The best Kindles for every type of reader

Much like the comparison between the OG Kindle and the Kindle Paperwhite, the same goes for the regular Kindle Kids and Kindle Paperwhite Kids. The Paperwhite Kids does everything the regular model does (including six months of unlimited access to Amazon Kids+ for free) but with a few key upgrades.

Firstly, it has a larger display (7 inches) and an adjustable warm light to cut down on blue light, especially as bedtime nears. It also has a longer battery life (12 weeks) and a sizeable storage capacity of 16GB.

Finally, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is waterproof so parents don't need to worry about spills or accidental immersion in the bathtub or wherever else. Plus, it comes with a fun and colourful cover, with two options available.

If you're just getting into Kindles (or you don't need all the extra bells and whistles), the OG Kindle is still the best, most budget-friendly choice.

It's lightweight and compact so you can easily slip it in a bag or backpack and take it on the go. It has a glare-free, 6.2-inch display and boasts 16GB of storage — more than previous models — so you can keep thousands of books.

This Kindle also has an adjustable front light for easier reading in bright light conditions, and dark mode for a more comfortable reading experience at night. Plus, a full charge via USB-C cable gives the Kindle up to six weeks of life.

You can opt into three months of Kindle Unlimited at no extra charge, or select the "Without Lockscreen Ads” option for just ?10 more.

With a larger display than the standard Kindle (7 vs. 6.2 inches), the Kindle Paperwhite is still the perfect size and weight for comfy handheld reading.

It also adds a few key features that make it a nice upgrade over the base model, with more than a dozen LEDs for easier reading in bright settings. Plus, there's an adjustable warm light — going from white to amber — which makes it easier on the eyes when you're winding down with a good read before bed.?

Do you read in the bath? The Paperwhite has IPX8 waterproof protection so it can withstand getting wet or being dropped in the tub briefly.

Similar to the original Kindle model, you can choose to get three free months of Kindle Unlimited at no extra charge, and you can banish lock screen ads for an additional ?10. A bargain, hassle-free add-on.

Building upon the already great Kindle Paperwhite, the Signature Edition boasts a comparatively whopping 32GB of storage space. Its display is the same size as the standard Paperwhite and offers the same IPX8 waterproof rating so you can enjoy your “beach reads” poolside without any worries.

However, the Signature Edition adds an automatically adjusting front light, so you don't have to manually adjust the screen for optimal clarity when you switch from indoors to outdoors and back again — a small but critical feature for someone who reads anywhere and everywhere.

Also helpful is the fact this Paperwhite Signature Edition is the only Kindle on this list that can be charged wirelessly. And unlike other Kindles, you don't have to pay extra to get rid of ads with this edition.

Who it's for

If, looking through your bookshelf, your books have dog-eared pages, highlighted lines, and scribbles in the margins, your instinct might be that an e-reader isn't for you, but I'd like to introduce you to the Kindle Scribe. It's the only Kindle with writing capabilities and comes with an included stylus pen that magnetically attaches to the side of the e-reader; it's ready for all your handwritten thoughts.

The pen moves nicely across the screen, mimicking the texture of writing on paper. In addition to a library of books, the Kindle Scribe also comes with a journal section where you can take notes. The notes feature is especially great for students who want to handwrite notes and convert their handwriting into text.

Why we picked this

If you jump to a Kindle Scribe from the standard Kindle or even Paperwhite, you'll be shocked by its 10.2-inch size. That screen size does make it a little more awkward to hold, but for writing or annotating, it's optimal. Unlike other tablets (I'm looking at you,?iPads) that require you to buy a pen separately, the Kindle Scribe comes with a pen that conveniently attaches to the side so it doesn't get lost. However, it's not the most secure magnetic hold, so be careful not to bump the pen off accidentally.

Writing on the Kindle Scribe is a joy. Before testing this e-reader, I used my iPad and Apple Pencil to annotate readings, but I never loved it because the screen felt too slick for the Apple Pencil. The Kindle Scribe does not suffer this problem, as the matte screen lends some friction to the pen, making it feel like you're writing on paper. I enjoyed writing with the pen, and I swear my handwriting looked better on the Kindle Scribe than on my iPad.

Like the Kindle Paperwhite, the Scribe's battery life lasts 12 weeks. Where it starts to differ is the user interface. The Kindle Scribe runs far slower than Amazon's other e-readers. The 2024 Scribe did give its speed a slight upgrade, but it still suffers the same problem as previous models. The Scribe often lagged when starting to wake up or switching between journals or books. This is especially disappointing considering the price, which is more than double that of the Paperwhite.

The 2024 Scribe does have great palm rejection and the screen got a brighter revamp, now available with adjustable warmth and brightness. However, it suffers from ghosting on the screen with erased text and book covers still appearing in the background. It also has upgraded storage options of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB.

That being said, if you want to annotate PDFs and docs, the Kindle Scribe is your best and only Kindle option. We don't recommend buying the Kindle Scribe at full price since it's not quite worth its $399.99 price tag, so if you are going to buy one, it's best to wait until a sale.

The good

6 months of Kids+ Worry-free guarantee Choice of cover Dyslexia-friendly font

The Bad

Not waterproof Bigger battery available

The Bottomline

The Kindle Kids model may be best suited for older children who don't necessarily need the security of waterproof protection.

Specs

• Battery Life: Up to 6 weeks
• Display size: 6 inches
• Storage: 16GB
• Waterproof: No

The Kindle Kids model essentially has everything the baseline Kindle has, but with a few key benefits. It has the same 6-inch, glare-free display with 300 ppi for sharp resolution. It also has an adjustable front light and dark mode to ensure kids' comfort while reading, both day and night.

But it really stands out when it comes to kid-friendly extras, including six months of unlimited access to thousands of ad-free books with Amazon Kids+. This service also includes a Vocabulary Builder where children can look up definitions and gain familiarity with previously unknown words.?

Bonus: The Kindle Kids comes with a fun cover and a two-year worry-free guarantee that states Amazon will replace the device (for free) if it breaks.