Amazon launched the first Kindle back in 2007, and its various iterations have remained the top tablets for reading ever since. Beyond multiple generations of the original e-reader, a slew of other models have been released, discontinued, and updated. Four main models of the Amazon Kindle are currently available: the Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Colorsoft, and Kindle Scribe.
Click to find out more about each model:
Each connects directly to the Kindle Store, which remains one of the best places to buy books online, making it easy to add reading material to your Kindle library. Avid readers may even want to consider a Kindle Unlimited subscription, while your local library card gives you access to an astonishing collection of free books.
The most popular Kindles are the original and the Paperwhite, which was first introduced in 2012. Both serve exclusively as e-readers, with minimal functionality beyond that. In fall 2024, Amazon dropped the first color Kindle, the Colorsoft, adding a colorful e-ink display that’s perfect for reading magazines, comics, and graphic novels. For even more functionality, the Kindle Scribe offers a bigger screen and adds stylus support for note-taking. The first model was released in 2022, and the second generation came out in 2025, along with the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which features a color display.
Kindle (11th Gen)
The 11th-gen Kindle is ultralight and compact, with a 6-inch e-ink front-lit display that’s 25% brighter than previous generations. It’s the most basic and affordable model in the Kindle lineup, so you can also expect slightly slower performance and a shorter battery life. Still, this device is ultra-light and compact, making it ideal for portability. However, this model lacks waterproofing. A Kids Edition is also available, and comes with a case and a longer two-year warranty, including a free replacement if it breaks.
Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen)
With a bigger, brighter 7-inch display and faster performance than its predecessor, the 12th-gen Kindle Paperwhite is the best e-ink tablet for most users. It also offers IPX8 waterproofing, so rainfall or a quick accidental dip in the pool shouldn’t brick the device. Beyond that, the upgraded warm lighting from the original Kindle makes for a more pleasant viewing experience.
Along with the basic Paperwhite, a Signature Edition provides an additional 32GB of storage, wireless charging, and auto-adjusting lights. A Kids version also offers a case, a longer warranty, and a few other features similar to the Kindle Kids.
Kindle Colorsoft (1st Gen)
Released in 2024, the Kindle Colorsoft is Amazon’s first full-color e-reader. In 2025, we got a refreshed version that fixes the yellow banding distortion at the bottom of the display. This colorful tablet is ideal for reading comics, magazines, and other content with color pictures or illustrations. It has a 7-inch display with 300ppi black-and-white and 150ppi color resolutions, plus pretty much all the features of the Kindle Paperwhite, including the option to get a Signature Edition and Kids version.
Kindle Scribe (3rd Generation)
The Kindle Scribe offers more functionality than other Kindle models, as it’s a digital notebook with stylus support. In addition to using it as a reading tool, the Scribe is handy for jotting down notes, sketching, and more using the included Pro Pen. This model is thinner and faster than the last generation, with an upgraded 11-inch e-ink display that offers a textured, more paperlike surface. It’s even possible to import documents from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
Compared to other Kindle models, the Scribe is much larger for more space to work, but the IPX8 waterproofing and battery life are on par. Coming in two storage capacities, 32GB or 64GB dependent on needs, there's also model without a front light for something a bit more budget-friendly.
The Kindle Scribe is also available with a Colorsoft display. It’s essentially a larger 11-inch version of the Kindle Colorsoft with pen support. In our Kindle Scribe Colosoft review, Bill Loguidice found it “delivers arguably the best color E Ink screen on the market and incredibly responsive stylus support, its big price and restrictive software keep it from being a universal recommendation over a traditional tablet.”
Neither the Kindle Scribe nor the Kindle Scribe Colosoft is available in Kids or Signature Editions.
