Which Kindle to Choose for Amazon Prime Day

Amazon has kicked off their two-day Prime Day sales event, and as expected, they’ve got some great deals on their smart devices. For anyone looking for a Kindle e-reader, this is a fantastic time to get a great price on a great device.

Kindles have been the leader in e-reading devices since they were introduced. They weren’t the first e-readers, but they brought the technology to the masses, to the point where they’re practically synonymous with the entire product line (like Band-Aids).

There’s a good reason why they’ve maintained their popularity—Kindle e-readers are easy to use and have some of the most impressive feature sets in the category, offering an experience that’s just as good or better. than reading a physical book. The device is also updated almost every year, so the devices offered are constantly being improved.

But with every Kindle on sale, how do you choose which one to buy? Do you get it cheaper? You can, but you might miss out on features that are important to you. Do you go with the most expensive? Sure, but you could be wasting your money on things you don’t need.

Let’s break down the difference between the Amazon Kindle e-readers on sale this Prime Day.

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Amazon Kindle

With a 6″ display and a 300 ppi high-resolution, glare-free display, the standard Kindle e-reader has a fantastic display that’s easy on the eyes. It has four user-adjustable front LEDs, so you can raise or lower the screen brightness as needed It’s the size of a colander, but less than half an inch thick, making it much more portable than your collection of COTR bladed novels under $90, which is a impressive bargain.

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

So what’s so good about the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite that you pay $50 more? At $134, it’s only 10% off, not as good as the standard Kindle. However, if you’re a fan of reading on the beach or by the pool, the Paperwhite has something the regular Kindle doesn’t. It’s waterproof! It’s also much easier on your eyes with a 6.8″ screen and 17 LEDs (so you have more control over brightness levels). The Paperwhite can also shift the warmer display temperature in low light, to so as not to disturb your sleep cycle with blue light.

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The signature Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Of course, all of these devices are bettered by the Paperwhite Signature Edition which adds auto-tuning LEDs to the mix. Once you’ve experienced it, it’s hard to use an e-reader that doesn’t have it. It also adds wireless charging in addition to standard USB-C charging and has twice the storage at 32GB. The problem is that Amazon has barely discounted the Signature Edition for Prime Days, knocking it off just $10, a 5%. While the Signature Edition is undoubtedly a luxury e-reader, it’s hard to justify the $45 price increase over the Paperwhite, much less the $67 difference over the original Kindle.

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Amazon Kindle Scribe

Then there’s the Kindle Scribe, an e-reader and digital notebook (much like my beloved reMarkable 2). There’s actually a significant Prime Days discount: 34%, bringing the total price down to $234. In addition to the ability to take handwritten notes and make notes with the included stylus, you get a large 10.2″ screen, a massive one-month battery and 35 LEDs. If you’re looking for the biggest screen and more functional versatility, this is the Kindle you’re looking for. The only problem is that the device itself is quite thin, this is not a Kindle that will slip into your bag.

Get an even deeper discount with a trade-in

So Amazon’s Prime Day deals for Kindles are a bit of a mixed bag. But what if you could make your own deal?

On every Kindle page, there’s a Trade-In link that gives you quick access to all your eligible Amazon smart devices. Yes, even that forgotten Fire Stick you dumped in a drawer will earn you 20% off a new device, plus a trade-in credit based on the type of device you’re sending. It’s a great way to skip all the Prime Day theatrics and go straight to the best Kindle deal on the site. Even better? 20% off racks with Prime Day deals!

The only catch is that you are limited to 4 of these deals per year – once per quarter. The good news is that we are at the beginning of the third trimester. So if you haven’t traded in a device in early July, you should be good to go!

Which one to choose?

For my money, the Kindle Paperwhite strikes the best balance between value and features. The larger screen, added waterproofing, additional LEDs and warm lighting make it the perfect book companion. Plus, the Paperwhite’s screen is flush with the body of the device, so it’s smooth under your fingers.

That said, if you’re just looking for an inexpensive e-reader, Amazon’s standard Kindle offers a great experience. At just $84, it’s a great deal.

Whichever you choose, you’ll want to act fast. Prime Day deals only last until midnight on July 17th.