Which is the best Kindle for you? A comprehensive guide to Amazon’s E-readers

Sit back, relax and dive into the world of eBooks.

Best Kindles

by Arabella Horspool |
Updated on

There’s nothing quite like diving into a good book, whether you’re on holiday or simply craving a quiet afternoon, a Kindle makes for the perfect escape. Since their release, e-readers and Kindles have evolved and become highly favoured amongst readers longing for a wider choice of books.

Kindles are now available at many different price points and allow readers access to an array of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers via their super easy to use Kindle bookstore. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can access a selection of free reads with Prime reading, and if that’s not enough, the Kindle Unlimited subscription unlocks thousands upon thousands of books to choose from, leaving you spoilt for choice!

The best Kindles to buy at a glance:

Best for a thin Kindle: Kindle Paperwhite - Buy now on Amazon UK
Best for a large Kindle: Kindle Oasis - Buy now on Amazon UK
Best Kindle for making notes: Kindle Scribe - Buy now on Amazon UK
Best Kindle for audiobooks: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition - Buy now on Amazon UK

So, if you’re in the mood for a romantic novel, a gripping, page-turning drama or even an inspirational book, the choices are endless.

Amazingly long battery life, great storage and effective anti-glare screens are just some of the things you can expect from a Kindle, but which one should you go for? Take a look at our guide on all things Kindle.

Kindle Oasis in the sun
Kindle Oasis in the sun ©Yours Features & Reviews Editor, Emily Gilbert

The best Kindles UK 2024

Prime Day deal

Kindle ScribeAmazon
Price: $274.99 (Was £409.99)

If you like to make notes as you read, you can now do this on the Kindle Scribe! It comes with a pen and digital notebook for you to write or doodle in, and you can also import documents to scribble over. To make your notes neater, you can convert them to typed text and share them with others on the Kindle app.

Just like other Kindles, you can access plenty of reading material and millions of titles. It isn't the cheapest Kindle out there, but most of the users say that it's definitely worth the money for the features you get. One said "The scribe is just my absolute favourite device. I have owned multiple kindles over the years and am a true convert after being sure that I would only ever read from an actual book. The scribe is a priceless upgrade from any kindles, books, or notepads."

The large display significantly enhances reading comfort, as it features a soft, adjustable backlight and the option to increase warmth, which can help to reduce eye strain at night. Also it has a big screen, and the text size still allows you to see an entire page of the book, unlike previous Kindles, which could only fit a few words per page.

Pros

  • Comes with a 'pen' to draw and write handwritten notes
  • Large reading screen

Cons

  • You can’t write in the margins of the books
Capacity:16, 32 or 64GB
Battery life:12 weeks
Dimensions:196 x 229 x 5.8 mm
Weight:433g
  • Front-lit display
  • Sticky-notes

Prime Day deal

Kindle Paperwhite Signature EditionAmazon
Price: $149.99 (Was £179.99)

In comparison to the original Kindle Paperwhite, the Signature Edition has more storage space, so you can download more audiobooks or titles to read. Those that have an Audible subscription can go hands-free and connect to Bluetooth to listen to the audio stories.

Many customers are grateful for the fact that you can effortlessly switch between dark and light mode to cater to different reading environments. The screen is also glare-free, which is brilliant for those who love to relax in the garden and read in the sun.

You also have the option to charge it wirelessly, (through a wireless charger which is sold separately) which makes it highly portable!

Pros

  • Big storage capacity, perfect for downloading titles and audiobooks
  • Option to charge wirelessly

Cons

  • Page turn speed can be slow, according to some users
Capacity:32 GB
Battery life:Up to 10 weeks
Dimensions:174 x 125 x 8.1 mm
Weight:207g
  • Bluetooth accessibility
  • 300 ppi glare-free display

Tested

Best for a large Kindle

Kindle OasisFeatures & Reviews Editor, Emily Gilbert, Yours.co.uk

Rrp: $269.99

Price: $135.00

The Kindle Oasis takes the eBook experience to another level. This model is the largest of the Kindle range, with a seven-inch screen making reading even more enjoyable. If that's not enough, you can adjust the screen colour on this Kindle from white to amber.

My immediate attention was caught by the fact that one half of the Kindle Oasis is much thicker (8.4mm) than the other (3.4mm), providing readers with a ridge to hold with one hand. Although the display is bigger than some of the other Kindles at 7 inches diagonally, I wouldn't consider it to be oversized and was pleased that it fit neatly into my compact handbag.

It's lightweight too, weighing just 188g. The metal build of the Kindle Oasis adds a touch of luxury and makes the whole product feel a lot more robust.

The Oasis also introduces a great automated light feature whereby the brightness changes to suit the lighting conditions. If you need some me-time, this Kindle is waterproof, making it the perfect companion in the bath.

Tested by our Features & Reviews Editor, Emily Gilbert; read her full review of the Kindle Oasis.

Pros

  • Adjustable screen colour
  • Waterproof material

Cons

  • No speaker/headphone jack to plug in your earphones
Capacity:8 or 32GB
Battery life:Up to 6 weeks
Dimensions:159 x 141 x 3.4-8.4 mm
Weight:188g
  • Page-turn buttons
  • Optional free 4G access

Best for a thin Kindle

If you plan on building an extensive collection of books or magazines, then the Kindle Paperwhite is a great option to go for, as this version is available in 8GB or 32GB, so it'll save you plenty of space on shelves. It's lightweight too (hence the name 'Paperwhite'), making it perfect for traveeling.

This Kindle is lightweight and includes features like highlighting and translations. Many users love that it can be paired with their Audible account for the ultimate listening experience. Plus, the good news is that if you take this away on holiday for some poolside reading, this model is waterproof.

Another standout feature is the dark mode, which users have pointed out is perfect for low-light environments and times when you want to read but your partner is asleep and you don't want to disturb them by turning on a lamp.

Pros

  • Lightweight and thin, therefore portable and easy to hold
  • Can pair it with headphones to listen to the text (like an audiobook)

Cons

  • Reviews are mixed on battery life, with some saying that it's very short and others praising it
Capacity:16GB
Battery life:Around 28 hours
Dimensions:174 x 125 x 8.1 mm
Weight:205g
  •  Available in 8GB or 32GB
  • Optional free 4G access

Best Kindle for kids

The Kindle Kids Edition has been tailored perfectly for younger readers. Much like the original Kindle, this model has a glare-free display and weeks of battery life making this perfect for any long trip.

Parents and grandparents may welcome the news that this Kindle allows for zero distractions with no games, ads or videos, just reading. With thousands of great titles to choose from with Amazon Kids+, this Kindle has 16GB of memory to accommodate books with images and audiobooks.

Customers do say that it isn't simple to switch between users, but they are impressed by the additional features that can help children to expand their knowledge and get the, reading more, with one saying: "He also loves the dictionary function and it really encourages him to stop and make sure he understands what he’s reading if it’s a slightly difficult text. He loves to check and marvel at how many hours/pages he’s spent reading and feels proud of himself."

Pros

  • Waterproof with a kid-proof cover to prevent it from getting damaged
  • Includes an OpenDyslexic font, which users with this condition may find easier to read

Cons

  • Can be fiddly to switch between multiple users
Capcacity:8 or 16GB
Battery life:Up to 10 weeks
Dimensions:129.2 x 175.5 x 13.5 mm
Weight:321GB
  • Includes 1-year of Amazon Kids+
  • OpenDyslexic font

Kindle comparison

Kindle comparison
©Amazon/Yours.co.uk

Kindle Oasis VS Paperwhite

The paperwhite has a smaller but thinner screen, and it's also marginally heavier. It's more portable too and the touchscreen is easy to use. However, it's easier to turn the pages on the Kindle Oasis as it's more tactile. Generally speaking, the Oasis also has a longer battery life.

What’s the difference between ‘with ads’ and ‘without ads’?

You may notice that some Kindles include the option of ‘with ads’ or ‘without ads’. The default ‘with ads’ setting is the cheaper option, but what is the difference?

Essentially, opting for your device to have ads means that your lock screen will display advertisements, however, this does not affect the function of the device. Alternatively, you can opt out of this option for a slightly higher cost.

What is Kindle Unlimited?

Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service by Amazon that allows users to access over one million eBooks and thousands of audiobooks. For lighter reading, you can also access a vast collection of magazines and comics. Much like a library, you will be able to borrow up to 10 books at a time.

Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.

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