This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET's guide to everything you need to know and how to make sure you are getting the best deal.
If you're in the market for a dedicated e-reader, Amazon will again be getting great discounts on some of its Kindle e-readers as part of Prime Day 2020. The Kindle Paperwhite costs $ 80, or $ 50 off the all-time low of $ 5.
Additionally, if this isn't the kind of Kindle deal you're looking for, Amazon has announced that the Kids Edition of its entry-level Kindle, which now has a built-in light, will cost $ 75 or $ 35 less than the list price of $ 110. The Kindle Kids Edition includes a case and one year Kid Plus subscription to Amazon valued at $ 36.
Continue reading: Best e-reader for 2020
In addition, Amazon is offering $ 5 credit for "every Kindle book" when purchasing select Kindle devices.
Like most other Prime Day sales, these are expected to start on Tuesday, October 13th at 12:01 am local time and last up to 48 hours. If you don't see the deal you hoped for, don't lose hope - experience has shown us that more Prime Day Kindle deals are likely to follow.
It's unclear whether the high-end Kindle Oasis or the basic Kindle (non-kids edition) will also be available for sale, but we'll keep an eye on their prices as Amazon often puts previously unannounced deals on its devices in the stores Prime Day is postponing.
David Carnoy / CNET
These are the Goldilocks in the Amazon line and our current selection of CNET editors in that category. Here are a few things we love about the Kindle Paperwhite:
- It's 10% thinner and lighter than the previous version.
- It has a "flush" design with a back made of a softer, grippy material instead of hard plastic.
- It's a fully waterproof Kindle like the high-end Kindle Oasis and has a plastic screen that Amazon says is shatterproof and scratch-resistant.
- It has built-in bluetooth so you can download Amazon Audible audiobooks and listen to them with wireless headphones.
Note that Amazon may update the Kindle Paperwhite in 2020 (it was released in November 2018). In this case, it is unclear how much an upgrade will be. For example, a USB-C charge could be added and possibly the lighting scheme updated, but we wouldn't expect any dramatic improvements. Read our Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018) review.
David Carnoy / CNET
The latest version of Amazon's entry-level e-book reader, which Amazon simply calls Kindle, now has a self-illuminating screen and an improved design. At $ 90, this e-book reader costs $ 10 more than its predecessor, Kindle 2016, but this Kindle device regularly sells for just $ 60. We prefer the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite with a high-resolution display (text and images appear a bit sharper), waterproof and with a slightly better lighting scheme. However, if you don't want to spend a lot on an e-reader, the standard Kindle is a good option, especially if it's discounted.
The Kids Edition for sale here includes a case - there are 4 case options to choose from - plus a year of Amazon Kids Plus (FreeTime Unlimited), which typically costs $ 3 per month and gives you access to hundreds of children's books. Amazon Kids Plus contains the complete Harry Potter series and the first book from other popular series such as Artemis Fowl.