Best Kindle 2022: Which Amazon e-reader should you buy?

The latest entry in the Paperwhite series remains the sweet spot in the Kindle lineup.

Amazon’s popular eReader now has a larger 6.8-inch that has the adjustable heat previously reserved for the Oasis model. Battery life is also improved, and the switch to USB-C has finally arrived.

There’s very little to dislike here, unless you really need physical page-turning buttons. The slightly higher price might deter some, so check out the 2018 Paperwhite while it’s still on sale if you need something cheaper.

The standard Kindle’s 2022 refresh was overdue, but there’s one change that makes it instantly worth buying. Amazon has finally ditched micro USB charging in favor of industry standard USB-C, meaning it finally feels like a modern device.

However, you probably won’t use it much. The regular Kindle still lasts for weeks on a single charge, while limitations on sideloading books mean you’re likely relying on the Kindle Store.

But with an improved display with backlighting and solid performance, it’s easier than ever to recommend if you’re considering a Kindle. That’s true despite the lack of waterproofing, a scratch-prone body, and having to pay an extra $10/£10 to remove the ads.

The Kindle Paperwhite is now available in a new Signature Edition and although it’s cheaper than the Oasis, it has features that even the most expensive Kindle doesn’t bring to the table.

It’s mostly USB-C and wireless charging so you can top it up much more easily, although the great battery life means that might not be very often.

It also has 32GB of storage if you need a lot of space, but is otherwise very similar to the later standard Paperwhite. If self-adjusting sensors worked better, it would be with a nod from the board.

The Kindle Scribe is Amazon’s first-ever eReader that supports pen input, which means it’s touted as a great device for note taking as well as reading.

But while the experience using the included stylus on that large 10.2-inch screen is excellent, it’s let down by a poor software experience. You can’t write directly on books (only PDFs), with Amazon forcing you to highlight a passage and add a barely visible sticky note instead. Notebook organization also needs work.

However, if you’re just looking for a larger version of the Kindle, the Scribe is a great choice. The 300ppi screen is a joy to use, while great battery life and durable construction remain.

At this price, however, most people can get a great Kindle for a fraction of the cost of the Scribe. Its flaws could theoretically be fixed with a software update, but it’s a risk to buy one hoping for that.

The Paperwhite range now has a Kids Edition and although it is more expensive than the regular Kindle Kids Edition, it offers better value for money thanks to the more impressive spec set, plus a case and to an included subscription.

You’ll get device-saving waterproofing as well as a bigger screen, flush design, higher resolution, and adjustable warm light (with a lot more LEDs)

Performance is also faster and it’s easy to share the Kindle if you want to use it too. All in all, worth the extra money if you ask us.

As you’d expect, the Oasis is one of the best Kindles you can buy in terms of specs and the features it offers. We can’t complain too much that the price remains the same and the eReader now has an adjustable warm light.

However, we would like a few more advancements such as USB-C and even a headphone jack. It’s also a shame that Amazon ditched the magnetic case of the previous Oasis in favor of a full wraparound design.

With the introduction of the Paperwhite Signature Edition, there’s even less reason to buy the Oasis unless you really want a metal design with dedicated page turn buttons.

Another kind of tablet for kids, the Kindle removes distractions from apps, games, and other things and ensures they can focus on reading.

You get a 12-month subscription to Fire for Kids Unlimited / FreeTime Unlimited which includes over 1000 books for kids of different ages. There’s also 8GB of storage which is double the cheapest Kindle.

The selection isn’t the best it can be, but overall it’s a decent set for the money. If you’re not too concerned about those extras, you can save some money by just getting the regular Kindle.

It’s also worth noting that there’s a 2022 version of the Kindle Kids Edition, which also gets a better screen and USB-C.