touch.
Pros:
Keyboard enables easy searching and a quick way to take notes and make highlights without having to tap them out slowly on a screen.
Stays charged for up to two months, and one full charging session takes only four hours.
4 GB of storage space, or about 3,000 books.
Built-in dictionary.
Audio-enabled.
Cons:
It is a bit heftier than the previous two at 8.5 ounces. If you tend to prefer the smallest and the sleekest, then this is not the right version for you.

Kindle DX
This is the big boy, from the $379 price tag to the 9.7 inch display screen to the one-and-a-half pound weight.
Pros:
The larger screen is ideal for reading more than just books—magazines, maps, PDFs, graphic novels, anything that might require a big screen works very well on this device.
Auto-rotates when you turn it sideways.
Included keyboard.
Built-in dictionary.
Audio enabled.
Cons:
There’s really no getting around the fact that this device is almost $400, but if you’re looking for a Kindle that’s a bit more like an iPad than it is like a book, then that price might not hit you so hard.
Comparatively much bigger and heavier than the other versions.
With wireless on, a four-hour charge only lasts a week (with wireless switched off, it works for about 2-3 weeks). More energy needed to sustain a bigger make.

Kindle Fire
This version is not coming out for another month, but for some reason I foresee it being immensely popular. The only Kindle to be color-enabled, it boasts the unique ability to play movies and display magazines and graphic novels in all their colored grandeur. It is a touchscreen, stream-enabled, and it offers games and fast browsing.
Pros:
The color, which will make it a lot more appealing to younger and older users alike.
The multi-functionality, really frees you up to do a lot more with it
8 GB of storage space
Cons:
$199 price tag, although when comparing it to the Kindle DX, it doesn’t seem that bad.
If you’re buying this primarily for schooling purposes, then you might want to think twice. Part of the appeal of Kindle is that it is virtually distraction-free. This version seems determined to distract with all its new entertainment functions.
It’s a bit heavier than all but the DX at 14.6 ounces.
Only 8 hours of continuous power after a 4-hour charge, meaning you’ll probably be charging it more often than you do your phone.

 

There are other Kindles available, of course, including several options with 3G in case you’re desperate to buy a book but are far from any wireless internet, but this covers the basics, and with any luck, now you’ll feel more confident about buying your own!

Why should you get a Kindle in the first place?

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