Using an Amazon Kindle to read an eBook is probably the closest you'll get to the real thing. Using e-Ink, a Kindle screen can replicate the look of real ink on paper, offering more clarity, even in lighter environments.

Since its original release in 2007, the Kindle has been through several enhancements, with larger screens, more features, and different charging types.

Here are the best Kindle devices available today.

Our Recommendations for the Best Amazon Kindle Devices

Kindle Paperwhite
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Best Overall

Large-screen Amazon Kindle with premium performance

$110 $140 Save $30

With two different storage capacity options and a range of colors, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite can be customized to your liking.It boasts a 6.8-inch display, adjustable warm light, and up to 10 weeks of battery life so you can enjoy your vacation without needing to recharge your device.

Pros
  • Thin bezels
  • Easy on your eyes
  • Plenty of storage
Cons
  • Costs more to remove lockscreen ads

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite improves on the older model in every way possible. From performance to screen technology, the Paperwhite reigns supreme in every aspect, and at an affordable price.

With a slightly larger 6.8-inch screen over the previous 6-inch display and smaller bezels, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite manages to fit much more onto the screen, without the risk of being too large to fit in one hand. This makes it easier to read more without turning the page while keeping the Kindle portable for reading on the go.

With a new upgraded processor, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite offers a much smoother experience, booting up faster and turning the pages seamlessly, letting you jump into your favorite books in no time. Better yet, this Kindle is IPX8 water-resistant, which means it can be submerged in water one meter deep, offering reassurance if you're reading by the pool.

Amazon Kindle Oasis
Best for Page Turning

An expensive but worthy investment

The Amazon Kindle Oasis feels more like a real book thanks to its physical page-turn buttons.With a 7-inch 300ppi display, adjustable warm light, and IPX8 waterproof rating, you can easily soak in the bath and enjoy your favorite books without worrying you'll damage the device.

Pros
  • Impressive screen
  • Fast page turns
  • Adjustable screen shade
Cons
  • Most expensive Kindle

The Amazon Kindle Oasis proves that sometimes bigger is better. It features a large 7-inch customizable screen that looks incredible no matter the lighting; you won't want to put down your favorite book. The physical buttons make it easy not to accidentally turn the page when you're in the middle of reading, but when you're ready, you can press them with ease.

Whispersync lets you switch between reading and listening to your book, letting you continue the story where you left off seamlessly. In addition, the customizable fonts make reading easier than ever by letting readers change the text size and boldness to improve readability. This means you can adjust the settings to suit your environment.

No matter where you like to read; by the pool, or at the beach, the Kindle Oasis' IPX8 rating will protect it from immersion in water just over one meter deep. So, you won't need to panic if you've jumped in for a quick dip and accidentally splash your Kindle.

Kindle 2022
Amazon Kindle (2022)
Best Value

The original and affordable Kindle

$80 $100 Save $20

The Amazon Kindle (2022) is one of the most affordable Kindles on the market. It features a 6-inch 300ppi display and comes in two colors you can choose between.There is a range of other options, too, including free Kindle Unlimited, lockscreen removal, and more.

Pros
  • Super long-lasting battery
  • Plenty of storage
  • Great value
Cons
  • Bigger bezels
  • Smaller screen

While the Amazon Kindle might be an affordable eReader, it still comes with plenty of features for those looking for a simple, distraction-free way to read on the go. The original Kindle design, with a few enhancements, ensures you can still enjoy what makes an eReader special while staying within budget.

Thanks to the smaller size, the Amazon Kindle is perfect for one-handed reading, and can easily fit in a small bag while traveling. This makes it the perfect choice for those who are always out and about. And with a battery that spans weeks rather than hours, you can enjoy more of your favorite stories on just a single charge.

For those who prefer to listen, rather than read, the Amazon Kindle comes with Bluetooth built-in, letting you pair the eReader with your headphones and listen to your favorite books. No matter if you are commuting or chilling at home, you can always immerse yourself in a good book.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids ereader
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids
Best for Older Kids

Kindle's solution for kids who prefer a larger display

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids comes with 16GB of storage, one year of Amazon Kids+, a cover, and a two-year guarantee.If your children prefer reading on a larger display, this device is a great option. There are no other distractions, either, so they can focus on reading.

Pros
  • Comes with a case
  • Splash and waterproof
  • Includes 1-year Amazon Kids+
Cons
  • Kids+ subscription only free for first year

With so many tablets out there, it's not hard to find your child's favorite book and let them read it on their tablet. But with so many apps, games and videos, it's easy for your child to become distracted. Not to mention, most tablets tend to be much more expensive than eReaders.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids has been designed to remove any of those distractions, without any apps, games, or videos available. You know that when you leave them reading a book, you won't come back 10 minutes later and find them playing Minecraft instead.

With a one-year subscription to Kids+, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids gives your child instant access to over 1,000 books, all suitable for children up to the age of 12. And while you can get this service on the Kids Fire Tablet, you are completely safe in the knowledge that all they will be doing with their Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids, is what they are meant to be doing; reading.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Device
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
Best for Nighttime Reading

One-handed reading at its finest

The large 6.8-inch display on the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition makes it a great choice for all-day use. The adjustable front light will auto-adjust to ensure your reading experience is the best it can be.Charge the device easily using the Qi wireless charger and get up to 10 weeks of use before recharging.

Pros
  • Huge amount of storage
  • Easy wireless charging
  • One-handed reading
Cons
  • More expensive than the Kindle Paperwhite

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is a great investment if you haven't yet bought a Kindle, or are considering upgrading and don't mind splashing out a little. The larger 6.8-inch screen (compared to the 2018 Kindle) adjusts the light to ensure your reading experience is the best it can be, including warm light for nighttime reading.

However, many of these features are present, too, on the Kindle Paperwhite, so why would it be worth investing in the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition? Well, it offers an additional 24GB of storage and Qi wireless charging, which, for some, is a real bonus. But, if you don't want to wirelessly charge your Kindle, you can use the USB-C to enjoy up to 10 weeks of battery life.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is designed for serious readers who value a durable eReader with plenty of storage. But, if you don't need the extra features it has to offer, you will probably find that cheaper Kindles will do the job just as well.

Kindle Scribe
Kindle Scribe
Best for Notes

A great eReader with note-taking capabilities

Want to take notes while reading your favorite books, poems, or documents? The Kindle Scribe allows you to take notes and sketch images so you can refer back to them.The large screen makes reading a breeze.

Pros
  • Great reading experience
  • High-resolution display
  • Lots of display controls
Cons
  • Other feature-rich tablet alternatives available
  • Pen can often feel awkward on the screen

The Kindle Scribe offers an exceptional reading experience and is a worthy upgrade if you've grown out of your old Kindle. However, with its more expensive price tag, it does fall more into the tablet category than an eReader.

Based on other tablets, the Kindle Scribe doesn't offer the best notetaking experience. That's not to say it's terrible, because it's not, but when compared to tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, it's far from perfect.

Still, if you enjoy taking notes while reading and find this functionality necessary, but you don't want a dedicated tablet, the Kindle Scribe could be the perfect compromise.

kindle kids 2022
Amazon Kindle Kids (2022)
Best for Kids

The ultimate Kindle for kids

With a sharper screen and better resolution, the Amazon Kindle Kids (2022) is a decent upgrade for kids who love to read.The one-year Amazon Kids+ membership is always welcome, allowing kids to explore a wealth of kid-friendly books and audiobooks.

Pros
  • 1-year Amazon Kids+ included
  • Includes a cover
  • Great display
Cons
  • Not waterproof

The Amazon Kindle Kids (2022) is the best Kindle designed for kids. It comes with one-year Amazon Kids+ membership which is perfect for exploring new books, audiobooks, and games.

There's a suite of parental controls, too, which is useful for all age ranges. If you want to encourage your kids to read, there's almost no better option than the Amazon Kindle Kids (2022).

Affordable, protected, and with a decent display, this Kindle is going to keep your kids entertained for hours.

Choosing the Best Amazon Kindle Device

Over the years, Amazon's Kindle range has developed into a wealth of options for most users. There are kid-friendly options, larger screens, and physical buttons you can use to your advantage.

The Amazon Kindle (2022) is an upgraded version of the original Kindle. It's affordable, practical, and can be taken with you almost anywhere you go. You forego extra features here, but the price is much more palatable.

The Amazon Kindle Oasis features a 7-inch screen and physical buttons for turning pages. If you want to feel more like you're reading a physical book than a digital book, this is a great, but expensive, investment.

But, with 10 weeks' worth of battery life, an auto-adjusting warm light, an IPX8 waterproof rating, and the option to remove ads, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite has to be the ultimate Kindle on the market.

Kindle Paperwhite
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Best Overall

Large-screen Amazon Kindle with premium performance

$110 $140 Save $30

With two different storage capacity options and a range of colors, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite can be customized to your liking.It boasts a 6.8-inch display, adjustable warm light, and up to 10 weeks of battery life so you can enjoy your vacation without needing to recharge your device.

Pros
  • Thin bezels
  • Easy on your eyes
  • Plenty of storage
Cons
  • Costs more to remove lockscreen ads

FAQ

Q: Do You Have To Pay For Books On A Kindle?

If you have access to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited service, you'll be able to access millions of books for free. You won't need to pay the individual cost for each book.

Q: Can I Put PDFs On My Kindle?

Yes, you can add PDFs to your Kindle by directly transferring them. You'll need to connect your Kindle to a computer via USB.

Alternatively, you can email the file to your Kindle.

Q: Do You Need An Amazon Account To Use A Kindle?

No, you don't have to sign in to Amazon in order to use your Kindle. However, there are benefits to doing so, especially if you sign up to Kindle Unlimited.