CommentLoader-

Save StorySave this story

CommentLoader-

Save StorySave this story

Featured in this article

The Best KindleAmazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 12th Generation)

$160 Amazon

The Best Kindle for Note-TakingAmazon Kindle Scribe (2nd Gen, 2024)

$400 Amazon (16 GB)

The Colorful KindlesAmazon Kindle Colorsoft and Colorsoft Signature Edition

$280 Amazon (Colorsoft Signature Edition)

The Best Kindle for KidsAmazon Kindle Colorsoft Kids

$270 $190 (30% off) Amazon (Fantasy River Cover)

We love Kindles here at WIRED. They’re simple, reliable, and perfect at what they do. If you’re looking for the best Kindle, you really can’t go wrong. These ebook readers can bring thousands of books anywhere and typically get a month of battery life per charge. You can subscribe to get unlimited books from Amazon or get free books from your local library. Our guide will help you decode the differences to find which Kindle is right for you.

Our favorite overall Kindle is the 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite ($160), which was just updated back in October 2024, along with the rest of Amazon's line of devices. It has it all, from a great resolution and the highest contrast ratio on any Kindle to warm lighting while you read at night. The only thing it's missing is color, which you can now get in the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition ($280). I'm also a big fan of the second-generation Kindle Scribe ($400), which packs the biggest Kindle screen and doubles as a digital notebook, and the Kindle Colorsoft Kids ($270) is my favorite option for kids, especially if they like illustrated books and graphic novels. Looking for colorful options or the best cheap model? Read on to find out everything we recommend and have tested.

Check out our many other buying guides, including the Best Kindle Accessories, Best E-Readers, Best Fire Tablets, Best Digital Notebooks, Best Tablets, and Best Alexa Speakers.

Updated March 2026: I've added the Lamicall Tablet Pillow Stand, Strapsicle Clear Case, and Moko Blue Twill Case as recommended accessories, and ensured up-to-date links and prices.

Table of Contents

AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

- Comparing Our Favorite Kindles

- What About the New Kindle Scribes?

- Accessories for Easier Reading

- Best Kindle Cases and Covers

- Great Reading Lights

- About Those Older Kindles

- What’s the Best Way to Buy or Sell an Older Kindle?

- How Do You Get Free Ebooks on a Kindle?

- Do All Kindles Have Dark Mode?

- What Else Can a Kindle Do?

- How Do You Update a Kindle?

- Is This a Good Time to Buy a Kindle?

- The Best Kindle

Photograph: Nena Farrell

Courtesy of Amazon

Chevron

Save to wishlistSave to wishlist

Amazon

Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 12th Generation)

$160 Amazon

$200 Amazon (Signature)

You came here to find out one thing: What is the best Kindle? The Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon's most popular Kindle and our favorite after testing every model, thanks to its great range of features. You'll get a large display with high resolution and warm lighting, and the technology inside has a fast and smooth performance. Amazon launched the 12th-generation Paperwhite in late 2024, and it's been our new favorite ever since. Whether you want to read more or are tired of carrying physical books, all the extra features are worth the price. The basic Kindle may seem enticing, especially with the fun new colors it offers, but the Paperwhite will serve you better in the long run, especially if you're a nighttime reader like I am. The warm lighting is a great option on the eyes before bed.

If you already have a Paperwhite, the update isn't so major that you need to upgrade to the newest model, but it's the best to choose if you're shopping for a brand-new Kindle. You'll get a slightly larger screen and the highest contrast ratio on any Kindle, not just of the Paperwhites. The battery life also increased from two months to three months, and it has the thinnest form factor yet. The 12th-gen Paperwhite has two versions: the standard and the Signature Edition. The latter comes with auto-adjust brightness, wireless charging, and double the storage at 32 gigabytes. The regular Paperwhite is more than enough and easily one of the best Kindles to buy, but if you plan on buying the model without lock-screen ads, you may as well pay the extra $20 for the Signature Edition.

Display7 inches, adjustable warm light (Paperwhite); Auto-adjusting front light (Signature Edition)Dark ModeYesResolution300 pixels per inch (ppi)Storage16 GB (Paperwhite) | 32 GB (Signature Edition)Weight7.4 ounces (Paperwhite) | 7.55 ounces (Signature Edition)Battery / ChargingUp to 12 weeks; USB-C (both models), Wireless charging (Signature Edition)WaterproofYes, IPX8

WIRED/TIRED

AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

WIRED

- Seven-inch, high-resolution display

What&#x27;s the Best Kindle of 2026? (So Far) | WIRED

What's the Best Kindle of 2026? (So Far) | WIRED