For those looking to invest in a new Kindle now could be a good time
When it comes to thinking of an ereader, it’s practically synonymous with Amazon’s Kindle, and readers are in luck this week as three models have had their prices slashed. The devices in question are the Kindle Kids, the new Colorsoft model and the Scribe, which gives shoppers the opportunity to write on the screen and keep notes alongside their reading.
All three models are compatible with Kindle’s reading subscription Kindle Unlimited, which gives access to millions of books at the touch of a button. The £9.49 subscription gives access to 20 books at a time, although they can be returned and exchanged at any point. New Kindle purchases come with three months of Kindle Unlimited for free, which gives shoppers the chance to test it out for themselves.
The Kindle devices also offer access to one’s Audible library, although the Kindle itself doesn’t have a built-in speaker, so it’s necessary to Bluetooth connect to speakers or headphones to listen along to any books.
Kindle Kids
While the classic Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite have stayed at the same price, the Kindle Kids models have all dropped in cost. That includes the basic Kindle Kids (£114.99 to £89.99), Kindle Paperwhite Kids (£169.99 to £134.99) and Kindle Colorsoft Kids (£259.99 to £194).
The main thing that sets the Kindle Kids apart from other models is that these devices come with a cover, albeit a very childlike cover, and a two-year worry-free guarantee. This means if there are any breaks at all, the device can be returned, and Amazon will replace it for free. The covers are designed to protect both the front and back, which protects the screen.
Unlike adult Kindles, it comes with a six-month Kids+ subscription, which gives unlimited access to children’s books, games and videos. It’s then £4.99 a month for Prime members or goes up to £6.99 for shoppers who don’t have a Prime subscription.
It’s lightweight enough to be read with one hand, and a single charge with a USB-C cable is said to last up to six weeks. For avid readers who clock in hours of reading a day, this might be used up faster, but we’d still expect a week of reading before needing a charge. There’s a parent dashboard too, which allows parents to easily add books to their child’s library, adjust age filters, set a device bedtime and view reading progress.
Kindle Colorsoft
£239.99
£174.00
Amazon
Buy Now on Amazon
This Kindle offers 150ppi in colour
Kindle Colorsoft
The Kindle Colorsoft was the first Kindle device to include colour technology, which is a game-changer for those who like to read graphic novels with highlights in different colours (yellow, orange, blue and pink) for themes in their reading. It’s currently 27% off, bringing it down to a much more affordable £174.
It’s said to have a battery life of up to eight weeks from a single charge via USB-C. Similar to the Paperwhite, there’s the option to adjust the shade of the screen from white to amber for reading in the dark or bright sunlight. It’s waterproof, making it a great option for use next to the pool on holiday. However, this doesn’t have a strong as battery life compared to the Paperwhite, which is worth bearing in mind.
It has a 7″ Colorsoft display which is high-contrast, easy on the eyes and ‘paper-like’, which is easier on the eyes. While the colour technology isn’t an outright requirement for ereading, it is only £14 more than the Paperwhite, so we would personally make the upgrade if buying a Kindle at this moment in time.
This model is most often compared to the Kobo Clara Colour, which is £149.99 as standard. The Kobo device has a slightly smaller screen, which is worth noting, and we’ve found it requires charging slightly more, but with access to free books using Libby, it can be a very appealing option.
Kindle Scribe
The Kindle Scribe is over £100 off, but with an original price of £429.99, the lower £304.99 is still quite expensive. The Scribe sets itself aside by being a Kindle and a notebook, all in one. It has a flush-front display with white borders and a Premium Pen that gives the feeling of writing on paper.
There’s the option to scribble down thoughts and doodles straight onto books as inspiration strikes, but there’s also a notebook available when that’s the priority. For those who are taking notes for work or who need to recap, there are built-in AI tools that can easily summarise and refine notes.
The device allows for reading, writing and marking up documents only which is quite handy for those of us trying to limit social media screen time.
Kobo has one device that rivals this with their Kobo Libra Colour (£209.99 as standard), which has colour technology, buttons and writing capability. The screen is smaller and the stylus needs to be bought separately though. The Kobo Stylus 2 is £69.99, which does still work out cheaper than buying the Kindle Scribe discounted.
