Black Friday 2026: Kindle deals
worth waiting for (and the old models to skip)
Our best buy is the Kindle Paperwhite (newest model). Amazon raised Kindle prices in August, and its own devices are where it usually cuts hardest on Black Friday. Here is our buy, wait or skip call on every current Kindle, and the older models that look like deals but are not.
How we picked: we shortlist by Amazon Best Seller rank and number of ratings, then compare published specs. We don't test these products hands-on.
By Jamilur Rahman, Founder & Editor · Updated October 18, 2026
- Owner reviews checked
- Features side by side
- Quick & easy compare
- Smarter purchase
The short answer
Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27 (Cyber Monday is November 30), but Amazon has not announced its 2026 sale dates yet. In past years its Black Friday deals started about a week before Black Friday and ran through Cyber Monday, so if it repeats the pattern, early Kindle deals would start around November 20. Today is October 18, so you have about six weeks to plan.
Kindle prices went up this year: Amazon raised its US Kindle prices in August 2026 amid higher memory costs, and Amazon’s own devices have historically been among the items it cuts hardest on Black Friday. Our plan: wait on the newest Paperwhite, Kindle, Colorsoft and Scribe, buy the Kids Kindle now because its case and a year of Kids+ are already in the price, and skip the 2024 Colorsoft (and the 2024 Kindle and Paperwhite) because Amazon now lists newer models. Prime Big Deal Days already ran on October 6–7.
Waiting is the wrong call if a Kindle is a gift you must have in hand early. Then buy the Paperwhite and accept the risk. One thing to check on any Kindle: most come in a cheaper ad-supported version and a pricier ad-free one. We checked every listing on October 18, 2026. Prices change by the hour, so tap through to see today’s price.
Compare them side by side
Everything that matters, in one table. Swipe to see all 6.
| Product | Best Kindle to Wait For Kindle Paperwhite (newest model) 7" e-reader (16 GB) |  Best Cheap Kindle to Wait For Kindle (newest model) 6" e-reader (16 GB) |  Best Color Kindle to Wait For Kindle Colorsoft (newest model) 7" color e-reader (16 GB) |  Biggest Saving Potential Kindle Scribe 11" e-reader and notebook (32 GB) |  Best Buy Now Kids Kindle (newest model) 6" e-reader with case and Kids+ |  Skip This One Kindle Colorsoft (2024 model) 7" color e-reader (16 GB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore | 93 / 100 | 86 / 100 | 88 / 100 | 87 / 100 | 88 / 100 | 80 / 100 |
| Our call | Wait | Wait | Wait | Wait | Buy | Skip |
| Best for | Anyone who reads a lot | A light, cheap first Kindle | Comics, graphic novels and cookbooks | Students and note-takers | A gift for a reader aged 6 to 12 | Only at a price well below the newest model |
| Typical price (checked October 18, 2026) | $200–$220 | $160–$180 | $280–$300 | $490–$510 | $170–$190 | $280–$300 |
| Model | Newest model (current) | Newest model (current) | Newest model (current) | Newest model (current) | Newest model (current) | 2024 model |
| Newer model out? | No | No | No | No | No | Yes, a newest model is listed |
| Why it’s here | The Kindle most people should buy | Thinner, lighter and faster than before | Color e-ink in a thinner body | The highest-priced Kindle, so waiting saves the most | Case and a year of Kids+ are included | Same price as the newer one |
| Key features |
|
|
|
|
|
|
BeastScore here is our overall rating out of 100, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Prices change daily, so tap "View on Amazon" for today's price. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Why each one made the list
What each pick does best, where it falls short, and the typical Amazon price when we checked.
- 1. Best Kindle to Wait For
Kindle Paperwhite (newest model)
BeastScore 93 / 100Typically $200–$220 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)The newest Paperwhite is the Kindle most people should buy. The listing describes a thinner, lighter body, a 7-inch display, a waterproof design, an adjustable warm light and up to 12 weeks of battery. Amazon raised Kindle prices in August 2026, and Amazon’s own devices have historically been among the items it cuts hardest on Black Friday, so this is the one worth timing. The price band covers both versions: the ad-supported one costs less, the ad-free one more. Wait, and buy if a deal beats today’s price.
Pros- Up to 12 weeks of battery, longer than the basic Kindle or the Colorsoft
- Waterproof, so it is safe by the pool or in the bath
- A 7-inch glare-free screen with a warm light for night reading
Cons- Brand new, with no owner reviews yet when we checked
- The ad-free version costs more than the ad-supported one
- Costs more than the basic Kindle
- 2. Best Cheap Kindle to Wait For
Kindle (newest model)
BeastScore 86 / 100Typically $160–$180 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)The newest Kindle is the small, cheap one: a 6-inch display, a thinner and lighter body and up to 6 weeks of battery. The listing says books open 30% faster than on the previous Kindle, and it works with Amazon’s Kindle Click page-turn remote, which is sold separately. It is the Kindle that makes the easiest gift if the price falls. It is new, with few owner reviews so far, and the listing does not mention waterproofing. Wait for a Black Friday price you like, and skip the 2024 version unless it is clearly cheaper.
Pros- The cheapest of the current Kindles in this guide
- Faster page turns and book opening, per the listing
- Easy to carry in a pocket or small bag
Cons- A smaller 6" screen than the Paperwhite
- The listing does not mention waterproofing
- New, with few owner reviews so far
- 3. Best Color Kindle to Wait For
Kindle Colorsoft (newest model)
BeastScore 88 / 100Typically $280–$300 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)The newest Colorsoft keeps the Paperwhite’s 7-inch size and adds a paper-like color display, aimed at comics, graphic novels and anything with pictures. The listing says it is waterproof, ad-free, lasts up to 8 weeks per charge and has an adjustable warm light and Dark Mode. You can highlight in five colors. It costs more than the Paperwhite, and you only need it if you read in color. Wait for a sale, and do not confuse it with the 2024 Colorsoft, which is listed at about the same price.
Pros- A color screen that suits comics, cookbooks and covers
- Waterproof and ad-free, per the listing
- Highlight in yellow, orange, blue, pink or green
Cons- Costs noticeably more than the Paperwhite
- Battery life is shorter than the Paperwhite’s
- Brand new, with no owner reviews yet when we checked
- 4. Biggest Saving Potential
Kindle Scribe
BeastScore 87 / 100Typically $490–$510 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)The Kindle Scribe is the Kindle you can write on. It has an 11-inch glare-free display with a front light and a built-in notebook with AI tools that summarize and search your notes. The listing says the included pen never needs charging, and it is 5.4 mm thin and 400 g, with writing and page turns Amazon says are 40% faster than before. At this price the Scribe is the Kindle where waiting can save the most money, and Amazon’s own devices have historically been among the items it cuts hardest on Black Friday. Wait.
Pros- A big 11-inch screen for PDFs, notes and large print
- The pen is included and needs no charging, per the listing
- AI notebook tools to summarize and search your notes
Cons- The most expensive Kindle here
- Heavier than the Paperwhite, at about 400 g
- Only worth it if you will actually write on it
- 5. Best Buy Now
Kids Kindle (newest model)
BeastScore 88 / 100Typically $170–$190 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)The Kids Kindle is the one Kindle where the extras are already in the price. The listing includes a one-year Kids+ subscription (books for ages 6 to 12), an artist-designed case, definitions for hard words and parental tools to set bedtime hours and follow reading. It has a glare-free 6-inch display and up to 6 weeks of battery. The price is only a little above the regular Kindle, so there is less to gain by waiting. Buy it now if it is a holiday gift. Kids+ renews automatically after the first year, so cancel if you do not want it.
Pros- A case and a year of Kids+ are already included
- Parental tools for bedtime hours and reading progress
- No apps, games or notifications to distract
Cons- Kids+ renews automatically after the first year
- A 6" screen and no waterproofing mentioned
- New, with few owner reviews so far
- 6. Skip This One
Kindle Colorsoft (2024 model)
BeastScore 80 / 100Typically $280–$300 on Amazon (checked October 18, 2026)The 2024 Colorsoft was Amazon’s first color Kindle, and it is still on sale: a 7-inch color display, 16 GB and up to 8 weeks of battery. But the listing says a newer model exists, and the newest Colorsoft is listed at about the same price while being thinner and lighter. At the same price, the older one is not a deal. The same goes for the 2024 Kindle and the 2024 Paperwhite: skip them unless a Black Friday price puts them well below the newest versions.
Pros- A color screen for comics and covers
- Well reviewed by owners
- Sold by Amazon.com when we checked
Cons- Amazon lists a newer model at about the same price
- Thicker and heavier than the newest model
- Amazon’s own listing points buyers to the newer model
All 6 compared, in one look
See every pick on one chart, or tap one to put it head to head with Kindle Paperwhite (newest model). Ratings out of 10 are our estimates from published specs and Amazon owner reviews, not hands-on tests. Bigger shape = better.
- Value todayKids Kindle (newest model) · 9.0/10
- Reading comfortKindle Scribe · 9.6/10
- BatteryKindle Paperwhite (newest model) · 9.8/10
- ExtrasKindle Scribe · 9.9/10
- Years of useTie
Which one should you buy?
Find your situation below. That's your pick.
WaitAmazon raised Kindle prices in August, and its own devices are where it cuts hardest on Black Friday. Wait unless you need it early.
- You read most days
- You read by the pool or in the bath
- You want the longest battery life
WaitThe easiest Kindle gift if the price falls. Wait for a Black Friday price, and skip the 2024 version unless it is far cheaper.
- You want the smallest, lightest Kindle
- You need a low-cost gift
- You mostly read at home
WaitWorth it only if you read in color, and it costs the most of the small Kindles. Wait for a sale, and buy the newest, not the 2024 model.
- You read comics or graphic novels
- You want cookbook and cover art in color
- You highlight a lot
WaitThe costliest Kindle, so a Black Friday cut saves the most here. Wait unless it is for a deadline like a school term.
- You take notes for school or work
- You read PDFs and documents
- You want one device instead of paper notebooks
BuyThe case and a year of Kids+ are already in the price, so waiting saves little. Buy now for a holiday gift, and cancel Kids+ if you do not want it to renew.
- You are buying for a child aged 6 to 12
- You want a case and Kids+ included
- You want parental controls
SkipAmazon lists a newer, thinner Colorsoft at about the same price. Skip the 2024 model unless it falls well below the new one.
- The price is far below the newest Colorsoft
- You don’t need the thinner body
- You want a color Kindle at any cost
Kindle Paperwhite (newest model)
The Kindle most people should buy, and the one most worth timing. Amazon raised Kindle prices in August, so wait for Black Friday and buy at a price you like.
- Up to 12 weeks of battery
- Waterproof design
- 7" glare-free display
Quick tips before you buy
Amazon still sells 2024 Kindles next to the newest ones. Look for “newest model” in the title before you add to cart.
Most Kindles come in a cheaper ad-supported version and a pricier ad-free one. Choose before you buy, because the price band changes with the option.
The Paperwhite and Colorsoft listings describe a waterproof design. The basic Kindle listing does not mention it.
The Paperwhite lists up to 12 weeks, the Colorsoft up to 8 weeks and the basic Kindle up to 6. Do not pay extra for battery alone.
Quick answers
When does Black Friday 2026 start on Amazon?+
Black Friday is November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving on November 26. Amazon has not announced its 2026 sale dates yet. In past years its Black Friday deals started about a week before Black Friday and ran through Cyber Monday, which is November 30.
What will Kindle prices be on Black Friday 2026?+
Nobody knows until Amazon announces its sale. Amazon raised its US Kindle prices in August 2026 amid higher memory costs, so Black Friday cuts start from a higher number than last year. Amazon’s own devices have historically been among the items it cuts hardest on Black Friday.
Will the Kindle Paperwhite be cheaper on Black Friday?+
It is a good bet, but not a promise. The Paperwhite is the Kindle most people buy, and Amazon’s own devices are a Black Friday staple. The newest model is the one to wait for. Skip the 2024 Paperwhite unless it sells well below the newest one.
Is the Kindle Scribe going to be on sale for Black Friday?+
Probably, but nothing is announced. The Scribe is the costliest Kindle, so a Black Friday cut saves the most money there. If you need it for a school term, buy now. Otherwise wait and set a price you would be happy with.
Is it better to buy a Kindle now or wait for Black Friday?+
Wait for the Paperwhite, Kindle, Colorsoft and Scribe unless you need one as a gift in hand early. Buy the Kids Kindle now: its case and a year of Kids+ are already in the price. Skip the 2024 models, which are priced like the newest ones.
Should I buy the 2024 Kindle or the newest Kindle?+
Buy the newest, unless the 2024 model is clearly cheaper. Amazon lists a newer model of the 2024 Kindle, and the newest one is thinner, lighter and faster, per the listing. The 2024 Kindle only makes sense at a price well below the new one.
Is the Kindle Colorsoft worth it on Black Friday?+
Only if you read in color: comics, graphic novels or cookbooks. For plain novels, the Paperwhite is just as good and lasts longer. If you do want color, wait for a deal on the newest Colorsoft, not the 2024 one.
Why don’t you list prices?+
Kindle prices change often, and the price depends on the ad-supported or ad-free option. We show typical price bands checked on October 18, 2026. Tap “View on Amazon” to see today’s price.
