Within the Venn diagram of tablets and books, our favourite e-readers fall completely within the center. They’re skinny and transportable like a pill, however with out the distraction of the web. The most effective Kindles and e-readers stuff hundreds of books — a full library, actually — right into a tiny body.
And having examined a number of e-readers for Mashable, I can inform you the Amazon Kindle lineup comes closest to perfecting the units. All around the web, you will discover TikTok customers enthusiastically singing the praises of the Kindle and tips on how to benefit from it. For fogeys, Kindles are a display you do not have to really feel responsible about. For avid readers, Stuff Your Kindle Day helps you to refill your summer season studying listing. You may even purchase Kindle equipment like distant page-turners and gooseneck stands so you do not have to carry your Kindle whereas studying.
When you’re able to spend money on a Kindle, look by way of our information to seek out the perfect one for you. And, with Black Friday developing on Nov. 28, 2025, it pays to do your analysis forward of time. Amazon is conservative on the subject of offers on Kindles, solely marking down its e-readers in the course of the huge buying occasions like Prime Day or Black Friday. We count on to see new Kindles discounted throughout Black Friday, however the offers will go fast. When you’re not valuable about getting a brand new system, Amazon already has a deal on like-new Kindle Paperwhite e-readers.
Meet the most recent era of Kindle e-readers
Cannot determine between the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite? We put them head-to-head..
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
I learn over 50 books a yr. Listed here are my favourite e-readers.
So much has modified because the Kindle first debuted in 2007. Whereas it was launched just some months after the primary iPhone, the Amazon Kindle has acquired fewer updates. As of 2025, we’re on the twelfth era of Kindles; the most recent arrived in October 2024. Each mannequin — the essential Kindle, the Paperwhite, Signature Version, Scribe, and Youngsters fashions — all obtained upgrades. And sadly, the Kindle Oasis, a water-proof mannequin with page-turning buttons, was discontinued.
Kindle’s first coloration e-reader arrived in late 2024, and as of July 2025, the Colorsoft lineup contains three fashions. The Colorsoft is the second most costly choice amongst Kindles, and after lastly getting our arms on a mannequin, we have added it to this information.
As of Sept. 30, 2025, Amazon additionally introduced a revamped Kindle Scribe. The brand new mannequin is exceptionally skinny and has a entrance gentle for a brighter show. Plus, the brand new Colorsoft version of the Scribe helps you to annotate, journal, or sketch in coloration. Nonetheless, as of November 2025, neither the Kindle Scribe nor Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is offered for preorder but, however we’ll replace this information as soon as we have absolutely examined the units.
Irrespective of which mannequin you select, all the newest Kindles are light-weight, straightforward to make use of, and suitable with Libby, so you may assist your native library (and get free books, in fact). Mainly, it is onerous to make a nasty resolution on this product class.
So, what’s the perfect Kindle for you? Let me enable you to determine.
Which Kindle is best for you?
When you’re involved about shopping for the most recent tech, that is not a problem. There are six up to date Kindle fashions on the market, in addition to older editions nonetheless in inventory.
Earlier than you select a Kindle, you want to ask one query first: Would you like it to be waterproof? When you choose studying close to a physique of water — whether or not within the tub, by the pool, or on the seashore — that instantly narrows down your choices. For the reason that Kindle Oasis is now not accessible, your waterproof choices are the Kindle Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Version, Colorsoft Signature Version, and Paperwhite Youngsters.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature version settings display.
Credit score: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
Past water resistance, listed here are a number of different options to think about:
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Show dimension: The essential Kindle has a 6-inch show, whereas the biggest has a ten.2-inch show.
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Storage capability: Kindles vary from 16GB to 32GB of storage capability.
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Battery life: The brand new Kindles usually have excellent batteries. On the low finish, they last as long as six weeks per cost, whereas others last as long as 12 weeks.
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Writing functionality: The Kindle Scribe is the one mannequin that permits you to write with the included stylus.
The newest Kindles all boast a most brightness of 94 nits and a 300 ppi, high-resolution show with zero glare, so you may take pleasure in sharp textual content and pictures at any viewing angle. Kindles are additionally outfitted with WiFi connectivity, permitting you to obtain all of the studying materials you could possibly ever need. Plus, you may hearken to audiobooks on Audible through the built-in Bluetooth connection.
To not point out, out of all of the e-readers I’ve examined, Kindles have the perfect compatibility with Libby. I really like the digital platform as a result of I can learn totally free and assist my native library. Another e-readers require you to obtain your library e-book to a pc after which add it to an e-reader, however with Kindles, your e-books are despatched straight to your system with a click on.
And in case you have been a die-hard Kindle Oasis fan and are connected to page-turning buttons, you might have to stray from the Kindle line-up. Now, your finest wager would be the Kobo Libra Color.
The best way to get free e-books on Kindle
With only a click on, switch your Libby e-book to your Kindle system.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
Your Libby e book will mechanically populate in your Kindle library.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
One of the simplest ways to learn free e-books on a Kindle is with Libby. Libby permits you to borrow e-books by way of libraries, and all you want is a library card. Via the Libby app, borrow books after which choose the “learn with Kindle” choice, which lets you ship these e-books to your Kindle library.
An alternative choice for locating free e-books is thru Stuff Your Kindle occasions. These are author-driven occasions that provide limited-time offers on e-books, usually making them closely discounted or completely free.
The best way to benefit from your Kindle
Via our testing and each day use, we have spent a number of time with Kindles, studying tips on how to benefit from them. We have written extensively on all of the methods to maximise your Kindle, so you’ll want to flick thru our guides and explainers:
