What’s the difference between all the Kindles Amazon have on offer? It can be a bit confusing, as some of them seem to be for kids, some have pens and others are in colour. Which one will suit you?

To help you decide, I’ll take you through the entire range. It’s a great time to consider getting a Kindle, as they’ve just released new models. This guide includes everything they announced in October and I’ll keep it updated.

Before we get going though, I think it would be helpful to point out that a Kindle is very different from a Fire Tablet. A Kindle is designed for reading books. Aside from the ability to access the Kindle store and allow you to sync and play Audible audiobooks, there are no apps or online features.

Although There are e-readers from other manufacturers with different formats, an Amazon Kindle is designed for Amazon Kindle books, that you get from them.

So why would you want a Kindle?

As they’re just designed for reading, Kindles have a huge battery life. We’re talking weeks, even if you’re using them a lot. All Kindle’s have illuminated screens now, making reading in low light easy.

You can also sync your entire Kindle library, allowing you to take all your books with you.

As I said, you can also listen to Audible audiobooks and use their Whispersync feature on selective titles. This allows you to seamlessly switch between the ebook and audiobook versions.

They are also light and easy to use. Everything is very simple without apps and endless features. More importantly, you can highlight sections of text and make notes. These can be synced between devices and you can even view highlights other people have made.

Kindle books are often a lot cheaper and they are very easy to use and access. You can also get reading apps on most devices to access your library.

In terms of what I cover the site, the right book can really make a difference when it comes to wellbeing. Reading is also a great way to relax and unwind. I honestly find my Kindle essential and I’ve been using them since 2010.

What is Kindle for Kids?

This is probably the most confusing thing about the Kindle range. To make it easy, the ‘Kindle Kids’ and ‘Kindle Paperwhite Kids’ readers are identical to both the Kindle and the Kindle Paperwhite. They just offer different features.

Firstly you get a very comprehensive 2 year warranty, that covers a lot more than the standard 1 year warranty on the others. They clearly have kids in mind with this.

You also get 6 months of Kindle Kids+, a content subscription that offers books for 3 - 12 year olds, in addition to features such as videos for other Amazon devices. At the time of writing this is £4.99 a month for Prime members, with annual discounts available.

Parents also have control over the device and can set limits when needed.

Why do some say ‘with ads’?

By default, Kindles feature Amazon ads. They are usually for books and unlike Fire tablets (where they seem to be everywhere) they’re quite unobtrusive. You can pay extra for a device without ads though, and Amazon have traditionally added a feature where you can pay for this after you buy one.

Which Kindle will suit you?

There are four models available and I’ll take you through each one. As you’ll see, it’s not just about what you can afford. It’s really a question of what you’re going to use it for.

Kindle

This is the standard model. The battery should last around 6 weeks and it has the same amount of storage as the Paperwhite. It features a 6” glare-free screen with adjustable front light that is 25% Brighter than previous versions. This one will suit casual readers who just want something simple. The Kindle is currently £94.99, with a Kids version available for £114.99

If you’re thinking of upgrading, I’d probably only be tempted if I had an older device. It’s should definitely be worth it if yours doesn’t have a back light.

Kindle Paperwhite

I’ll get straight to it. The extra £65 gives you double the battery life, a bigger and better screen and faster page turns. It’s also waterproof. You should immediately see and feel the difference when you try one of these. It’s currently £159.99 and theres a Signature Edition for £189.99 that offers wireless charging and an auto-adjusting light. The Kids version (of the standard £159.99 model) is £169.99.

If you’re thinking of upgrading from a standard Kindle, this one should deliver. I’d think carefully if you already own a Paperwhite though, as 25% page turns and a better display probably won’t justify all that money. I’d probably look at the next two in the range.

Kindle Coloursoft

This is new technology. A colour Kindle has finally arrived, and it’s nothing like a tablet. You get the same feel and features of a Kindle, including a long battery life (of around 8 weeks). As well as bringing colour images to life, you can choose the colour of the page while you read. It’s expensive though, at £269.99. I’d think carefully about what you’re going to use it for. Are colour images essential on a screen this size?

Kindle Scribe

The second generation of this device has arrived. It’s different. It’s a lot larger and features a pen to write notes. This new one also lets you write in your books and you can send your notes to yourself via email. It has the same 12 week battery life of the Paperwhite and you can choose storage. I’d think carefully though. What big books will you need to read in black and white? It’s also more expensive than an iPad and very close to the superior reMarkable tablet range.

I haven’t seen anything that suggests it’s worth upgrading from the previous model at this price. It’s also a very different device from the others in this range. The Kindle Scribe starts at £379.99 for the 16GB version

Conclusions

The Paperwhite has to be the obvious choice for most people. I think that extra £65 is worth it for all the extra features. I personally consider the Coloursoft an expensive prototype. The colour technology is likely to get cheaper though and make its way into the rest of the range in time.

You probably won’t be surprised when I say that I just can’t recommend a Scribe. Certainly not until it’s cheaper, has more advanced note taking features or is in colour.

I hope this helped and you now have a better understanding of the Amazon Kindle range and what they all do. As I’ve said, I’ll keep this updated so please bookmark it and keep checking back. If you are interested in getting one, it’s worth considering that they are often on sale. Black Friday and Prime Day sales are definitely ones to look out for.

Finally, like my other guides I’d just like to remind you that I don’t get to test these products. Please check anything important with Amazon, or the retailer if you’re getting them somewhere else.

The Wellbeing Website is far more than this. Take a look at the menu to see how I can help you. Make sure you follow what I do as well. It’s growing all the time.