There isn’t much time left to buy Christmas gifts. Luckily, you can find great discounts on Amazon’s e-reader right now. Whether you use a Kindle for on-the-go novel reading, making a dent in your magazine subscriptions, or consolidating space by packing thousands of titles within one compact device, Kindle e-readers are portable reading powerhouses — and they’re easily pocketable (mine actually fits in my jacket pocket).
Also: The best holiday deals: Apple products, TVs, laptops, and more
Store anywhere from 250 to 300 e-books on 1GB of available storage on a Kindle, according to the Book Buff. So let’s say you buy a standard Kindle Paperwhite, one of Kindle’s most popular models. The standard model comes with 8GB of storage, which means you could store 2,400 e-books on the e-reader, and even more if you upgrade your storage.
There are a few Kindle models that serve different use cases, like the Kindle Scribe, which doubles as a digital notebook, or the Paperwhite, which offers a thinner design, a waterproof display, and a battery life of ten weeks.
Whether you opt for the original Kindle model or a newer one with features, you can take advantage of these holiday sales on a select number of models and bundles right now. These aren’t the lowest prices we’ve seen, but you can still get up to $70 off certain models.
Best holiday Kindle deals
Current price: $375Original price: $500
Unlike other Kindle models, you can read and write on this one. Annotate your favorite novels, take notes during class, or brush up on your drawing skills with the Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle. The Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle comes with a basic pen for drawing, a fabric folio cover with a magnetic attachment, and a power adapter. The Scribe is front-lit and glare-free, with the longest battery life out of all the Kindle models, so you can spend weeks doodling and reading and mere minutes thinking about re-charging.
Current price: $238Original price: $258
You can grab one of the most popular Kindle models for $20 off right now. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition has a few added features, like a wireless charging dock and a fabric cover to protect your e-reader. Store thousands of books on the device and spend weeks reading them before you even need to consider recharging.
Current price: $245Original price: $265
If you’re interested in snagging a Paperwhite but want one with a leather cover, this Signature Edition Essentials Bundle comes with a gorgeous maroon leather cover, and it’s currently $20 off. Additionally, the bundle includes a wireless charging dock, Wi-Fi without ads, and 32GB of storage. A single charge gives you 10 weeks of reading, and the 300ppi glare-free display is perfect for reading in sunny or shady weather.
Current price: $135Original price: $150
Maybe you don’t want all the bells and whistles that come with the more elevated Kindle models, like the Paperwhite, Scribe, or Oasis. Maybe you just want a nice device for easy reading — oh, and a cover for extra protection. The Kindle Essential bundle takes the flagship e-reader and adds on a case and a power adapter. The original Kindle has 16GB of storage for thousands of books and a battery life that lasts up to six weeks.
ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.
We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.
ZDNET’s top pick for the best Kindle e-reader is the Kindle Paperwhite, thanks to its outstanding battery life, waterproof body, and ease of use. It also has a 6-week battery life.
Plus, the Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof up to 2 meters for 1 hour in freshwater or .25 meters for three minutes in saltwater. This means you won’t have to worry about spills and splashes while reading at the beach or by the pool.
ZDNET’s experts have been searching for holiday deals across sites like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and more. Here are the top deals by category we’ve found so far.