Best Kindle 2023: Amazon’s top e-readers tried and tested

Picking the best Kindle model is an easy choice. The Kindle Paperwhite takes the crown even though it isn’t the ‘flagship’ e-reader, but it is the perfect mix of feature-set and cost. It’s also the most recent Kindle model and comfortably the most up-to-date in terms of hardware.

With the 2021 version of the Kindle Paperwhite, Amazon upped the screen-size to a larger 7-inches. This makes it a bigger device overall, but it helps the reading experience. If you’re really against the bigger footprint then you’re best off plumping for the basic Kindle.

Like all the Kindles on this list, the Paperwhite is a fairly simple device. It has an accurate, sharp display with a light for aiding low-light reading. There are no buttons for flipping through pages, so you’ll have to rely solely on the touchscreen for that. While we found this a minor annoyance, with the screen occasionally missing a turn page command during testing, in general we found a lot to like about the Paperwhite.

The plastic body only comes in black, but it’s water-resistant for poolside reading and feels very rugged. It’s certainly more rugged than the metal Oasis, and during our months of testing, the Paperwhite has remained free of any notable scratches or dings.

This Paperwhite, along with the Signature Edition we’ll mention below, feels like the most modern Kindle. It replaces the aged micro USB port you’ll find on the Kindle and Kindle Oasis with the far more modern, faster USB-C and feels faster than the other models in everyday use.

Battery Life depends wildly on use and is roughly on par with the other models on this list. Our reviewer managed to make it last throughout a two week holiday, reading two books, without the need to bring along the charger.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) review

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature is, at its core, a slightly more beefed up Paperwhite. While the extra features are nice, they won’t be for everyone and that’s the reason this isn’t our number one pick.

All the features of the regular Paperwhite are present here, plus the additions of wireless Qi charging, more onboard storage and a light that automatically changes depending on your surroundings.

Wireless charging is a neat addition, and as it uses the same Qi standard as many of the best phones around, you won’t need to invest in another charger if you’ve already got one. Qi charger is a bit slow here but it’s handy for small top ups.

The additional onboard is another feature we like – although it’s far from vital. The regular Paperwhite has 8GB, while this version has 32GB. eBooks are generally very small in size, so 8GB is plenty of space for hundreds of reads, however 32GB is much better is plan on downloading long audiobooks from Audible. There are no speakers here though, so both the Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition need to be connected to Bluetooth earphones to make use of the audio features.

The automatic brightness is the least interesting addition, as it doesn’t really work that well. We tend to prefer just altering it manually. If those three features appeal, you should choose the Signature Edition.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition review

The cheapest Kindle is, as you can probably guess, is the most basic option in this list. If you want a device purely for reading and aren’t fussed about design flourishes then this a great choice for the price.

Compared to the Paperwhite above and the Oasis below, the Kindle is missing a few features. There’s no waterproofing, meaning this isn’t a great choice for poolside or beach reading nor does it have the warm light you’ll find elsewhere.

What it does have is a light behind the display, a feature that used to be kept for the pricier Kindle models. The amount of LEDs is only 4 (as opposed to 17 on the Paperwhite and 25 on the Oasis) so the light isn’t as bright, but it still works well enough in regular daylight based on our tests.

A big upgrade this time around is the sharper, 300PPI display which actually matches the pricier models for resolution. It looks great, and is a pleasure to read on. There’s a USB-C port for charging too – you won’t even find that on the Oasis.

For many people the Kindle is a great choice. It has access to the same books as the other models and the smaller form-factor might be a benefit to some.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Amazon Kindle (2022) review

The Kindle Oasis is a good e-reader, however it is starting to age slightly and could do with a healthy refresh, hence its place this far down on the list. Still, it remains the best looking Kindle model thanks to a metal body and is the only one to have physical buttons for flipping through pages.

It’s also the only model to offer 4G connectivity for downloading books away from Wi-Fi and it has the brightest, most accurate display light. The 4G connectivity is particularly important as, with a sim installed, it makes it the only option there that can download content without relying on a WiFi connection.

However, its use of the older micro USB port along with the high price make it hard to recommend to anyone other than those who really want wider connectivity options and a premium build. For most the high price that make this feel like an e-reader for a very specific users.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Amazon Kindle Oasis review

While all Kindle devices can be locked down with parental controls, the Amazon Kindle Kids Edition is well worth the extra £30, particularly if you don’t have an old Kindle to hand. For starters, it comes with Amazon’s excellent two-year worry-free guarantee (a staple of all Amazon’s Kids edition products): if the device is broken, accidentally or otherwise, Amazon will simply replace it.

Secondly, it comes with a year’s subscription of Kids+, which gives you thousands of books thrown in for free, ranging from comic books, educational titles and bigger books, such as Harry Potter and Geek Girl. That said, there are still plenty of big children’s authors whose books aren’t included, so expect to splash out on some titles to keep your kids amused.

Each Kids Edition comes with a case, with a choice of two patterned options, pink or blue. Considering that the regular Kindle ships cover-free, this is yet another reason why this edition is better value than you might think.

Parental controls are built-in as standard, controllable through the web interface. For each child in your house, you can set up a profile, locking down content to titles that are suitable for their age only. Crucially, the controls also prevent children from buying books through your account. Parental controls work brilliantly and, combined with Kids+, it means you can leave children to explore and find a range of books, without the worry that they’ll download something inappropriate.

Otherwise, this is a standard Kindle, with a 6-inch screen and front-light making reading at night or in the car easy. We found the screen to be sharp and detailed. We’ve had no complaints from our kids, who’ve read everything from long books to graphic novels on it.

If you’ve got an old Kindle that you can reuse, you may as well stick parental controls on it; if not, the Kindle Kids Edition is great value and a secure way to let your kids read and find new books.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: Amazon Kindle Kids Edition (2019) review

The Amazon Kindle Scribe is very different to the other readers on this list. For one, the 10.2-inch screen makes this the largest option and a good choice for those who find the smaller screens above tough to read.

It’s also the priciest model on this list and hard to recommend to anyone on a budget. But, most importantly, it’s the only Kindle you can write on. The Scribe comes with a pen and a few software tweaks to turn it from a pure e-reader to a smart, modern notebook.

The writing experience is great – the low latency ensures your scribbles are mirrored quickly on screen and the slightly textured display gives a good feeling of paper. There’s even a Premium pen option that includes an eraser and a shortcut button.

The Scribe is let down by its raft of missing features though. Notes can quickly become jumbled up in the messy software, sharing with other devices is tricky and the hardware is missing some basics like an IP rating, physical page turning buttons and a cellular option.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Amazon Kindle Scribe review