While there will always be something special about the smell, feel and nostalgia of physical book, the appeal of an Amazon Kindle with its ability to hold an entire library of novels is unmatched. Lightweight, glare-free and designed for long reading sessions, the ereaders make it easy to get through everything from a page-turning holiday read to a revealing autobiography – all without ever worrying about weight or cracked spines.
The catch has always been the price, but with Amazon Prime Day upon us, that worry has been waived. Amazon’s four-day sale (running 23–26 June) has brought down the cost of the retailer’s best-selling Kindles, with reductions appearing across multiple e-readers, including the Paperwhite and entry-level model.
For anyone tired of choosing which paperback makes the cut in a suitcase or commuting with a book that weighs more than their bag, this is the week when turning to a Kindle could actually pay off. Below, I’m rounding up the offers I’d recommend grabbing – while they last.
Follow live: The latest Amazon Prime Day deals
Kindle scribe, 32GB, with premium pen: Was £399.99, now £244, Amazon.co.uk
.png)
open image in galleryThis 10.2in ereader comes with a stylus, so you can make notes alongside whatever you’re reading. In bookworm Thomas Deehan’s guide to the best e-readers, he found that “the 10.2in screen is also lovely to use when reading at a table, and illustrations have plenty of room to spread out.” There’s a huge library of paper types to write on, too – from plain and ruled paper to day planners, to-do lists and diaries.
All of this comes at a price, though, with the device usually costing more than an entry-level iPad. A discount of almost 40 per cent – specifically, £155 – for Prime Day is welcome news.
Kindle, newest generation: Was £94.99, now £79, Amazon.co.uk
.png)
open image in galleryAlready the cheapest Kindle Amazon produces, this model has been reduced by 15 per cent in the retailer’s Prime Day sale. In tech critic Steve Hogarty’s guide to the best Kindles, he found that the standard kindle offers “Everything you need in a modern ereader with none of the frills.” He wrote that it boasts “a decently sharp, 6in, 300dpi e-ink display; around six weeks of battery life; USB-C charging; front-lighting using LEDs; and around 12GB of useable storage”.
Compared with pricier Kindles, the lighting is a stark blue-white when reading in the dark, rather than a warm amber, but if you’re looking for a basic Kindle, this deal is worth snapping up.
Kindle paperwhite: Was £159.99, now £119, Amazon.co.uk
.png)
open image in galleryThe Kindle paperwhite was tech expert Thomas Deehan’s favourite premium model in his guide to the best e-readers. In his review, he praised the Kindle paperwhite for being “the most luxurious way of experiencing Amazon’s library of ebooks.” A big upgrade on the original ereaders for only a modest price increase, the screen size has shot up from 6in to 6.8in, with the same 300ppi resolution as the (now discontinued) Kindle oasis.
“As a new father who only has time to read during the early hours of the morning or when I’m settling into bed, the warm light on the Kindle Paperwhite is much appreciated at these times as it stops the backlight from feeling too harsh on your eyes, but still offering up enough clarity that you won’t be left squinting at what’s onscreen”, Deehan added. “The larger 7in display is also great for those who prefer having their text slightly bigger, with plenty of space for it to spread out.”
Now’s the time to buy, with Amazon reducing the Kindle paperwhite to its lowest price over the past year this Prime Day.
For more expert advice, we’re answering all of your Amazon Prime Day questions