Since its launch in 2007, Amazon Kindle has changed how we read books. Each month billions of pages are read on Kindle devices worldwide, with 129 billion pages read already this year.
But which Kindle device is right for you? We have an impressive portfolio of models with something for everyone, including a lower-priced Kindle Colorsoft model, a reimagined Kindle Scribe, and the fastest Kindle Paperwhite to date..
Below, you’ll find a brief overview of some of our Kindle devices to help you make that decision.
Kindle
Best Kindle for budget and portable reading
- Compact, portable design
- Matcha colour available
- Costs under £100
Weighing in at just 158g, this is our most compact Kindle device, small enough to fit in your hand or carry in your back pocket—and it’s packed with premium Kindle features. It has a 300 PPI (pixels per inch), glare-free display, with faster page turns, a higher contrast ratio for clearer text, and a front light that is 25% brighter at max setting—the same as the Kindle Paperwhite.
It comes in black and a fun Matcha colour, offering weeks of battery life from a single charge, and 16 GB of storage for holding thousands of books—all of which make it the ideal device for reading anywhere the day takes you.
Kindle is available now starting at £94.99.
Kindle Paperwhite
Best Kindle for avid readers
- Waterproof
- Bright, adjustable display
- Up to three months battery life
With Kindle Paperwhite, scrolling through your Kindle Library or Store is snappy and responsive, with 25% faster page turns. The display uses an oxide thin-film transistor, which gives it the highest contrast ratio of any Kindle, so text and images pop off the screen. With an adjustable back light, you can read comfortably in bright sunlight and dark rooms.
A larger, seven-inch display is a first for the Kindle Paperwhite—and yet, it is also the thinnest Kindle Paperwhite ever with up to three months of battery life. Kindle Paperwhite is also waterproof, with 16 GB of storage for thousands of books, and comes in Raspberry, Jade, and Black.
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which has 32 GB of storage, optional wireless charging, and auto-adjusting front light, comes in Metallic Raspberry, Metallic Jade, and Metallic Black.
Kindle Paperwhite is available now starting at £159.99; Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is available for £189.99.
Kindle Colorsoft
Best Kindle for graphic novels and illustrated books
- Colour display
- Great for highlighting
- Browse covers in colour
Do you prefer comic books to classic novels? Or do you want to enjoy every travel guide in stunning colour? Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition and the new Kindle Colorsoft offer everything readers love about Kindle, with the added beauty and imagination that colour brings. They have the usual Kindle features; high contrast, fast page turns, an auto-adjusting front light, and weeks of battery life. But now, you can browse covers in colour in your Kindle Library or Store, see book photos and images in colour, or add colour highlights that you can easily search for later.
Kindle Colorsoft comes with wireless charging, up to eight weeks of battery life, and is waterproof so you can bring it with you in the bath or take it to the beach without having to worry. For those who prefer to read on pages with a dark background, check out the Page Color feature that inverts the black text and white background.
The new Kindle Colorsoft 16 GB is available now starting at £239.99; Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is available now starting at £269.99.
Kindle Scribe
Best Kindle for note-taking and journaling
- Perfect for note-taking
- Paper-like texture
- Comes with the Premium Pen
If you like to unwind by journaling or jotting down thoughts, Kindle Scribe is for you, combining all the benefits of Kindle with a powerful notetaking device. The display has new white borders, and the screen has a smooth, paper-like texture that makes it look and feel like you’re writing on a sheet of paper.
The Premium Pen is finely crafted to deliver just the right heft and balance, so it feels like holding an actual pen, and the new soft-tipped rubber feels like a pencil—you’ll think you’ll have to brush the screen clean after erasing.
Kindle Scribe also offers a first-of-its-kind in-book writing experience. With Active Canvas, you can write your thoughts directly in the book when inspiration strikes. Your note becomes part of the page, and the book text dynamically flows around it—if you increase the font size, change the font style, or the book layout changes, the note remains visible exactly where you want it so you never lose any meaning or context. And if you don’t want your notes visible in the book, you can write them in the side panel, minimising when you’re done.
Kindle Scribe is available now starting at £379.99.
Kindle Kids, Kindle Paperwhite Kids, and Kindle Colorsoft Kids
Best Kindle for young and developing readers
- Has fun, kid-friendly covers
- Comes complete with a limited time Amazon Kids+ subscription
- Has tools to help kids learn whilst reading
These devices are a great way to help cultivate a love of reading at a young age; when a child sits down with a Kindle, they read on average over 45 minutes a day. All of them come with a two-year worry-free guarantee, a kid-friendly cover, and six months (one year if you purchase the Kindle Colorsoft Kids) of Amazon Kids+ — a kid-friendly subscription service that provides access to thousands of age-appropriate books and audiobooks.
Parents can manage content and set up a device bedtime through the Amazon Parent Dashboard. Kids can request books for parents and guardians to add to their library, while tools like Word Wise and Vocabulary Builder help them learn new words as they’re reading.
Kindle Kids comes with a cover in one of the following designs: Space Whale, Ocean Explorer, and Unicorn Valley. Kindle Paperwhite Kids comes in the following themes: Cyber City and Starfish. Meanwhile Kindle Colorsoft Kids is available either with the Fantasy River or Starlight Reading design.
Kindle Kids is available now for £114.99; Kindle Paperwhite Kids is available now for £169.99; Kindle Colorsoft Kids is available now for £259.99.
What to consider when choosing your Kindle?
When deciding which Kindle to buy, it helps to think about your personal reading habits and needs. Here are key factors to consider that will guide you to choosing your perfect e-reader:
- Your budget: Kindles vary in price based on features, so determine if you need basic functionality at the lowest cost, a balance of premium features, or specialised capabilities that come at a higher price point. Some Kindle models also offer ‘with ads’ at a lower price and ‘without ads’ at a slightly higher price.
- Waterproof capabilities: If you read around the pool or near water, then make sure you are choosing a waterproof Kindle such as the Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Colorsoft, and Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition.
- Screen size: Consider how big you want your screen to be. Compact models like the standard Kindle are more portable, whilst the likes of the Kindle Paperwhite have larger displays. The Kindle Scribe has the largest screen, making it ideal for notes or documents.
- Storage needs: While all Kindles hold thousands of books, consider if you will be downloading large files like audiobooks or highly illustrated content. Most Kindle offer 16GB of storage, but some have options for 32GB and 64GB too if you require more space.
- Colour display needs: Most Kindles are in black and white so if you wish to read in colour, consider the Colorsoft family. This is especially true if you enjoy reading graphic novels, magazines, and comics.
- Kindle for kids: If you are buying for a child, then consider Kindles made for kids. These are specially tailored for younger readers and include kid-friendly features and content through an Amazon Kids+ subscription.
- Lighting for reading comfort: Whilst all Kindles have a front light, look out for other features including adjustable brightness, auto-adjusting lights, and warm light options so you can read comfortably in any environment.
Already got your hands on a Kindle? Discover everything you need to know about Kindle Unlimited.
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