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If you’re a book lover who wants to give your library a high-tech upgrade, the Amazon Kindle is an obvious choice. Kindles are terrific companions for those who travel frequently or commute on public transportation. There’s also tremendous appeal in being able to sit at home and browse through an entire bookstore on a device where you can also purchase and read your selections. With six versions of the ebook reader, not to mention Amazon’e Fire tablets, the company has something for everyone. But how do you know which Kindle is best for you or a lucky gift recipient? Whether you’re new to Kindles and eReaders in general or are a tech-savvy reader who’s looking to upgrade, here’s what each Kindle brings to the table.
Recommended by Our Editors
For Readers on a Budget
The Kindle is Amazon’s base eReader model. It has the same resolution as the rest of the Kindle lineup (300ppi) and at 16GB, twice the memory of its predecessor. It also has an adjustable front light and dark mode. The base model comes with “special offers,” meaning ads appear as its screensaver. To get rid of those ads, you have to pay $20 more. For those who want an easy way to read ebooks, the Kindle is a thin, light, and affordable option. Just keep it away from the ocean or tub, because it’s not waterproof.
Amazon Kindle Review
For Readers Who Want More Bells and Whistles
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite got a revamp in 2021 with a bigger display, which means more words per page. It comes in 8GB and 16GB versions. Unlike the basic Kindle, the Paperwhite is waterproof, has a flush front, and features a 17-LED system that adjusts from blue-white to yellow for more comfortable reading in the dark.
For Readers Who Need More Storage
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition adds 32GB of storage, wireless charging, and auto-adjusting lights. In our review, though, we found that none of these changes significantly improves the ebook reader experience, so most people will be perfectly happy with the regular Paperwhite.
For Notetakers
Some readers love to scribble in the margins of books, underline passages, and generally make the written word their own. If these same readers also happen to love digital books, now they don’t have to choose. The $339 Amazon Kindle Scribe is, at 10 inches, the largest Kindle you can buy and lets you handwrite notes in (and out of) ebooks. It can be purchased with the Basic Pen, or for $30 more, the Premium Pen, which adds an eraser and a shortcut button.
Amazon Kindle Scribe Review
For Younger Readers
Amazon Kindle Kids (2022 Release)
No matter your age, the Amazon Kindle Kids is a terrific value for anyone. This latest model got an upgrade to a higher-resolution screen and 16GB of memory, twice that of its predecessor. For $119.99, you get a base model without ads; a cute, kid-friendly case; a two-year, no-questions-asked warranty; and a year of Amazon Kids+. One caveat: the Kindle Kids is not waterproof.
Amazon Kindle Kids (2022 Release) Review
For Kids Who Like to Make a Splash
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids
There’s enough to worry about when you’re a parent. So if you want to get a serious eReader for your kids, but you don’t want to have to shell out serious cash if it gets wet, then the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids is the answer. Unlike the basic Kindle Kids model, it has adjustable warm lighting, a flush-front design, and is waterproof. Like the Kindle Kids, it comes with a two-year repair-and-replacement guarantee and a year of Amazon Kids+.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids Review
For Tablet Fans in Search of Rock-Bottom Prices
If E Ink isn’t your thing, consider Amazon’s Fire tablets. The Fire 7 is the most affordable way to access ebooks and other media, but for reading purposes, you’ll notice some pixelation, at 171ppi. It comes in 16GB and 32GB models (the 32GB is $20 more), and it has a microSD memory card slot for more storage and hands-free Alexa support.
Amazon Fire 7 Tablet (2022 Release) Review
For Video Playback and Zoom
The base model 8-inch Fire HD 8 tablet retails for a very reasonable $59.99, has a 30% faster processor than the last model, and runs for up to 13 hours on a single charge. As we note in our review, “It won’t wow you, but it doesn’t need to.”The more powerful Fire HD 8 Plus model ($69.99) offers even more improvements. Both feature 1,280-by-800 189ppi displays and hexa-core 2.0 GHz CPUs. The Plus has 3GB of RAM, compared with 2GB on the base model, and can charge in 3 hours.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022 Release) Review
For Big-Screen Streaming at a Low Price
Amazon’s Fire HD 10 is one of our picks for best Android tablets. Starting at $139, the latest version costs less than its predecessor. The HD 10 comes in 32GB and 64GB models and you can turn add up to 1TB of storage with a microSD card. The battery life is 13 hours. The HD 10 comes in Black, Lilac, and Ocean.
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) Review
For Productivity
The Amazon Fire Max 11 is Amazon’s largest and priciest tablet, though it’s still a bargain over other brands. As its name suggests, it’s an 11-inch tablet. This is the model to get if you want a sharp screen, as it has 2,000-by-1,200-pixel resolution and 213ppi pixel density. You can choose from 64GB or 128GB of storage and add up to 1TB of memory with a microSD card. Battery life is 14 hours. The Fire Max 11 comes in just one color, gray, with a premium aluminum build that puts it ahead of the rest of the Fire lineup. If you’re using it for work, you can purchase a productivity bundle that consists of a keyboard and stylus.
Amazon Fire Max 11 Review
For Kids Who Need Digital Supervision
Amazon Fire Kids Editions
If you’re shopping for your kids, Amazon offers three Fire Kids tablets for children ages 3 to 7 and three Fire Kids Pro tablets for ages 6 to 12. They sport 7-, 8-, or 10-inch screens, come in kid-friendly cases, and are loaded with age-appropriate content; the Kids Pro tablets have more advanced digital content for older children.
Load Up Your Kindle With (Free) Ebooks
(Credit: PCMag)
Your Kindle isn’t just restricted to obtaining books from Amazon. Here’s where to get free ebooks, and here’s how to manage your books and devices to keep them all in order.
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