What's the Best Kindle of 2026? (So Far) | WIRED

Overview

Our favorite overall Kindle is the 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite (

Check out our many other buying guides, including the Best Kindle Accessories, Best E-Readers, Best Fire Tablets, Best Digital Notebooks, Best Tablets, and Best Alexa Speakers.

Details

Updated March 2026: I've added the Lamicall Tablet Pillow Stand, Strapsicle Clear Case, and Moko Blue Twill Case as recommended accessories, and ensured up-to-date links and prices.

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

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

The Best Kindle Photograph: Nena Farrell Photograph: Nena Farrell Courtesy of Amazon Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 12th Generation)

You came here to find out one thing: What is the best Kindle? The Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon's most popular Kindle and our favorite after testing every model, thanks to its great range of features. You'll get a large display with high resolution and warm lighting, and the technology inside has a fast and smooth performance. Amazon launched the 12th-generation Paperwhite in late 2024, and it's been our new favorite ever since. Whether you want to read more or are tired of carrying physical books, all the extra features are worth the price. The basic Kindle may seem enticing, especially with the fun new colors it offers, but the Paperwhite will serve you better in the long run, especially if you're a nighttime reader like I am. The warm lighting is a great option on the eyes before bed.

If you already have a Paperwhite, the update isn't so major that you need to upgrade to the newest model, but it's the best to choose if you're shopping for a brand-new Kindle. You'll get a slightly larger screen and the highest contrast ratio on any Kindle, not just of the Paperwhites. The battery life also increased from two months to three months, and it has the thinnest form factor yet. 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 gigabytes. The regular Paperwhite is more than enough and easily one of the best Kindles to buy, but if you plan on buying the model without lock-screen ads, you may as well pay the extra $20 for the Signature Edition.

7 inches, adjustable warm light (Paperwhite); Auto-adjusting front light (Signature Edition)

7.4 ounces (Paperwhite) | 7.55 ounces (Signature Edition)

Up to 12 weeks; USB-C (both models), Wireless charging (Signature Edition)

The Best Kindle for Note-Taking Photograph: Nena Farrell Photograph: Nena Farrell Courtesy of AmazonVideo: Nena Farrell Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Amazon Kindle Scribe (2nd Gen, 2024)

If you're looking for a Kindle for note-taking and reading, you’ll want the second-generation Kindle Scribe. The 2024 version has the same 10.2-inch (300 ppi) paperlike display as the first iteration, but it has a white border for a more notebook-style look, and the new Premium Pen is not only included but also has a soft-tipped eraser at the end. Personally, this is my most-used Kindle because I love to scribble notes and ideas all day long. While I don't have as many options and layouts as I would on a true digital notebook, the Kindle Scribe still offers a handful of options to help me free up most of the ideas jumbling around in my brain.

The second-gen Scribe also packs new software capabilities. Active Canvas lets you write directly in the book you're reading, though it won't work like true annotation—instead, the notes will appear in a small square on the screen like a Post-It note. That means it'll always be there if you resize the screen, but it didn't feel as natural as our testers would've liked. There's now Expandable Margins as well that let you write notes in the side panel of books, which feels a little more intuitive, 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 will quickly summarize 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. These new software features can be downloaded onto first-generation Kindle Scribes if you already have one, or you can wait for an over-the-air update to hit your device.

There's now a color version out that will ship in January, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft (

I actually still prefer the second-gen model from 2024

10.2 inches, adjustable warm light, auto-adjusting front light

Has a digital notebook section so you can switch between reading books and writing notes

Included stylus, with comfortable and smooth writing experience

Notes can be accessed on the Kindle app if you leave your Scribe behind

Bigger size that isn't as convenient to carry or hold up as smaller Kindles

The Colorful Kindles Photograph: Nena Farrell Photograph: Nena Farrell Courtesy of Amazon Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Amazon Kindle Colorsoft and Colorsoft Signature Edition

Kindle Colorsoft and Colorsoft Signature Edition

Amazon now has two versions of its colorful Kindle. There's the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, which came out last year and was Amazon's first-ever model with a color screen, and now there's a basic Kindle Colorsoft. It competes with colorful models we’ve already seen from Kobo and Boox, so while it’s new for Amazon, it’s not new in the world of e-readers. 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 has also been changed to include nitride LEDs, which enhance color and increase brightness.

The Colorsoft Signature has a few extra features, but it also comes with a higher price tag. You'll get 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 just

The only downside to switching to color? No official dark mode, though it's not gone entirely. In the Quick Actions menu, you can switch the page color to black for a similar experience while you read a book, though the Kindle's menus will remain in the regular light mode. This only works on true books—if you like to add stories and files manually to your Kindle with an AZW3 or PDF file, you won't be able to change the page color.

There's also now a Colorsoft version of the Kindle Scribe, but it's much more expensive. You can find more details on that and the other new Kindle Scribe model below.

more details on that and the other new Kindle Scribe model below.

Note: 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 yet run into this issue while testing the Colorsoft, Colorsoft Signature, or Scribe Colorsoft.

making the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices

7 inches, adjustable warm light (Colorsoft) | auto-adjusting front light (Colorsoft Signature)

No; can turn book pages black, but no full dark more

300 ppi (Black-and-White), 150 ppi (Color) (both models)

7.6 ounces (Colorsoft) | 7.7 ounches (Colorsoft Signature)

Up to 8 weeks; USB-C (both models) and wireless charging (Colorsoft Signature only)

Colorsoft Signature Edition has extra features like wireless charging and an auto-adjusting front light

Would be nice if more features were added for the price difference between this and the Paperwhite

The Best Kindle for Kids Photograph: Nena Farrell Photograph: Nena Farrell Photograph: Nena Farrell Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Kids

I’m a parent of a young kid, and the books in our house are very, very colorful. We're still getting started on reading, but pulling up a book on the colorful Colosoft Kids is a much more fun experience than a black-and-white option. The color makes everything more engaging: The bookshelf of your books! The options to choose from on Kids+! The pages in the illustrated books themselves! Having a colorful option is something a lot of users want, but I think kids of all ages have the best chance of really getting the most use out of it. They can enjoy everything from picture books to graphic novels with full-page color, and add colorful highlights to 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 (there's both a basic Kids (

Colors are muted compared to printed children's books

The Cheapest Kindle Photograph: Nena Farrell Courtesy of Amazon Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Amazon Kindle (2024, 11th Generation)$110 Amazon If you're looking for something lightweight and affordable, Amazon's 11th-generation Kindle is your best bet. It was updated in 2024 and builds upon the 2022 update that added more storage, a higher-resolution screen, and USB-C charging. The 2024 model has a few nice updates, including a higher-contrast-ratio screen, a brighter front light, and a faster page-turning rate. You still won't get a warm lighting feature, so if you want that, you'll have to upgrade to the Paperwhite or Colorsoft. But otherwise, you'll still get dark mode on this device (unlike the Colorsoft) and a snappy overall performance and nice screen brightness for the price point. Former WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar said the performance was a big improvement over the 2019 Kindle model she was previously using. If you have room to spend a little more, we still prefer the Paperwhite, since you'll also get a longer battery life and a waterproof build, along with the warm lighting, but this is a great Kindle for the price. Display 6 inches, adjustable front light Dark Mode Yes Resolution 300 pixels per inch (ppi)Storage 16 GBWeight 5.56 ounces Battery / Charging Up to 6 weeks; USB-CWaterproof No WIRED/TIREDAccordion Item Container Button Large Chevron WIREDSmall, lightweight, and affordable. Fun colors, too! Definite performance improvement over previous iteration Storage has doubled since last model, and now has USB-C charging TIREDNo warm lighting option, or auto-adjusting light

If you're looking for something lightweight and affordable, Amazon's 11th-generation Kindle is your best bet. It was updated in 2024 and builds upon the 2022 update that added more storage, a higher-resolution screen, and USB-C charging. The 2024 model has a few nice updates, including a higher-contrast-ratio screen, a brighter front light, and a faster page-turning rate.

You still won't get a warm lighting feature, so if you want that, you'll have to upgrade to the Paperwhite or Colorsoft. But otherwise, you'll still get dark mode on this device (unlike the Colorsoft) and a snappy overall performance and nice screen brightness for the price point. Former WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar said the performance was a big improvement over the 2019 Kindle model she was previously using. If you have room to spend a little more, we still prefer the Paperwhite, since you'll also get a longer battery life and a waterproof build, along with the warm lighting, but this is a great Kindle for the price.

Small, lightweight, and affordable. Fun colors, too!

Definite performance improvement over previous iteration

Storage has doubled since last model, and now has USB-C charging

10.2 inches, adjustable warm light, auto-adjusting front light

7 inches, adjustable warm light, auto-adjusting front light

Kindle Scribe Colorsoft and Kindle Scribe (3rd Gen)

I got to test two of Amazon's new Kindles, the Kindle Scribe (

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 also has AI capabilities and will get the same updated home page next year, so you really don't need to upgrade. I'm also disappointed that these cost so much; for the price of the Scribe Colorsoft, you could get the more powerful re Markable Paper Pro, which also has a color screen but can double as an e-paper tablet and almost laptop with its keyboard accessories.

There's a base model Kindle Scribe without the front light ($430) due out this year, but as someone who loves to read in the dark, I don't love this concept. We'll see how I feel once it arrives; this guide will be updated with testing notes once it's available.

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.

This pillow stand holder can stand 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.

If you're looking for something to hold up your Kindle but will clamp onto something around you, like your bed frame or a table, this gooseneck tablet holder does a great job. It's 3 feet tall, and has plenty of length to work in all kinds of spots.

This soft silicone strap hooks onto the ends of a Kindle (or other e-reader) without any adhesive needed, and 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 Pop Sockets Pop Grips are handy to add to Kindles so you can easily grip your device, but you will need to use an adhesive, add a Mag Safe adapter, or grab a Mag Safe Kindle case so you can attach it. There are a ton of fun designs, and you can even customize your own like my custom WIRED Pop Grip.

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.

This sturdy clear case has reinforced corners if you're a chronic dropper. The corners didn't keep accessories from working with the device, but they did give a Kindle a thicker feel than with the Strapsicle or Pop Sockets cases.

This sleek case is smoother and slimmer, but doesn't feel like it slacks on the protection front.

If you're looking for a full cover and a strap, this has it all. This case only comes in blue, but it will fully cover the front of your Kindle, and 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.

Pop Sockets came out with its own line of Kindle cases that have a built-in Mag Safe adapter, so you can more easily add your Pop Socket grip of choice to it. There are matching sets of cases and grips you can shop, or mix-and-match as you please.

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 we only suggest these if you can find them on sale for the right price. Otherwise, we recommend buying the latest version.

Before making your purchase, cross-check the price with the latest model to make sure you're spending a fair amount less on 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.

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.

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:

Check your branch's website for its ebook offerings. Many libraries use a service called Over Drive.

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.

Dark mode is a big appeal of any e-reader, whether it's a Kindle or another brand. And just about all models have it now that most e-readers include a front light. (Older Kindles don't always have one, so if you're getting an older refurbished one, double-check it.) However, one new model doesn't have a true dark mode: the Colorsoft. The Colorsoft can't have a full dark mode due to its screen design, according to Amazon, but instead you can switch the page color to black in the Quick Actions menu. It's not the same, though, especially if you are reading something that isn't a regular book (like a file sent to your Kindle) or want the menu pages to also be dark, you're out of luck.

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 Open Dyslexic 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, Voice View 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.

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.

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. Both Amazon Prime Day (and Amazon Big Deals Day, which it named the 2025 October sale event) has passed, along with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We'll keep an eye out for winter and spring sales, but these events are usually good to aim for if you want an on-sale Kindle.

Amazon refreshed its line of Kindles just last year, and already launched a few new Kindle Colorsoft and Kindle Scribe models this year. While there's one more new Kindle Scribe device due out next year, the current lineup is overall great to shop.

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Key Takeaways

• Our favorite overall Kindle is the 12th-generation Kindle Paperwhite ($160), which was just updated back in October 2024, along with the rest of Amazon's line of devices
• Check out our many other buying guides, including the Best Kindle Accessories, Best E-Readers, Best Fire Tablets, Best Digital Notebooks, Best Tablets, and Best Alexa Speakers
• Updated March 2026: I've added the Lamicall Tablet Pillow Stand, Strapsicle Clear Case, and Moko Blue Twill Case as recommended accessories, and ensured up-to-date links and prices
• What’s the Best Way to Buy or Sell an Older Kindle
• What’s the Best Way to Buy or Sell an Older Kindle