I tested every Kindle, and this is the one I'd buy during Prime Day

Read our full review of the Kindle (2024).

If you want to read books on an e-reader but need a budget-friendly model, the standard Kindle is the best option. Like the Paperwhite, it has 16GB of storage, with room for thousands of books. It’s the smallest Kindle, and you won’t miss the size of the Paperwhite. Instead, you’ll be delighted that it’s genuinely pocket-sized. Plus, if you want an e-reader with some flair, it’s now available in black and matcha, a vibrant light green.

After testing the Kindle Paperwhite, I thought I’d be ruined for the standard Kindle, but that just wasn't the case. The Kindle comes in a smaller package, the lightest device among the bunch. Plus, the 6-inch size makes it practically pocket-sized. Generally, it feels nicer to hold in my hand and bring on the go — exactly what I want in an e-reader.

Sure, it’s not as high-tech as the Paperwhite, but I think it’s an even better size. The screen has the exact resolution as the Paperwhite, but just a bit smaller. You lose some screen space with its plastic casing, but I liked the rimmed front design, which makes it easier to hold. While it also has the bottom power button, it is far less touchy than the other Kindle models.

Functionally, it’s comparable to the Paperwhite. The biggest feature the standard Kindle lacks is adjustable warmth, which I worked around by using Dark Mode at night. However, the standard Kindle would be totally perfect if it were waterproof. That’s the biggest downside to me, as someone who needs to be able to take it to the beach.

That being said, it is the most affordable, and it's a worthy sacrifice not to have waterproofing for its $109.99 price.

Read our full review of the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.

If you're reading 100+ books a year, devouring books in days (or hours), the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is for you. It has the most storage of any Kindle at 32GB, which is more than enough storage for your digital library. The average e-book needs 1MB of storage, so the Signature Edition can hold up to 32,000 books. Whoa.

For seasoned e-reader users, spending $200 on the Signature Edition rather than $160 on the standard Paperwhite may be worth it due to the upgraded storage and auto-adjusting screen brightness. It also features wireless charging and is even MagSafe compatible.

Beachside readers can also enjoy the Kindle Paperwhite as it remains waterproof, so the only sparks that fly will be in your romance novel.

I like the Paperwhite Signature Edition for all the same reasons I like the Paperwhite, but it has some key differences.

The Paperwhite and Signature Edition are the same size, weight, resolution, and brightness. They're both waterproof and have a 12-week battery life, too. Like the Paperwhite, the Signature Edition is plagued by the same issues: the power button on the bottom and the lack of a page-turning button. It also doesn't feature an internal gyroscope like the Kobo Libra, so you can't rotate it for reading in different positions.

The 2024 Signature Edition stands out in terms of its upgrades for the same reasons the 2022 version did. Most importantly, the Signature Edition has no lockscreen ads, letting you read without getting fed Amazon's suggestions.

It also has twice the storage with 32GB. If you're used to storage in terms of tablets and computers, that might seem wimpy, but for an e-reader, that's more storage than you'll ever need, with the potential to hold around 30,000 books. Plus, the auto-adjusting screen brightness is convenient if you're always reading and moving from different areas and don't want to adjust the brightness manually. It also has wireless charging, which is a fine perk, except USB-C chargers are plentiful these days.

The Signature Edition is $40 more expensive than the Kindle Paperwhite. I think it's worth it if you're looking for the upgrades it offers. However, it's not necessary for the average reader.

If you're raising a voracious reader, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is the best Kindle for kids. It's waterproof, which means it stands up to juice spills and dips in the pool. Plus, it comes with a built-in case. It's designed to be kid-proof, not just physically, but also with built-in parental controls. If you're concerned about monitoring your kid's bookshelf, this Kindle allows you to approve downloads by kids and displays age-friendly titles that kids can have easy access to.

More than anything else, a Kindle for kids has to be waterproof, which is why the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is the best choice. It comes with everything we like about the standard Paperwhite: a beautiful, high-resolution screen that works faster than any previous generation.

But what makes it great for kids is that it's a distraction-free device. It doesn't come with ads, notifications, or the temptation of games or video. I also like that it's a bit heavier than the standard Paperwhite, giving it a sturdier design. Plus, the built-in case adds an extra level of protection.

The parental controls are easy to use and set up, and the device also comes with a six-month free subscription to Amazon Kids+, which provides unlimited access to thousands of age-appropriate books. The library of books is easy for kids to navigate and offers classics like Lois Lowry's The Giver and modern classics like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

What I don't love is the price. At $179.99, it's more expensive than the standard Paperwhite. If you want to go for a budget kids' pick, I'd go for a standard Kindle, which you can set up as a kids' device during setup to ensure parental controls and add an Amazon Kids+ subscription for $5.99 per month. Plus, as your kid ages, you won't have to upgrade to a more teen-friendly e-reader.

Read our full review of the Kindle Colorsoft (16 GB).

If you've been waiting to get an e-reader because you need color, the time has come. The Kindle Colorsoft brings color to the digital page, making it great for graphic novel readers, those who like to annotate in color, or fans of experiencing the cover page in full color. Its included zoom feature allows you to focus and get an up close look at illustrations, especially handy when reading comics.

Unfortunately, it's not really worth its $250 price tag, so I only recommend buying this when it's on sale. During Black Friday 2025, the price on this e-reader dropped below $200 for the first time, which is a much more reasonable price tag. So, if you have your heart set on a color e-reader, then I would recommend checking out the Kobo Clara Colour as an alternative.

E-reader users have long had to accept reading exclusively in black and white on Kindles, but the Colorsoft changes the status quo. The Colorsoft uses an E Ink Kaleido 3 display to support its color display. In black and white, it has its standard 300 ppi resolution, but in color, it maxes out at 150 ppi.

Amazon currently has four color Kindles: the Colorsoft, Colorsoft Signature Edition, Scribe Colorsoft, and Colorsoft Kids. Our preferred model is the standard Colorsoft, which was released in July 2025. It comes with 16GB of storage and a slightly more affordable price tag of $249.99, better when compared to the Signature Edition's $279.99.

The color on the Kindle Colorsoft is accurate to what you'd find in a printed copy; however, it is slightly muted. When reading in black and white, it's as fast as any other Kindle we've tested, but the color displays slow things down a bit. When reading in color, I found that the pages sometimes flash as they load, a problem it shares with most color e-readers, unfortunately.

So, while the Kindle Colorsoft works well, I wouldn't say it's able to totally justify its $249.99 price for the average reader. Compared to the other Colorsoft models that Amazon offers, it's certainly a better value. But if you're looking for a color e-reader, then I recommend avoiding Kindle entirely and going for either the Kobo Clara or Libra Colour.

But if you're really committed to the Kindle ecosystem, the Colorsoft is your best choice for reading in color.

Read our full review of the Kindle Scribe (3rd Generation).

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.

The 2025 Kindle Scribe got a much-needed upgrade. All the good stuff has held over with the addition of some major improvements.

It's still big, with an 11-inch display, which does make it a little more awkward to hold while reading, 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.

It finally got a processing update that makes it as speedy as every other Kindle. Gone is the lag when switching between journals and books. Plus, the displays have greatly improved, too, as the 2025 Kindle Scribe has virtually no ghosting. Like the Kindle Paperwhite, the Scribe's battery life lasts 12 weeks. It also has multiple storage options, as you can choose between 32GB or 64GB.

It's not your only option if you want a Kindle that can write. The Scribe Colorsoft is also available, and while we appreciate that model, it's quite a bit more expensive. The 2025 Scribe is a better value, it just doesn't have the wow factor of color.