Amazon has a long history of making their own branded products as inexpensive as possible so they can sell more units and keep people engaged in buying more stuff from Amazon.
Their Fire tablets are a prefect example of this. If you want a nice tablet that’s going to last for a long time, get an iPad. If you want something as cheap as possible, get a Fire tablet.
Unfortunately there is no Apple equivalent in the ebook reader market making nice, premium-quality ereaders (Sony could have filled that void if they hadn’t given up).
The Kindle Paperwhite is a nice device for the price, but it’s far from the premium build quality of the Kindle Oasis, and now that the Kindle Oasis has been discontinued there is no alternative for a premium Kindle. To be fair, the Kindle Scribe feels like a premium device, but it’s far too big for most people that just want a small ereader for reading ebooks.
The entry-level Kindle can do most of the things the more expensive Kindle Paperwhite can do, but the plastic casing feels extremely cheap. It’s like they used the cheapest plastic they could find and did next to nothing to refine it.
Personally, I’d rather pay a little more for something that doesn’t feel like a cheap plastic toy, especially if I’m going to use it all the time. A lot of other people seem to agree.
Every time I look at the Kindle Best Sellers page at Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite is outselling the basic Kindle, and the upgraded Signature Edition model always ranks high as well.
The Signature Edition has about half the reviews of the cheaper Paperwhite, which means close to 50% of people that buy a Paperwhite choose to buy the more expensive upgraded model, even if the “upgrades” really aren’t that important (more storage space, wireless charging, auto-brightness sensor).
That’s one sign that people aren’t just buying the cheapest Kindles available. Another sign is the fact that the 64GB version of the Kindle Scribe, the most expensive model, is the best selling version of the Kindle Scribe, and it’s outselling the cheaper versions by a wide margin.
Going off of Amazon’s monthly sales numbers, they’ve only sold 1000+ units of the cheapest 16GB Kindle Scribe with the basic pen and 500+ units of the same model with the premium pen. Compare that to 6000+ units sold for the 64GB Kindle Scribe. That’s also three times as many as the 32GB model, which currently sits at 2000+ units sold.
When it comes to the Kindle Scribe, the most expensive model is by far the most popular version.
At some point Amazon has to realize not everybody wants the cheapest models possible. There’s room for premium Kindles in the market. Hopefully Amazon will release another premium Kindle at some point now that the Oasis is gone.
Karen says
I would not mind spending more on a new Kindle. I do prefer the 6 inch screen. I would love color like the new Kobo releases. I also like the different color shells. We have 3 people on this house using kindles so different color shells make easier to know who the device belongs too.
Charles says
I have both the latest PaperWhite and the basic Kindle, they both serve my own needs. To be honest I do prefer the size of my PW screen, but I prefer the smaller size of the basic if I am out and about and have time to read. The PW is too large to fit in my pocket! I don’t care for page change buttons and when I had the Voyage and Oasis I disabled them. I personally hated the Oasis due to the case and design, The first thing I do with any of my devices is get a protective case, and it has to be one that is comfortable, not too heavy or bulky. So I never even noticed the so called cheap plastic of the Kindle or PW. My kindle normally out last more expensive iPads
And in the last year I said so long to Apple devices and went back to Android devices because of the overall cost factor. And by the way I have a cheap Fire Tablet for one reason it easily does text to speech so I can listen to my books, I never figured an easy way to do it with an iPad or even an android tablet. And the voice feature of the Kindle socks.
Gringo says
And by the way I have a cheap Fire Tablet for one reason it easily does text to speech so I can listen to my books,
Agreed. In addition, the Fire Tablet does text-so-speech in Spanish with a very good accent. I purchased my Fire Tablet 8 years ago for under $25, due to some Amazon bargain. I don’t like the Fire Tablet fonts, but its text-to-speech capabilities more than make up for its lousy fonts.
Maty says
I was just going to write that I ALWAYS buy a case, and a screen protector. I don’t know why the color of the devices is so important because I don’t understand not using a case – w/o one, the device is too easy to drop! I use the signature, and it goes with me everywhere. My purse is small, but it easily fits.
RGN says
One thing I note is that many people look at Kindles like phones – they’ve been burned previously by skimping on storage, so they buy more when they *really* don’t need it. Had to deal with this with my mother and then she still bought the Signature Edition PW anyway.
I’d kill for a new Voyage though. The various Oasis models were fine but nothing *quite* scratches that same itch.
Benjamin Longman says
The biggest issue I have is that there’s no generic standard for an eink device. You either get something locked to a single store, something that only supports the terrible adobe DRM, something that only works with non-DRM local files, or something that’s android w/eInk.
I’d say that Android w/eInk is the best option, but the majority of android apps are not optimized to work with eInk screens.
It’s kind of a mess. If someone managed to make a stripped-down android as a target platform for eInk apps and get various stores to sign on, that would probably be the best solution, but all three major stores are pretty anti-consumer in their behaviour and won’t bother to support such a standard.
Share says
Pocketbook? They even support .azw3 format on their end.
Nathan says
They do but only without DRM, which is kind of pointless given all the other formats they support.
Glenn says
I would pay a high price for a device with a Voyage quality screen, early nook ergonomics, early Sony build quality and support for books from any source without all the extra bloat of full Android. Easily $500. Maybe more. But no company seems to see me as a customer.
Tea says
I will never choose to own an Apple device and not all of us can pay what you might think is “a little more”.
Norval says
This is also me. I would have to be paid each time I’d use any Apple product. I always found that argument of “well for this much more you can get this model or this perk” annoying. If I could purchase that upgraded model and if it had what I wanted maybe I’d be looking at that model. But I don’t have the money or it doesn’t have what I want so its a hard pass from me.
Norval says
If I had to buy a e reader right now I could care less if it looked like a “cheap plastic toy.” So long as its the right size has a good screen a backlight buttons and ideally expandable memory I am sold. In my opinion it’s an e reader it’s not something that needs to be flashy or in your face or even eye catching.
And does anyone really notice the subpar plastic body construction when it’s in a flip case or PET cover? I think we all take care of our e readers regardless of how much we bought them for. What I’d like to see is Amazon follow Kobo and make their future devices user repairable.
Claude says
Sure, the Oasis and Scribe feel more luxurious with their metal body. But I pretty much like the rubbery feel of the Paperwhite. Much more than just plastic like Kobo and others have.
I don’t know why Apple never made an eInk device. They already have their ebooks store. Many people like to read on an iPad, I guess.
Harmon says
As a decades long dweller in the Apple garden, I’ve always wished for an Apple eInk device. I can only imagine how cool that would be – except that Books has a terrible unApple interface. I guess the kindle app on my iPhone will just have to do…
But when it comes to devices, Apple is the Antizon. They make high end products at a high end markup, and as Amazon seems to agree, the eInk market is for is for plebeian devices at a low end price.
Scotto says
I have my Oasis in a real leather cover which feels much better than bare metal and protects the display.
As for Apple and Eink, I suppose they don’t want to cut into their iPad sales.
Harmon says
I have a cheap 6 inch kindle, & the only thing I’d change is to reduce it to a 5 inch, since it’s the one I take with me when I’m out & about. Glad it’s plastic. I do have a case which I usually take, but not always if it fits my jacket pocket.
I have an Oasis & I’d be happy if it were lighter (plastic) but not smaller. It would be nice if it were an inch larger. That one stays home.
I have a Scribe, which is more than I need except I read it in the evening & my old eyes appreciate the all around largeness.
All in all, I have to say that I don’t see the need for any kind of upscale build. With a print book, there’s some pleasure in the binding and form factor that’s sometimes worth paying for, but what I want in an ebook reader is durability and for the physicality of the screen to just sort of disappear when I’m reading. I prefer buttons to swiping, but YMMD.
What I’d like is a cheap & light universal platform. I suspect most people feel the same, which is why Amazon ditched the Oasis. That handles two of the three.
fx says
I’m absolutely the costumer who prefers more premium built. Most of my electronics is from Apple and I like the combination of glass and metal, I definitely don’t like plastic back. Also I always take my reader from the case when I want to read so the materials do matter. The case is only for protection in my bag. My ideal reader would be iPad mini with colour e-ink.
Harmon says
I agree that the mini is ideal for reading, in terms of the form factor. But it is heavy enough to be a distraction, and too slippery without a case, which makes it heavier. And I have to remember to plug it in all the time.
But if eInk could be added to the next iteration of the mini, that would be great!
Rod says
With a case my don’t feel like my kindles feel cheap. I would rather have the lower priced devices. I would disagree with your premise that people don’t want a cheap device. Isn’t Amazon the top ereader seller? So, maybe the market does demand a low priced device. Now, certainly there is a market for premium devices too, the Oasis proves that point. I never got an Oasis because it was way to pricy for what I wanted it to do. I did not see the value in it. But others do. Amazon would be wise to have a range of products to cover the range of devices that people want.
Norval says
To me the Oasis only had the buttons going for it That’s the only reason I was going to buy one but I couldn’t justify the expense of a new or used one when a regular Kindle or PW did the same thing for less. I’d be reading the same books anyway regardless of ereader choice.
I do own a Voyage that I bought used for under 40 that is my daily reader unit. I never would’ve bought it new when it was first released though.
Harmon says
For me, the advantage of the Oasis is the wide right hand bevel, so the device falls naturally into my hand when I pick it up, and I can hold it securely with my thumb on the lower button, while balancing it on my pinky finger.
Norval says
That was my exact hand grip on my Voyage too. Eventually my pinkie started hurting though so I bought a strap and that made it so much better to hold. I didn’t drop it on my chest anymore too.
Harmon says
Clearly you need an Apple iPinkie.
Rick says
I personally no longer care what Amazon does. I’ve moved on from Kindles and went full on Kobo. Kobo has a way better screen for reading with sharper text and contrast, not to mention controls and customization. It also renders ebooks much better. Until Amazon gets these basics right, it really doesn’t matter how premium or cheap they are IMO. I had every kindle, Scribe, Oasis 3rd, PW5, Voyage, and sold it all! Kobo for life!
Scotto says
I would seriously consider getting a Kobo too if I could still buy my books from the Kindle store and transfer my past purchases to the Kobo. I already have the means to save ebook files to another drm-free format via Calibre, but that’s too much trouble for every book I want to read.
Kathryn Hadley says
What I was personally hoping for was something like the oasis cellular, but with a USB C port.
Yeah, maybe the cellular doesn’t matter in the long run, but I always liked that I could whip out the thing and buy a book on the spot without having to mess with my phone’s mobile Hotspot.
Maybe if they allowed us to Bluetooth tether….
Gianna says
I don’t care about the plastic components or whether the device looks premium. I would pay for a device that has an 8-inch screen, buttons, a text-to-speech feature, and why not a stylus.
I don’t have pockets (is this a guy’s thing?), so I don’t need device that fits in my pocket. I know Kobo has the Sage, but it didn’t work for me for other reasons.
Jordan says
I am using my Voyage and Oasis 3 but am starting to worry about what I will read with when they stop working in the future. Page turn buttons are a must for me. I have the Paperwhite 5 and don’t like using it.
e says
I’m pretty sure Amazon knows what sort of e-readers will sell, enough to justify their development costs anyway. The reality is that people are reading fewer books these days, and the ones that do read And prefer an e-reader probably already have a high-PPI device by now. There’s very little, if anything, Amazon could add to these to make them a must-upgrade.
I mean, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Less e-waste, less pointless consumption for consumption’s sake. Sometimes a product is more or less finished, and that’s okay (or it should be).
NRK says
I completely agree with this article. It wouldn’t be as much of an issue if Amazon didn’t lock you into their e-book environment. I’ve got thousands of dollars worth of kindle books and so I’m stuck with their devices. My Voyage is getting a little long in the tooth, with the decreasing battery life to show for it. I keep hoping they’ll build something good quality as a replacement. Now I’m kicking myself that I didn’t just buy an oasis before they were discontinued.
Chelsea Allen says
The Voyage then the Oasis are my favorite, I only use the Oasis more because of the warm light. I didn’t care for the new PW, I have one. I don’t like the cheap kindles – Ereaders back in the day were cheap (I’m thinking early kobo days when you could see all the chip through a gap in them) I like premium ones. Once you have eReaders for years you want a nice one. I like buying really nice leather cases and I enjoy it that way.
Scotto says
I guess I’ll have to protect my Voyage and Oasis 3 for as long as possible. As for the cheap case on the basic, a good exterior case will fix that. I see naked Kindles thrown into backpacks and slingbags in review videos on YouTube and I just cringe at the inevitable display damage that’s bound to occur.
The Scribe is too big for me but if my Oasis goes under I will be in the market for a high-end reader, even if it means that I’ll have to jump the fence and get a Kobo.
Nathan says
Kobo doesn’t really sell any premium models, expect the Sage and it’s already going on 3 years old. I like Kobo but my main complaint is their devices always feel like cheap plastic, similar to the entry-level Kindle. Back in the day, companies used to at least refine the plastic a bit and they used a coating that made if feel nicer, like on the Kindle 4, but nowadays it’s like they just use the cheapest-feeling plastic they can find. Nobody would accept such low quality plastic on a phone but that’s what we get with ereaders—I don’t get it.
Norval says
My two cents is not everyone has an e reader (or even knows what it is) so companies don’t care about plastic quality all that much.