Games News games, movies and TV you love.
Related Articles
There are only a few features separating Amazon’s ereader lineup, so finding the best Kindle for you isn’t quite as easy as it appears. After all, there’s only three main models on the shelves; the budget Kindle, the mid-range Kindle Paperwhite, and the premium Kindle Oasis. However, finding the right Kindle will come down to your reading habits and the type of content you’re most likely to consume.
You’ll find every Kindle on this page is capable of storing thousands of books and they all come with an illuminated screen. At $89.99 / £69 / AU$139 the base Kindle is the cheapest option on the market, and is regularly found on sale as well. However, if you’re after waterproofing and a larger, better quality screen, we’d recommend the new 2021 Paperwhite, launched at the end of the year.
This model comes in at $139/£129/AU$239, and is well worth the extra expenditure. As for the luxury Kindle Oasis ereader, prices start at $269/£229/AU$389 which means this is one reserved for power users.
You’ll find more information on all the best Kindles on the market just below.
- Amazon Prime free trial sign-up: USA (opens in new tab) | UK (opens in new tab)
The best Kindles 2021
1. Kindle Paperwhite (2021)
The latest Kindle on the market
Specifications
Screen size: 6.8-inchStorage: 8GBResolution: 300ppiWeight: 205gBacklight: yesTouchscreen: yesAudiobooks: yes (with bluetooth headphones)Battery life: up to six weeksLaunch price: $139/£129/AU$239
Reasons to buy
+Waterproof+Flush-screen+Extra storage
Reasons to avoid
-No 32GB option
The Paperwhite is an excellent ereader and an easy choice to top our list for the best Kindles. The Paperwhite model does cost a little more than the base device, but adds features like waterproofing, a better display resolution, a larger screen, and flush design that make the extra cash well worth it.
This is the cheapest waterproof Kindle which makes it not only ideal for reading in the bath or poolside, but also to protect from incidents of leaking drinks bottles in your bag or getting caught out in a downpour.
It gets better though as the 2021 update also adds even more space on the screen compared to the previous model as well as USB-C charging (for the rare moments this device will need juicing up).
2. Kindle 2019
Cheapest Kindle is now a contender too
Specifications
Screen size: 6-inchStorage: 4GBResolution: 167ppiWeight: 174gBacklight: YesTouchscreen: YesAudiobooks: Yes (with bluetooth headphones)Battery life: Up to four weeksLaunch price: $89.99/£69/AU$139
Reasons to buy
+Excellent value+Can read in the dark too
Reasons to avoid
-Lower resolution
Not so long ago we advised most people to skip the standard entry-level Kindle in favor of the Kindle Paperwhite instead. But Amazon’s 2019 edition of the cheapest Kindle now comes with a front-lit screen meaning you can read it in low-light/dark conditions too.
This puts it on a par with the older (now discontinued) 2016 Paperwhite, although at a much cheaper price. The 2019 Kindle’s asking price is slightly higher than the previous-gen model, but we think it’s money well spent.
The screen resolution is almost half that of the other Kindles, but it certainly doesn’t look that way with the text looking super crisp and clear throughout. This Kindle is light in the hand and its compact design makes it ideal for taking out and about. If you’re trying ereaders for the first time, this is a great place to start, but if waterproofing is an essential requirement for you, we’d opt for the Kindle Paperwhite instead.
3. Kindle Oasis 2019
Technically brilliant, but oh so expensive
Specifications
Screen size: 7-inchStorage: 8GB/32GBResolution: 300ppiWeight: 188gBacklight: YesTouchscreen: Yes (and page turn buttons)Battery life: up to six weeksLaunch price: $269/£229/AU$389
Reasons to buy
+The best Kindle display+Page turn buttons+Great for late-night reading
Reasons to avoid
-Usually too expensive
We’re always very torn with the Kindle Oasis line and the newest 2019 edition is a tempting choice to head up our list of the best Kindles. But just look at that asking price. Even during sale events, it’s incredibly expensive for an ebook reader.
For your money though, this top of the line luxury ereader has the best display of any Kindle. It’s an inch larger than the others and while the resolution might be the same 300ppi as the Paperwhite, the increased brightness makes the display even crisper. You don’t have to worry about getting smudgy fingerprints on this Kindle too as it has a pair of page-turning buttons that are suitable for both left and right-handed readers. The buttons are excellent actually and much more accurate than the screen swipes on other Kindles which can sometimes fire you forwards more than one page at once for some reason.
The metal chassis on the rear of the Kindle Oasis feels beautifully premium and the wedge around the battery side aims to give you something to hold onto, but truth be told, it can be a little slippery compared to the other models – not ideal considering the price.
The only real difference on the new 2019 model over its 2017 sibling model is a new warm light feature. This is a little easier on the eyes and great if you’re reading in the dark or you want something a little less stimulating when reading before bed. It’s a lovely addition that we hope makes its way down to the future line of cheaper Kindles at some point.
4. Amazon Kindle Kids Edition
Built-in safety features for younger readers
Specifications
Screen size: 6-inchStorage: 8GBResolution: 167ppiWeight: 288gBacklight: YesTouchscreen: YesBattery life: Up to four weeksLaunch price: $109/£99
Reasons to buy
+Includes a sturdy cover+Neat learning options+Restrictions can be lifted later on
Reasons to avoid
-Costs more than regular Kindle
The Kindle Kids Edition is physically the same as the standard 2019 Kindle we mentioned earlier but comes with a sturdy cover as standard along with built-in child-friendly software features. It also has double the storage at 8GB, which given the small size of ebooks, is only really any use if you’re planning on stuffing it with audiobook files.
Online access to the Kindle store and other websites is blocked on the device itself so you don’t have to worry about them splurging on more titles or browsing sites they shouldn’t. The Kindle Kids Edition also comes with a year of access to over 1000 child-friendly titles to read. You can track how much time your child has been reading and other stats via an app. Like the Fire Tablets, the Kindle Kids Edition comes with a free two-year warranty against faults or accidental breakages.
A built-in Vocab builder creates flashcards for later learning if required and the dictionary feature is super useful on all Kindles as you just hold a finger over any word for a definition popup to appear.
If your child outgrows some of the safety features, you can actually unlock the regular online features of this Kindle via a PIN code, which helps future-proof your purchase further. If your child is already high-school age, then you might want to give this version a miss for one of the above models instead.
