Which Kindle to Buy? [Recommendation for Every Scenario!]

Amazon’s Kindle is arguably the most well-known ereader currently on the market; and for a good reason! Kindle comes with a number of different models at varying price points making it a suitable option for almost every type of a reader!

However, choosing which Kindle to buy can become a daunting task especially if you don’t understand the differences in the various models. 

That said, not everyone enjoys reading all the tech specs and the real-world performance differences between the various Kindle models.

Thus, instead of you giving you the exact differences between the different Kindle models, in this article we will be giving our recommendation on which Kindle to choose based on your specific use case!

1. Kindle That is the Most Value for Money [Kindle Paperwhite]

When you plan to get the Kindle that gets the best bang for your buck, you need to make sure it comes with a good form factor, screen size shouldn’t be small, should have a decent storage capacity, and ideally should also be water resistant.

While there are multiple Kindle variants that will provide you these features, however, the most value for money Kindle is the Kindle Paperwhite.

Here are some of the key reasons I think it is the most value for money:

2. Kindle With Best Battery Life

Kindles are known to have a great battery life! Most Kindles can easily last a few weeks on a single charge! That said, the battery life of a Kindle can vary anywhere between 4 weeks to 12 weeks depending on your usage, model, purpose of use, and other factors.

However, when it comes to the Kindle with the best battery life, Kindle Scribe comes with upto 12 weeks of life on a single charge! Having said that, not everyone will need to use the additional features that Kindle Scribe has to offer. Furthermore, the price of Kindle Scribe may not be suitable for everyone.

Thus, if you are looking for Kindle for just reading purposes, I’d highly recommend choosing Kindle Paperwhite. It comes with upto 10 weeks of battery backup on a single charge. This can vary based on your usage.

3. Best Kindle for Beginners [Basic Kindle]

If you are just starting your journey of reading books, then the best Kindle to choose is the all-new basic Kindle.

Some of the advantages and the features of the basic Kindle model are as follows:

However, it is important to know that the basic Kindle does not have adjustable warm lights, and comes with only 4 front screen LED lights. Furthermore, it is not water resistant (may not be a big issue depending on your usage). Lastly, the screen size feels a bit too small and the battery is not really good enough.

That said, if you just want to experience reading ebooks on a Kindle or if you want someone to start their Kindle journey, it is a great place to start!

Overall, the basic Kindle can give a decent reading experience. Plus, it is the most affordable of all the Kindle variants the its price is usually 40-60% cheaper than the next variant!

4. Best Kindle for Your Kids [Kindle Paperwhite Kids]

Encouraging kids to read books is a great way to develop their curiosity and even make them more creative!

However, when giving gadgets to kids, it is important to be aware that the device is more prone to falling, getting scratched or even breaking! This is where the kids variant of the Kindle comes in useful!

Amazon offers two Kindle options for kids: Kindle Kids and Kindle Paperwhite Kids. Based on my experience, I’d highly recommend considering the Kindle Paperwhite Kids option.

Here are some of the benefits of Kindle Paperwhite Kids over the standard Kindle:

Although the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is usually slightly more expensive than the standard Kindle Paperwhite, however, the 1-year Amazon Kids+ subscription more than tilts the cost benefit in favor of Kindle Paperwhite Kids. Plus, you get additional protection as the device cover is included along with a 2 year worry free device warranty!

5. Best Kindle for Outdoor Reading [Kindle Oasis]

Almost all Kindle variants come with a glare-free screen. Meaning, reading outdoors or even in direct sunlight is not much of an issue. That said, I’d suggest avoiding the basic Kindle as it doesn’t come with very powerful front lighting.

Generally speaking, the best Kindle for outdoor reading is the Kindle Oasis as it comes with 25 LEDs in its front light. It also comes with automatic rotating page orientation and physical page turn buttons that allow for easy ergonomic one-handed usage.

I’ve noticed that when I’m reading books on a Kindle outdoor, I often need my one hand free either for supporting my head while laying on the grass in a garden, or carrying accessories and other stuff, or even for grabbing hand rails while traveling in a bus.

This is where Kindle Oasis really excels. The 25 LED front light display is great for outdoor brightness, and the physical page turn buttons allow me to turn the pages with just one hand!

The automatic rotating page orientation feature that allows to rotate the page as per the orientation of the device is a bonus.

That said, if you don’t care about these features (which I often find super useful when reading outdoors), you can simply choose the Kindle Paperwhite as it does allow for comfortable outdoor reading despite 17 LED front light. The Kindle Paperwhite is lighter on the wallet compared to the Kindle Oasis.

6. Best Kindle for Beach or Poolside Reading [Kindle Paperwhite]

Reading on a beach or next to a pool is a great way to relax and detox your mind! However, there is a risk of dropping your Kindle in the pool or getting a few splashes of water on your Kindle. So, what Kindle should be used for such a purpose?

In general, the best Kindle for reading on a beach or poolside is the Kindle Paperwhite. It comes with an IPX8 rating making Kindle Paperwhite water resistant. As per Amazon, Kindle Paperwhite can withstand immersion in upto 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes or 0.25 meters for 3 minutes in seawater.

The Kindle Paperwhite is comfortable enough for outdoor reading. Reading on a Kindle is even more comfortable especially if you are laying under a beach umbrella or under a shade.

If you have a higher bugdet, consider purchasing the Kindle Oasis as its ergonomic design in addition to the comfortable one-handed usage capability is a huge plus.

7. Best Kindle for Note Taking [Kindle Scribe]

The best Kindle for taking notes or annotation is the Kindle Scribe. It comes with a pen that makes the process of writing on a Kindle and taking notes on a Kindle very easy. You can create notebooks, journals, and lists, and even review documents and take notes easily.

If you are a student who needs to take a lot of notes or annotate on the page itself, then Kindle Scribe is the perfect suited for your needs. Kindle recently added the capability to take notes and write on the Kindle with its Kindle Scribe variant.

It has a big screen, comes with a pen that doesn’t need any charging, and allows you to capture hand written notes! All in all, a perfect Kindle for a student.

Here are some of the advantages and key features of Kindle Scribe:

8. Best Kindle for a Small Budget [Basic Kindle]

Generally speaking, the best Kindle for a small budget is the Basic Kindle. It is the cheapest Kindle and usually costs less than a $100 dollars (prices may vary). The basic Kindle comes with all the basic features for reading ebooks and is perfect if you want to just explore the world of e-ink devices.

The basic Kindle is perfect for you if you just want to dip your toes into the world of ebooks or if you want your friend to start reading books. It is the cheapest of all the Kindles available in the market.

Moreover, Amazon has bridged the gap between the basic Kindle and the features offered amongst other Kindle variants with the introduction of the all new 2022 Kindle variant. Amazon increased the screen resolution to 300 dpi, increased the device storage to 16 GB, and even added audible access to the new Kindle!

9. Best Kindle for Audiobooks [Kindle Scribe]

Generally speaking, the best Kindle for audible audiobooks is the Kindle Scribe. It comes with the biggest on-device storage option of 64 GB which allows access to over 300 audible audiobooks and thousands of ebooks! It also boasts the most long-lasting battery amongst all Kindles.

The Kindle Scribe is currently the only Kindle model that comes with the 64 GB storage option. Since audiobooks usually occupy a lot of storage space, it is best to go with the Kindle variant that offers the biggest storage option.

If you are on a budget and Kindle Scribe’s high price tag is a concern for you, I’d also recommend considering the Kindle Fire Tablet range specifically the Kindle Fire HD 8 Plus. It usually costs less than half the price of the Kindle Scribe.

However, the only drawback is that it doesn’t offer an e-ink display. Plus, the battery doesn’t last nearly as long as the traditional Kindle variants.

If you want both, an e-ink display as well as large device storage, Kindle Scribe is perhaps the best option.

10. Best Kindle for Watching Movies and Videos [Kindle Fire HD 8]

If you plan on using your Kindle for more than just reading books, then the best choice for you is to consider the Kindle Fire Tablet range.

The best Kindle for watching movies, videos and reading books is the Kindle Fire HD 8. It comes with an 8” HD display which is perfectly suited for watching movies and other multimedia experience in addition to reading.

Traditional Kindle variants with the e-ink display do not offer the option to watch movies, listen to music or play games. This is where the Kindle Fire Tablet range come in handy.

The Kindle Fire range comes with a much faster processor, 32 to 128 GB storage options (with the option to expand to 1 TB on some devices), and HD or Full HD display that is perfectly suited for all multimedia consumption.

However, the only major drawback is that you don’t get the e-ink display and the life-like experience of reading a real book. Plus, the battery doesn’t last as much as the traditional Kindle devices with the e-ink display.

Amongst all the Kindle Fire Tablets, our recommendation is to go with the Kindle Fire HD 8 or HD 8 Plus models as they provide the most value for money!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few additional frequently asked questions about which Kindle to buy based on specific use cases:

What is the Best Kindle for Night Time Reading?

The best Kindle for night time reading is the Kindle Paperwhite as it comes with the adjustable warm light feature that allows you to change the brightness of the screen. Furthermore, it also provides the most value for your money amongst all other Kindles.

What is the The Best Kindle for Reading Newspapers?

The best Kindle for reading a newspaper is the Kindle Scribe. The 10.2″ screen size of the Kindle Scribe is perfectly suited for a wonderful newspaper reading experience.

Which is the Best Kindle for the Elderly?

Kindle Paperwhite is the best Kindle for the elderly as it provides the most number of helpful features at the least possible price making it the most value for money Kindle variant. The Kindle Paperwhite is a perfect balance between budget and features.

Which is the Best Kindle for Traveling?

The best Kindle for traveling is the Kindle Paperwhite. It comes with a compact screen size of 6.8″ display that makes it easy to store. The Kindle Paperwhite also boasts one of the best battery life of upto 10 weeks. This comes in really handy especially if you forget the charger at home!

Which is the Best Kindle for Your Eyes?

The best Kindle for your eyes is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. This variant of the Kindle is the cheapest model that has an auto-brightness adjusting feature that changes the screen bightness based on the environment lighting. It also boasts a good front light with 17 LEDs.