A reading tablet is a must have for the bibliophile on-the-go. As a substitute of lugging round that weighty novel — and probably a back-up e-book — strive an Amazon Kindle for a light-weight, moveable studying companion. Plus, with Amazon Prime Day arising, you will doubtless discover the tablets on sale.
Amazon’s Kindle lineup has one thing for everybody. The Kindle Scribe makes annotating a breeze, and the Kindle Colorsoft gives a full-color pill, so you will not miss out on high quality illustrations. Whether or not you need a premium expertise with the Kindle Paperwhite or the budget-friendly base mannequin system.
Additionally: Best early Amazon Prime Day Kindle deals 2025: My favorites sales ahead of October
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What’s the greatest Kindle proper now?
We have examined one of the best Kindle studying tablets available on the market by exploring their options, researching buyer suggestions, and evaluating affordability. Even with extra superior units obtainable, Amazon’s base model Kindle stays our favourite.
The $110 base mannequin Kindle is our greatest general decide for its glorious battery life, straightforward readability, and quick page-turning pace. Learn on for a full breakdown of one of the best Kindle studying tablets
Additionally: The best tablets you can buy
The most effective Kindle readers of 2025
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Why we prefer it: The Kindle base mannequin is the right system to deal with your whole favourite books. The most recent model of the pill gives a brand new colour, Matcha Inexperienced, in addition to improved web page turning charges. Even with the upgrades, this Kindle stays essentially the most reasonably priced within the product household at $110 — basically the price of 4 hardcover books.
Who’s it for: The handy and accessible 6-inch tablet is ideal for a reader on-the-go, and its battery life lasts about six weeks. It’s also possible to select to tack on a 3-month free trial of Kindle Limitless for much more digital books.
After I went hands-on with this Kindle, I might undoubtedly advocate it to any word-lover. It has all of the options you’d want in a good e-reader together with a vivid, glare-free show, reactive and fast speeds, and an important battery life at an affordable worth.
Who ought to look elsewhere: Whereas this pill’s battery life is not dangerous, it is the shortest within the Kindle units lineup. There’s additionally no microSD card assist.
Evaluation: Amazon Kindle (12th-generation)
Amazon Kindle specs: Screen measurement: 6 inches | Storage: 16GB, Amazon Cloud | Battery life: As much as six weeks at half-hour per day | Lock display adverts: Sure, detachable with payment | microSD card assist: No
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Why we prefer it: The Kindle Paperwhite, which Amazon boasts as its “quickest Kindle ever,” is an upgraded model of the bottom mannequin Kindle. Whereas nonetheless 16GB, the 7-inch, glare-free display has a better distinction ratio and even sooner page-turning pace.
Who’s it for: The auto-adjusting entrance gentle, sooner page-turning fee, and battery life make the Paperwhite shine.
Maria Diaz, a ZDNET author, went hands-on with the system and most well-liked it over her present e-reader day by day driver.
“After two weeks of day by day studying on a single cost, some days for as much as three hours a day, my Kindle Paperwhite’s battery continues to be at 32%. Based on Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite may final about 42 hours of studying with the brightness at 13,” Diaz mentioned in her overview.
Charlie Osborne, one other ZDNET contributor, mentioned she prefers the Kindle show to utilizing the app on her smartphone.
Who ought to look elsewhere: The Paperwhite’s worth is an enormous leap from the bottom mannequin, however with Prime Day on the horizon, you may have the ability to get it on sale. As well as, you should pay a payment to take away lock display adverts, and there is no microSD card assist.
Evaluation: Amazon Paperwhite (2024)
Kindle Paperwhite specs: Display measurement: 7 inches | Storage: 16GB | Battery life: As much as 12 weeks at half-hour per day | Lock display adverts: Sure, take away with a payment | microSD card assist: No
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Why we prefer it: The Paperwhite Signature Version is a boosted model of the unique mannequin, the largest change being the additional storage. The glare-free 7-inch display has a better distinction and a sooner page-turn fee in addition to an adjustable heat gentle and wi-fi charging.
Based on Amazon, a single cost through USB-C lasts as much as 12 weeks, which provides as much as about half-hour per day at a light-weight setting of 13, in response to the system specs. Audiobook streaming via the Amazon Audible app may also drain the battery sooner.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version additionally sports activities a water-proof score of score of IPX8, which is ideal for poolside studying round splashy youngsters.
Who’s it for: If you need a couple of extra bells and whistles in your Kindle Paperwhite, that is price a glance. It is dearer, however you get a whopping 32GB of storage.
Who ought to look elsewhere: The Paperwhite Signature Version solely gives a pair further options, however it’s about $50 dearer than the unique Paperwhite. Whereas there’s extra storage, there’s nonetheless no microSD card slot. Plus, the $23
As well as, the Signature Version solely gives the identical colours as the unique Paperwhite, however with a metallic end.
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version specs: Display measurement: 7 inches | Storage: 32GB | Battery life: As much as 12 weeks at half-hour per day | Lock display adverts: No | microSD card assist: No
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Why we prefer it: The $340 Kindle Scribe combines a digital library with a digital notebook. You should utilize the Primary Pen to create notes both via an app or immediately on the pages of the e-book you are studying.
The show is exceptional, with a high-resolution 10.2-inch display. You may even have entry to a number of storage choices at 16, 32, or 64GB. Plus, the battery life will allow you to learn the subsequent bestseller with out worrying about discovering the closest plug for charging.
Evaluation: Amazon Kindle Scribe
Who’s it for: The pill is ideal when you’re finding out for a check or take pleasure in annotating a novel. The Primary Pen comes with the pill, however you’ll be able to improve to the Kindle Scribe
When Matthew Miller reviewed the Scribe, he referred to as it his on-the-go notetaking tablet of selection. “My want to seek out one thing that does not waste paper and in addition supplies the flexibility to protect and share my notes has been met with the Amazon Kindle Scribe,” Miller mentioned.
He provides that the writing and erasing capabilities are high tier — additional bolstered with the add-on Premium Pen.
Who ought to look elsewhere: Except for the value tag, there may be definitely room for enchancment. At present, you’ll be able to export notes to a PDF and e-mail them, however sending notes to different applications like Microsoft Phrase can be splendid. Moreover, we discovered that organizing your notes on the Kindle Scribe is sort of unimaginable.
Total, it is a superb foray into the digital note-taking market, however future software program updates will assist refine the product.
Additionally: Best tablets for school in 2025
Kindle Scribe specs: Display measurement: 10.2 inches | Storage: 16, 32, or 64GB | Battery life: As much as 12 weeks at half-hour per day | Lock display adverts: Sure, detachable with payment | microSD card assist: No
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Why we prefer it: The Kindle Colorsoft lastly provides customers what they’ve wished for years: a full-color Kindle choice. In comparison with related e-readers from different corporations, Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft gives by far the smoothest expertise.
Amazon additionally gives a
Who’s it for: Should you like graphic novels, illustrative texts, or need to take a bunch of youngsters’s books on a household trip, this Kindle is the right device to view the artwork at its full potential.
When ZDNET’s Allison Murray examined the pill, she had no points studying within the daylight. It is also water resistant making it the right companion for out of doors studying.
“I’ve nearly no complaints with this Kindle besides maybe its small measurement. The scale itself is simple and cozy to carry, however studying colour books or magazines, an even bigger measurement like that of the Boox Word Air C 3’s 10.3-inch show makes a better affect, and you may actually see and admire the colour photos higher when seeing all the web page,” Murray mentioned in her overview.
Who ought to look elsewhere: Just like the Paperwhite Signature Version, the Colorsoft has wi-fi charging capabilities, however the dock is bought individually. As well as, the battery life is barely eight weeks, in comparison with the 12 weeks different Kindles supply.
Evaluation: Kindle Colorsoft and Kindle Colorsoft Kids
Kindle Paperwhite specs: Display measurement: 7 inches | Storage: 16GB | Battery life: As much as 8 weeks at half-hour per day | Lock display adverts: No | microSD card assist: No
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Finest Kindle reader | Value | Display measurement | Battery life | Storage |
Kindle (Twelfth-generation) | $110 | 6 inches | 6 weeks | 16GB |
Kindle Paperwhite | $160 | 7 inches | 12 weeks | 16GB |
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version | $200 | 7 inches | 12 weeks | 32GB |
Kindle Scribe | $340 | 10 inches | 12 weeks | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB |
Kindle Colorsoft | $250 | 7 inches | 8 weeks | 16GB |
*Lowest worth on the time of writing. Please be aware that costs could differ primarily based on retailer and obtainable promotions, gross sales, or reductions.
When purchasing for a brand new Kindle reader, except for worth, you must also contemplate how a lot cupboard space you will want in your digital bookshelf.
Each the essential Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite have 16GB of storage. The Paperwhite Signature Version has 32GB of storage, however it’s dearer. The Colorsoft additionally has 32GB of storage, however a shorter battery life. As well as, when you’re not planning to take notes whereas studying, the Scribe in all probability is not for you.
Beneath is a desk that outlines which Kindle corresponds to particular wants:
Select this Kindle reader… | Should you want… |
Kindle (Twelfth-generation) | A fundamental reader that’s straightforward to deliver wherever. It is reasonably priced and can go well with informal customers. |
Kindle Paperwhite | If you need one thing extra trendy and lighter than the everyday Kindle, this might be greatest for you. |
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Version | If you need the Paperwhite expertise with extra storage and a wi-fi charging choice. |
Kindle Scribe | Finest for notetaking, annotating whereas studying, and even journaling. |
Kindle Colorsoft | A full colour studying system greatest for comics, manga, and graphic novels. |
- Value: Kindles are typically reasonably priced, however with extra options, like drawing capabilities, sturdy battery life, and ample storage, you’ll pay a better worth.
- Storage capability: The purpose of a tool like a Kindle is to retailer as many books in a single compact system as potential. We checked out Kindles with huge storage capacities that may maintain 1000’s of titles.
- Environmental components: A number of fashions supply water resistance, so you’ll be able to learn inside and out of doors. Nonetheless, do not forget that Kindles are nonetheless digital units, in order that they shouldn’t be uncovered to excessive situations.
- Show: Kindles include quite a lot of show sizes. Do need a pill about the identical measurement as the common novel, or a bigger display?
- Youngsters: Should you intend to permit your kids to make use of a Kindle, you may need to go for a mannequin designed with child security and safety in thoughts. At the very least put money into a case.
- Colour: It is a minor consideration, however colours is likely to be restricted within the mannequin you in the end choose.
- Battery life: The e-readers on this record ought to ideally final a couple of weeks earlier than recharging. Turning off Wi-Fi when not in use can drastically enhance your Kindle’s battery life. Turning on airplane mode and reducing the brightness setting can even maintain you studying longer.
Additionally: How to buy books on Kindle
ZDNET solely recommends merchandise we’ve got used and might communicate to. We do that by spending a couple of weeks continuously utilizing the merchandise and evaluating them for efficiency, battery life, usability, particular options, and extra.
We concentrate on the common client’s wants in addition to crucial components in selecting a Kindle. This may occasionally embody show measurement, readability, and storage.
We write product spotlights or evaluations and along with greatest lists. Every month, we consider which merchandise nonetheless deserve a spot on this record and change out older fashions or these out of inventory with newer ones.
Newest Amazon Kindle information
- Amazon introduced a brand new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft throughout its September units occasion. It comes with ten drawing colours and 5 spotlight colours, in addition to a extra responsive writing expertise with the brand new pen. Keep tuned to see our official overview on the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft as soon as we spend extra time with it.
- Amazon Prime Day is about for Oct. 7-8 with gross sales sitewide. Should you’re available in the market for a Kindle pill, that is the right time to buy.
A Kindle will prevent shelf house, however some readers love an in-home library. Carrying a e-book with you is further weight, however Kindles are small, slim, and light-weight.
You do not have to decide on a facet, and you do not want a Kindle pill to entry Kindle’s library. You’ll be able to obtain the app in your cellphone to learn digital books and magazines, however a Kindle pill’s sole objective is to operate as an e-reader is distraction-free.
Briefly, it is all in your choice.
Sure. Kindles are typically water resistant and sport glare-free shows, making studying in sturdy daylight a cushty expertise.
A skinny Kindle might be a splendid different in case your seaside bag is simply too heavy for a thick e-book. Plus, you do not have to decide on between two or three books to learn — you’ll be able to deliver all of them in your pill.
A Kindle is a sturdy system when you take correct care of it. I had a take a look at the r/kindle Reddit web page and located numerous folks boasting that their Kindles have lasted them over a decade lengthy.
All of it will depend on what sorts of books you need to obtain, as totally different media recordsdata have totally different sizes.
Longer titles like Warfare and Peace by Leo Tolstoy can have a bigger file measurement than one thing like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Nice Gatsby. Picture-heavy graphic novels may additionally take up extra space. Typically, plain-text recordsdata like novels, nonfiction titles, and even college textbooks have pretty small sizes. Your 32GB pill may plausibly home as much as 13,500 books.
You’ll be able to even obtain audiobooks from the Kindle app, though the audio recordsdata are sometimes massive. Which means that a 32GB Kindle will solely maintain about 150 audiobooks, relying on the size of the recording.
The Kindle Paperwhite boasts a extra outstanding show, a heat gentle adjustment characteristic, longer battery life, and an improved waterproof construct. These options make the system dearer as nicely.
All Kindles supply text-to-voice narration via Alexa. If you wish to purchase an audiobook particularly, you will have to make use of Amazon’s Audible. Audible is built-in into all newer Kindle fashions, and you may typically reap the benefits of free trials or low cost subscriptions throughout gross sales occasions.
As well as, just like the Kindle app itself, you do not want a pill to make use of the Audible app.
Kindles want Wi-Fi to obtain a e-book and entry the web. When you obtain the e-book, you’ll be able to learn it and not using a Wi-Fi connection.
I take my Kindle on the subway, the place there is no Wi-Fi connection, and haven’t any downside studying my favourite titles. For different ZDNET authors, together with Charlie Osborne, a Kindle is a should on airplanes. Conserving a Kindle on airplane mode may also enhance its battery life.
There isn’t any goal reply to this. Like studying in your smartphone, a Kindle merely gives an alternate and a strategy to digitally retailer your e-book assortment. Arguably, crucial factor is having fun with your studying time.
Sure, you will get Kindle books without cost. A number of basic literature is within the public area, or not protected by copyright legal guidelines, and will be offered without cost. It’s also possible to go to Amazon and search “free Kindle books.”
Additionally: How to get (great) free books on Kindle
You can also discover 1000’s of titles for very low costs, generally as little as $0.99. Nonetheless, these are sometimes self-published works. It’s also possible to maintain a watch out for “Stuff Your Kindle Day” to seize a couple of free e-books.
Newest updates
- September 2025: We carried out substantial editorial format adjustments, verified costs and product availability, and included the most recent Kindle information, together with the discharge of the brand new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft
Alternate options to Kindles
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Amazon additionally makes tablets you need to use to learn, watch leisure, make the most of productiveness apps, and play video games. The Amazon Fireplace HD 10 is nice for all these functions. On the time of writing the Fireplace HD 10 is 50% off at $70 forward of Prime Day.
The ten.1-inch pill gives a 32GB or 64GB model. It boasts a 1080p full HD show with 13-hour battery life, and 1TB of expandable storage with a separate microSD card buy.
It is available in three colours — Lilac, Black, and Ocean.
Additionally: Amazon Fire HD 10
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Apple’s Tenth-generation iPad is a good Kindle different.
The pill sports activities a ten.9-inch Liquid Retina show with True Tone, and the A14 Bionic chip. The iPad is appropriate with the unique Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard Folio. It is also obtainable in a 64GB or 256GB model with 4 colour choices — blue, silver, yellow, and pink.
The iPad can be appropriate with the most recent iPadOS 26.
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The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is an ideal choice in order for you the performance of notetaking with the S-Pen coupled with a vibrant show.
The 11-inch Tab S8 is available in a 128GB and a 256GB with three colours to select from — Graphite, Pink Gold, and Silver.
This pill is the most costly on this record, usually retailing at $700, it is at the moment on sale for $600.
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The Amazon Kindle Youngsters pill, at the moment on sale for $95, gives 16GB of cupboard space and a kid-friendly, protected atmosphere for studying.
The 6-inch pill options like Vocabulary Builder and Phrase Sensible, together with studying aim settings, and comes with a six-month subscription to Amazon Youngsters+.
Based on Amazon, the system lasts six weeks on a single USB-C cost at about half-hour of studying per day. It is solely obtainable in Black, however has enjoyable covers like House Whale, Ocean Explorer, and Unicorn Valley.
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For extra, try our favorite tablets, and why this ZDNET writer loves the TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus. Additionally by no means miss a sale this Amazon Prime Day — ZDNET is tracking the best deals here.
Tablets Reviewed & In contrast
