Amazons basic Kindle is the best e-reader on a budget

There are a lot of Kindles. At least more than you think. When someone mentions the Amazon Kindle, you might think they're referring to that one really great e-reader from Amazon. Until you log on and discover there are four different Kindles. We've raved plenty about the Kindle Paperwhite, but it's time to go back to basics and discuss Amazon's base model, the regular old Kindle.

It's hard to distinguish the standard Amazon Kindle from the pack since it doesn't get a fancy name like the Paperwhite or Scribe to differentiate between models. The Amazon Kindle is the brand's OG e-reader, now functioning as its smallest but most affordable option. Despite other Kindles offering more advanced features, the basic Kindle still soars.

Kindle price and specs

Here's the full rundown of the Amazon Kindle's price and specs:

• $109.99 for Kindle with ad-supported lock screen ($10 more than the previous model)

• $129.99 for Kindle without lock screen ads

• 6-inch display, up to 94 nits brightness, and 300 ppi resolution

• USB-C charging port with up to six weeks of battery life

• 16GB of storage

• Comes in black and matcha

The best-sized e-reader

I've tried e-readers of every shape and size, from the square-shaped Kobo Libra Colour to the oversized Kindle Scribe. The Amazon Kindle is the smallest of the bunch, with a 6-inch screen, and it might just be my favorite size.

Despite the small size, I didn't miss the extra screen. There's still plenty of room for the page, plus it is perfectly compact, fitting into my small crossbody bag on the go. Plus, it is the lightest e-reader; you can comfortably hold it for hours without getting a tired wrist.

It has one fatal design flaw: a poorly placed power button on the bottom of the device that causes a bounty of accidental presses. However, that's not unique to the Kindle; the Paperwhite also suffers from this misdesign.

Quicker processing and a fantastic display

You'll have to make sacrifices in some areas when going for a budget pick, but processing speed isn't one of them. Amazon advertises a 25 percent increase in speed from the previous generation. While we can't verify these claims, we can verify that the Kindle turns pages swiftly, moving between books without delay.

The Kindle's display has made the most distinguished improvement. It still has the matte look of paper, but it has gotten a boost of higher contrast. Words and images look sharper, reducing eye strain while reading. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer adjustable warmth like the Paperwhite, but I didn't mind.

What you sacrifice for the price

It's the cheapest Kindle by $50, and that price does mean a few sacrifices.

The build of the Amazon Kindle feels cheaper than the Paperwhite or Scribe. It's encased in a plastic outer shell, making it lighter but more fragile. I don't mind it because I prefer the feathery handling of the Kindle, mainly because the new matcha green case is such a good color. Where the Kindle actually disappoints is on battery and waterproofing.

The Amazon Kindle has a six-week battery life. At face value, that seems pretty good, especially when you think in terms of phones, tablets, and laptops. Yet, the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition have a magnificent 12-week battery life, which you can't beat.

Plus, the Amazon Kindle isn't waterproof like the Paperwhite. If you're a bathtub reader or want to enjoy glare-free beach reading, go for the Paperwhite or Signature Edition of Kindle.

Is the Kindle worth it?

The Amazon Kindle is a phenomenal value. If you're looking to spend about $100 on an e-reader, the Kindle will deliver quick page turns and 16GB of storage to hold thousands and thousands of books. If the Amazon Kindle was waterproof, it might edge the Paperwhite as my favorite Kindle. But alas, you can't have it all in the name of affordability.

However, you can't go wrong with the base Amazon Kindle model if you don't need a ton of flair and want a reliable e-reader with a lightweight frame.