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If you’re a book lover who wants to give your library a high-tech upgrade, the Amazon Kindle is an obvious choice.
Kindles are terrific companions for those who travel frequently or commute on public transportation. There’s also tremendous appeal in being able to sit at home and browse through an entire bookstore on a device where you can also purchase and read your selections.
With seven versions of the ebook reader, not to mention Amazon’e Fire tablets, the company has something for everyone. This Prime Day, Kindles are guaranteed to be discounted since they’re manufactured by Amazon itself. (You might even find some early Prime Day deals before July 11.) But how do you know which Kindle is best for you or a lucky gift recipient?
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Whether you’re new to Kindles and eReaders in general or are a tech-savvy reader who’s looking to upgrade, here’s what each Kindle brings to the table.
For Readers on a Budget
The Kindle(Opens in a new window) is Amazon’s base eReader model, and with last fall’s update, it now has the same resolution as the rest of the Kindle lineup (300ppi) and at 16GB, twice the memory of its predecessor, as well as an adjustable front light, and dark mode. The base model comes with “special offers,” meaning ads appear as its screensaver. To get rid of those ads, you have to pay $20 more. For those who want an easy way to read ebooks, the Kindle is a thin, light, and affordable option. Just keep it away from the ocean or tub, because it’s not waterproof.
For Readers Who Want More Bells and Whistles
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite(Opens in a new window) got a revamp in 2021 with a bigger display, which means more words per page. It comes in 8GB and 16GB versions. Unlike the basic Kindle, the Paperwhite is waterproof, has a flush front, and features a 17-LED system that adjusts from blue-white to yellow for more comfortable reading in the dark.
For the Most Comfortable Reading Experience Possible
The Amazon Kindle Oasis(Opens in a new window) is a pricier Kindle, at $249 for 8GB or $279 for 32GB. Both come with ads (ditch them for $20 more). The latest version features adjustable warm light, is waterproof, and has six weeks of battery life. An ergonomic grip and page-turn buttons make for easy one-handed reading, and the Oasis features a larger screen—although just barely, compared with the latest Kindle Paperwhite (7 inches versus 6.8). Get it in either graphite or champagne-gold.
For Notetakers
Some readers love to scribble in the margins of books, underline passages, and generally make the written word their own. If these same readers also happen to love digital books, now they don’t have to choose. The $339 Amazon Kindle Scribe(Opens in a new window) is, at 10 inches, the largest Kindle you can buy and lets you handwrite notes in (and out of) ebooks. It can be purchased with the Basic Pen, or for $30 more, the Premium Pen, which adds an eraser and a shortcut button.
For Younger Readers
No matter your age, the Amazon Kindle Kids(Opens in a new window) is a terrific value for anyone. And it just got an upgrade to a higher-resolution screen and 16GB of memory, twice that of its predecessor. For $119.99, you get a base model without ads; a cute, kid-friendly case; a two-year, no-questions-asked warranty; and a year of Amazon Kids+. One caveat: the Kindle Kids is not waterproof.
For Kids Who Like to Make a Splash
There’s enough to worry about when you’re a parent. So if you want to get a serious eReader for your kids, but you don’t want to have to shell out serious cash if it gets wet, then the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids(Opens in a new window) is the answer. Unlike the basic Kindle Kids model, it has adjustable warm lighting, a flush-front design, and is waterproof. Like the Kindle Kids, it comes with a two-year repair-and-replacement guarantee and a year of Amazon Kids+.
For Tablet Fans in Search of Rock-Bottom Prices
If E Ink isn’t your thing, consider Amazon’s Fire tablets. The Fire 7(Opens in a new window) is the most affordable way to access ebooks and other media, but for reading purposes, you’ll notice some pixelation, at 171ppi. It comes in 16GB and 32GB models (the 32GB is $20 more), and it has a microSD memory card slot for more storage and hands-free Alexa support.
For Video Playback and Zoom
The base model 8-inch Fire HD 8 tablet retails for a reasonable $99.99, has a 30% faster processor than the last model, and runs for up to 13 hours on a single charge. As we note in our review, “It won’t wow you, but it doesn’t need to.”
The more powerful Fire HD 8 Plus(Opens in a new window) model ($119.99) offers even more improvements. Both feature 1,280-by-800 189ppi displays and hexa-core 2.0 GHz CPUs. The Plus has 3GB of RAM, compared with 2GB on the base model, and can charge in 3 hours.
For Kids Who Need Digital Supervision
If you’re shopping for your kids, Amazon offers three Fire Kids tablets for children ages 3 to 7 and three Fire Kids Pro tablets for ages 6 to 12. They sport 7-, 8-, or 10-inch screens, come in kid-friendly cases, and are loaded with age-appropriate content; the Kids Pro tablets have more advanced digital content for older children. Our Editors’ Choice is the Fire HD 10 Kids(Opens in a new window).
Load Up Your Kindle With (Free) Ebooks
(Credit: PCMag)
Your Kindle isn’t just restricted to obtaining books from Amazon. Here’s where to get free ebooks, and here’s how to manage your books and devices to keep them all in order.
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