Earlier this year I posted a list ranking all Kindles from worst to best all-time, and some people were surprised by my number one pick being the Kindle Voyage, and frankly I’m kind of surprised by it too.
I never would’ve expected the Kindle Voyage to be my favorite Kindle after first reviewing it in 2014. At the time I was kind of disappointed with it because the first one I had had a blotchy frontlight.
I used it infrequently and sold it like a year later, assuming something better would come along, but it’s been over 9 years since the Kindle Voyage was released and that has yet to happen.
In 2018 I decided to buy a used Kindle Voyage on eBay because people kept saying the Kindle Voyage’s screen was better than newer devices getting released and I wanted to verify that for myself, and I discovered that was indeed true. There’s something about the Kindle Voyage’s screen that’s clearer and sharper than any other E Ink device I’ve ever seen to this day.
Plus the used one I got off eBay had a much better frontlight than the first one I owned, so that was a nice bonus, and I started to like the Kindle Voyage a lot more than I had before.
For some time I considered the Kindle Oasis 3 my favorite Kindle because I like the physical page buttons and the larger screen, but ultimately if I had to chose only one it would be the Kindle Voyage. The Kindle Voyage is the perfect size for portability because it easily fits into a pocket, whereas the Kindle Oasis is just too wide, and as time goes on I’ve noticed the screen just doesn’t refresh as cleanly on the Oasis as other Kindles and that annoys me while reading.
The current Kindle Paperwhite is really nice. It has a better frontlight than the Voyage with adjustable color temperature and it’s faster overall, but the Voyage still has a clearer screen and I prefer having the page-turn sensors on the Voyage. Plus the smaller size makes it more pocketable than the 6.8-inch Kindle Paperwhite.
What is your favorite Kindle model of all-time?
I’ll answer in two ways. The Kindle I was most impressed by when they came out are DXG followed by the K4NT. I am now spoiled and can’t handle the lower PPI. Also no ereaders since have had page turn buttons I liked. K4NT was magic for low effort page turning with the inside of my thumb in one hand for me. Favorite Kindle to use today is the Kindle Scribe.
K4NT is one of my favorites. Would love to see that hardware return with the latest lighting and 300 dpi (and Voyage contrast and clarity). Or at least have those page turn buttons return.
Kobo Libra 2. I have definitely lost my love of any of the Kindle devices. IMHO Kobo’s devices and reading experience is better than Amazon’s Kindles.
I’m a big fan of page turn buttons so I have an 8th generation Oasis and a 10th generation Oasis. Not a big fan of the 6.8 Paperwhite.
They all have their pros and cons. I go through phases. My current favourite is the Scribe. Just because it’s so gloriously big and lush.
I still have and use the Kindle Voyage nightly. I like the size/weight, clarity and the power button NOT on the bottom. (Why do they put it on the bottom on the others???) I do use the physical buttons, but not all the time. They aren’t a deal breaker for me. I don’t need bigger and would prefer not, so my hands don’t tire from holding it.
If/when I have to replace, I keep hoping there will be a Kindle version that is similar in size, has a power button on the back and includes dark mode (one of the few things, I miss that is on newer versions.)
By far the Voyage.
I’m also a huge fan of page turn buttons. I had the Voyage – which I love, but got old and currently use 3rd Gen. Oasis – which is OK, except for a poor battery life. I think holding the Voyage was more comfortable than the Oasis’s weird back, and having page turn buttons on both sides was also easier to use (they were also located better)
So I agree: To me, the Voyage remains the best Kindle ever made.
It’s a pity Amazon did not continue a premium line of smaller and symmetrical devices.
Of the lighted variety, definitely the Voyage. I’d put the Oasis at the end of that list due to the poor battery life, even though I did somewhat like the buttons, except they were only on one side.
Of the non-lighted Kindles, I liked one of the first touch screen models that had the page turn buttons at the very edge. I don’t even remember what version # that was. I just know it was such a wonderful experience to not have really even think about turning the page like with the Paperwhites.
Tapping a screen pulls me out of the story a little. I guess that’s why I really like that wireless page turner that I use at night in bed. 🙂 I even miss it when I’m reading on another Kindle either in the living room or out on our patio. While I think it’s still a little clunky with the part that needs to be on the Kindle, I don’t even notice it when I’m reading. (At least at night because it’s dark in the bedroom.)
Like many other people, I’d love for a new Kindle to come out that is symmetrical and has the buttons on either side. To me, even if they kept the same size as the 11th generation and had to make the screen a little smaller to accommodate buttons, I’d buy it if it was under $200.
The Voyage by far. Still working great after all these years.
I no longer use Kindles, but when I did, my favorite was the most recent Oasis. Yes, the Voyage had a sharper screen, but 6” is too small for me, it lacked the warm light and I prefer the irregular shape. The Voyage was never particularly comfortable to hold for me, the shape just doesn’t suit me. Also I prefer physical buttons to the haptic ones.
That said, I sold the Oasis afte I bought the Kobo Sage and the Libra 2. I dislike the Kindle software, and the new Carta 1200 screen on the Kobos was sharper and more contrasty than than of the Oasis.
DX due to size and page turn buttons. I really wish they could have just updated that with a light.
My favorite Kindle is the Unicorn, a Scribe with buttons and reduced price as only a reading device. The battery life knocks it out of the park. The screen and reading image are excellent. But I don’t need all the extra expense of pens and circuitry and whatever just to read. I’ll drop all that and maybe even gain more battery life. That would be the ideal Kindle. The Scribe is also my favorite of any actual Kindles for the excellent reading experience.
Oasis!!! I owned the very first Kindle in 2008 and have had many since then. Never tried the Voyager. I’m now using the most current Oasis and desperately wish for a new model.
On the Oasis, one side, with the page turn buttons, is a wider frame before the screen. Love the page turn buttons, but that width also helps me hold it due to a thumb injury.
If we are talking about form – nothing beats the design of Kindle 4/5. If they released a 300 ppi device in that form I would be sold, hands down.
Just in general – Kindle Paperwhite 7th Gen is the best. 300 ppi resolution and auto wake up function were a HUGE step up from K4. New screen also solved the mystery of tired eyes – apparently the low res screen was the culprit. Also – bezels wide enough to hold the device comfortably.
Never understood the hype around Voyage. Yes, screen may be a little better, but paying premium for a device only marginally better than my PW? No thanks. And it still remains the only Kindle that Amazon had to recall due to technical issues.
And I really hate the shape of Oasis because it’s so unbalanced. To say nothing of its abysmal battery life.
Amazon never recalled the Kindle Voyage. It had frontlight uniformity issues, but so did most ereaders back then.
Sold my original Voyage to treat myself to an Oasis and really should’ve kept the Voyage, still my favorite Kindle!
Definitely Kindle 5 (non touch).
Loved the Voyage, long for a 7.8 version of it.
After 3 years of using the latest Oasis model, I recently traded it down for a Paperwhite Signature. I don’t miss the Oasis at all. Now, if Amazon ever decides to upgrade their premium e-reader line, I’ll take a look at what they are offering. But, I’m not holding my breath that will happen anytime soon.
mine is the keyboard,
i like the contrast on the older displays, those that dont have the flush-glass-screens,
tested some , new and used (dx , dx grahpite, voyage)
but have not tested oasis yet, so the opinion is not complete.