I’ve Tried Every Kindle, Including the New Aluminum Model—Here’s the Best One for Every Reader

There’s a lot for readers to love about a Kindle. These Amazon-powered ebook readers let you bring thousands of books anywhere and typically give a month of battery life per charge. You can subscribe to get unlimited books from Amazon or use the device to access free books via your local library . But how are you supposed to know which model to buy, given the many options available?

I’ve owned all kinds of Kindles, including the newest Kindle Aluminum and a seasoned hand-me-down device that lacks a front light. Between all of my testing, I've found that many options offer great value for specific uses.

Read on to find out my favorite Kindle overall, along with my top Kindle recommendations for young readers and other individual needs. While you're at it, check out my other buying guides for readers, including the Best Kindle Accessories , Best E-Readers , Best Digital Notebooks , and Best Gifts for Book Lovers .

Updated October 2026: I’ve added the newest Kindle (2026, 12th Gen) as my affordable Kindle pick if the previous Kindle (2024, 11th Gen) isn’t on sale. I’ve also added notes on the Kindle Aluminum and ensured up-to-date pricing.

Not only is the Kindle Paperwhite Amazon’s most popular Kindle, but it's also been my favorite since the 12th-generation device launched in late 2024—and I've tested every model, so that's saying something. This Paperwhite earned its accolade thanks to its great range of features. It has a large display with high resolution and warm lighting (a feature your eyes will love if you're a bedtime reader), and the technology inside provides a fast and smooth performance. Whether you want to read more or are tired of carrying physical books, all the extra features are worth the price.

It's an upgrade from the previous generation of Paperwhite, with a slightly larger screen and the highest contrast ratio of any Kindle, not just Paperwhites. The battery life also increased from two months to three months. 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 GB.

Speaking of price differences, both the Kindle Paperwhite and the Paperwhite Signature Edition recently became more expensive after Amazon increased some of its prices . The base Paperwhite went up $40 to hit $200, while the Signature Edition went from $200 to $250. There's also a new version coming out of the Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition that will cost the same.

Students who want to take notes digitally but who also love to read will love a Kindle Scribe. There are now three new Kindle Scribe models, which I detail below , and my favorite is the second-generation option from 2024.

It has the same 10.2-inch (300 ppi) paperlike display as the first iteration, but its white border provides a more notebook-style look. It also comes with the Premium Pen that has a soft-tipped eraser at the end. It’s easily my most-used Kindle and digital notebook because of the long battery life (12 weeks!) and the convenience of grabbing it for both my reading and note-taking needs. While it doesn't have as many options and layouts as a true digital notebook, the Kindle Scribe nonetheless provides enough assistance to help me organize most of the ideas jumbling around in my brain.

The second-gen Scribe's software capabilities include Active Canvas, which lets you write directly in a book you’re reading, though it won’t work like true annotation. Instead, the notes appear in a small square on the screen like a Post-It note. That means it’ll always be there, and you can resize the screen to keep it less in the way. Even so, it didn’t feel ideally natural to use. It also offers Expandable Margins that let you write notes in the side panel of books, which feels a little more intuitive than Active Canvas, but still isn’t the full annotation experience you might want.

There are also a couple of generative artificial intelligence features: The Refined Writing tool transforms your notes into a script font, while Summarization quickly summarizes pages of notes into bullets with a script font that you can then share from the notebook tab. Both features work well, but I never find myself reaching for them. You can download these software features onto first-generation Kindle Scribes. Notably, no device in the Scribe line was subject to the recent price increase of other Kindles.

Amazon has two versions of its colorful Kindle, one of which is the base Kindle Colorsoft. There’s also the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition , which came out in 2024 and was Amazon’s first-ever model with a color screen . (It's currently unavailable, which could either be an effect of the recent Prime Day or an intentional move ahead of the forthcoming new Colorsoft Signature release, currently on preorder .) Both models have a 7-inch display with an oxide backplane for speedy performance and higher contrast for both color and black-and-white content. The front light in the basic model includes nitride LEDs, which enhance color and increase brightness.

The 2024 Colorsoft Signature has a few extra features, but it also comes with a higher price tag. It provides twice the amount of storage—32 GB to the base Colorsoft's 16 GB—wireless charging, and an auto-adjusting front light. It’s a nice set of add-ons to get for $30 more, particularly if you know you’ll use the wireless-charging capability and want an auto-adjusting light. But unless you already have a wireless charger you love, you’ll probably be just as happy spending $30 less for the base model. It’s already a hefty increase from the base Kindle for the color screen and no other new features. The good news, at least, is Amazon did launch Dark Mode for Colorsoft this year.

Amazon also raised prices of the Kindle Colorsoft and Colorsoft Signature Edition, bringing both up $40 to $290 and $320, respectively. As mentioned, there's also a new version of the Colorsoft and Colorsoft Signature Edition coming out that will cost the same.

I’m a parent of a young kid, and the books in our house are very, very colorful. Pulling up a book on the colorful Colosoft Kids device is a much more fun experience than reading a black-and-white–only option. The color just makes everything more engaging: The bookshelf of your books! The titles available on Kids+! The pages in the illustrated books themselves! Having colorful ebook pages is something a lot of readers may enjoy, but I think kids of all ages are more likely to get the most use from the feature. They can enjoy picture books and graphic novels alike with full-page color; they can colorfully highlight books they want to annotate or study. It’s not quite as vibrant as a digital screen or color on paper since it’s an E Ink screen, but it’s still a fun feature that adds to the reading experience.

You can technically turn on Kids mode on any Kindle, so you don’t necessarily need a Kids-branded model—whether it’s the Colorsoft or a black-and-white model—in order for your kiddos to be able to read books separate from adult options. (Kindle also makes both a basic Kids ($180) and a Paperwhite Kids ($230) model.)

The real benefit is that Kids models come with free limited-time access to Kids+, Amazon’s subscription service that features tons of age-appropriate books. The Colorsoft Kids gets the longest free access, a full year, while the other models will only receive six months. That extra six months, which starts at $8 per month , plus colorful pages, makes a kid-specific model worth it. The Colorsoft Kids is also waterproof and comes with a fun cover (you get to choose between two designs).

The Colorsoft Kids recently went up in price , as did the regular Colorsoft models and the rest of the Kindle Kids line. This one went up $30 to hit $300, while the Kindle Kids is now $180 (up $50) and the Kids Paperwhite is now $230 (also up $50). Amazon is also releasing new Kids versions to match all of the new models that the company announced earlier this month .

Amazon (Plastic, With Lock Screen Ads)

If you're looking to spend the least amount, there are two Kindle versions you can usually snag for the lowest possible price: the older 2024 Kindle ($150) and the newer 2026 Kindle ($150) . While the newer one has some improvements, the older model is more likely to be on sale this holiday season. It should drop to at least $125 during sale events, though it dipped down to $104 during the most recent Prime Day. The best time to buy a Kindle is during a sale event, and if you want to stick to a budget, wait for one of these models to go on sale.

But when they're not on sale and are listed at the same price, I'd get the newest model over the old. Both now cost $150 following Amazon's price hikes (the 2024 model used to cost $110), so you might as well go for the latest and greatest. Compared to the 2024 version, the 2026 Kindle has faster book-opening speeds and no lag when I exit a book. The newer model also offers a slightly warmer front light, though neither has a truly warm light, like the Paperwhite or Colorsoft. I tested the more expensive aluminum-backed Kindle Aluminum, but the plastic version (which comes in the purple Ube color) is cheaper.

Many features remain the same, like the 6-inch screen, 300-pixel-per-inch display, an adjustable front light, 16 GB of storage (though you can upgrade to 32 GB if you get the aluminum version), and up to six weeks of battery life. The body of the updated Kindle is a little shorter without shrinking the screen, and it weighs a bit less, going from 5.56 ounces to 4.9 ounces. The aluminum, however, is slightly heavier at 5.7 ounces.

Both models work with the new Kindle Click ($35) remote, but neither is compatible with the Kindle Page Turn Cover ($80) , which is only compatible with 7-inch models. Ultimately, you'll save more money if you wait for a sale, and the two devices are similar enough that you won't be missing out if you choose the older model over the new. But again, if there's no sale happening, get the newest model.

When Amazon announced its new range of Kindles, it also announced that each of the three models—Kindle, Paperwhite, and Colorsoft—would be getting an aluminum-backed version. The first is the Kindle Aluminum, which includes more storage, several AI features, and no ads by default.

I like the look and feel of the aluminum backing more than I expected. I'm testing the blue Alpine Sky color, a beautiful shade of icy blue. Because it's slightly shorter and more compact than the 2024 Kindle, its minimally heavier but more concentrated weight feels more significant than it actually is. However, I still find the Kindle Aluminum comfortable to hold.

The Kindle Aluminum comes with 32 GB of storage, twice as much as the plastic versions, and has two AI-powered features: Story So Far (which you'll find under Recap in your book menus), a tool that summarizes what's happened so far in the book. It will also get Ask This Book to ask questions about the story that Amazon says is coming soon.

The aluminum Signature Editions of the Paperwhite ($250) and Colorsoft ($290) will also get these features, and those models will also be compatible with the upcoming Kindle Page Turn Cover ($80), whereas the smaller Kindle Aluminum is not.

Amazon recently announced a whole new generation of Kindles is coming , with every model getting a new version. I'll update this guide with thoughts as I review each new model. Here are the current details:

Kindle is also releasing a handful of new accessories, including the Kindle Click ($35) Bluetooth remote that will work with Kindle models as early as 2024, a Page Turn Cover ($80) that will only work with the Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions, a Charging Dock ($60) designed to work with the pogo pins on the Signature Editions, and new Kindle covers in a variety of colors and textures. I’m most excited about the remote; I will update this guide and our Best Kindle Accessories guide with my notes as I test.

Amazon raised its prices across its product categories, including Kindle devices. The price increases hit several current Kindle models, leaving only Kindle Scribe models with their original price tags. Amazon declined to comment to WIRED , but a spokesperson told CNET the price hikes were due to rising costs in memory and storage components. Interestingly, none of the more powerful Scribe models needed a price update, but it’s also a relief since all three of those models are significantly more expensive than a regular Kindle.

Here are all the increases, including for the Signature versions:

If you have your eyes on one of these Kindles, I’d wait until Black Friday to shop, as they'll likely be on sale.

Amazon (Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, 32GB)

Amazon (Kindle Scribe, 3rd Gen, 32GB)

Amazon (Kindle Scribe Without Front Light, 16GB)

Kindle has three new Kindle Scribes that launched between late 2025 and June 2026. There are now the Kindle Scribe ($500) , Kindle Scribe Colorsoft ($630) , and the Kindle Scribe Without Front Light ($430) . All three have a similar design and software experience, though the Scribe Colorsoft has a color screen and a shorter battery life—only eight weeks of reading time, compared to 12 weeks on the $500 Scribe and an impressive 16 weeks on the Scribe Without Front Light.

All three models have a new, taller design with an 11-inch screen, a slightly slimmer form factor, and an updated stylus. They both also have a quad-core chip, a new homepage, and will support a variety of AI features, including AI search (along with some AI tools for summarizing books you’re reading without giving spoilers, though those won’t arrive until next year). Users can connect to Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive to mark up documents, which the older model can’t do.

Overall, I’d say they’re good devices, but as long as the cheaper second-generation Kindle Scribe is available, I think it’s the better buy. It has some AI capabilities but no AI search, and has a different homepage design that matches a classic Kindle rather than the notebook-forward design seen on the new ones. Amazon said it’ll get the same homepage this year, but I haven’t seen it so far. I’m disappointed these new devices are so much more expensive; at that price, you might as well shop reMarkable’s line of digital notebooks and get better features and accessories.

Ever had an e-reading session so long that you get hand cramps? These accessories might help. You can check out more options in our Best Kindle Accessories guide .

This pillow stand holder can sit freely on your lap, bed, or any nearby surface while holding up your Kindle. There are two receptacles built into it, one of which is big enough for my larger mugs. I usually drop a snack or my phone into the other one.

This gooseneck tablet holder does a great job of holding up your Kindle by clamping onto something nearby, like your bed frame or a table. It’s 3 feet tall and has plenty of length to work in various spots.

Amazon (Kindle Paperwhite/Colorsoft)

This soft silicone strap hooks onto the ends of a Kindle (or other e-reader) without any adhesive needed. It was nice and secure when I slid my hand into it. It comes with two straps, but a single strap was plenty of security for me.

The PopSockets PopGrips are handy to add to Kindles so you can easily grip your device, but you will need to attach it with an adhesive, a MagSafe adapter, or a MagSafe Kindle case. There are a ton of fun designs, and you can even customize your own, like my custom WIRED PopGrip.

Amazon Kindles are, thankfully, not as fragile as a pricey smartphone, but you may still want to add a cover to protect the screen if you’re frequently toting it around in a bag. These aren’t padded for serious drops, but they are some of the best Kindle cases I’ve found for daily protection from scratches and scuffs. Also, don’t forget that the Kids’ editions come with cases, so if you’re buying one of those, you won’t need to buy a case.

This sturdy, clear case has reinforced corners, making it a smart buy for chronic droppers. The corners didn’t stop any accessories from being able to work with the device, but they did give the Kindle a thicker feel than the Strapsicle or PopSockets cases.

This sleek case is smoother and slimmer, but doesn’t slack off on the protection front.

If you’re looking for a full cover and a strap, this option has it all. This case only comes in blue, but it fully covers the front of your Kindle. When you open it, that cover has a built-in hand strap. It also has a little stand built into it, too, so it can stand up on its own for you to read.

PopSockets came out with its own line of Kindle cases that have a built-in MagSafe adapter, so you can more easily add your PopSocket grip of choice. There are matching sets of cases and grips you can shop for, or you can mix and match as you please.

Amazon usually takes a few years between new Kindle models. Whenever a new one arrives, its predecessor’s stock starts to dwindle. It’s not that I don’t recommend these older models per se, but I only suggest them if you they're on sale for the right price. And don’t buy too old a model, since Amazon has started pulling support for older Kindles.

Before making your purchase, cross-check the price against the latest model to make sure you’re paying a fair amount less for the older device.

Kindle (2022, 11th Generation): This is the smallest of the lot at 6.2 inches tall and 4.3 inches wide, with a 6-inch screen. If you find tablets too cumbersome to hold with one hand, consider this one, with 16 GB of storage and a 300 pixels per inch (PPI) resolution. It’s tough to find, and I usually don’t see it for less than $75 these days.

Kindle Paperwhite (2021, 11th Generation): This is the next step up from the basic model. It has a bright 6.8-inch screen with adjustable warm lighting, a fast page-turn rate, a USB-C port, and 16 gigs of storage. It’s waterproof, too. I like the Signature Edition , which also includes auto-adjust brightness and 32 GBs of storage. I don’t recommend spending more than $100 on this one.

Kindle Scribe (1st Generation) : The original Scribe is a great option for note-takers. It has a giant 10.2-inch screen for taking notes, marking up PDFs, or drawing , and numerous paper formats you can choose, like college-ruled or dotted. It also comes with the Basic Pen, which feels natural to write with and attaches to the side of the Scribe magnetically. It’s only worth it for $230 or less, and I often see it for below $200 on eBay.

Kindle Kids (2022) : This is an older kid-friendly model. It comes with a cover, a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+, parental controls, and a two-year warranty, but the fact that it’s only available secondhand means you’ll likely miss out on the subscription window and may or may not still have a cover. Ideally, you won't spend more than $70 on this one.

Kindle Paperwhite Kids (2021): This older Paperwhite version is a step up from the previous basic Kids models. It has a high-resolution 300-ppi display with an adjustable warm screen and is also waterproof. You shouldn’t spend more than $110 on this one if you can find it at all. (I couldn't find any resellers for this older model at the time of writing.)

Which Kindle Models Lost Amazon Support and Kindle Store Access?

As of May 20, 2026, Amazon stopped supporting Kindles released in 2012 or earlier. That means these models will not be able to get new books through Amazon’s services or be registered to an Amazon account. You will be able to read books already on the device, though, and can manually download documents and books via USB cable and via software like Calibre .

The following Kindle devices are impacted:

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

Have an old Kindle lying around? Considering buying a used one? If you’re trying to figure out which model you're dealing with, this Amazon page includes photos, specs, and release years for the entire lineup. Once you know which one you have, you may be able to trade it in for credit toward a newer model.

Most old Kindles probably still work, just with fewer bells and whistles. It’s best to avoid Kindles with keyboards or any other physical buttons other than page-turn buttons. Some older models lost the ability to browse, purchase, or borrow new books directly from the device. However, you may still be able to do this via Amazon on your computer or phone and have it sent to your Kindle, which is a better experience anyway.

How Do You Get Free Ebooks on a Kindle?

If you buy every single book you want to read on a Kindle, it can add up! But there are ways to save some money while reading as much as your heart desires. You may want to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited for $12 a month. You can only choose from the Unlimited catalog, but it features millions of titles, including audiobooks and magazines. Start out with the 30-day free trial.

If you already pay for a Prime account, you’re eligible for some free ebooks through Prime Reading . It doesn't include as many options as Kindle Unlimited, and in a lot of cases, you’ll see both Unlimited and Prime options lumped together; you’ll have to look closely to find the free ebooks. It’s still something, though, and there are even a few magazines.

If you don’t want another monthly subscription and don’t want to continue giving your money to Amazon, take advantage of the ebooks available with your library card . Browsing a digital catalog is not as magical as spending an afternoon looking over every shelf in a library, but such is the ebook life (no one says you can’t read both!). We have a detailed how-to on this that you should check out, but here are some of the takeaways:

If you know someone else with a Kindle, you can lend books between your libraries, just as you would with a physical copy. Follow these instructions from Amazon if you want to share an ebook, but keep in mind that not all books are loanable.

Kindles have other helpful features you may want to use . Long-press a word or phrase to see its definition , highlight it , or take notes . You can also search the entire book for that particular word or phrase or translate it to or from other languages.

Word Wise shows short definitions in small text within the lines. Unfortunately, it’s not available for all books, but when it is, you can turn it on or off and choose more and fewer hints. Clicking the short definition opens a longer one from Word Wise and the New Oxford American Dictionary or Oxford Dictionary of English (you can switch between the two), plus translations and a Wikipedia page, if applicable.

While reading, tap the top of the screen and click “Aa” to change font size or type . There’s a font called OpenDyslexic that helps make reading easier for people with dyslexia. You can control margin sizes and line spacing from that menu, too.

When a Kindle connects to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones, VoiceView Screen Reader (accessed through Settings > Accessibility ) allows you to use gestures to navigate your device and reads aloud what you’ve pressed. It can also read a book aloud, though it doesn’t sound nearly as nice as an audiobook.

Amazon owns Goodreads , so it syncs seamlessly to Kindles (press the three-dot menu > Goodreads ). If you have a Goodreads account, you can review the Kindle books you’ve read or browse your bookshelf and recommendations. Long-pressing a word or phrase, in addition to what is mentioned above, opens up an option to share quotes directly to Goodreads.

There’s also a web browser if you’re connected to the internet ( three-dot menu > Web Browser ). It’s not the best, so I’d reserve it for emergency searches.

When Amazon releases a new software update, it will download and install to your Kindle automatically when the device is connected to Wi-Fi. You can check if you’re on the latest software by going to Settings > Device Options > Advanced Options > Update Your Kindle . If it’s not on the latest software version, you’ll see an update available and the Kindle will then prompt you to download and install it.

What Do I Do If My Kindle Colorsoft Has a Yellow Bar?

Following customer complaints in 2024 of a yellow bar at the bottom of the Colorsoft Signature’s screen and discoloration along the edges, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed to WIRED that "customers who notice this can reach out to our customer service team for a replacement or refund.” The company also said it’s “ making the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue moving forward.” However, there are still customer complaints about this issue, even with the new model out. We have not run into this issue while testing the Colorsoft, Colorsoft Signature, or Scribe Colorsoft.

Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Kindle?

The best time to buy a Kindle is during a major sale event like Amazon Prime Day, Prime Big Deals Days, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday, when Amazon often offers steep discounts on its products.

Kindles are great for students, though the model that's best for each student depends on how they'll use it. If they want to pair it with a stylus for highlighting and be able to take notes, they should consider a Kindle Scribe model. These have long battery life, making them great for students to use for weeks on end without worrying about charging. Some textbooks are also available on Kindles. For students who love to read but don’t want to take a ton of notes, a regular Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite will work well.

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