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

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We love Kindles here at WIRED. They’re simple, reliable, and perfect at what they do. If you’re looking for the best Kindle, you really can’t go wrong. These ebook readers can 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.

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. It has it all, from a great resolution and the highest contrast ratio on any Kindle to warm lighting while you read at night. The only thing it's missing is color, which you can now get in the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition ($280). I'm also a big fan of the second-generation Kindle Scribe ($400), which packs the biggest Kindle screen and doubles as a digital notebook, and the Kindle Colorsoft Kids ($270) is my favorite option for kids, especially if they like illustrated books and graphic novels. Looking for colorful options or the best cheap model? Read on to find out everything we recommend and have tested.

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.

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?

I got to test two of Amazon's new Kindles, the Kindle Scribe ($500) and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft ($630), before they shipped to the public. Both have a similar look, though the Scribe Colorsoft has a color screen and a shorter battery life (only eight weeks of reading time, compared with 12 weeks for the black-and-white Scribes). Both 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 and have a new homepage, will support a variety of AI features including AI search (along with some AI tools for summarizing books you're reading without giving spoilers, but those won't arrive until next year). Users can connect to Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive to mark up documents.

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 reMarkable Paper Pro, which also has a color screen but can double as an e-paper tablet and almost laptop with its keyboard 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. 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.

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 we only suggest these if you can find them on sale for the right price.

Kindle (2022, 11th Generation): This is the smallest of the lot at 6.2 inches tall. It's tough to find, and I usually don't see it for less than $75 these days.

Kindle Paperwhite (2021, 11th Generation): It has a bright 6.8-inch screen with adjustable warm lighting. 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's only worth it for $230 or less.

FAQs

How Do You Get Free Ebooks on a Kindle? You can subscribe to get unlimited books from Amazon or get free books from your local library using apps like Libby.

Do All Kindles Have Dark Mode? Yes, most modern Kindles released in the last few years support Dark Mode for easier reading in low light.

Is This a Good Time to Buy a Kindle? With the 12th-gen models and Colorsoft technology now mature, early 2026 is an excellent time to invest in a new e-reader.