Best buys · The desk

The best e-reader worth buying

Our pick is the Kindle Paperwhite. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The reader

Kindle Paperwhite

Easy on the eyes, a battery measured in weeks, and waterproof enough for the bath. The best way to actually get through the books you keep buying.

Buy it for
Commuters, travelers, anyone who reads in bed.
Skip it if
You read mostly PDFs and textbooks. The screen is too small for them.

The price we have recorded

Lowest price per day across the stores and feeds we track, 2026-09-29 to 2026-10-07 (8 days). Not a store's "was" price: what it actually cost.

Low $4.10High $202

Full price history →

What actually matters when buying an e-reader

  1. A warm light setting, for reading at night without the blue glare.
  2. Waterproofing, if you read in the bath or by the pool.
  3. Storage matters less than it seems. Books are small; audiobooks are not.
  4. Whether the model shows ads on the lock screen. Paying a little more removes them.

Either side of the pick