The Kindle model that most people should buy just got $25 off ahead of Black Friday

Kindle is not like other tablets or smart devices; their sole purpose is to be as close to tablet counterpart as possible, providing distraction-free reading, battery life that lasts for weeks, and a screen that’s easy to view no matter the environment.

This means that Kindle customers and fans aren’t expecting cutting-edge technology from the new version. They just want a great device with important but minimal touches that improve on the previous generation.

Also: The Best Kindles You Can Buy

This is especially true Kindle base modelThe most affordable and least feature-rich model in the new Kindle lineup, which includes the updated Paperwhite, Scribe, and the all-new Colorsoft model (the first full-color Kindle model). The base model doesn’t have the adjustable warm light of the Paperwhite, the drawing capabilities of the Scribe, or the vibrant colors of the Colorsoft. What 2024 Kindle However, there is a beautiful and effective simplicity.

I’ve spent some time reading and experimenting with the new base Kindle model, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for your first e-reader or upgrading from a Kindle you bought over two years ago.

Amazon released the previous base Kindle model in 2022. The 2024 version retains most of the base model’s features, with a few exceptions. These include different body colors (matcha and black), brighter front light, higher contrast ratio and faster page turning speed.

Also: this E Ink reader, which almost replaced my Android phone, is on sale for a record low price.

The Matcha colorway is nice and fun, much brighter than the Navy or Black options from the 2022 lineup. One of my favorite features of the base model is how pocketable and portable it is due to its compact size.

The display size is the same six inches – a suitable size for reading on the go. 1072 x 1448 screen resolution, weight 5.56 ounces. weight and six-week battery life remain unchanged, too.

I spent the weekend engrossed in e-books (especially the newest Emily Henry novel) that I borrowed from my library. One busy Saturday, I hid my Kindle in my dress pocket so I could read on the subway in between errands. That day, my friend and I were walking around the city, and I kept the e-reader in my pocket, where I barely noticed it the entire way.

On a lazy Sunday morning, I was lying in bed on my side, reading my Kindle with one hand, something I could never do with a physical novel because of how awkward it is to hold it with both hands.

While I was reading, I noticed that the speed of turning pages and loading books was significantly faster than on my Kindle Oasis or Kindle Paperwhite 2022. I tested my old Paperwhite and the new Kindle and found that the new Kindle turns pages just a tad. faster than Paperwhite.

As for battery life, I can’t confirm that this e-reader will last the advertised six weeks because I only tested the Kindle for a week. That said, six weeks is a long time between charges, and so far I haven’t experienced any dramatic dips in battery life.

Also: Amazon just released four new Kindles, including a full-color model.

For the person who likes to add to their physical book collection and also likes to check out a variety of novels and non-fiction books from the library, the Kindle is a great device for reading and renting books that you might never borrow or buy, but that everyone still interesting. I can fit this portable device into my pocket or work bag and read on the bus, before or after work, or while waiting for a doctor’s appointment.

Because reading is its only function, Kindle offers a truly distraction-free interface that makes completing reading assignments for high school or college students less intrusive than on a laptop or tablet.

I don’t use Kindle to replace regular books. Instead, I’m using Kindle to expand into types and genres of books I never planned to own. An e-reader (with the help of a library card) allows you to expand the range of literature you read and try different authors and stories that you would never fit in your bag, suitcase or bookcase.

ZDNET Buying Tips

If you haven’t bought an e-reader before or are thinking about buying one for a loved one for the holidays, I would recommend it without a doubt. this kindle. It has all the features you need in a decent e-reader, such as a bright display, fast responsiveness, long battery life, and great color—all at a good price.

Since many features remain unchanged, moving from the 2022 base model to Base model 2024isn’t the smartest thing to do unless you’re happy with your 2022 Kindle’s color, page-turn speed, or display brightness and are willing to spend $110 to change it.

If you want another inch of display, more colors for your ereader, adjustable warm light for reading in different environments, and double the battery life, you can upgrade to Paperwhite, which is $50 more expensivebut I can read just fine with the base model, I love the pastel mint Matcha color and compact display, and I can certainly charge my Kindle every six weeks, so spending $50 more seems silly.

This article was originally published on October 29, 2024 and updated on November 14, 2024.