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Colorsoft? Paperwhite? Scribe? Here's how to choose the right Kindle for you
We break down everything you need to know about all of Amazon’s e-readers.
The Kindle Paperwhite is the go-to model for many NBC Select staffers, myself included. Like all Kindles, it has a glare-free screen that makes it easy to read outside, even under bright sunlight. What makes the Paperwhite our favorite is its long battery life (the longest of any Kindle) and adjustable hue — you can change the tone of the screen light to be warmer or cooler. The warmer hue in particular makes it easier on the eyes when reading in dark rooms.
I pair mine with a Kindle Paperwhite fabric case — it’s soft and slim, and automatically turns the screen off when closed.
The plain Amazon Kindle, no tagline, is the model to get if you want the lowest-price possible. Despite its lower price, using it is much the same experience as any other Kindle model — it uses the same software and same Kindle bookstore. Reading books and listening to audiobooks feels very similar on this (and every) Kindle.
It’s also the smallest and lightest Kindle at 0.34 pounds — the weight of an average-size orange.
It doesn’t have the Paperwhite’s adjustable light hue and it isn’t waterproof, but while you are reading and swiping through your favorite book, you might not notice much of a difference.
Amazon’s first color e-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft is a great fit for anyone reading a lot of colorful comic books and graphic novels. The pop of color also makes highlighted text more noticeable and useful than on black and white Kindles.
Outside of the color screen, the Kindle Colorsoft is most similar to the Kindle Paperwhite: it has the same adjustable light hue, waterproof design and seven-inch screen size.
It isn’t the best option if you plan on mostly reading regular, black and white books — the screen has slightly less contrast, so black and white text looks a little less crisp than on the Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite.
If you want a Kindle that can also be your notetaking companion, the Kindle Scribe is what you’re looking for. Former NBC Select production coordinator Kelsey Fredricks tested it for two months and loved how responsive the screen was for notetaking. It comes with a stylus included in the box that’s smooth, comfortable and attaches to the side of the Scribe with magnets for convenient storage.
You can sort your notes and documents on the device and send them to your phone, computer, email or printer easily, says Fredricks.
The Scribe is larger than other Kindles, which makes it more comfortable for note taking but a bit bulkier in your hands and bag. At nearly a pound, it’s also a much heavier model. You can read more in our Amazon Kindle Scribe review.
Aside from the Kindle Scribe, all of the Kindles above come in kid-versions: The Kindle Kids, Kindle Paperwhite Kids and Kindle Colorsoft Kids. They are the same device as the “adult” version, but come with no ads, a protective cover and six months of Amazon Kids+, the brand’s age three to 12-book subscription service, included.
Amazon also makes pricier versions of its Kindle Paperwhite and a Kindle Colorsoft, called Signature Editions. The Signature Edition models have more internal storage (32GB, up from 16GB), automatically adjust the screen brightness when you are in a bright or dark space, come without ads on the lockscreen and support Qi wireless charging.
For most people, I don’t think the Signature Edition is worth the extra cost — I have never come close to running out of storage space on a Kindle, and the device has such good battery life that wired charging has never been an inconvenience.
It depends on the size and type of book. An average e-book file is around 2MB, in my experience, and most Kindle come with 16GB of internal storage: that means it can store thousands of e-books easily. Be aware that graphic novels, cookbooks and comic books take up significantly more storage space.
A tablet is more phone than e-reader: it can run hundreds of apps, including streaming platforms and video games. A Kindle is optimized for reading, and can’t do nearly as much as a tablet on purpose. Devices like the Boox Palma 2 toe the line between phone, tablet and e-reader.
You can use your public library card to borrow e-books, audiobooks and other material free of charge, just like going to the library in-person. I use and love the library app Libby, which makes it easy to sync borrowed ebooks from my phone to my Kindle.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on smartwatches, running shoes and point-and-shoot cameras. I’ve used Amazon Kindle devices for over five years, and spoke with book industry experts about how e-readers work and what they are best for.
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