We’ve reviewed all the major Kindles and e-readers for years, and our favorite e-reader and best Kindle overall is the basic Kindle Paperwhite. Truly the ideal model for most, it has a bigger and better display than before, plus USB-C charging and longer battery life. But what if you want physical buttons, or don’t want to spend over $100? Read on for our expert guide to the best Kindles on the market. We’ve also pulled together the best e-book reader apps for those who want to read on more than just an e-reader (though these screens are easier on your eyes). And for your Kindle? Check out our tips for how to get free ebooks.
The best Kindles you can buy today
Small changes lead to great products staying great, and such is the case with the new Kindle Paperwhite (2021). It’s got the same basic look as previous Kindles and Kindle Paperwhite models, a matte black shell and an e-ink screen, but this time it’s larger, with a 6.8-inch panel. The bezels are also smaller, so the device didn’t have to grow too much to accommodate the growth from a 6-inch panel. While it’s still a super-sharp 300-ppi display, it’s now supported by an array of 17 LED backlights, for incredibly even lighting. And it’s still got a great waterproofing (IPX8-rated) protection. After the larger display, the big change this year is the move from microUSB charging to USB-C. It’s a welcome change if only for the reversible port. Faster charging doesn’t appear to be on the table, but the microUSB port has been around for way too long, and is often fragile, so we’re happy to see it go. The Paperwhite costs slightly more than half as much as the $250 Kindle Oasis, coming in at $139 ($10 more than in previous years). That said, it’s gained one of the Oasis’ once unique features: display warmth. Our testing of the Paperwhite 2021’s waterproofing included a 20 minute bath in our sink. It worked just as well as it did before when we took it out. The Kindle’s front-facing lighting finally brings it closer to parity with the Paperwhite. We’re guessing most bookworms also like to read in the dark and may not want to disturb a sleeping partner by turning on a bedroom light. Overall, this is the best Kindle for those on a budget, as well as those voracious readers who would rather spend on books themselves, and not hardware. Now that some folks are moving from physical books, these things don’t grow on trees anymore. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition can be charged via Qi-based wireless chargers, plus its backlighting is automatically-adjusting. Plus, 4x as much storage and no on-screen ads. Not all of those features may be huge for everyone, but we’re betting at least one is interesting for all. But at $189, it’s a pretty pricey tablet. It’s sitting right between the normal Paperwhite and the Oasis, and a good option if you have the money. The Oasis’s curved back and physical buttons give you an easier way to get a grip and a way to read your book without tapping the screen. While the Oasis is the best Kindle for those who can splurge, we just wish it didn’t cost nearly twice as much as the Kindle Paperwhite. It’s the Kindle with more effort put into its design, losing the simple and utilitarian aesthetic of the regular Kindle and the Paperwhite. Read our full Nook GlowLight 4 review.
How to choose the best Kindle for you
Let’s start with your budget, as that’s the easiest way to make this call. If you’re running tight right now, the $90 Kindle is a solid recommendation. Its lighting is good enough for a handful of situations and its battery life is nothing to sneeze at. If money is no option, then you’re going to be choosing between the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Oasis, and this is sort of tough. If you prefer your devices to be built with a harder plastic, that still feels reliable, then you’ve probably got the Paperwhite in mind. It offers the same water resistance as the Oasis, and is similar in many regards. But if you’re tired of futzing with menus, and changing brightness, you will probably want the Kindle Oasis. Its display automatically adjusts to ambient lighting situations, maybe its best unique feature overall — as its metallic, not-symmetrical design is a bit divisive in our office.
How we test Kindles and e-readers
To start, we read a lot on these Kindles. We don’t just do that to see how much battery life is drained in a set of time (and to then compare against the estimations these manufacturers provide), but to discover what we like and don’t like about a given Kindle. We then keep reading. At home, on the bus, in the park and anywhere else where the lighting changes. In addition to evaluating e-readers’ size, weight, claimed battery life and design choices, we test their brightness using our light meter. The experience of reading on the device also plays a huge role in these reviews. For instance, we look at the intuitiveness of the interface, the size of the available library and how well the special features (such as web browsers or dictionaries) work.
