The $109.99 Amazon Kindle for 2024 is still one of the least expensive ebook readers you can buy, but it costs $10 more than its predecessor (the 2022 model) and hasn’t changed all that much. It comes in a new color, and Amazon says the screen is brighter, but that’s about it. We like its slim, compact design and evenly lit display, but it lacks waterproofing and is noticeably slower than other Kindles. The $159.99 Kindle Paperwhite is faster and has a larger screen, a waterproof build, longer battery life, and a more advanced front light, making it our Editors’ Choice winner and top recommendation for most Kindle buyers.
Which Kindle Is Which?
Amazon makes many different ebook readers, but some things are common to every model. Each has at least 16GB of storage and a screen that produces up to 94 nits of brightness, has a density of 300 pixels per inch (ppi), and shows 16 levels of grayscale when reading in traditional E Ink. The $109.99 Kindle reviewed here has a 6-inch display and all the features above—and not much else. The Kindle Kids ($129.99) uses the same hardware as the standard Kindle but adds a colorful case, along with a six-month subscription to Amazon Kids+ and a two-year replacement guarantee.
The $159.99 Kindle Paperwhite is the next step up in terms of price and features. It expands the display to 7 inches, has an additional adjustable warm-color light, and is protected by a fully waterproof design. The $179.99 Paperwhite Kids is the same hardware but comes with a different selection of colorful cases and the same Kids+ trial and two-year replacement guarantee you get with the standard Kindle Kids.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
The $199.99 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition updates the standard Paperwhite by removing the lock screen ads, expanding to 32GB of storage, adding support for wireless charging, improving the screen with an auto-adjusting front light, and switching to metallic-colored backs. The $279.99 Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition has all the same features the Paperwhite Signature Edition does, but it is also Amazon’s first (and only) Kindle with a color E Ink display.
The $399.99 Kindle Scribe, meanwhile, is a 10.2-inch E Ink tablet with a stylus made specifically for taking notes. A new version is being released on December 4.
Design: Now in Green
The Kindle comes in two colors: Black or Matcha (a soft green). I tested the Matcha version, which is pictured in this review. The 2022 model came in Black or Denim.
Most color Kindles have a colorful back panel and all-black bezels on the front. Amazon has expanded the rear color to cover both the front and back of the device. This doesn’t make much difference on the Black version, but it’s a noticeable change on the Matcha iteration. I initially thought I would find a green border distracting during reading sessions, but it didn’t bother me at all. I really like the color and find it calming and stylish.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
Otherwise, the overall design of the Kindle hasn’t changed compared with the 2022 model. The new version measures 6.2 by 4.3 by 0.32 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.56 ounces, which is identical to its predecessor. The pricier Paperwhite (7.0 by 5.0 by 0.3 inches, 7.4 ounces) is noticeably larger and heavier. If you’re looking for something even more svelte than the Kindle, the 6-inch $149.99 Boox Go 6 (5.8 by 4.3 by 0.27 inches, 5.15 ounces) is worth checking out.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
The Kindle still features thin bezels around the top and sides of the device, with a thicker section at the base of the screen. The corners remain rounded, and the display area is slightly recessed. The entry-level Kindle is the only version in the lineup that has a recessed display, which can trap dust. That said, it’s less reflective than flat-front models, even when reading in direct sunlight. It wards off glare quite well.
Amazon doesn’t disclose the specific resolution of the display but says it has a density of 300ppi, which is now standard across the Kindle lineup for grayscale displays (the color display on the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition has a density of 150ppi). The screen is lit by a series of LEDs placed along the top edge of the display. Amazon no longer says how many of these lights are included, but maximum brightness is listed as 94 nits. The Kindle doesn’t have the additional warm light LEDs found on higher-end models.
Amazon says this screen is 25% brighter than the 2022 Kindle, though the company confusingly lists the two screens as producing the same level of brightness at 94 nits. We’ve reached out for clarification but have yet to hear back. This claimed increase in brightness is the only change to the 2024 model other than the Matcha color option.
In testing, I found that I didn’t miss the warm light of other Kindle models. In fact, the light on the Kindle appeared sharper and more evenly distributed than on any other Kindle model. I could easily get the display to appear perfectly white, like a printed page. It achieved this look consistently through various lighting conditions, with only small adjustments to the brightness level needed. There’s no yellow tint to this screen, and I found that the clarity made a real difference in my reading comfort.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
The Kindle is made entirely of plastic, and the matte back is slippery. It does a good job of keeping fingerprints at bay, but you’ll still probably want to use a case to protect it. Unlike the Paperwhite, the Kindle doesn’t have an IP rating for dust and water protection, so you won’t want to use it in the bath or near water.
The USB-C charging port on the bottom edge of the Kindle allows you to charge the device and manually transfer files. The power button next to it clicks satisfyingly when pressed.
The Kindle only comes with a USB-C charging cable in the box. You’ll either have to buy a charging adapter, use one you already own, or charge it from a laptop or other device.
Performance: Slow, But Steady
The standard Kindle is distinctly slower than the Paperwhite, and pages still take about half a second to turn. Scrolling takes longer, too, with more frequent page refreshes that leave the screen’s contents blinking as the content loads. Amazon doesn’t divulge the processor or RAM in the entry-level Kindle, but it is clearly different from the more expensive models.
Left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle (Credit: Sarah Lord)
The Kindle has 16GB of non-expandable storage, the same as the old model, which will hold approximately a thousand documents. This should be more than enough room for people with large libraries.
Battery life isn’t as good as the Paperwhite. Amazon doesn’t list the size of the battery in either device but claims that the Kindle should get up to six weeks on a single charge, while the Paperwhite should get up to 12 weeks in one cycle. Your battery life will depend on how frequently you read, for how long, and how bright you set the lighting. My review unit’s battery decreased by about 20% after reading for at least 45 minutes every night for a week. Amazon says it takes around two hours to recharge fully using a 9W adapter or four hours at 5W.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
Since the Kindle lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, you’ll have to use Bluetooth to listen to audiobooks. Amazon doesn’t say which Bluetooth codecs it supports.
The Kindle uses dual-band Wi-Fi to download books and does not support cellular connectivity.
Software: The Standard Kindle Experience
Amazon uses its own software to power its Kindles, which is focused on ease of use. The Library and Home tabs at the bottom of the screen are the main means of navigation. The Home tab brings up a small selection of the books on your device, along with multiple rows of Amazon-curated suggestions, including Quick Reads for You, Similar to Your Last Read Book, and more. The Library tab leaves Amazon content behind. It only shows the books that are currently on your Kindle or waiting in your Cloud. A search bar lives permanently at the top of the screen so you can find books in your library and the Kindle store. A four-dot menu next to the search bar brings up options for Create a Collection, Your Lists, Goodreads, Amazon Kids, Web Browser, Household Sharing, and Settings.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
Swiping down from the top of the screen opens a Quick Settings menu. Here, you can adjust the screen brightness, access Airplane Mode, Bluetooth, Dark Mode, and Sync, and open the full Settings menu.
Books purchased from Amazon load onto your Kindle automatically whenever you’re connected to Wi-Fi. Library books are also available on the Kindle, though you can’t check them out through the device. Instead, you need to go through the Libby app and make sure you hit the Send To Kindle button when it pops up. You can also email your own documents, including unprotected epub files, to your Kindle using Amazon’s Send to Kindle function. The Kindle doesn’t natively support epub files, but Amazon automatically converts them to a readable format.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
Accessing the menus while reading is simple. Tapping on the top of the screen brings up information about the book you are reading and a series of menu icons. Tapping the Aa button leads you to a menu where you can adjust the font size and spacing while hitting the three-lined icon next to it brings up the table of contents. There are also buttons to access your notes and highlights, your bookmarks, and a search function.
The Kindle comes with ads on the lock screen, though you can remove them for an additional $20. I don’t find them intrusive, but I wish you didn’t need to pay a premium to have more control over the lock screen.
Amazon promises four years of security updates. However, it is not clear if Kindle OS itself will receive any feature upgrades.
Verdict: A Fine Place to Get Started With Ebook Readers
Amazon hasn’t changed much with the 2024 Kindle. It comes in a new green model, the screen is brighter, and it costs $10 more. We like its small size and consistent lighting, and even though it isn’t as fast as the Paperwhite, it works perfectly well. That said, not only is the Paperwhite faster, but it’s also waterproof, has a bigger screen, lasts longer, and offers more lighting options. Unless you’re shopping with a strict budget, we think the Paperwhite is worth the extra $50, so it’s our Editors’ Choice winner for ebook readers.
Pros
The Bottom Line
Amazon’s entry-level Kindle for 2024 has a slightly brighter screen and comes in a new color, but it costs $10 more and is otherwise the same ebook reader as the previous model.
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About Sarah Lord
Analyst, Mobile
