What’s the Best Kindle of 2026? (So Far)

The Best Kindles to Take Your Library Anywhere Featured in this article There’s a lot to love about a Kindle if you’re a reader. If you’re looking for the best Kindle, you really can’t go wrong with any of the models. These Amazon-powered ebook readers let you bring thousands of books anywhere and typically get a month of battery life per charge. You can subscribe to get unlimited books from Amazon or get free books from your local library. Our guide will help you decode the differences to find which Kindle is right for you. I've owned all kinds of Kindles, from the newest Kindle Scribes to hand-me-down base Kindles without a front light. The latter came from a friend who noticed I had spent my entire postpartum summer glued to library books on my phone, and I still have it to this day. But after trying all of the latest Kindles, I can say it's easy to spot the best one. Read on to find out my favorite overall Kindle and my favorite Kindles for specific uses and younger readers. You can also check out my other buying guides made for readers like me, including the Best Kindle Accessories, Best E-Readers, Best Digital Notebooks, and Best Gifts for Book Lovers. Updated June 2026: I've added notes about the Kindle Scribe Without Front Light and a section in our FAQ explaining which older Kindles have lost Amazon support. I've also ensured up-to-date links and prices. - Comparing Our Favorite Kindles - What About the New Kindle Scribes? - Accessories for Easier Reading - Best Kindle Cases and Covers - Great Reading Lights - About Those Older Kindles - Which Kindle Models Lost Amazon Support and Kindle Store Access? - What’s the Best Way to Buy or Sell an Older Kindle? - How Do You Get Free Ebooks on a Kindle? - Do All Kindles Have Dark Mode? - What Else Can a Kindle Do? - How Do You Update a Kindle? - Is This a Good Time to Buy a Kindle? Comparing Our Favorite Kindles | Model | Display | Resolution | Color? | Storage | Weight | Battery life | Waterproof | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 12th Gen) | 7 inches, adjustable warm light | 300 pixels per inch (ppi) | No | 16 GB | 7.4 ounces | Up to 12 weeks | Yes, IPX8 | | Kindle Scribe (2024, 2nd Gen) | 10.2 inches, adjustable warm light, auto-adjusting front light | 300 ppi | No | 16, 32, or 64 GB | 15.3 ounces | Up to 12 weeks | No | | Kindle Colorsoft (2025) | 7 inches, adjustable warm light | 300 ppi (Black-and-White), 150 ppi (Color) | Yes | 16 GB | 7.6 ounces | Up to 8 weeks | Yes, IPX8 | | Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2024) | 7 inches, adjustable warm light, auto-adjusting front light | 300 ppi (B&W), 150 ppi (Color) | Yes | 32 GB | 7.7 ounces | Up to 8 weeks | Yes, IPX8 | | Kindle Colorsoft Kids (2025) | 7 inches, adjustable warm light | 300 ppi (B&W), 150 ppi (Color) | Yes | 16 GB | 11.8 ounces | Up to 8 weeks | Yes, IPX8 | | Kindle (2024, 11th Gen) | 6 inches, adjustable front light | 300 ppi | No | 16 GB | 5.56 ounces | Up to 6 weeks | No | What About the New Kindle Scribes? Kindle has three new Kindle Scribes that launched between late 2025 and June 2026. There's 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, slightly slimmer form factor, and 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 the new ones have. 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. Accessories for Easier Reading If you've ever had a long reading session that gives you hand cramps, these accessories might help. You can check out more options in our Best Kindle Accessories guide. Cases and Covers 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 are some of the best Kindle cases I've found for daily protection from scratches and scuffs. Looking for more accessory ideas? Check out my guide to all of the best Kindle accessories. Also, don't forget that if the Kids' editions come with cases, so if you're buying one of those, you won't need a case. About Those Older Kindles Amazon doesn't release new Kindles often—the company usually takes a few years between models. Whenever a new one arrives, its predecessor's stock starts to dwindle. It's not that we don't recommend these per se, but I only suggest these if you can find them 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 this model, Amazon doubled the storage to 16 gigabytes and upgraded the display to 300 pixels per inch (PPI) resolution (up from 167 PPI). 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. We like the Signature Edition, which also includes auto-adjust brightness and 32 gigabytes of storage. Don't recommend spending more than $100 if you can find them. 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. 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. Don'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. FAQs 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: - Kindle 1st Generation - Kindle 2nd Generation - Kindle DX - Kindle DX Graphite - Kindle Keyboard (3rd Generation) - Kindle 4 - Kindle Touch - Kindle 5 - Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation What’s the Best Way to Buy or Sell an Older Kindle? Have an old Kindle lying around? Are you looking at a used one for sale? If you're trying to figure out what model it is, 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'll 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. These models include the Kindle 2nd Generation (International), Kindle DX International, Kindle DX Graphite, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle 4th Generation, and Kindle 5th Generation. 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 there are millions of titles there, 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. There are not as many options as with 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, 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 you should check out, but here are some of the takeaways: - Get a library card for your local branch. - Check your branch's website for its ebook offerings. Many libraries use a service called OverDrive. - Download directly to your Kindle library. They'll automatically be removed when they're due back. 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 can be loaned. What Else Can a Kindle Do? Kindles have helpful features you may want to take advantage of. 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 even 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 is connected 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 will 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 a web browser too 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. How Do You Update a Kindle? When Amazon releases a new software update, it will download and install to your Kindle automatically when it's 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 This a Good Time to Buy a Kindle? The best time to buy a Kindle is during a major sale event like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, because Amazon often has steep discounts. One of those events is coming up later this month: Amazon Prime Day, which will run from June 23 through June 26. Amazon has always had sales on some (if not all) of its Kindles on past Amazon Prime Day and similar events, like Amazon Big Deals Day in October 2025. You can also wait for other sale events if you're not ready to shop yet. Kindles are often on sale for Amazon's October sale event, along with Black Friday and Cyber Monday that will occur in late November. Other sales often happen from time to time, but these sale events have consistent Kindle deals, so they're a good time to wait for if you want a better price. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.