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

Amazon recently announced a whole new generation of Kindles is coming , with every model getting a new version. I'll update this guide with thoughts as I review each new model. Here are the current details:

Kindle is also releasing a handful of new accessories, including the Kindle Click ($35) Bluetooth remote that will work with Kindle models as early as 2024, a Page Turn Cover ($80) that will only work with the Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions, a Charging Dock ($60) designed to work with the pogo pins on the Signature Editions, and new Kindle covers in a variety of colors and textures. I’m most excited about the remote; I will update this guide and our Best Kindle Accessories guide with my notes as I test.

Amazon raised its prices across its product categories, including Kindle devices. The price increases hit several current Kindle models, leaving only Kindle Scribe models with their original price tags. Amazon declined to comment to WIRED , but a spokesperson told CNET the price hikes were due to rising costs in memory and storage components. Interestingly, none of the more powerful Scribe models needed a price update, but it’s also a relief since all three of those models are significantly more expensive than a regular Kindle.

Here are all the increases, including for the Signature versions:

If you have your eyes on one of these Kindles, I’d wait until Black Friday to shop, as they'll likely be on sale.

Kindle has three new Kindle Scribes that launched between late 2025 and June 2026. There are now the Kindle Scribe ($500) , Kindle Scribe Colorsoft ($630) , and the Kindle Scribe Without Front Light ($430) . All three have a similar design and software experience, though the Scribe Colorsoft has a color screen and a shorter battery life—only eight weeks of reading time, compared to 12 weeks on the $500 Scribe and an impressive 16 weeks on the Scribe Without Front Light.

All three models have a new, taller design with an 11-inch screen, a slightly slimmer form factor, and an updated stylus. They both also have a quad-core chip, a new homepage, and will support a variety of AI features, including AI search (along with some AI tools for summarizing books you’re reading without giving spoilers, though those won’t arrive until next year). Users can connect to Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive to mark up documents, which the older model can’t do.

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 has some AI capabilities but no AI search, and has a different homepage design that matches a classic Kindle rather than the notebook-forward design seen on the new ones. Amazon said it’ll get the same homepage this year, but I haven’t seen it so far. I’m disappointed these new devices are so much more expensive; at that price, you might as well shop reMarkable’s line of digital notebooks and get better features and accessories.

Ever had an e-reading session so long that you get 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. These aren’t padded for serious drops, but they are some of the best Kindle cases I’ve found for daily protection from scratches and scuffs. Also, don’t forget that the Kids’ editions come with cases, so if you’re buying one of those, you won’t need to buy a case.

Amazon usually takes a few years between new Kindle models. Whenever a new one arrives, its predecessor’s stock starts to dwindle. It’s not that I don’t recommend these older models per se, but I only suggest them if you they're on sale for the right price. And don’t buy too old a model, since Amazon has started pulling support for older Kindles.

Before making your purchase, cross-check the price against the latest model to make sure you’re paying a fair amount less for the older device.

Kindle (2022, 11th Generation): This is the smallest of the lot at 6.2 inches tall and 4.3 inches wide, with a 6-inch screen. If you find tablets too cumbersome to hold with one hand, consider this one, with 16 GB of storage and a 300 pixels per inch (PPI) resolution. It’s tough to find, and I usually don’t see it for less than $75 these days.

Kindle Paperwhite (2021, 11th Generation): This is the next step up from the basic model. It has a bright 6.8-inch screen with adjustable warm lighting, a fast page-turn rate, a USB-C port, and 16 gigs of storage. It’s waterproof, too. I like the Signature Edition , which also includes auto-adjust brightness and 32 GBs of storage. I don’t recommend spending more than $100 on this one.

Kindle Scribe (1st Generation) : The original Scribe is a great option for note-takers. It has a giant 10.2-inch screen for taking notes, marking up PDFs, or drawing , and numerous paper formats you can choose, like college-ruled or dotted. It also comes with the Basic Pen, which feels natural to write with and attaches to the side of the Scribe magnetically. It’s only worth it for $230 or less, and I often see it for below $200 on eBay.

Kindle Kids (2022) : This is an older kid-friendly model. It comes with a cover, a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+, parental controls, and a two-year warranty, but the fact that it’s only available secondhand means you’ll likely miss out on the subscription window and may or may not still have a cover. Ideally, you won't spend more than $70 on this one.

Kindle Paperwhite Kids (2021): This older Paperwhite version is a step up from the previous basic Kids models. It has a high-resolution 300-ppi display with an adjustable warm screen and is also waterproof. You shouldn’t spend more than $110 on this one if you can find it at all. (I couldn't find any resellers for this older model at the time of writing.)

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