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Amazon’s Kindle is a popular device for many reasons: it’s ideal for daily reading, give instant access to millions of books and has a battery life that lasts for weeks or months. A holiday favourite, this humble gadget is one of Amazon’s best sellers.
First launched in 2007, the Kindle has gone from strength-to-strength, adding features and adapting to changing demands. There are now four models to choose from: , , and .
Choosing between these devices can be a challenge as there’s a lot of crossover between them. I’ve used all the Kindle models and have been a Kindle reader for many years. I’m going to help you choose the right model and help you find the best prices. The Kindle is rivalled by devices like the or which are widely available, including at and
Which is the best Amazon Kindle?
Amazon’s top selling Kindle is the . It’s the most popular model, pairing a great screen size with even illumination, while keeping long battery life. The Kindle Paperwhite sits in the middle of the Kindle range. Updated in 2024, the latest Paperwhite has slick page turns on the 7-inch display, comes in three colours and will offer 12 weeks of battery.
The Kindle Paperwhite , but there are regular discounts. The last discount was for Black Friday, where it was £124.99. I’m expecting the Kindle Paperwhite to get discounted in spring, with a sales event expected during March.
But the Kindle Paperwhite might not be for everyone. There are plenty of other options to choose from, with pros and cons for each of the different models in the range.
Best Kindle deals
I’m keeping track of the fluctuating price of the Amazon Kindle models. At the time of writing, there are no discounts on the Kindle, but that’s expected to change with a sales event expected in Spring. In 2024, this took place on 20-25 March, so it’s probable that we’ll see another event from Amazon in the coming weeks.
Below are all the prices for the Kindle models. If you’re not sure what to buy, then read on and I’ll help you choose the best model for your reading habits and requirements.
Which Kindle model should I choose?
I’ve already outlined that the Kindle Paperwhite is the best-selling Kindle, and it’s also my personal favourite. I think it’s the best Kindle because of the screen size, the illumination and I absolutely love the vibrant Jade colour – it’s so much more interesting than the black finish of older Kindles. It’s also water resistant, so it’s great for the pool or beach.
If you want to take the Paperwhite up a notch, there’s also the (which is what I read daily), which adds wireless charging, a metallic finish, more storage and auto-adjusting front lighting. It’s a bit of luxury at £189.99, but I think it’s worth it.
But there are four Kindle models for a reason: they all cater to different needs.
Reasons to buy the Kindle
Confusingly, the entry-level device is just called Kindle. Also updated in 2024, it has a 6-inch screen, but it also offers front illumination. There aren’t as many LEDs on the Kindle as there are on the Paperwhite, so that illumination isn’t as smooth. But you still get that great reading experience, the menus are the same and you access the same Kindle Store, so you can read the same books.
The advantage is that the Kindle is cheaper. It normally and the price has got as low as £79.99 in recent sales. If you don’t want to spend too much, then it’s the Kindle that you want.
Reasons to buy the Kindle Colorsoft
The newest addition to the range, adds colour to the Kindle, something that’s never been available before. The Colorsoft is a really advanced Kindle – it uses the same design as the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, so it offers that colour display as well as 32GB storage and wireless charging.
Colour means that the Kindle Store looks better, graphic novels and illustrations look better, as do textbooks or anything factual with photo sections. You pay for it though, at £269 it’s expensive – and if you’re not reading books that need colour, you’re paying more than you need.
Reasons to buy the Kindle Scribe
If you want to write on your Kindle, then is your only option. There are two models of the Scribe. The first was launched in 2022 and in 2024 it was updated with a white bezel which makes the page look a little nicer. That screen also has a slightly different texture to make the writing experience a little smoother.
The 2024 Kindle Scribe introduced new AI features, but there’s been a software update to offer these features on the 2022 model, so the experience – apart from the small display changes – is basically the same. The older Kindle retails at £329.99, the new Scribe at £379.99.
The Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon’s best-selling Kindle (Image: EXPRESS)
What is the Amazon Kindle?
The Amazon Kindle is a device designed for reading ebooks. It has an E Ink display that has very low power consumption meaning that these devices last for weeks or months on a single charge. The Kindle accesses the Kindle Store, where you can buy books from Amazon and there are millions of books available to instantly download and read.
The display on the Kindle is designed to replicate paper, so they are black and white, except for the Colorsoft, which also allows for colour on the screen. All Kindles offer illumination in front of the display so they can be read in low light conditions and all have a touchscreen so navigation is via taps and swipes on the display.
The Kindle synchronises the location in the book with Amazon so you can also open that book on a phone and continue reading through the Kindle app. The Kindle also supports Bluetooth so you can use it to access books from Audible, Amazon’s audiobook store.
The font, size and spacing are all customisable to your preference and there’s a popular dark mode to invert the text which some might find easier to read.
The Kindle is rivalled by devices like the or Kobo Elipsa which are widely available, including at . Kindles are available from Amazon and other retailers.
How do I buy books on the Amazon Kindle?
You can buy books on the Kindle through the Kindle Store on the device. When you setup the device you’ll sign into your Amazon account and you’ll pay using the same payment method as you’d use on Amazon. If you’re a Prime subscriber you’ll get access to Prime Reading too, where some books are freely available.
If you want to get access to a wider range of free books, then Amazon offers a service called Kindle Unlimited, which gives you access to millions of books, audiobooks and magazines, for a monthly price of £9.49. Amazon has a , which is worth investigating if you read a lot.
You can also buy Kindle books directly through the Amazon website and then have those sent to any Kindle linked to your account.
Is a Kindle suitable for kids?
Yes, there are parental controls on all Kindle models, so you can restrict access to the Kindle Store so a child can only access the books that have been assigned to them. Amazon sells a special edition of the which comes with a cover, warranty and a 6-month subscription to Amazon Kids+.
This will give a child access to appropriate books and content. It’s worth noting that Kindle Kids uses a normal Kindle device, so once your child has grown out of the kids stuff, they can use it as a normal Kindle.
Can you share Kindle books with other readers?
Kindle books can only be accessed on a Kindle or through the Kindle app on your phone. But you can share Kindle books with other people if they are in the same Amazon household. This can be controlled through your Amazon account, allowing you to add people to your household – they can then access books you read so you don’t have to buy them twice.
It’s also possible to gift Kindle books, so if you want to buy one as a present for someone, that’s also possible through the Amazon website.