The best Kindles to buy in 2024 – tested and reviewed

Updated: July 7, 2024, 5:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time This article was updated in July 2024 ahead of Amazon Prime Day, July 16-17.

If you’re looking for the best Kindle to buy in 2024, you’re spoiled for choice. Amazon now offers Kindles for a variety of readers (including the cute but powerful Kindle Kids Edition).

If you haven’t yet made the switch to the lovely world of Amazon’s Kindle readers, we have to ask frankly: What are you waiting for?

Now is the time to buy. Amazon Prime Day 2024 is coming July 16th and 17th, the big-box retailer always discounts its products, including Kindles. We’ve already seen sales on best-sellers and Kindle e-books, so there’s no doubt we’ll see sales on Kindle devices as well. In Amazon’s past sales, we’ve seen Kindle deals as high as $90 off, so pause before paying full price.

We know there’s nothing better than the feeling of the book in your hands as you turn page by page of a captivating book. However, even if you are a true bibliophile, your favorite smell is that of a bookstore (guilty), Kindle has undeniable advantages. You no longer need to pack 10 books when you go on vacation because you never know which book will suit your mood at a particular time. You can also read poolside or on the beach without worrying about damaging your precious documents.

Following the recent discontinuation of the Kindle Oasis, Amazon produces six different Kindles as of July 2024. The current lineup has a variety of features, including a new generation of Amazon e-readers due out in 2022, as well as some older models that are still worth buying. We’ve rounded up our favorites below, along with the highlights from our Kindle reviews, so read on to find the model that’s right for your reading pleasure.

Testing the auto-adjustment feature on Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.
Photo credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

What should I look for in the best Kindle?

When purchasing a new Kindle, consider the following factors:

• Display size. The smallest Kindle has a 6-inch display, and the largest Kindle has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage capacity. With storage capacities ranging from 8 GB to 64 GB, depending on the model, Kindle can store thousands of your favorite books at once.

• Battery Life. Kindles generally have excellent battery life (depending on your usage), but some models have even more impressive battery life. On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Waterproof protection. Not all Kindles are waterproof, but those that are waterproof can give you the peace of mind that they won’t cause damage if they’re accidentally submerged in water.

Beyond these variables, all of the latest Kindles feature a high-resolution display with 300 ppi and zero glare, so you can enjoy crisp text and images at any viewing angle. All Kindles also come with WiFi connectivity, allowing you to access and download all the reading material you want. (However, some Kindle readers also allow free cellular connectivity, so you have more options.) All Kindles offer parental control options, whether or not you purchased the Kindle device Designed for children. Additionally, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via any Kindle’s built-in Bluetooth connection.

What features does Kindle offer?

In addition to the above standard features found in most, if not all, latest Kindle models, you’ll also find special features on higher-end models. To choose a Kindle that fits your lifestyle, you need to consider your specific needs and preferences when shopping.

Kindle Scribe is the only Kindle e-reader that comes with its own stylus for taking notes.
Photo credit: Molly Flores/Mashable

Maybe you like to read outside a lot; you want a Kindle with automatic light adjustment so you don’t have to worry about constantly adjusting the brightness for optimal viewing in your current environment. Both the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and Kindle Scribe have this auto-adjustment feature.

Or maybe you like to read before bed and want to block out the blue light that keeps us awake and alert; you want a Kindle with an adjustable warm light feature that lets you change the display color from white to amber. With the release of Kindle Scribe in 2022, there will even be a Kindle that lets you write notes on text for later reference.