Within the Venn diagram of tablets and books, our favourite e-readers fall completely within the center. They’re skinny and moveable like a pill, however with out the distraction of the web. One of the best Kindles and e-readers stuff 1000’s of books — a full library, actually — into their tiny body.
And having examined quite a lot of e-readers for Mashable, I can inform you that Amazon’s Kindle lineup comes closest to perfecting the gadgets. Everywhere in the web, you will discover TikTok customers enthusiastically singing the praises of the Kindle. For folks, Kindles are a display screen you do not have to really feel responsible about. For avid readers, Stuff Your Kindle Day helps you to replenish your summer time studying checklist. You should purchase distant page-turners and gooseneck stands so you do not have to carry your Kindle whereas studying. Even hardcore e-book collectors have been transformed to the Kindle life.
Meet the latest era of Kindle e-readers
Cannot resolve between the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite? We put them head-to-head..
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
I learn over 50 books a yr. Listed below are my favourite e-readers.
Lots has modified for the reason that Kindle first debuted in 2007. Whereas it was launched just some months after the primary iPhone, the Amazon Kindle has acquired fewer updates. As of 2025, we’re on the twelfth era of Kindles; the most recent arrived in October 2024. Each mannequin — the essential Kindle, the Paperwhite, Signature Version, Scribe, and Youngsters fashions — all bought upgrades. And sadly, the Kindle Oasis, a water-proof mannequin with page-turning buttons, was discontinued.
Kindle’s first colour e-reader additionally arrived in late 2024, and as of July 2025, the Colorsoft lineup contains three fashions. The Colorsoft is the second most costly possibility amongst Kindles, and after lastly getting our palms on a mannequin, we have added it to this information.
The most recent Kindles are light-weight, simple to make use of, and suitable with Libby, so you may assist your native library (and get free books, in fact). Mainly, it is onerous to make a nasty choice on this product class. So, what’s the perfect Kindle for you? Let me enable you resolve.
Which Kindle is best for you?
In the event you’re involved about shopping for the latest tech, that is not a problem. There are six up to date Kindle fashions on the market, in addition to older editions nonetheless in inventory.
Earlier than you select a Kindle, it’s essential to ask one query first: Would you like it to be waterproof? In the event you favor studying close to a physique of water — whether or not within the bathtub, by the pool, or on the seashore — that instantly narrows down your choices. Because the Kindle Oasis is now not accessible, you’ve gotten another decisions. Your waterproof choices are the Kindle Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Version, Colorsoft Signature Version, and Paperwhite Youngsters.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature version settings display screen.
Credit score: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
Past water resistance, listed below are a couple of different options to think about:
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Show measurement: The fundamental Kindle has a 6-inch show, whereas the biggest has a ten.2-inch show.
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Storage capability: Kindles vary from 16GB to 32GB of storage capability.
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Battery life: The brand new Kindles typically have excellent batteries. On the low finish, they last as long as six weeks per cost, whereas others last as long as 12 weeks.
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Writing functionality: The Kindle Scribe is the one mannequin that means that you can write with the included stylus.
The most recent Kindles all boast a most brightness of 94 nits and a 300 ppi, high-resolution show with zero glare, so you may get pleasure from sharp textual content and pictures at any viewing angle. Kindles are additionally outfitted with WiFi connectivity, permitting you to obtain all of the studying materials you might ever need. Plus, you may hearken to audiobooks on Audible through the built-in Bluetooth connection.
To not point out, out of all of the e-readers I’ve examined, Kindles have the perfect compatibility with Libby. I like the digital platform as a result of I can learn at no cost and assist my native library. Another e-readers require you to obtain your library e-book to a pc after which add it to an e-reader, however with Kindles, your e-books are despatched straight to your machine with a click on.
And in case you had been a die-hard Kindle Oasis fan and are connected to page-turning buttons, chances are you’ll must stray from the Kindle line-up. Now, your greatest wager would be the Kobo Libra Color.
get free e-books on Kindle

With only a click on, switch your Libby e-book to your Kindle machine.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Your Libby e book will routinely populate in your Kindle library.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
One of the simplest ways to learn free e-books on a Kindle is with Libby. Libby means that you can borrow e-books by libraries, and all you want is a library card. By the Libby app, borrow books after which choose the “learn with Kindle” possibility, which lets you ship these e-books to your Kindle library.
An alternative choice for locating free e-books is thru Stuff Your Kindle occasions. These are author-driven occasions that supply limited-time offers on e-books, typically making them closely discounted or completely free.
benefit from your Kindle
By our testing and day by day use, we have spent quite a lot of time with Kindles, studying how one can benefit from them. We have written extensively on all of the methods to maximise your Kindle, so be sure you flick through our guides and explainers:
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