The Best Kindle for Most People at the Lowest Price on Prime Day
Prime Day 2025 runs from Tuesday, July 8 through Friday, July 11, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price tracking tools.
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New to Prime Day? We’ve got the lowdown on everything you need to know . Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
Last year, the Kindle Paperwhite received a long-awaited update , increasing the screen size and improving the e-reader’s speed. The new 7-inch screen is slightly larger than the previous model, but the new processor makes the 12th-generation Paperwhite quite fast. This new device also has a better display, with a softer white background and less blue tint. This provides both improved contrast and a much more enjoyable reading experience.
Prime Day is the biggest discount we’ve seen on the Kindle Paperwhite. You can snag the model with lock screen ads for $124.99 ( the previous low was $129.99 ), down from its sticker price of $159.99. The ad-free model (which you have to buy) will set you back $144.99 , down from its retail price of $179.99.
Great first Kindle
If you already have an 11th-generation Kindle Paperwhite, there’s no rush to buy the latest model. But if you’re using an older Kindle or are planning to buy your first Kindle, now is the time, and this is the right model. The Paperwhite features a 300 ppi (pixels per inch) display with 16 levels of backlighting, as well as an optional warm backlight.
I started reading ebooks back in 2010 with the first generation of Nook e-readers, and as someone who has used Kindle Paperwhite models for over six years, I can confidently say that the Paperwhite is the way to go. The basic Kindle is fine too (also with a smaller 300 ppi display), but it’s nowhere near as fast or sharp as the Paperwhite.
PCMag agrees. In their review, they gave the 12th generation Kindle Paperwhite an outstanding 4.5-star rating and an Editors’ Choice award. The review notes that “Amazon’s 2024 Kindle Paperwhite builds on its predecessor’s success by increasing its screen size and speed,” and that “the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite gives you most of what the Kindle line has to offer at a better price, making it the model we recommend for most people and an Editors’ Choice winner.”
Other Kindles for sale
As expected for Prime Day, all of the core Kindle models are on sale. If you’re looking for something bigger than the Paperwhite, consider the Paperwhite Signature Edition , which comes with 32GB of storage, more color options, automatically adjusting light sensors, and wireless charging support. The Signature Edition is discounted from $199.99 to $149.99.
If you want color on your Kindle, check out the Kindle Colorsoft , which is down from $279.99 to $179.99, the biggest savings so far. However, based on a review by Lifehacker assistant tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt , the Kindle Colorsoft doesn’t live up to the hype, as “the technology still has too many flaws to satisfy most people.”
The basic version of the Kindle is also on sale. You can get the ad-supported model for just $84.99 (down from $109.99), and the ad-free model for $104.99 (down from $129.99).
Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Home Depot are running Prime Day sales that are especially helpful if you don’t have Amazon Prime.
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Walmart’s Prime Day sale starts at midnight on July 8 and includes discounts of up to 50% . It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+.
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Best Buy’s Prime Day sale , “Black Friday in July,” runs through Sunday, July 13, and offers some of the best tech sales online . It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member.
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Home Depot has extended its July 4 sale through at least July 9, competing with some of its own great deals . It’s a particularly good option if you’re looking for power tools, appliances, or outdoor gear.