Read our full review of the Kindle Paperwhite.

After several months of testing the Kindle Paperwhite against other e-readers, I always came back to the Kindle Paperwhite as my preferred e-reader. While the Kobo Clara Colour impressed me initially, the Kindle Paperwhite proved to be a faster device with better battery life.

If Amazon is pretty intrinsic to your spending, then going for a Kindle, specifically the Paperwhite, makes the most sense. Amazon promised that the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite would be the fastest yet, and it delivered. It turns pages without stuttering, never slowing down when you’re in the thick of the action.

The screen is vibrant and has adjustable brightness, meaning it can adjust when transitioning from reading in bright sunlight to dimmer indoors. It also comes with adjustable screen warmth, perfect for evening readers who want to give their eyes a chance to relax. It’s lightweight and fits comfortably in small crossbody bags. Plus, it’s waterproof, keeping it safe against poolside vacations and spilled water bottles in bags.

It's generally the best e-reader, but it's also the best e-reader for Libby. If you use Libby to its fullest potential, with your account loaded with multiple library cards, the Kindle allows you to read from all of those accounts at once, something you can't do on a Kobo e-reader.

Not a ton has changed between the 2022 (our previous pick) and 2024 models of the Kindle Paperwhite, but I can say for certain that the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite is the sleekest, fastest e-reader yet. It now has a slightly bigger screen at 7 inches compared to the previous 6.8-inch model, but the change is minuscule — besides the fact that the bigger model is slightly too big for my old Kindle case. 

The 2024 Paperwhite has gotten a slight upgrade in screen quality compared to the 2022 Paperwhite. While the resolution is still 300 ppi, it appears to have higher contrast, straying away from the like-paper look and edging closer to the look of a tablet. Don’t worry, though — unlike tablets, the Kindle Paperwhite still has a gloriously glare-free screen. It still has an IPX68 waterproof rating, so you can get some leisurely reading in the bath.

In his review of the 2022 model, Mashable senior editor Stan Schroeder found only one extremely minor quibble with thePaperwhite Signature Edition, and I have to agree with him. On all Kindle models (besides the Scribe), the power button sits on the bottom, resulting in many accidental presses. This was the case with the prior Paperwhite model, and I was hoping that it'd move up top for the new model, but alas, Amazon has not made all the improvements it could have. Additionally, I wish this Kindle Paperwhite had page-turning buttons like the now-discontinuedKindle Oasis or theKobo Libra Colour for a more ergonomic design.

A big reason why I came back to the Kindle Paperwhite as the best overall e-reader is its processor. It's exceptionally fast and updates quickly. With Kobo e-readers, I had to manually sync them to get my library books to appear. The only feature I wish the operating system of the Paperwhite had was the ability to recalculate the page count of a book when you adjust the font size or margins.

That said, theKindle Paperwhite is still the best e-reader you can buy.

• Display size: 7 inches
• Storage: 16GB
• Battery life: Up to 12 weeks
• Waterproof: Yes

Watch our comparison of the Kobo Clara Colour and Kindle Paperwhite.

If you're just diving into the world of e-readers and not particularly thrilled about Kindles and their Amazon ties, then the Kobo Clara is the right answer. It offers a color display for those who enjoy manga and graphic novels, but it remains speedy with fast processing when turning pages or swapping between books.

It's especially great for Libby users, who want seamless integration with books that automatically load into your library as soon as you borrow them. It really is a great e-reader for anyone.

Having tried my hand at nearly a dozen e-readers in all shapes, sizes, and brands, I wasn't expecting to be so deeply impressed by theKobo Clara Colour, but it is a wonderful e-reader. With a 6-inch screen, it's slightly smaller than the Kindle Paperwhite, but it allows you to hold it comfortably for multiple hours at a time without any wrist or arm fatigue.

In my previous testing with Kobo devices, I've really liked them, but one sticking point is that they're slower than Kindles. Initially, I found that the Kobo Clara kept up with the Paperwhite, but after several months of use, it had a tendency to lag. Compared to Kindles, I had to manually sync the Kobo Clara to get my library books to show up.

Its processing system is otherwise really smart and fixes one of my biggest e-reader pet peeves. When you adjust the font size on a Kindle, the device doesn't recalculate how many pages are in the book, making it inaccurate, so you don't know exactly how many pages you have left in a chapter. The Kobo Clara does recalculate page count accurately for a more exact reading experience. Though, one thing to note: Kobo counts the number of digital pages, whereas Kindle page numbers typically match up with physical book copies.

For the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite, the Kobo Clara offers color displays, something you can't get in the Kindle lineup unless you're willing to spend $250. The colors aren't as bright as you'd experience in a physical book, but they're still vivid enough to enjoy a graphic novel.

Its Libby (aka Overdrive) integration is seamless, and e-books you borrow on your library card will automatically populate on your account. You can browse and borrow library books directly from the e-reader, instead of having to whip out your phone app. However, for users who use Libby to the max with multiple library cards, you can only log in to one account at a time.

The Kobo Clara's biggest downfall is its battery life. It's supposed to last up to 42 days, although many online users say it averages out at about two weeks. That's quite pathetic in the face of the Kindle's 12-week battery life; however, I'd trade in a better reading experience over a couple weeks of battery life any day.

• Display size: 6 inches
• Storage: 16 GB
• Battery life: Up to two weeks
• Waterproof: Yes

Read our full review of the Kindle (2024).

If you want to dip your toes into e-readers, the standard Kindle model is the best budget-friendly model. Like the Paperwhite, it has 16GB of storage, with room for thousands of books. It’s the smallest Kindle, and you won’t miss the size of the Paperwhite. Instead, you’ll be delighted that it’s genuinely pocket-sized. Plus, if you want an e-reader with some flair, it’s now available in black and matcha, a vibrant light green.

After testing the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra Colour, I thought I’d be ruined for the basic Kindle, but I found it to be an equally great device. It comes in a smaller package, the lightest e-reader here. Plus, the six-inch size makes it practically pocket-sized. Generally, it feels nicer to hold in my hand and bring on the go with me — exactly what I want in an e-reader.

Sure, it’s not as high-tech as the Paperwhite, but I think it’s an even better size. The screen has the exact resolution as the Paperwhite, but just a bit smaller. You lose some screen space with its plastic casing, but I didn’t mind. I liked the rimmed front design, making it easier to hold while using. It also has the bottom power button, which is far less touchy than the other Kindle models, and it was harder to turn the device on or off accidentally.

Functionally, it’s comparable to the Paperwhite. The biggest feature the standard Kindle lacks is adjustable warmth, which I worked around by using Dark Mode at night. However, the standard Kindle would be perfect if it were waterproof. That’s the biggest downside to me, as someone who needs to be able to take it to the beach.

That being said, it is the most affordable, and it's a worthy sacrifice not to have waterproofing for its $109.99 price.

• Display size: 6 inches
• Storage: 16GB
• Battery life : Up to 6 weeks
• Waterproof: No

Read our full review of the Kobo Libra Colour.

For serious readers who don't mind splurging a little, the Kobo Libra Colour delivers an upgraded e-reader experience. With a similar seven-inch display, the Libra Colour offers two features the Kindle Paperwhite cannot: Color and note-taking. Book covers, in-book illustrations, and photos are all featured in color with the Libra. And if you're an annotator, you can highlight and mark up your pages in different colors to stay organized. In the Kindle family,only the Scribe supports scribbling, and with a higher price tag.

It's equipped with more than enough storage at 32GB and is waterproof. Plus, if you were devastated by the discontinuation of the Kindle Oasis, the Libra Colour offers a similar design that includes page-turning buttons.

If you were to ask me which e-reader to buy, it's a real toss-up between the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Libra Colour. While the Kobo Libra Colour is expensive at $229.99, it's worth its price tag, something I can't say is true for Amazon's Paperwhite Signature Edition.

Above all, the Kobo Libra Colour has the best ergonomic design. It's more square than a Kindle, as one side offers extra space for page-turning buttons. This makes it easier to hold, especially while lying down and reading one-handed. It's the only e-reader (besides the iPad) on this list that has an internal gyroscope, so when you rotate the device, the display rotates with it. While reading in bed, if I flipped over, I could rotate the device to still be able to hold it on the side with page-turning buttons.

The Overdrive (aka Libby) integration is great as you can log in with your library card, and your borrowed e-books instantly populate on the Overdrive tab. While this is a more seamless integration than Kindle, I do have some minor beef with it. On a Kobo, you can only log in to one library card at a time, so if you borrow using multiple cards, you might be signing in and out of different accounts often. Plus, while using the Kobo Libra Colour, one of the library books I borrowed wasn't available on the Kobo and I had to switch to the Paperwhite to be able to access it.

While the color display on the Kobo is nice, it is still rather muted. While readingHeartstopper, the colors were quite toned down in comparison to how they appeared on the iPad Mini. The Libra Colour's battery life isn't as strong as a Kindle Paperwhite's. Whiletesting the Kobo Libra Colour over 10 weeks, my colleague Bethany Allard had to charge the device twice. Plus, it's a bit slower than a Kindle with the occasional stall while switching between books.

While the Kindle may have the Kobo beat on processing and battery life, I still think the Libra Colour is a worthy upgrade as it offers the best design of an e-reader with the perk of color. Amazon's first color e-reader,the Colorsoft, costs $279.99, so at $229.99, the Libra is a bargain.

• Display: 7 inches
• Storage: 32GB
• Battery Life: 5 weeks

Read our full review of the Kindle Colorsoft.

TheKindle Colorsoft brings color to the digital page, making it great for graphic novel readers, those who like to annotate in color, or fans of experiencing the cover page in full color. Its included zoom feature allows you to focus and get an up close look at illustrations, especially handy when reading comics. While we think that the Kobo Libra Colour is a better e-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft is the best color Kindle if you'd prefer to be in the Kindle ecosystem.

E-reader users have long had to accept reading exclusively in black and white on Kindles, but the Colorsoft changes things. The Colorsoft uses an E Ink Kaleido 3 display to support its color display. In black and white, it has its standard 300 ppi resolution, but in color, it maxes out at 150 ppi.

Amazon currently has three color Kindles: theColorsoft,Colorsoft Signature Edition,Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, andColorsoft Kids. Our preferred model is the standard Colorsoft, which was just released in July 2025. It comes with 16GB of storage and a slightly more affordable price tag of $249.99, better when compared to the Signature Edition's $279.99.

The color on the Kindle Colorsoft is accurate to what you'd find in a printed copy; however, it is slightly muted. When reading in black and white, it's as fast as any other Kindle we've tested, but the color displays slow things down a bit. When reading in color, the pages sometimes flash as they load, a problem that most color e-readers currently suffer.

While the Kindle Colorsoft works well, I wouldn't say it's able to totally justify its $249.99 price. Compared to the other model that Amazon offers, it's certainly a better value. But if you're looking for a color e-reader, I recommend avoiding Kindle entirely and going for either theKobo Clara orLibra Colour.

But if you're really committed to the Kindle ecosystem, the Colorsoft is your best choice for reading in color.

• Display size: 7 inches
• Storage: 16GB
• Battery life: Up to 8 weeks
• Waterproof: Yes

If you're raising a voracious reader, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is the best e-reader for kids. It's waterproof, which means it stands up to juice spills and dips in the pool. Plus, it comes with a built-in case. It's designed to be kid-proof, not just physically, but also with built-in parental controls. If you're concerned about monitoring your kid's bookshelf, this Kindle allows you to approve downloads by kids and displays age-friendly titles that kids can easily access.

One area where Amazon has all other e-reader brands beat is in the kids market. There are special kid-friendly models of the basic Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Colorsoft. Our preferred model for kids is the Kindle Paperwhite Kids.

More than anything else, an e-reader for kids has to be waterproof, which is why the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is the best choice. It comes with everything we like about the standard Paperwhite: a beautiful, high-resolution screen thatworks faster than any previous generation.

But what makes it great for kids is that it's a distraction-free device. It doesn't come with ads, notifications, or the temptation of games or video. I also like that it's a bit heavier than the standard Paperwhite, giving it a sturdier design. Plus, the built-in case adds an extra level of protection.

The parental controls are easy to use and set up, and the device also comes with a six-month free subscription to Amazon Kids+, which provides unlimited access to thousands of age-appropriate books. The library of books is easy for kids to navigate and offers classics like Lois Lowry'sThe Giver and modern classics likeDiary of a Wimpy Kid.

What I don't love is the price. At $179.99, it's more expensive than the standard Paperwhite. If you want to go for a budget kids' pick, I'd recommend thestandard Kindle, which you can set up as a kids' device during setup to ensure parental controls and add anAmazon Kids+ subscription for $5.99 per month. Plus, as your kid ages, you won't have to upgrade to a more teen-friendly e-reader.

• Display size: 7 inches
• Storage: 16GB
• Battery life: Up to 12 weeks
• Waterproof?: Yes

Read our full review of the Kindle Scribe (2024).

If, looking through your bookshelf, your books have dog-eared pages, highlighted lines, and scribbles in the margins, your instinct might be that an e-reader isn't for you, but I'd like to introduce you to the Kindle Scribe, which comes with a stylus and writing capabilities. And thanks to the 10.2-inch screen, it's also our choice for the best large e-reader.

The pen moves nicely across the screen, mimicking the texture of writing on paper. In addition to a library of books, the Kindle Scribe also comes with a journal section where you can take notes. The notes feature is especially great for students who want to handwrite notes and convert their handwriting into text.

If you jump to a Kindle Scribe from the base Kindle or even Paperwhite, you'll be shocked by its 10.2-inch size. That screen size does make it a little more awkward to hold, but for writing or annotating, it's optimal. Unlike other tablets (I'm looking at you, iPads) that require you to buy a pen separately, the Kindle Scribe comes with a pen that conveniently attaches to the side so it doesn't get lost. However, it's not the most secure magnetic hold, so be careful not to bump the pen off accidentally.

Writing on the Kindle Scribe is a joy. Before testing this e-reader, I used my iPad and Apple Pencil to annotate readings, but I never loved it because the screen felt too slick for the Apple Pencil. The Kindle Scribe does not suffer this problem, as the matte screen lends some friction to the pen, making it feel like you're writing on paper. I enjoyed writing with the pen, and I swear my handwriting looked better on the Kindle Scribe than on my iPad.

Like the Kindle Paperwhite, the Scribe's battery life lasts 12 weeks. Where it starts to differ is the user interface. The Kindle Scribe runs far slower than Amazon's other e-readers. The 2024 Scribe did give its speed a slight upgrade, but it still suffers from the same problem as previous models. The Scribe often lagged when starting to wake up or switching between journals or books. This is especially disappointing considering the price, which is more than double that of the Paperwhite.

The 2024 Scribe does have great palm rejection, especially in comparison to the Kobo Libra. The Scribe's screen also got a brighter revamp, now available with adjustable warmth and brightness. However, it suffers from ghosting on the screen with erased text and book covers still appearing in the background. It also has upgraded storage options at 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB.

That being said, if you want to annotate PDFs and docs, the Kindle Scribe is your best and only Kindle option.

• Display: 10.2 inch
• Storage: 16, 32, and 64GB
• Battery: 12 weeks
• Waterproof: No

Read our full review of the Apple iPad mini.

There are so many devices that the modern person is meant to have. If adding an e-reader seems superfluous, I'd recommend a tablet that allows you to read books, stream shows, and browse the internet. The best tablet for reading? It's theiPad mini.

But why is this iPad better than any other? It's all about the size. At 8.3 inches, it comfortably sits in your hand and is about the same size as a paperback.

Before testing these e-readers, I read using my9th-generation iPad, and my main complaint was always the size. After 30 minutes of reading, my hand and wrist would strain holding up all 10.2 inches of the screen. That's why the 8.3-inch display of the iPad mini was such a treat. Reading with the mini made me feel like I was holding an actual book rather than a laptop screen.

Unsurprisingly, theiPad mini has the most computing power of all the e-readers on this list. It jumps between apps and turns pages without an ounce of hesitation. Plus, it offers the most expansive ways to read books. You can read using Apple's built-in Apple Books app or download and read within the Kindle and Libby apps. And unlike most e-readers, you can read comics and graphic novels in full color. Plus, it has far more storage than any other e-reader, as the new 7th generation iPad mini now starts at 128GB of storage.

Despite my love of the iPad mini, I have some beef, most of which is with the screen. While I love its overall size, it has a substantial glare problem. I've found this to be true with any iPad I've read on; the slick glass screen has a glare in almost any environment. That's no surprise in the sun, but even at night, I found the screen to be a little too shiny, causing my eyes to have some trouble focusing. This does have a fix; if you want your iPad screen to look more like the matte of a Kindle, a screen protector such asPaperlike creates that effect.

Additionally, compared to e-readers, which provide months of battery life, the iPad mini only gets you hours. If you're reading for a couple of hours a day, you're probably only charging the iPad once a week, which isn't a big deal but certainly more than a traditional e-reader.

• Display: 8.3 inch
• Storage: 64GB
• Battery: 10 hours
• Waterproof: No