Thinking of buying a Kindle? It's a good shout — they're some of the best e-readers around. I'm on my third, and I use it almost every day. And now's a good time to be planning your purchase, because we're currently in the middle of an Amazon Prime Day event, and because Kindle is an Amazon brand, almost the entire range is discounted in both the US and the UK.
Figuring out which Kindle will best suit your needs can be tricky. Below, I've rounded up all your options, and if you scroll down the page you'll see a table comparing the key specs for each one. I'd start by deciding if you need a color screen, in which case you'll want to look at the models with Colorsoft in their name (as opposed to the basic Kindle and the Paperwhite models, which are black-and-white only). This function is essential if you want to use your Kindle to read graphic novels, but might also be helpful for students, as it'll allow you to highlight text in different colors.
• View all Amazon Prime US deals / Amazon Prime UK deals
Some Kindles will let you go a step further, and make handwritten notes as well as reading. These are the options with Scribe in their names, and they also have bigger screens than the rest of the range. Utilizing the writing functions will drain the battery much quicker than reading will, but you're still looking at up to two weeks of note-taking before you need to recharge.
Me? My ereader of choice is the classic Kindle. I'm just using it for novels, there's ample storage for my needs, and the small and light format is perfect for travel. Scroll down for a run through all the Kindle options, and the best prices for each model right now.
UK: Kindle models
Pros
- Finally, color on a Kindle
- Speedy refresh and zooming
Cons
- Doesn’t feel premium enough for the price
- No way to access Marvel Unlimited or DC Infinite subscriptions
Pros
- Still the best big ereader, with better writing tools
- Subtle improvements add up in a big way
- AI tools that are [gasp] useful?!
Cons
- It’s more expensive without new hardware
- It’s got AI, like everything – you can’t escape
Pros
- Gets the basics right
- Color and Scribe features are well-packaged
- Large and sharp display
Cons
- Pricey
- Some features could use updating
US: Kindle models
Pros
- Finally, color on a Kindle
- Speedy refresh and zooming
Cons
- Doesn’t feel premium enough for the price
- No way to access Marvel Unlimited or DC Infinite subscriptions
Pros
- Still the best big ereader, with better writing tools
- Subtle improvements add up in a big way
- AI tools that are [gasp] useful?!
Cons
- It’s more expensive without new hardware
- It’s got AI, like everything – you can’t escape
Pros
- Gets the basics right
- Color and Scribe features are well-packaged
- Large and sharp display
Cons
- Pricey
- Some features could use updating
Specs compared
Model: |
Kindle |
Kindle Paperwhite |
Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition |
Kindle Colorsoft |
Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition |
Kindle Scribe |
Kindle Scribe Colorsoft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display: |
6-inch glare-free |
7-inch glare-free |
7-inch glare-free |
7-inch glare-free w/ color display |
7-inch glare-free w/ color display |
11-inch glare-free |
11-inch glare-free with color display |
Resolution: |
300ppi |
300ppi |
300ppi |
300ppi (black and white) / 150ppi (color) |
300ppi (black and white) / 150ppi (color) |
300ppi |
300ppi (black and white) / 150ppi (color) |
Storage: |
16GB |
16GB |
32GB |
16GB |
32GB |
16, 32 or 64GB |
32 or 64GB |
Max battery: |
6 weeks |
12 weeks |
12 weeks |
8 weeks |
8 weeks |
12 weeks reading / 3 weeks writing |
8 weeks reading / 2 weeks writing |
Waterproof (IPX8): |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Writing capability: |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
List price: |
$109.99 / £94.99 |
$159.99 / £159.99 |
$199.99 / £189.99 |
$249.99 / £239 |
$279.99 / £269 |
$399.99 / £379.99 |
$679.99 / £569.99 |
Read our review: |
