When Amazon launched the Kindle, it probably had no idea the Kindle would become synonymous with all eReaders. Sure, there are other eReader brands out there, but the Kindle in its many forms offers an experience you just don't get from other devices. That's why it's spectacularly popular, with its long battery life, illuminated display, and, in some cases, waterproofing.

Not only is the Kindle incredibly power efficient, but it's also well-connected, meaning you can easily download new books when you're done with your current read. It's also very easy to use and seamlessly integrates with your Amazon account. While there are regular discounts throughout the year, the best prices are often available around sales holidays like Black Friday or Amazon's own Prime Day.

The real decision is which model you should buy. There are currently five models of Kindle offered by Amazon: the Kindle (refreshed in 2022), Kindle Kids (2022), Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, and Kindle Paperwhite Kids. Then there's the Kindle Scribe, but that's slightly different. Which one is right for you? We'll help you decide.

The best Kindle: Our top models

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021)
1. Best Kindle overall

The best features overall

Kindle Paperwhite offers a big display, illumination, waterproofing, and color temperature controls -- but there are no buttons for turning pages.

Screen
6.8in E Ink, 300ppi, 17 LED illumination, adjustable warm light
Storage
16, 32GB
Battery
10 weeks
Dimensions
125 x 174 x 8.1mm, 205g
Pros
  • Display illumination and size
  • Water resistant
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • No page turn buttons

The newest Amazon Kindle Paperwhite released in 2021, bringing in a refresh of the previous version. It offers a 6.8-inch display, which means it's larger than other Kindles, so there's plenty of space for reading, which we love. This model also features 8GB of storage space, and it's limited to Wi-Fi connectivity only. While there's no option for cellular connectivity, that shouldn't be a problem as you can always hotspot off your phone.

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Read our review
Kindle Paperwhite (2021): Still the best eReader
Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite from 2021 ups the display size and gives things a boost. This is the Kindle to buy.

Plus, you rarely have to download content on the go anyway. There's a front-lighting system, so you can read in the dark while also adjusting the color temperature. There's a USB-C port for charging, with the battery lasting up to 10 weeks. It is waterproof with an IPX8 rating.

There are no buttons for page turning -- that has to be done through a tap or a swipe, which we don't find as natural as older Kindle models. Nonetheless, given the price and the features offered by the Kindle Paperwhite, we think it's the best Kindle for most users. There's also a full range of accessories, so if you're after a case for your Paperwhite, there's plenty to choose from.

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
2. Best Kindle with premium features

Paperwhite with a bit extra

Adding wireless charging the Kindle Paperwhite along with more storage just adds to the premium experience.

Screen
6.8in E Ink, 17 LED illumination, adjustable warm light
Storage
32GB
Battery
10 weeks, wireless charging
Dimensions
174 x 125 x 8.1mm, 207g
Pros
  • Wireless charging
  • Autobrightness
  • Great Paperwhite experience
Cons
  • It's just a little more expensive

The Paperwhite Signature Edition is based on the 2021 Kindle Paperwhite, but it adds a few changes to make it slightly more premium. While it's the same case and same design from the exterior, it offers 32GB of storage, which is four times what the standard Kindle Paperwhite does. It also offers an auto-adjusting front light to suit the reading conditions you're in, so the display is a little better.

There's also wireless charging, with a Wireless Charging Dock designed specifically for this model (an optional extra), so you don't have to plug it in. This will all make for a slightly more premium experience overall -- but you will pay a little more for just a few small extras. At its core, it is still the same great Paperwhite, it's just a little bit more advanced.

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for Kids
3. Best Kindle for kids

Bundled extras make it worth considering

Bundling up the Paperwhite for kids adds a cover, warranty and access to content - on the same great Kindle Paperwhite device.

Screen
6.8in E Ink, 300ppi, 17 LED illumination, adjustable warm light
Storage
16GB
Battery
10 weeks
Dimensions
125 x 174 x 8.1mm, 205g
Pros
  • Comes with a cover and Kids+ subscription
  • Great reading experience
Cons
  • It's basically the same as the Paperwhite

The Kindle Paperwhite Kids is the same model as the Kindle Paperwhite (2021), so it has exactly the same features as the "adult" model above -- but it comes in a bundle designed for kids. That includes a cover to keep it protected, a subscription to Kindle Kids+ and a two-year guarantee, so if your kids break it, Amazon will replace it.

Kindle_Paperwhite_Kids-2

The best thing is that when your kids outgrow the kids' content, they can use the Kindle as a normal adult Kindle -- but at the same time, you can just buy the normal Kindle Paperwhite since it has the same parental controls on it. The benefit here is in the Kindle Kids+ subscription, which separately costs $5/month with Prime or $8 without it.

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Amazon Kindle (2022)
4. Best budget Kindle

If it's about price, then go basic

Thinner, lighter and with a sharper display, this is an ideal affordable eReader -- but there's no waterproofing.

Screen Size
6in E-Ink display
Storage
16GB
Battery
6 weeks
Dimensions
157.8 x 108.6 x 8mm
Pros
  • Great value for money
  • Good display with lighting
Cons
  • No waterproofing

There are some important changes for the 2022 Kindle. While the display stays the same size at six-inches, it has increased in pixel density over the older entry-level Kindle, so it is sharper and offers a better reading experience. This is now the same resolution as the Paperwhite.

6:45
Read our review
Amazon Kindle (2022) 11th gen: Who needs a Paperwhite?
Amazon's newest entry-level Kindle has a much sharper display and USB-C charging, making it even better than ever.

However, the illumination only uses four LEDs -- compared to 17 on the Paperwhite -- so the illumination is nowhere near as good. But, this is a thin and light Kindle, with plenty of storage, and with USB-C, it's convenient for charging. There's no waterproofing on this Kindle, however.

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Amazon Kindle Kids (2022)
5. Best budget Kindle for kids

Ideal Kindle for children

An ideal reader for kids, thanks to the cover and the 1-year subscription to Kids+ for more content.

Screen
6in E Ink, 4 LED illumination, 300ppi
Storage
16GB
Battery
6 weeks
Dimensions
157.8 x 108.6 x 8mm, 156g
Pros
  • Bundled with cover and Kids+ subscription
  • Great value for money
Cons
  • No waterproofing
  • It's the same as the Kindle, but costs more

The Kids' edition of the Kindle is the same core device as the Kindle above, but it comes with a cover (there's a choice of three designs), as well as a two-year warranty. There's also a one-year subscription to Kindle Kids+, meaning access to loads of content, ideally tailored for younger readers.

Kindle_Kids_2022-2

This makes for a cheaper Kids version, but as with the Paperwhite equivalent, you really need to assess the value of the Kindle Kids+ offering -- otherwise you might be better off buying the Kindle with a cover, as all devices have the same parental controls.

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Amazon Kindle Scribe
6. Best Kindle for writing

A Kindle in a class of its own

The Kindle Scribe has a big display allowing space for notetaking or annotation, while still offering all the Kindle reading functions.

Storage
16, 32, 64GB
Screen Size
10.2-inch E Ink, 35 LED illumination, 300ppi, adjustable warm light
Battery
12 weeks (reading only), 3 weeks (writing)
Dimensions
196 x 229 x 5.8mm, 433g
Pros
  • The largest Kindle
  • Supports note taking and document syncing
Cons
  • It's not as well connected as some writing devices

The Kindle Scribe is designed to open a new frontier in Kindle use, to expand beyond reading and venture into note-taking and annotation. It comes with a pen supplied, allowing writing on a range of paper types, including music. It also allows you to write notes on books you might be reading.

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Read our review
Amazon Kindle Scribe: Write on
Amazon's biggest-ever Kindle can be used to read and write, and stokes the paper tablet bandwagon fire to new heights

There's a huge battery, but this is obviously a much larger Kindle than the others on this list -- and that makes it slightly different. While the Kindle Scribe does everything other Kindles do, the focus here is on note-taking and writing rather than just reading. Better synchronization with other document formats would benefit the Scribe experience, but software updates are adding features.

The bottom line: Which is the best Kindle?

Offering the best combination of features at the best price, from all the Kindles that I've used, the Kindle Paperwhite is the best Kindle and my top recommendation. The large backlit display makes it easy to see in virtually any environment, there's plenty of storage to keep all of your favorite books on hand while on the go, and battery life is never an issue.

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021)
Editor's Choice

How did we select the best Kindle models?

We have been using the Amazon Kindle since it first launched, so we have a lot of practical experience with a full range of Kindle devices throughout its long history. That's given us insight into not just the Kindle hardware, but the software experience that it offers as well, from individual features to the Kindle Store, and the subscription offerings associated with Kindle. We use Kindle devices on a daily basis and have done so for many years, so we have a depth of experience and knowledge about Kindle.

FAQ

Q: How to choose the right Kindle for you

A love of reading is important when choosing a Kindle because you'll be getting access to a range of services to provide you with plenty of books, from Prime Reading to Kindle Unlimited. While all devices offer access to these services, the space you get on the display differs. We've always found the bigger is better, meaning Paperwhite is our top choice, but it also costs more.

If it's just about value for money, then the standard Kindle is what you want. It offers illumination, access to books, and great battery life, so it will keep you entertained for many weeks.

Much of the decision will come down to price, with Amazon offering two distinct tiers, the standard Kindle and Paperwhite. Over the past few years, those devices lower down the scale have benefited from the developments at the top of the scale. Features once reserved for the top-level device are now common lower down, making Kindles even better value. You get more for your money than ever before.

Q: Are the Kindle Kids models worth it?

If you have a child who's passionate about reading, then the Kids models are definitely worth it. First, they come with access to Amazon Kids+. This digital subscription provides users with access to thousands of books, as well as games, videos, and special Alexa skills. The books are curated based on your child's age, as well as the rest of the content. Parents have an easy way to impose controls like screen time limits and curfews. Kindle Kids models come with a one-year subscription to the service, something that would otherwise cost you $5 per month if you're a Prime member and $8 per month if not.

By far the best part about getting one of these devices is the two-year warranty. If your child breaks it, you can return it and you get a free replacement. Since kids are prone to dropping things or sitting on devices, this should put your mind at ease.

Q: Which Kindle is best for your eyes?

All E-ink screens are good for your eyes because they do not emit blue light like your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Still, even among Kindle screens, there are devices that will be better for you, such as the Paperwhite models. These have a matte finish and don't reflect light more than regular paper. Since they eliminate glare and have numerous LEDs to backlight your screen, the Paperwhite models are super comfortable to read on, no matter the lighting conditions in your room.