Best Kindle UK (2026)
Five current Kindles, from the pocket-sized basic model to the 11-inch Scribe you can write on, matched to how you read
Quick answer
- Best for most readersKindle Paperwhite (16GB) – big, sharp, waterproof screen
- Best budgetKindle (16GB) – smallest, lightest and cheapest
- Best upgradeKindle Paperwhite Signature Edition – wireless charging and auto light
- Best for colourKindle Colorsoft (16GB) – comics, cookbooks and covers in colour
- Best for writing notesKindle Scribe Colorsoft – 11-inch screen with a pen
Trying to work out which Kindle to buy? For most readers the answer is the Kindle Paperwhite 16GB: a 7-inch 300ppi glare-free screen, adjustable warm light, IPX8 waterproofing and up to 12 weeks of battery, according to Amazon. If you want the cheapest and smallest, choose the basic Kindle; if you read comics, cookbooks or travel guides, the Kindle Colorsoft adds a colour screen.
This guide covers the current Kindle e-readers sold in the UK. The Kindle Oasis has been discontinued, so it is not included. Prices are bands, not live quotes, and Kindles are often discounted during Amazon sales such as Prime Big Deal Days. Screen sizes, storage and battery figures are Amazon's own claims. Travelling with your Kindle? See our best travel power banks UK guide. A Kindle also makes an easy present; see our best tech gifts UK guide for more ideas.
6–16 weeks
Claimed battery life across current Kindles, based on 30 minutes of reading a day
Source: Amazon UK listings and Kindle comparison pages, researched 30 September 2026
Editor's Choice
Kindle Paperwhite (16GB)
The Kindle to buy for most people: a bigger, sharper, waterproof screen and far longer battery than the basic Kindle, without paying for colour you may not need.
Diagnose your problem
How to choose a Kindle
Most people only need to answer three questions: how big, do you need colour, and will you read in the bath or by the pool?
Problem
6-inch or 7-inch?
The basic Kindle has a 6-inch screen and is the smallest and lightest. The Paperwhite and Colorsoft have 7-inch screens, so more words fit on each page.
Problem
Do you need it waterproof?
The Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft are rated IPX8. The basic Kindle and the Scribe are not waterproof, according to Amazon.
Problem
Do you need colour?
Colorsoft screens show covers, comics, maps and photos in colour. Black-and-white text is still 300ppi, but colour content is 150ppi and the screen looks slightly darker than a Paperwhite.
Problem
Battery and charging
Amazon claims up to 6 weeks for the basic Kindle, up to 12 weeks for the Paperwhite and up to 8 weeks for the Colorsoft, all charged by USB-C. The Signature Edition and Colorsoft also charge wirelessly.
Problem
Do you want to write on it?
Only the Kindle Scribe range comes with a pen, so you can make handwritten notes and write on documents and books. It has a much larger 11-inch screen.
Recommendation
Choose a Scribe only if note-taking matters. For reading alone, a Paperwhite is lighter and much cheaper.
Products
Quick Picks
The best Kindle for each kind of reader
Our Top 5 Picks
Compare all
Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite (16GB)
“The Kindle to buy for most people: a bigger, sharper, waterproof screen and far longer battery than the basic Kindle, without paying for colour you may not need.”
Best for
Anyone who reads regularly, including in the bath or on holiday
Skip it if
you want the smallest possible Kindle or need colour
Pros
- +7-inch 300ppi glare-free screen (Amazon claim)
- +Adjustable warm light for night reading
- +IPX8 waterproof
- +Up to 12 weeks of battery (Amazon claim)
Cons
- −No wireless charging or auto-brightness
- −Cheapest price is the version with lock-screen ads
- −Black and white only
All specifications
| Screen | 7-inch, 300ppi |
| Colour | No |
| Storage | 16GB |
| Battery (claimed) | Up to 12 weeks |
| Waterproof | Yes, IPX8 |
| Extras | Warm light |
Amazon
Kindle (16GB)
“The best budget Kindle and the easiest to carry, as long as you do not need waterproofing or a warm light.”
Best for
First-time e-reader buyers, commuters and children who are ready for their own device
Skip it if
you read in the bath or want a warmer light for bedtime
Pros
- +Smallest and lightest Kindle
- +Sharp 300ppi screen
- +Lowest price band
- +USB-C charging
Cons
- −Not waterproof
- −No warm light
- −Shorter battery than the Paperwhite (up to 6 weeks)
All specifications
| Screen | 6-inch, 300ppi |
| Colour | No |
| Storage | 16GB |
| Battery (claimed) | Up to 6 weeks |
| Waterproof | No |
| Extras | Dark mode |
Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
“The upgrade pick if you want the light to adjust itself and to drop it on a wireless charger, and you are happy to pay a little more for it.”
Best for
Keen readers who want the most convenient Paperwhite, or a gift
Skip it if
you are happy plugging in a USB-C cable every few weeks
Pros
- +Auto-adjusting front light
- +Wireless charging
- +32GB storage
- +No lock-screen ads
Cons
- −Reading experience is the same as the standard Paperwhite
- −Wireless charging dock costs extra
- −Higher price band
All specifications
| Screen | 7-inch, 300ppi |
| Colour | No |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Battery (claimed) | Up to 12 weeks |
| Waterproof | Yes, IPX8 |
| Extras | Auto light, wireless charging, no ads |
Amazon
Kindle Colorsoft (16GB)
“The one to buy if you read graphic novels, cookbooks or travel guides, accepting a slightly darker screen and shorter battery than a Paperwhite.”
Best for
Comic, manga and cookbook readers, and students who like colour highlighting
Skip it if
you mostly read novels in black and white
Pros
- +Colour covers, comics and images
- +Highlight in four colours
- +IPX8 waterproof
- +Warm light
Cons
- −Colour is 150ppi, softer than black-and-white text
- −Shorter battery than the Paperwhite (up to 8 weeks)
- −Costs more than a Paperwhite
All specifications
| Screen | 7-inch, 300ppi mono / 150ppi colour |
| Colour | Yes |
| Storage | 16GB |
| Battery (claimed) | Up to 8 weeks |
| Waterproof | Yes, IPX8 |
| Extras | Warm light, colour highlights |
Amazon
Kindle Scribe Colorsoft (32GB)
“The pick if you want a digital notebook as much as an e-reader. For reading alone it is far more than most people need.”
Best for
Students and professionals who want to read documents and take handwritten notes
Skip it if
you only want to read books
Pros
- +Large 11-inch colour screen
- +Pen included for notes and annotations
- +Google Drive and OneDrive support
- +Very thin at 5.4mm (Amazon claim)
Cons
- −Highest price band by a long way
- −Not waterproof
- −Too big for a pocket or small bag
All specifications
| Screen | 11-inch, 300ppi mono / 150ppi colour |
| Colour | Yes |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Battery (claimed) | Up to 8 weeks reading |
| Waterproof | No |
| Extras | Pen included, notebook, cloud documents |
Compare All Products
Side-by-side specs for quick decision-making
Swipe to compare →
| Product | Screen | Colour | Storage | Battery (claimed) | Waterproof | Extras | Price | Best For | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kindle Paperwhite (16GB)Best Overall | 7-inch, 300ppi | No | 16GB | Up to 12 weeks | Yes, IPX8 | Warm light | £140–£170 | Anyone who reads regularly, including in the bath or on holiday | View |
 Kindle (16GB)Best Budget | 6-inch, 300ppi | No | 16GB | Up to 6 weeks | No | Dark mode | £80–£110 | First-time e-reader buyers, commuters and children who are ready for their own device | View |
 Kindle Paperwhite Signature EditionBest Upgrade | 7-inch, 300ppi | No | 32GB | Up to 12 weeks | Yes, IPX8 | Auto light, wireless charging, no ads | £170–£200 | Keen readers who want the most convenient Paperwhite, or a gift | View |
 Kindle Colorsoft (16GB)Best for Colour | 7-inch, 300ppi mono / 150ppi colour | Yes | 16GB | Up to 8 weeks | Yes, IPX8 | Warm light, colour highlights | £200–£250 | Comic, manga and cookbook readers, and students who like colour highlighting | View |
 Kindle Scribe Colorsoft (32GB)Best for Writing Notes | 11-inch, 300ppi mono / 150ppi colour | Yes | 32GB | Up to 8 weeks reading | No | Pen included, notebook, cloud documents | £500–£580 | Students and professionals who want to read documents and take handwritten notes | View |
Adverts and Kindle Unlimited
Some Kindles are sold "with ads", which show offers on the lock screen, and cost less than the same model without ads. Some listings also bundle a few months of Kindle Unlimited, a paid subscription that renews unless you cancel. Check which version you are buying before you check out.
Research Methodology
How We Chose These Products
This is editorial research, not a screen or battery test. We use qualitative badges and do not assign invented scores.
We compared the current UK Kindle range on reading comfort, screen size and colour, waterproofing, battery life and value, using Amazon UK listings and Amazon's own Kindle comparison pages. Product order is editorial judgement.
Selection Criteria
Reading comfort
30% weightScreen size, sharpness, front light and warm light
Value
25% weightWhat each step up in price actually adds
Waterproofing
15% weightWhether it is rated IPX8 for the bath, pool or beach
Battery and charging
15% weightClaimed battery life, USB-C and wireless charging
Amazon UK listing health
15% weightRatings volume and availability on 30 September 2026
Important Limitations
- •TopMagpie did not run screen, battery or waterproofing tests. Specs are Amazon claims.
- •No live prices: bands only. Kindles are often discounted during Amazon sales.
- •Listing health was checked on 30 September 2026; stock and prices change.
Research last conducted: · Price bands checked:
Frequently Asked Questions
People also ask about Kindles
For most people, the Kindle Paperwhite 16GB. It has a 7-inch 300ppi screen, warm light, waterproofing and up to 12 weeks of battery, according to Amazon. Choose the basic Kindle to save money, or the Colorsoft if you want colour.
Usually, yes. You get a bigger 7-inch screen, a warm light, IPX8 waterproofing and roughly double the claimed battery life. The basic Kindle is better only if size and price matter most.
The screen and reading experience are the same. The Signature Edition adds an auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging, 32GB of storage instead of 16GB, and no lock-screen ads.
It is worth it if you read comics, graphic novels, cookbooks or travel guides, or want colour highlights. For novels, a Paperwhite has a slightly brighter, crisper screen and longer battery for less money.
The Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft are rated IPX8. The basic Kindle and the Kindle Scribe range are not waterproof, according to Amazon.
Kindles sold "with ads" show offers on the lock screen when the device is asleep, not inside your books. They cost less than the same model without ads.
UK library apps generally do not send books straight to Kindles the way some US libraries do. If library borrowing is important to you, check your library's e-book app before buying.
Yes. Current Kindles can play Audible audiobooks through Bluetooth headphones or speakers. They do not have a headphone jack or built-in speaker.
Kindles are often discounted during Amazon sales such as Prime Big Deal Days in October, Black Friday and Prime Day in the summer. We show price bands only, so check the live price before you buy.
Ready to pick a Kindle?
Our #1, the Kindle Paperwhite 16GB, gives most readers the best screen, waterproofing and battery for the money.
View #1 Pick on Amazon UKDisclosure & Editorial Policy
Amazon Affiliate: TopMagpie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme. We earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't affect our editorial choices or the prices you pay.
No Lab Testing: We have not laboratory-tested these products. Recommendations are based on spec analysis, reviews, and editorial judgement.
Prices: Approximate bands, checked . Amazon prices change frequently – always verify the current price before purchasing. We do not invent live prices.
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