There’s so much to be discovered by reading books. Whether it’s the best mystery novels, self-help books, parenting books or must-read books for men — reading is one of the best ways to open your mind up to a fresh perspective. If you’re a book collector, a die-hard voracious reader or love a good beach read on vacation you should know there’s a great alternative to lugging around the latest volumes on your reading list: the Amazon Kindle.
If you are a bookworm, there is no device that you’ll hold closer to your heart than your Kindle. Kindles allow you to bring your entire library wherever you go in a sleek, lightweight package, and now that some Kindles are even waterproof, you can truly take your Kindle along on your adventures.
The advantages of an e-reader are numerous, from the decrease in weight and size over books to the ability to read in the dark and from the wealth of reading materials available to the ability to listen to audiobooks when you don’t feel like reading. If you’re a bookworm, these word-filled devices truly feel like a godsend.
The Kindle is available in a range of models. At minimum, you can expect a 6-inch, glare-free screen and at least enough storage to hold up to 3,000 books. As you upgrade, each model includes more features and extra storage, but all models provide a great reading experience.
There are a few great Kindles worth highlighting for their slightly different features, so we encourage you to keep scrolling and discover the one that’s best for you. There’s also a new Kindle Kids Edition that’s perfect for the little readers in your life.
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1. Kindle Paperwhite
BEST OVERALL
For those seeking a bit more quality from the e-reader screen and more storage, we recommend the Kindle Paperwhite. The glare-free screen looks as though you are reading paper, even in direct sunlight. The 300 ppi screen looks sharper than the original Kindle, especially when it comes to displaying images. There is also more storage, too. It is available in 8GB, which can store roughly 6,000 books. The 32GB device can store roughly 24,000 books. Imagine trying to carry that many books with you––well, now you can, because the Kindle Paperwhite is ultra slim and only weighs .4 pounds, which weighs less than a single paperback. And now that the Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof, you can really take it with you wherever you go. It makes a great beach day companion or relaxing evening in the bath. And if your eyes need a rest, you can connect a pair of Bluetooth headphones and listen to audiobooks with this e-reader. Even though it is a bit more expensive than the Amazon Kindle, we think it’s worth it for better screen quality, waterproofing and storage.
Pros: Sharper screen for clear letters that are easier to read, plenty of storage for thousands of books at once, waterproof.
Cons: The WiFi connectivity feature can drain the battery if left on for hours.
2. Amazon Kindle
CONTENDER
The Amazon Kindle is a great way to go if you want a top-quality e-reader that’s a little easier on your wallet. The Amazon Kindle has a 6-inch touchscreen and only weighs 0.3 pounds, making it ultra portable. You essentially can carry your entire library of books around with you in a device that weighs less than an iPhone 12. Speaking of your library, the Kindle has 8GB of storage, which isn’t nearly as much storage as the Paperwhite or Oasis, but it can still hold about 6,000 books, which is plenty of reading material even for the biggest bookworm. And with the new back-lit screen––previous versions of Kindle didn’t have back lighting––you’ll even be able to read at night. When you want to give your eyes a break, you can listen to audiobooks by connecting to your kindle with a pair or Bluetooth headphones. Regardless how you want to take in your book, the 4-week battery life ensures that when you feel like reading, you Kindle will be ready. If you want to bring your library with you, but want an affordable e-reader, the Kindle is a great choice.
Pros: Affordable price tag, plenty of storage for the average reader, super long battery life and portable design.
Cons: Less storage space than the Kindle Paperwhite.
3. Kindle Oasis
QUALITY PICK
The Kindle Oasis is a premium e-reader that comes at a premium price, but the extra features make it a great upgrade for those who want a little more from their e-reader. For starters, the Kindle Oasis features warm lighting, which helps reduce eye fatigue, when you’re buried in a book that you can’t put down. You can also customize font type and size to read books the way you prefer. And a noticeable difference between the Oasis and other Kindles is the larger ridge on the side of the screen. This gives readers more room to hold the e-reader for a more comfortable reading experience. It’s also made with e-ink technology that helps the pages mimic real books for fast page turns. The back-lit, 7-inch screen is an inch bigger than both the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite, and also gives you the ability to read in the dark. Same as the Paperwhite, you can get the Oasis with 8GB of storage, which holds about 6,000 books, or 32GB, which can carry roughly 24,000 books. If you don’t feel like reading anymore, you can connect to your Kindle with a pair of Bluetooth headphones and listen to audiobooks. And Amazon wouldn’t be able to call this model the Oasis without it being waterproof, right? The Oasis is IPX8 rated waterproof, so accidentally dropping it in the bathtub or the pool won’t hurt your e-reader. You can truly take this Kindle everywhere, and it makes your e-reading experience better than ever. We only wish it was a little easier on your wallet.
Pros: Features that accomodate comfortable reading experience, e-ink technology, wider screen, waterproof.
Cons: The auto-brightness feature can be a bit sensitive, and adjust when unnecessary.
4. Kindle Kids Edition
BEST FOR KIDS
Kindle Kids Edition is a regular Kindle with a kid-friendly cover that’s meant to inspire a love of reading in children and young people. It’s a Kindle that’s built for the purpose of reading and isn’t a toy. It contains no games, ads, videos or other distractions from reading and comes with a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ that enables kids to explore popular titles and download them easily. This Kindle also comes with the whole Harry Potter series already loaded onto it and the first book from other notable series including Artemis Fowl. All purchases must go through parents first, and the Kindle can be paired with headphones to listen to Audible audiobooks as well.
Pros: Great for kids, designed for safe reading, colorful cover.
Cons: Doesn’t include features for kids that other tablets do.
Great Kindle Accessories
If you’re going to go the Kindle route, you should probably grab some top-rated Kindle accessories too. They’ve got all kinds of cases, chords, stands and more designed to make your Kindle reading that much more enjoyable. Here are our favorites.
Kindle Paperwhite Water-Safe Fabric Cover
This water-safe fabric cover will protect your Kindle Paperwhite from bumps you may encounter along the way and opens and closes smoothly, just like a book. It’s thin and lightweight and has a magnetic enclosure so your Kindle stays shut when you’re not reading it, preserving the battery. It comes in three different colors — black, yellow and blue — and is designed to open and close just like a book.
Fintie Stand Case for Kindle Paperwhite
This is another Kindle Paperwhite case that’s made to fit the 10th Generation Kindle Paperwhite perfectly. It’s made of synthetic leather and has a decorative, book-like design that’s non-scratch and prevents greasy fingerprints from messing up your device. It has a built-in card slot that’s convenient for storing IDs or cards, and has a fold-out stand so you can prop up your reader as well. It also has a hand strap built in to make your reader more comfortable to hold, and a magnetic clasp that ensures the cover stays closed.
Amazon 5W Charger
This charger from Amazon is made to charge all Kindles and Fire Tablets. It’s a 5W, 1A power adapter that’s compatible with almost all devices that charge via a micro-USB port. Charging times may vary, but you can easily plug your Kindle into this and give it a full charge before a long flight or car ride. It also works with other Amazon devices, and comes in white and black.
Tablet Pillow Stand
If you need a place to put your Kindle each night after reading before bed, this nightstand stand is built for just that. It’s compatible with a wide range of tablets, iPads and Kindles, and is great for reading as well. It’s got three different angle adjustments as well as multiple spots so you can store a few different devices at once. It’s made of strong, resilient materials and has a removable, washable cover that you can easily refresh from time to time.