Evaluating Our Favourite Kindles
What Are the Latest Kindles?
Amazon not too long ago introduced a whole new generation of Kindles is coming, with each mannequin getting a brand new model. I will replace this information with ideas as I evaluate every new mannequin. Listed below are the present particulars:
- Kindle (2026, 12th Generation) for $150: That is the brand new model of the bottom Kindle. Many options will sound acquainted (a 6-inch display, six weeks of battery life, and 16 GB of storage), however it comes with a brand new flush-front design for the display and a lighter weight. It additionally shares a $150 price ticket with the older base Kindle, which turned costlier as of August. You may improve to the Aluminum version that has a extra premium really feel and extra shade choices, plus 32 GB of storage. Each variations can be found now, and I’ve included them in my notes above.
- Kindle Paperwhite (2026, 13th Generation) for $200: The 2026 Kindle Paperwhite will nonetheless pack a water-resistant design and 12 weeks of battery life (my favourite half!), however its up to date show is the most important but amongst Paperwhite gadgets, and with a better distinction ratio. The Signature Version has aluminum backing and in addition packs dock charging with pogo pins on the again and a double-tap functionality to show pages. The regular Paperwhite is available for preorder and retails for $200 (similar because the outdated mannequin) with 16 GB of storage and is available in solely black. The Paperwhite Signature Edition is on preorder for $250 and is available in two colours with 32 GB of storage. Preorder is accessible on a rolling foundation in varied areas, so in case you’re not in a position to reserve your mannequin but, test once more quickly.
- Kindle Colorsoft (2026, 2nd Generation) for $290: The Kindle Colorsoft’s second-generation mannequin has an up to date show and edge-to-edge shade that guarantees a richer look than what the primary technology supplied. The replace additionally will get a flush-front design, just like the opposite new Kindle fashions, and is accessible in a Signature Version that has aluminum backing, an auto-adjusting entrance gentle, pogo factors for charging, and the double-tap page-turning functionality. The new Colorsoft is available for preorder at $290 with 16 GB of storage, and the new Colorsoft Signature Edition is available for preorder at $320 with 32 GB of storage and two system colours to select from. Much like the Paperwhite, the preorder availability is rolling steadily, so preserve a watch out if you cannot purchase yours but.
- Kindle Kids models starting at $180: All three of the above fashions have a Children model that may embody kid-friendly covers and as much as 12 months of Amazon Children+ content material. The bottom Kindle Children is accessible now, whereas others are on preorder in sure areas.
Kindle can also be releasing a handful of latest equipment, together with the Kindle Click ($35) Bluetooth distant that may work with Kindle fashions as early as 2024, a Page Turn Cover ($80) that may solely work with the Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions, a Charging Dock ($60) designed to work with the pogo pins on the Signature Editions, and new Kindle covers in quite a lot of colours and textures. I’m most excited in regards to the distant; I’ll replace this information and our Best Kindle Accessories guide with my notes as I check.
Why Are Kindles Extra Costly Now?
Amazon raised its costs throughout its product classes, together with Kindle gadgets. The value will increase hit a number of present Kindle fashions, leaving solely Kindle Scribe fashions with their authentic worth tags. Amazon declined to comment to WIRED, however a spokesperson informed CNET the worth hikes have been attributable to rising prices in reminiscence and storage parts. Apparently, not one of the extra highly effective Scribe fashions wanted a worth replace, however it’s additionally a reduction since all three of these fashions are considerably costlier than a daily Kindle.
Listed below are all of the will increase, together with for the Signature variations:
When you have your eyes on certainly one of these Kindles, I’d wait till Black Friday to buy, as they’re going to probably be on sale.
What In regards to the New Kindle Scribes?
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Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, Kindle Scribe (third Gen), and Kindle Scribe With out Entrance Gentle
Kindle has three new Kindle Scribes that launched between late 2025 and June 2026. There at the moment are the Kindle Scribe ($500), Kindle Scribe Colorsoft ($630), and the Kindle Scribe Without Front Light ($430). All three have an identical design and software program expertise, although the Scribe Colorsoft has a shade display and a shorter battery life—solely eight weeks of studying time, in comparison with 12 weeks on the $500 Scribe and a powerful 16 weeks on the Scribe With out Entrance Gentle.
All three fashions have a brand new, taller design with an 11-inch display, a barely slimmer type issue, and an up to date stylus. They each even have a quad-core chip, a brand new homepage, and can assist quite a lot of AI options, together with AI search (together with some AI instruments for summarizing books you’re studying with out giving spoilers, although these received’t arrive till subsequent yr). Customers can hook up with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive to mark up paperwork, which the older mannequin can’t do.
General, I’d say they’re good gadgets, however so long as the cheaper second-generation Kindle Scribe is accessible, I believe it’s the higher purchase. It has some AI capabilities however no AI search, and has a unique homepage design that matches a basic Kindle slightly than the notebook-forward design seen on the brand new ones. Amazon stated it’ll get the identical homepage this yr, however I haven’t seen it to this point. I’m disenchanted these new gadgets are a lot costlier; at that worth, you may as properly store reMarkable’s line of digital notebooks and get higher options and equipment.
Equipment for Simpler Studying
Ever had an e-reading session so lengthy that you simply get hand cramps? These equipment may assist. You may take a look at extra choices in our Best Kindle Accessories guide.
Instances and Covers
Amazon Kindles are, fortunately, not as fragile as a dear smartphone, however you should still wish to add a canopy to guard the display in case you’re ceaselessly toting it round in a bag. These aren’t padded for severe drops, however they’re a few of the best Kindle cases I’ve discovered for day by day safety from scratches and scuffs. Additionally, don’t neglect that the Children’ editions include instances, so in case you’re shopping for a type of, you received’t want to purchase a case.
About These Older Kindles
Amazon normally takes just a few years between new Kindle fashions. Every time a brand new one arrives, its predecessor’s inventory begins to dwindle. It’s not that I don’t advocate these older fashions per se, however I solely counsel them in case you they’re on sale for the suitable worth. And don’t purchase too outdated a mannequin, since Amazon has began pulling assist for older Kindles.
Earlier than making your buy, cross-check the worth in opposition to the newest mannequin to be sure you’re paying a good quantity much less for the older system.
Kindle (2022, 11th Generation): That is the smallest of the lot at 6.2 inches tall and 4.3 inches vast, with a 6-inch display. Should you discover tablets too cumbersome to carry with one hand, think about this one, with 16 GB of storage and a 300 pixels per inch (PPI) decision. It’s robust to search out, and I normally don’t see it for lower than $75 lately.
Kindle Paperwhite (2021, 11th Generation): That is the following step up from the fundamental mannequin. It has a vivid 6.8-inch display with adjustable heat lighting, a quick page-turn charge, a USB-C port, and 16 gigs of storage. It’s waterproof, too. I just like the Signature Edition, which additionally contains auto-adjust brightness and 32 GBs of storage. I don’t advocate spending greater than $100 on this one.
Kindle Scribe (1st Generation): The original Scribe is a superb possibility for note-takers. It has an enormous 10.2-inch display for taking notes, marking up PDFs, or drawing, and quite a few paper codecs you possibly can select, like college-ruled or dotted. It additionally comes with the Primary Pen, which feels pure to jot down with and attaches to the facet of the Scribe magnetically. It’s solely price it for $230 or much less, and I usually see it for beneath $200 on eBay.
Kindle Kids (2022): That is an older kid-friendly mannequin. It comes with a canopy, a yr’s subscription to Amazon Children+, parental controls, and a two-year guarantee, however the truth that it’s solely obtainable secondhand means you’ll probably miss out on the subscription window and will or could not nonetheless have a canopy. Ideally, you will not spend greater than $70 on this one.
Kindle Paperwhite Children (2021): This older Paperwhite model is a step up from the earlier primary Children fashions. It has a high-resolution 300-ppi show with an adjustable heat display and can also be waterproof. You shouldn’t spend greater than $110 on this one if yow will discover it in any respect. (I could not discover any resellers for this older mannequin on the time of writing.)
Incessantly Requested Questions
Which Kindle Fashions Misplaced Amazon Help and Kindle Retailer Entry?
As of Could 20, 2026, Amazon stopped supporting Kindles launched in 2012 or earlier. Which means these fashions will be unable to get new books by means of Amazon’s companies or be registered to an Amazon account. It is possible for you to to learn books already on the system, although, and might manually obtain paperwork and books through USB cable and through software program like Calibre.
The next Kindle gadgets are impacted:
- Kindle 1st Era
- Kindle 2nd Era
- Kindle DX
- Kindle DX Graphite
- Kindle Keyboard third Era
- Kindle 4
- Kindle Contact
- Kindle 5
- Kindle Paperwhite 1st Era
What’s the Finest Approach to Purchase or Promote an Older Kindle?
Have an outdated Kindle mendacity round? Contemplating shopping for a used one? Should you’re making an attempt to determine which mannequin you are coping with, this Amazon page contains images, specs, and launch years for the whole lineup. As soon as you already know which one you’ve, you could possibly trade it in for credit score towards a more recent mannequin.
Most elderly Kindles most likely nonetheless work, simply with fewer bells and whistles. It’s finest to keep away from Kindles with keyboards or another bodily buttons apart from page-turn buttons. Some older fashions misplaced the power to browse, buy, or borrow new books instantly from the system. Nevertheless, you should still be capable of do that through Amazon in your laptop or cellphone and have it despatched to your Kindle, which is a greater expertise anyway.
How Do You Get Free Ebooks on a Kindle?
Should you purchase each single guide you wish to learn on a Kindle, it will probably add up! However there are methods to avoid wasting cash whereas studying as a lot as your coronary heart needs. Chances are you’ll wish to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited for $12 a month. You may solely select from the Limitless catalog, however it options hundreds of thousands of titles, together with audiobooks and magazines. Begin out with the 30-day free trial.
Should you already pay for a Prime account, you’re eligible for some free ebooks by means of Prime Reading. It would not embody as many choices as Kindle Limitless, and in plenty of instances, you’ll see each Limitless and Prime choices lumped collectively; you’ll must look carefully to search out the free ebooks. It’s nonetheless one thing, although, and there are even just a few magazines.
Should you don’t need one other month-to-month subscription and don’t wish to proceed giving your cash to Amazon, benefit from the ebooks obtainable together with your library card. Shopping a digital catalog is just not as magical as spending a day trying over each shelf in a library, however such is the book life (nobody says you possibly can’t learn each!). We now have a detailed how-to on this that you need to take a look at, however listed here are a number of the takeaways:
- Get a library card in your native department.
- Verify your department’s web site for its book choices. Many libraries use a service known as OverDrive.
- Obtain on to your Kindle library. The titles in query will routinely be eliminated once they’re due again.
If you already know another person with a Kindle, you possibly can lend books between your libraries, simply as you’d with a bodily copy. Follow these instructions from Amazon if you wish to share an book, however needless to say not all books are loanable.
What Else Can a Kindle Do?
Kindles produce other helpful features you may want to use. Lengthy-press a phrase or phrase to see its definition, spotlight it, or take notes. You can too search the whole guide for that individual phrase or phrase or translate it to or from different languages.
Phrase Sensible exhibits quick definitions in small textual content inside the strains. Sadly, it’s not obtainable for all books, however when it’s, you possibly can flip it on or off and select extra and fewer hints. Clicking the quick definition opens an extended one from Phrase Sensible and the New Oxford American Dictionary or Oxford Dictionary of English (you possibly can change between the 2), plus translations and a Wikipedia web page, if relevant.
Whereas studying, faucet the highest of the display and click on “Aa” to alter font measurement or kind. There’s a font known as OpenDyslexic that helps make studying simpler for individuals with dyslexia. You may management margin sizes and line spacing from that menu, too.
When a Kindle connects to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones, VoiceView Screen Reader (accessed by means of Settings > Accessibility) permits you to use gestures to navigate your system and reads aloud what you’ve pressed. It will possibly additionally learn a guide aloud, although it doesn’t sound practically as good as an audiobook.
Amazon owns Goodreads, so it syncs seamlessly to Kindles (press the three-dot menu > Goodreads). When you have a Goodreads account, you possibly can evaluate the Kindle books you’ve learn or browse your bookshelf and suggestions. Lengthy-pressing a phrase or phrase, along with what’s talked about above, opens up an choice to share quotes on to Goodreads.
There’s additionally a internet browser in case you’re linked to the web (three-dot menu > Net Browser). It’s not the perfect, so I’d reserve it for emergency searches.
How Do You Replace a Kindle?
When Amazon releases a brand new software program replace, it should obtain and set up to your Kindle routinely when the system is linked to Wi-Fi. You may test in case you’re on the newest software program by going to Settings > System Choices > Superior Choices > Replace Your Kindle. If it’s not on the newest software program model, you’ll see an replace obtainable and the Kindle will then immediate you to obtain and set up it.
What Do I Do If My Kindle Colorsoft Has a Yellow Bar?
Following buyer complaints in 2024 of a yellow bar on the backside of the Colorsoft Signature’s display and discoloration alongside the sides, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed to WIRED that “clients who discover this may attain out to our customer support crew for a alternative or refund.” The corporate additionally stated it’s “making the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices won’t expertise this challenge transferring ahead.” Nevertheless, there are nonetheless buyer complaints about this challenge, even with the brand new mannequin out. We now have not run into this challenge whereas testing the Colorsoft, Colorsoft Signature, or Scribe Colorsoft.
Is Now a Good Time to Purchase a Kindle?
The very best time to purchase a Kindle is throughout a serious sale occasion like Amazon Prime Day, Prime Huge Offers Days, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday, when Amazon usually affords steep reductions on its merchandise.
Are Kindles Good for College students?
Kindles are nice for college students, although the mannequin that is finest for every scholar depends upon how they’re going to use it. In the event that they wish to pair it with a stylus for highlighting and be capable of take notes, they need to think about a Kindle Scribe mannequin. These have lengthy battery life, making them nice for college students to make use of for weeks on finish with out worrying about charging. Some textbooks are additionally obtainable on Kindles. For college students who like to learn however don’t wish to take a ton of notes, a daily Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite will work properly.
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