Latest from Android Central in Kindle

Toy Story 5 has a point. Buy your kids this $90-off color Kindle e-reader instead of a brainrot tablet

Nicholas Sutrich — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 18:41:47 +0000

If you've seen Toy Story 5 (or just the trailer), you know the basic synopsis. All the toys have been binned in favor of a nasty brainrot tablet, and it's all up to the toys to fix the parents' mistake. This Prime Day, I'd love to encourage all the parents out there to opt for a Kindle Colorsoft Kids edition e-reader instead of a tablet, and you'll save nearly $100 in the process.

Tablets certainly have their place, and there's nothing wrong with owning one, but it's pretty clear that too many kids spend way too much time vegging out on their devices. Lots of people have made the switch to less stimulating, less addictive devices, or have started scheduling time to unplug from their devices for the good of everyone in the room, and grabbing an e-reader instead of a tablet will help your kids do the same.

This one even includes 12 months of Amazon Kids+, Amazon's excellent books subscription service that includes thousands of curated, age-appropriate books for kids 3-12 years old. Once that year is up, it's just $5.99 per month to continue the service, which is cheaper than buying even one book a month!

Prime Day 2026 is LIVE June 23-26: see the full list of deals

The Kindle Colorsoft Kids edition is the perfect e-reader for kids of all ages. There are no games, no apps, and no videos to melt your kids' brains. Just a beautiful color E Ink display and the world's biggest library of digital books, comics, manga, and more at their fingertips.View Deal

✅Recommended if: You're looking to get your kids into reading, making it more convenient to find great books, or want a good alternative to overstimulating tablets.

❌Skip this deal if: You've got an older kid. Buy this $85 Kindle, instead.

A Colorsoft Kindle is a particularly excellent choice for kids because it allows them to read more than just novels and text-heavy books, as an adult might read. You can grab books from Amazon's immense library, or stick with the Amazon Kids+ service I mentioned above, and that covers everything from comics to more picture-heavy books (that still include plenty of text to read).

Since this is a kids' edition Kindle, it's built to withstand the careless nature kids have with devices. It's waterproof, so they can take it in the bath or on the beach, and the warm backlight is totally flicker-free, so you don't have to worry about nasty tablet displays that use PWM dimming and are probably ruining your kids' eyes.

Plus, Amazon has a whole parental controls dashboard, so you can be sure your kids aren't straying off into uncharted waters and reading books they shouldn't be. Grab this deal, and feel good about a wholesome parenting win!

A brand new Kindle for only $85?!? Time to make an iced matcha and curl up under a tree with a good book

Nicholas Sutrich — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:11:43 +0000

I love reading books, and my favorite way to crack open a new one isn't by turning physical pages; it's by powering on an e-reader. That's because e-readers like this on-sale $85 Kindle are lighter and thinner than any book, making it a joy to hold and read for hours at a time.

Amazon makes a ton of Kindles, but this particular model is the most modest-sized of all and comes in a lovely soft-touch construction that's easy to hold. Plus, it's the lightest Kindle ever and is lighter than even the smallest phones on the market today, despite having a paperback-sized 6-inch screen.

The $85 deal is for the ad-supported version, but don't be fooled by that description. Ads generally come in the form of book recommendations and only appear on the lock screen. Amazon doesn't give you obnoxious pop-ups or on-screen ads while reading. If any ads bother you, the ad-free version of this Kindle is just $20 more.

Prime Day 2026 is LIVE June 23-26: see the full list of deals

It's hard to beat the simplicity and joy a Kindle can bring, and this $84.99 Kindle is exactly what we needed in a year when all sorts of tech keeps getting more expensive. Grab it on June 26, the last day of Prime Day 2026!

📖Go ad-free for $104📖View Deal

✅Recommended if: You want an unbelievably light, distraction-free e-reader with a bright backlight and near-perfect construction.

❌Skip this deal if: You want an e-reader with a warmer backlight, one with waterproofing, or one that runs more apps than just the Kindle library.

This one comes in two colors, black and matcha. I'd like to have a word with Amazon's design team, as this is absolutely not a matcha color. Rather, it's more like seafoam green, which still looks amazing in hand, but it's not a rich verdant green like matcha tea is.

While we're speaking of matcha, it wouldn't hurt to grab this 16oz matcha tin for $20. I bought one last Prime Day, and it took me nearly an entire year to use up. It's the perfect way to make a great latte while reading a good book on your new Kindle!

Why choose a Kindle over other e-readers?

(Image credit: Amazon)

Most e-readers these days are powered by Android and let you download any Android app on them (like this excellent $157 Prime Day deal). That's amazing for book selection and whatever else you want to do on your e-reader, but it also opens the gates for lots of distractions while you're trying to read.

Kindles are a more basic product, only offering access to Kindle books and Audible audiobooks. That's all in Amazon's ecosystem, of course, but it also means you won't be seeing text messages, emails, or getting bothered by notifications while enjoying your book.

Black & white e-readers are also still the best for book reading, as they are substantially crisper than color E Ink. That, combined with a backlight you can completely disable, and the paper-like reflectivity of E Ink, makes this a perfect reading companion for your summer and beyond.

You deserve a chill summer staycation, and this Kindle Prime Day deal is just what you need

derrek.lee@futurenet.com (Derrek Lee) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:52:10 +0000

Some of us like ot travel and explore during the summer, while others just prefer to relax and take it easy. I've already highlighted some enticing Prime Day deals for essential travel accessories, but what about for those of you staying home? Well, Amazon has just the thing for readers with this deal on the 16GB Kindle.

This model launched in 2024, but it's currently the latest base Kindle model available. Originally $110, this 23% discount brings it down to $85 and includes three months of Kindle Unlimited. However, keep in mind that this price still comes with lock-screen ads, which will set you back $104 (down from $129) to get rid of.

Prime Day returns June 23-26: see the full list of deals

This Kindle deal is more than meets the eye, because not only are you getting $25 off an excellent e-reader, but you can also get three months of free Kindle Unlimited. All you have to do is select the option on the product page and be sure to remember when it will auto-renew. Otherwise, skip the subscription and just start growing your library!View Deal

✅Recommended if: You love to read but don't own a lot of physical books or want an easy way to take your favorite books with you on the go.

❌Skip this deal if: You want a larger e-reader with more than 16GB of storage and with support for color.

I reviewed the 2022 Kindle model, and it turned me into a believer in e-readers, thanks to its compact size, very readable display, and long battery life. However, a few things annoyed me, such as the choppiness of the animations, and Amazon says the 2024 model has faster page turns, which hopefully addresses my complaint.

Otherwise, the 16GB of storage can hold thousands of books, which you can download from the Kindle store or upload to the device. And the display is plenty bright and easy on the eyes, making it a great alternative to a physical book.

The Kindle also lasts for up to six weeks per charge, so you don't have to worry about the battery dying while you're on your little staycation. But if it does, be ready to sit around while it charges, as it can take up to 2 hours at 9W. Honestly, it's a small price to pay when the battery lasts that long.

Prime Day Kindle deals are here — score up to 45% off Paperwhite, Scribe, Colorsoft, and more

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:32:20 +0000

Get ready, folks: Prime Day 2026 has arrived, and this year Amazon is showcasing some particularly impressive discounts on Kindle e-readers. Whether you want the budget-friendly base model or feature-packed Colorsoft Signature Edition, I've dropped a selection of my favorite Prime Day Kindle deals into this guide.

These versatile devices give you the ability to carry thousands of books with you wherever you go, plus you'll enjoy great battery life, adjustable displays, and even AI-boosted software features with certain models. Some of the Prime Day deals listed below also come with accessories like stands, chargers, and protective sleeves, so take a look and get ready to crush those 2026 reading goals.

Just keep in mind that most of the best e-reader deals will only be available to Prime members. Haven't signed up yet? Check out Amazon's 30-day free trial to enjoy all of the Prime Day festivities without paying a cent.

Amazon Prime Day June 23-26: see the full list of deals

Standalone Kindle deals

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Kindle Scribe ColorSoft

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Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition

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Kindle Colorsoft Kids

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Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

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Kindle

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Amazon Kindle Colorsoft

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Kindle Scribe

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Kindle Kids

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Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle bundle deals

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Kindle Paperwhite Bundle

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Kindle Essentials Bundle

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Kindle Colorsoft Kids

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Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle

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Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition Essentials Bundle

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Kindle Colorsoft Essentials Bundle

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Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle

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Kindle Paperwhite Bundle

When is Prime Day?

This year's Amazon Prime Day is set to run from June 23rd through June 26th. The four-day sale event kicked off on Tuesday at 12:01am PDT and will end on Friday at 11:59pm PDT.

Do I need to be a Prime member to shop during Prime Day?

The vast majority of Prime Day deals are only be available to Amazon Prime members. If you haven't joined yet, it's worth mentioning that customers who sign up for Amazon's 30-day free trial will get access to all of the exclusive deals without paying a dime, plus you'll get other membership benefits, such as free shipping, unlimited streaming, fuel discounts, and more.

Which Kindle e-reader is best?

We consider the Kindle Paperwhite (12th Gen) to be the overall best Kindle e-reader for most people, thanks to its sophisticated blend of specs, value, and useful features. The device boasts up to three months of battery life on a single charge, plus you get a highly-adjustable 300ppi E Ink display, 16GB of storage, and IPX8 water resistance.

As part of the Big Spring Sale, Amazon has launched a $150 discount on our favorite e-reader for writing

Zachary David — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:36:18 +0000

Amazon Kindle deals usually pop up around the retailer's biggest sales of the year, and this year's Spring sale is no exception. This week only, Amazon has cut $150 off the price of the Amazon Kindle Scribe, which is our favorite e-reader for writing and note-taking. The deal comes as part of the retailer's Big Spring Sale, which is offering a wide range of tablet and e-reader discounts.

We love the Kindle Scribe for its inclusion of a stylus and its ease-of-use when annotating or taking notes in your books. It's also a good pick for drawing, offering a highly paper-like feel. While it's a little larger than most of Amazon's Kindles and it's only in black and white, it's a good pick for those who want something with an authentic book-like feel.

See the full list of deals during Amazon's Big Spring Sale

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024): ~~$399.99~~ $249.99 for Amazon's Big Spring Sale

Amazon is offering a 38% discount on its Kindle Scribe, representing $150 from the tablet's normal price. We love this e-reader for its utility for reading, writing, note-taking, and drawing, and it features some impressive battery life.View Deal

✅Recommended if: you're in the market for the best Kindle e-reader for writing, and you want to buy something that comes with a premium stylus with purchase of the device itself; battery life is a huge priority for your e-reader needs and you want something with a fast-charging USB-C port; you need between 16GB and 64GB of onboard storage.

❌Skip this deal if: you don't care about writing or note-taking and you'd rather save money on a basic, entry-level Kindle option, or you need a device that supports wireless charging; you need an e-reader that's rated for water and dust resistance; you prefer a smaller overall e-reader than this one's 10.2-inch display.

The Kindle Scribe launched in 2024, and while the company has launched a slightly upgraded version of the model, the last-generation version still holds up pretty well.

This e-reader comes in configurations with 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB of storage, and purchase also comes with the first-party stylus. This particular price is for the 16GB edition, though it's worth noting that Amazon isn't offering discounts on the two upgraded versions.

The Scribe also offers up to 12 weeks of battery life, the Active Canvas feature for annotating in book margins, or other note-taking and document-marking purposes.

As for the display, it's a 10.2-inch, glare-free screen with 300 ppi, and multiple brightness and color modes for differing lighting conditions.

'Send to Alexa' to let the AI help you through messy, scatterbrain notes on Kindle Scribe

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:09:10 +0000

What you ned to know

Amazon introduced "Send to Alexa," a feature that works with the user's notes written on the Kindle Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft.
Users can submit their notebooks or documents to the AI, which will then help with brainstorming new ideas, guidance for projects, or turning your notes into to-do lists.
Amazon previously announced a Gen AI chatbot for its Kindle app called "Ask this book."

Amazon's Alexa Plus subscription is adding a little more for willing subscribers, as the company unveils a feature that brings the AI into your notes.

This morning (Mar 10), Amazon offered insight into its newest Alexa Plus feature for Kindle Scribe and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft users called "Send to Alexa." The main purpose of this is for users to share their notebooks and documents with the AI for assistance. Alexa is said to offer users help with brainstorming, note summaries, and the ability to "turn ideas into action."

Alexa's capabilities include the ability to guide users with projects. Amazon says the AI can "transform your notes into to-do lists, calendar events, and reminders."

Engaging in this feature is said to make your notes available across multiple devices. Amazon states that "Send to Alexa" from your Kindle Scribe to the AI will make what you've written accessible on Alexa.com, the Alexa app, Echo devices, and Fire TV. As previously stated, this feature will roll out on the new Kindle Scribe and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft over the next few days.

Android Central's Take

This is one of those small features that breathe life into what's possible. It connects your Kindle Scribe to the rest of your Amazon Alexa devices, which isn't a bad thing. I often write a lot of notes, and something like this could come in handy for someone similar. Moreover, Alexa gets a little smarter, as it's able to turn quick notes into to-do lists and reminders. That's just a time saver, if you ask me.

There are other notable AI features for Alexa Plus subscribers for these two Kindle tablets. Amazon highlights its AI-powered notebook search, capable of providing "simple" summaries about what you've written. The Kindle Scribe also features AI summarization capabilities built in. This lets users turn a single page into condensed, informative bullet points packed with relevant details. While jotting down notes, users can tap the AI icon and select "Refine writing."

Users will have their handwriting turned into a script font and popped back into their document for a better reading experience before sharing. You can easily edit anything, even after the AI's converted your handwriting.

AI in more places

(Image credit: Amazon)

Kindle Scribe AI aside, Amazon introduced a Gen AI chatbot to its Kindle app late last year that wants to dive into the stories you're reading. The company dubbed the feature "Ask this book." An "Ask" option was rolling out on iOS devices with the Kindle app, making it possible for readers to ask about a book's plot, characters, and more. Amazon says its AI chatbot will try to keep its responses spoiler-free.

Android Central's Take

Amazon threw in another feature on iOS called "Recap." It's a feature that serves to catch the reader up about the series they've been reading during the downtown between releases. This feature interested me the most, purely because you can wait a year or more for the next title to come out. In that time, you've forgotten what went down (I know it's happened to me before).

Readers can find this feature when highlighting a section of the book they're ready. The AI will offer insights into thematic elements and character relationships in the story that are relevant to what you've highlighted. "Ask this book" started rolling out on iOS back in December, leaving Android users waiting for their turn.

Your Kindle’s best free feature is about to cost $60 a year

techkritiko@gmail.com (Jay Bonggolto) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:16:04 +0000

What you need to know

Starting February 19, Instapaper’s Send to Kindle feature will no longer be free.
Keeping the feature will cost you $6 per month or $60 per year.
The service will be paywalled because processing and emailing articles to Kindles is server-intensive and costly, according to Instapaper's lead.

If you rely on your Kindle for distraction-free long-form reading, you may soon pay more for that habit. Instapaper, a popular read-it-later app, has confirmed its beloved Send to Kindle feature is moving behind a paywall.

For the uninitiated, Kindle devices are known for their E Ink displays that mimic paper, but they aren’t exactly known for having a great web browser. Instapaper helps by letting you save articles on your phone and then sending them to your Kindle. This process was easy, convenient, and, until now, free.

The change is due to the work happening in the background. Instapaper’s lead engineer, Brian Donohue, explained on Reddit that sending articles to Kindles uses a lot of resources. Each time you request a Kindle digest, Instapaper’s servers process the text, collect images, save the data, convert it to a Kindle-friendly ePub file, and then email it to your device.

With over a hundred thousand people signed up for these digests — the vast majority of whom are on free accounts — Instapaper has essentially been running the service at a loss. By putting the feature behind a subscription, the company aims to cover those rising server and bandwidth costs.

Beginning February 19, you’ll need to pay for Instapaper Premium to keep using the wireless Send to Kindle feature. The subscription also includes extras like full-text search, unlimited notes, and a permanent archive of your saved items. The cost is $6 per month or $60 per year.

Will Kobo users be affected?

Interestingly, this isn't an across-the-board tax on e-readers. If you happen to own a Kobo, you can breathe a sigh of relief, Android Authority reports. Kobo’s integration uses Instapaper’s API instead of the email system Amazon requires, so that feature will stay free for everyone.

Which features are affected?

Instapaper’s Send to Kindle feature will soon cost money to use.

When does this change go into effect?

Instapaper’s Send to Kindle feature will begin to be paywalled on February 19th, 2026.

Is there a way to avoid paying?

If you don’t want to pay, you still have options. You can manually download files and transfer them to your Kindle with a USB cable, or use Amazon’s Send to Kindle browser extension. However, these methods aren’t as smooth as Instapaper’s automated digests.

Amazon just chopped 20% OFF the price of our favorite color Kindle e-reader - but you better act fast

Zachary David — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:31:06 +0000

Getting a good deal on an e-reader can be a tricky business, so it's worth keeping your eyes peeled whenever Amazon is running a sale. Today, for instance, buyers can get 20% off the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft, representing $50 in savings on our favorite color e-reader on the market.

This particular deal for the Kindle Colorsoft is for the version without lockscreen ads. Despite being a color edition, it still feels like a high-contrast paper reading experience, not unlike some of the best E ink tablets, while still coming with 16GB of storage. It also has multiple contrast modes for reading, so you have some room to adjust the page displays to your liking.

The Colorsoft, being one of Amazon's premium e-readers, also features a pretty impressive battery life with each charge. Add in water resistance, a massive selection of titles, and a 7-inch display, and you're looking at a good discounted price on a solid device.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (16GB): ~~$249.99~~ $199.99 at Amazon

Amazon's best color e-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft, is currently $50 off for a limited time. This e-reader boasts 16GB of storage, a 7-inch color display, and USB-C charging with a long-lasting battery, now just for $200.View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want the best color Kindle available, offering access to several page customization options and reading modes; you'd prefer an e-reader that offers a long-lasting battery without sacrificing bright, high-contrast page displays; you want something with a screen of around 7 inches that can be used in a wide range of indoor and outdoor lighting conditions.

❌Skip this deal if: you don't care about having a color display and you'd rather save an extra hundred bucks on something in black and white; you'd prefer to go with a cheap tablet for reading than to spend the extra money on the Kindle lineup's paper displays; you'd prefer an e-reader with a smaller or larger screen.

The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft is a solid color e-reader, featuring a 7-inch color display, an IPX8 waterproof rating, wireless and USB-C charging, and a battery life of up to eight weeks. The display is 150 ppi in color, 300 ppi in black and white, and it also offers a 16-level gray scale brightness. At its normal price point, the Colorsoft might feel a little pricey for those who aren't really sure if they'll want a color display, though the $200 price tag definitely seems a little more appealing.

While the retailer also offers a "Signature Edition" Colorsoft model with more storage and a few other improved features, this deal is for the non-ad-supported edition with 16GB of onboard storage. Nevertheless, it's a pretty good price on the regular edition, whether you're a first-time e-reader buyer or you're looking to upgrade from an economy-level model.

This iconic Kindle e-reader is 18% OFF right now, AND you can get it by Christmas if you order today

Zachary David — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:22:15 +0000

If you're looking for a cheap e-reader this winter, you're in luck with Amazon's latest Kindle deal. Right now, buyers can get 18% off the Amazon Kindle, bringing the retailer's base-level e-reader down to just $90.

The 2024 edition of the deviceis the best entry-level Kindle on the market, offering an affordable price, combined with an easy-to-read display, plenty of storage for most casual readers, and a compact design that makes it more comfortable to hold than past iterations. It's also a battery life powerhouse, and it's made from 75% recycled plastics and 90% recycled magnesium.

This particular deal is available for both the Black and Matcha colors that the device comes in. It's worth noting that this price is also for a lockscreen ad-supported version of the e-reader, though you can pay a little more to have those removed. Buyers also have the option to bundle the device with 3 months of Kindle Unlimited, which offers access to over 4 million titles.

Amazon Kindle (16GB): ~~$109.99~~ $89.99 at Amazon

Just in time for the winter holidays, Amazon has chopped $20 off the price of its base Kindle model, which offers up to six weeks of battery life, 16GB of storage, and a beautiful 6-inch display with a built-in light. It's also available at this price in both the Black and Matcha colors, and you can also bundle it with Kindle Unlimited and lockscreen ad removal, if you choose.View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want a tablet with a good-looking, easy-on-the-eyes display and you like a roughly 6-inch device; battery life is important to you when it comes to an e-reader; you want a device with Bluetooth and integration with platforms like Audible.

❌Skip this deal if: you need an e-reader that also features water resistance; you'd rather upgrade to the Paperwhite model and you have the budget to do so; you want a Kindle that you can also use with a stylus for writing notes, annotating, and more.

The base model of the Amazon Kindle is a great pick for just about anyone looking to get into e-readers, especially because of its small size, its up to 6 weeks of battery life, and its improved 6-inch screen.

Compared to the 2022 Amazon Kindle, the retailer says that the 2024 model is 25% brighter at max, offering a screen as bright as the upgraded Paperwhite. It also offers improved performance for a smoother, quicker page turn, and other enhanced display features such as the adjustable front warm light. The 6-inch display features a 300ppi resolution, and 16-level gray scale for an easy-to-read, high contrast interface.

It also includes a USB-C port for charging, Bluetooth compatibility, integration with reading apps like Audible, and an overall great design that's not bad to hold, even during long reading periods.

Perhaps the most significant downside to the base-level Kindle is its lack of a water resistance rating, though it's still a good pick at this price if that isn't a dealbreaker for you.

Amazon's Kindle app gets Gen AI chatbot to ask books about lore and characters

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:40:36 +0000

What you need to know

Amazon announced a generative AI feature, which resembles a classic chatbot, called "Ask this book."
Users will soon notice an "Ask" feature when highlighting content in stories, which lets them ask the AI about a book's plot, characters, and more in a "spoiler-free" manner.
Amazon says this feature will hit Android users in 2026; however, there are some concerns from authors and publishers about rights/copyright.

Amazon's preparing a new AI-powered feature for its Kindle app for mobile devices that aims to give readers insight into the stories they're reading.

The company announced the feature through a blog post, stating users will soon receive "Ask this book" in the Kindle app. Amazon claims that the purpose of the generative AI feature, which resembles an AI chatbot, is to make it "easier for you to stay immersed in your books." Users can highlight any part of a book they're reading to get started with "Ask this book."

The elements the AI can respond to seem relatively wide-arching. The blog post states the AI can deliver details about the story's plot, character relationships, and thematic elements "without disrupting your reading flow."

Amazon adds that its generative AI software can answer questions about highlighted portions in a "spoiler-free" manner. It was stated that the AI responds quickly. When highlighting a section of a book, users will notice an "Ask" button in the hovering menu. From there, users can enter their query before being placed in a formal chat with the AI.

The post suggests using the pre-made queries if you're looking to get going even faster, as well as your personally crafted question. "Ask this book" is rolling out for iOS devices in the Kindle app for U.S. users; however, Android readers will have to wait until 2026. Joining this is "Recaps," a feature that lets Kindle and Kindle app users on iOS gain a refresher about their favorite series after the downtime between book releases.

Not everyone's excited to dive in

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon's "Ask this book" has been making its rounds, and after the feature was highlighted by Publisher Lunch, there's uncertainty behind its effects on rightsholders (via Writer Beware). The publication didn't receive a definitive answer from Amazon about the "process and protections" it would grant authors and publishers, since this AI was deployed without their knowledge.

More importantly, it's also unclear about "the rights they are relying on to do this in the first place."

The Kindle app's relatively tame; however, an update from earlier this year directly affected Kindle users who relied on a key PC feature. Beginning in February, Amazon started removing the availability of Kindle's download and backup to PC feature via USB transfer. It's been speculated that the move was to try to quell the DRM removal issue that's plagued its digital books. This PC feature removal does not impact Kindle app users.

Those who previously enjoyed this Kindle USB transfer feature retain the “Deliver or Remove from Device” option.

This weekend only, Best Buy is slashing $140 OFF the 2024 Kindle Scribe — but is the e-reader finally worth the price?

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:31:16 +0000

The New Year is swiftly approaching, and if you're anything like me, your 2026 resolutions include getting back to a regular reading habit. Fortunately, Best Buy's holiday sale is here with $140 off the 2024 Kindle Scribe, a versatile last-gen tablet with a large glare-free display and instant access to millions of titles in the Kindle Store.

Obviously, the first thing you'll notice is that the Scribe isn't just an e-reader. The device is also designed to be a convenient e-ink tablet for taking notes and marking up documents, utilizing a stylus pen (included with your purchase) and a bunch of handy AI tools to help you stay organized.

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) 32GB: ~~$419.99~~ $279.99 at Best Buy

If you think you'd benefit from an all-in-one e-reader and notebook experience, the Amazon Kindle Scribe is an unmissable piece of tech. The 2024 device boasts a vibrant display with weeks of battery life and a responsive stylus pen. The main problem with the e-ink tablet is its price, but now that the 2025 model has come along, Best Buy is knocking it down to a much more reasonable $280. View Deal

To be clear, this discount is NOT for the updated 2025 Kindle Scribe. This historic price drop is only available on the 2024 model. If you'd rather spend 500 bucks on the latest model, Amazon is currently offering some trade-in credit (although it won't arrive by Christmas).

(Image credit: Amazon)

Should I buy the Amazon Kindle Scribe?

Whether you're a reader, artist, or compulsive notetaker, the 2024 Kindle Scribe is a great device for getting things done. You get a 10.2-inch 300ppi glare-free display with an included stylus that works straight out of the box, plus weeks of battery life depending on usage. The notetaking function itself feels almost indistinguishable from pen on paper, and you even get a collapsing "eraser" on the end of the stylus.

Another major selling point of the Kindle Scribe (2024) is its AI features. These tools can be used to convert messy handwriting into something more readable, or you can customize the length and tone of your notes to make them feel a bit more refined.

Should I buy the 2024 model or the new Kindle Scribe (2025)?

This historic discount on the 2024 Kindle Scribe is probably happening because the tablet has been officially supplanted by a newer model. While the Kindle Scribe (2025) does have some significant upgrades over its predecessor — the display is larger and more lightweight, for instance — I'm not sure it's worth the $500 price tag.

For over $200 less, you can get the 2024 tablet and enjoy a very similar experience, especially if you simply want a device for reading and casual note-taking. If, on the other hand, you really want to drop 500 bucks on a tablet, I'd skip the Kindles altogether and go for something more comprehensive, like the OnePlus Pad 3.

Holiday shopping 2025 - quick links

Best Buy: up to 50% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
Amazon: major discounts on headphones, smart home tech
Walmart: price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line

Don't sleep on it: the new Kindle Colorsoft just dropped to $169 for the first time ever

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 21:00:00 +0000

Black Friday is almost here, and we've rounded up some of the best deals for you so that you don't have to go hunting them down yourself. Speaking of deals, some of the newest e-readers from Amazon, launched in July, are already heavily discounted. For instance, the latest Kindle Colorsoft is available at a 32% discount, bringing the price down to $169. Plus, you can get it at an even better price by trading in an old Kindle for an extra 20% off!

I've been trying to squeeze in some reading early in the morning or late at night when everything's quiet, so this new Kindle has definitely caught my eye since it came out. I'm currently using the 2021 Kindle Paperwhite, and I'd totally love a massive color upgrade. Imagine a new Kindle that not only keeps the screen glare-free but also adds a pop of color to those graphic novels! It's been this weird little thing—I really want the cover of the book on my Kindle to actually have color, making it feel like I'm holding the real copy, and I think this is as close as it gets.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft: ~~$249.99~~ $169.99 on Amazon

At just $169, you’re getting the full Colorsoft experience—vibrant book covers, color-coded highlights, and readable comics—without the "early adopter" premium. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade from a standard Paperwhite, this is the price point to jump on.View Deal

✅Recommended if: You love seeing your book covers in full color on the lock screen or browsing a colorful library grid. And if you're into superhero comics, manga with color spreads, or if you read to your children, then this device is a game-changer.

❌Skip this deal if: You're someone who likes to read with the text crisper, the background is whiter, and you need wireless charging on your e-reader.

This device definitely bridges the gap for comic book fans, manga readers, and people who need color to understand charts, maps, and diagrams, or who simply want to organize their notes with multi-colored highlights (yellow, orange, blue, and pink).

It allows you to enjoy the vibrant cover art of your library and read graphic novels without the eye strain of an iPad, all while retaining the glare-free, distraction-free experience, which is what we need while we read. The Kindle Colorsoft gets an immersive 7-inch Colorsoft E-Ink (Kaleido 3) display, and customizable visuals with "Standard" or "Vivid" saturation modes. The device can stay alive for 8 weeks on a single charge.

(Image credit: Amazon)

There's a clever trick to save $200 on a Kindle Scribe today only (October 8)

Nicholas Sutrich — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:22:51 +0000

Amazon just announced a whole new round of Kindle Scribes, and you know what that means! It's time for the company to make room in its warehouses for the new models, so the old models are heading out as fast as possible with massive discounts up to $110 off.

The Kindle Scribe is still one of the most unique e-readers in Amazon's vast repertoire of Kindle products, shipping with a responsive pen and a 10.2-inch screen you can write on. That makes it a brilliant digital notebook that ties deeply into Amazon's powerful ecosystem, including native support for Kindle Unlimited.

And since the newest Kindle Scribe (2025) starts at $499, it's pretty easy to see why spending just $299 on last year's Kindle Scribe is a better deal during October Prime Day this year, which ends after October 8, 2005.

Prime Day is BACK October 7th and 8th - see the full list of deals

Amazon offers three storage tiers of the existing Kindle Scribe, letting you decide what's best for your workflow. These are up to $200 less than the newest 2025 Kindle Scribe models, making it easy to migrate over to digital note-taking for a lot less. Sale ends October 8, 2025!View Deal

So let's be real for a moment: if you're saving $200 on the old model, you're definitely going to miss out on some perks. The new Kindle Scribes offer a slightly larger 11-inch display that's said to be more responsive, and a quad-core processor that helps make things even snappier.

The existing Kindle Scribe model has great response time for its pen — one of the lowest-latency pens on the entire market, in fact — but the dual-core processor means it's a bit limited on power. Amazon also upgraded the E Ink display on the new units, improving the refresh rate and adding a color option (which costs even more, by the way).

The new Scribes come with 32gb or 64GB of storage, while the 2024 model offers a 16GB option for less. If you don't plan on filling it up with a bunch of apps, that 16GB model is just fine.

(Image credit: Amazon)

It's, of course, thinner and lighter than the old model too, but I think that's where the big improvements stop. The new 2025 Kindle Scribe features smaller, uniform bezels, but I personally don't want that in a digital notebook.

I love the large side bezel of the Kindle Scribe models on sale because it provides a comfortable place to hold the tablet while writing. Remember, this is a writing tablet by nature, not a smaller device that you're going to be holding up on the beach for hours.

And if you were thinking of really splurging to get that color Kindle Scribe model, I'd say hold off for reviews before you plunge in. Color e-readers might be cool but they're not necessarily better, as I've found out after testing dozens of them.

For more on Prime Day 2025, check out our ultimate shopping guide

Amazon unveils redesigned Kindle Scribe with first-ever color soft display

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:11:00 +0000

What you need to know

Amazon launched a new wave of Kindle Scribes at its event this week, stating consumers will find a Scribe with a front light, without the light, and a Scribe Colorsoft.
The Scribe Colorsoft is easy on the eyes with its colored display, and sports the same redesign the others do, including improved performance, "texture-molded" glass display, and more.
The Scribe Colorsoft starts at $629, while the Scribe with front light begins at $499; sales to begin "later this year."

What's an Amazon hardware event without something new coming for Kindle, but this one's all about the larger notebook, the Scribe.

There are three new Kindle Scribes announced this week by Amazon in a press release following its hardware event. There are some initial updates for the Scribe that consumers should know, such as Amazon's redesign that's made the device even thinner, coming in now at 5.4mm. The three new Scribes, the Kindle Scribe (with front light), Kindle Scribe (without front light), and the first Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, are even lighter this year and ~40% faster.

That improved performance is thanks to a quad-core chip, increased memory, and Amazon's Oxide display tech for a snappier feel.

The Kindle Scribes also feature a "texture-molded" glass display that is designed to replicate the sensation of writing on paper. Moreover, the Scribe with a front light display now features its LED "tightly against the display" to facilitate narrower bezels, which means more screen for your eyeballs.

While that rounds up the more forward-facing design changes for this year's Scribe, Amazon's Scribe Colorsoft is the first of its kind for the form factor, and follows a year after the very first color Kindle.

The Kindle Scribe gets colorful

(Image credit: Amazon)

The first Kindle Scribe Colorsoft packs the same updated designs as the other two Scribes this year. The primary difference is that Amazon has packaged this one with a soft-on-the-eyes colored screen that still brings out that Scribe experience. While the lights are soft for this colored display, Amazon says users should still find vibrant hues, not washed-out tones.

There's a subtle difference with the Scribe Colorsoft, and that regards its new rendering engine that keeps the writing side of the Kindle fast, smooth, and improves its colors even more. Though everything's not in black and white, the company claims the Scribe Colorsoft can deliver "weeks of battery life."

Putting aside the hardware side of these devices for a moment, there's a huge set of AI updates for the Scribe that consumers should know. Amazon's been fueling its latest devices with AI, just like it did with the new Fire TV series and Echo devices this week. For the Scribe, consumers will notice a revamped Home that brings Quick Notes and the ability to easily open previously opened books, documents, and more.

Inside Workspace, users can store and organize their imported/created documents, notebooks, books, and other digital items. This is further enhanced if you've connected your OneDrive or Google Drive account, as those files are also easily accessible. The Scribe Colorsoft sits away from the others, bringing a Shader tool, colored pens, and highlights for annotations and notes.

Amazon also highlights its available AI-powered search involving your documents and files. Users can ask the AI to summarize those files with follow-up questions available afterward.

Coming soon...

The Kindle Scribe (front light) starts at $499, the Scribe without its front light starts at $429, and the Scribe Colorsoft begins at $629 in the U.S. Consumers should be aware that these devices are listed on Amazon; however, there's no button to pre-order yet. The post states this devices are coming "later this year," so keep your eyes peeled for more details.

Next year, Amazon plans to bring these updated models to the U.K. and Germany.

These Kindle Scribes, when purchased, include a three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited, bringing in even more AI-powered features, like "Ask this Book" for highlighting passages or sentences and receive answers about its potential story significance.

The best Prime Day Kindle deals — score unmissable discounts on some of the best e-readers

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:42:16 +0000

Readers, rejoice! The next big Prime Day sale is happening now through October 8th, and there is no shortage of excellent e-reader deals to explore. Whether you're in the market for the versatile Kindle Scribe or the kid-friendly Kindle Kinds (2024), keep reading for all of my favorite Kindle deals from Big Deal Days 2025.

I'll keep updating this guide with new Kindle e-readers throughout the sale. As usual, most of the best discounts will be exclusive to Prime members, so now's a good time to sign up if you haven't already. There's even a 30-day free trial if you're curious but not quite ready to commit.

Prime Big Deal Days 2025 - quick links

Amazon Prime 30-day FREE trial: Most deals are Prime-exclusive
See all the Prime Day deals: USA | UK | Canada | India
Rival sales: Best Buy | Walmart | Dell | Newegg | HP | Target
Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

Prime Day Kindle deals - my top picks

Amazon Kindle Scribe 64GB w/ Pen: ~~$449.99~~ $339.99 at Amazon

The Kindle Scribe is an impressive e-ink tablet that comes with a glare-free 10.2-inch 300ppi display, versatile stylus pen, and up to 12 weeks of battery life on a single charge. And yes, you can use it to read books too! Prime users who buy the Kindle Scribe 64GB this week will get an excellent 24% off their purchase.View Deal

Amazon Kindle (2024) 16GB: ~~$109.99~~ $84.99 at Amazon

The OG Kindle is still one of the best e-readers in the biz, with a compact glare-free display, 16GB of onboard storage for all of your favorite titles, and an efficient battery that will last weeks on a single charge. As part of its Big Deal Days celebration, Amazon is carving 23% off the Kindle for a limited time. View Deal

Amazon Kindle Kids 16GB: ~~$129.99~~ $94.99 at Amazon

Trying to get your kids into reading this summer? Check out this deal that slashes 27% off the Kindle Kids, a perfect beginner's e-reader with a 6-inch glare-free display, 16GB of storage, and up to six weeks of battery life on a single charge. You purchase will also come with six free months of Amazon Kids Plus. View Deal

Kindle Essentials Bundle w/ Kindle (2024), fabric cover, and power adapter: ~~$161.97~~ $117.97 at Amazon

This product bundle includes the standard 6-inch Kindle (2024) with a Matcha-colored fabric cover and power adapter, all for just $117.97.View Deal

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essential Bundle: ~~$282.97~~ $195.97 at Amazon

The Kindle Paperwhite is our favorite e-reader from the brand, coming complete with a 7-inch 300ppi screen, seamless Audible integration, and up to 12 weeks of battery life. Buy this bundle from Amazon and you'll get the e-reader, a plant-based leather cover, AND a wireless charging dock for just $195.97. View Deal

This Kindle update makes your eBook reading even more comfortable

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:21:00 +0000

What you need to know

Amazon is reportedly rolling out a new Kindle update for its 11th and 12th-gen devices.
The update focuses on the reading aspect of its Kindles, giving users tools to edit the font size of its UI and the overall spacing of eBooks for better readability.
Amazon was also spotted rolling out its Kindle Assistive Reader to all users.

Amazon is reportedly rolling out an update for its 11th and 12th-generation Kindle tablets that brings several QoL updates to its e-book reading experience.

The update was spotted hitting these Kindle devices by GoodEReader, which states the patch bears v5.18.5. The majority of this patch seems focused on refining ebook reading, as well as the overall UI elements users interact with on Kindle. To begin, the patch reportedly adds the option for Kindle users to alter the font size of their device's UI.

The publication spotted this new capability in the Screen and Brightness settings.

When it comes to reading, the newest patch is rolling out a text spacing settings option. Sometimes the spacing of sentences on the page helps with readability, which is what Amazon's update aims to help users with. The post states that, within the "Aa" settings menu of an ebook, users can edit the line, paragraph, word, and character spacing. Users can even lock their Kindle in portrait or landscape mode, so your reading material doesn't morph on you when you're getting comfortable in that blanket.

While those feature additions are the core of this new update this month, the publication highlights an expansion of Amazon's Kindle Assistive Reader. This TTS feature (text-to-speech) is now reportedly rolling out to "all users" after the company previously withheld it, limiting it to a small group, likely for testing. Amazon states users can activate the Kindle Assistive Reader by tapping the "Aa" menu > More > Assistive Reader toggle.

The Kindle's Assistive features

(Image credit: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central)

The Assistive Reader can read your book to you via text-to-speech capabilities, and you can "read along" with real-time highlights on your Kindle. Amazon puts more control in your hands, as you can alter the reading speed of the Assistive Reader or rewind 30 seconds in case you want to hear that certain part again.

Users can start the Assistive Reader from any spot or word on the page.

There are a few other "assistive features" present on Amazon's 11th and 12th-gen Kindle devices, like the word and passage lookup. With the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (11th Gen), readers can get definitions for words they're unfamiliar with and more. There's also the Kindle Scribe, which is essentially a digital notebook, capable of editing PDFs and inscribing notes while you're reading to really make up the experience.

I can't believe my eyes: Amazon's Labor Day sale slashes 18% OFF this top-rated Kindle e-reader

zacharydvisconti@gmail.com (Zachary David) — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Hoping to jumpstart your reading goals this Labor Day weekend? Amazon's Labor Day sale has you covered with a whopping 18% off the Amazon Kindle 16GB (2024) for a limited time. This e-reader was already relatively affordable, but this new deal makes the Kindle an absolute steal.

Beyond being the best entry-level Kindle e-reader on the market, the base model comes with most of the same useful features as the standard Paperwhite, including the 300 ppi display, a max brightness of 94 nits, and a 25-percent brighter front light than the device's former generation model. It also comes with an upgraded battery that's plenty for most users, especially compared to other options you'll find for around $100.

It is worth noting that this deal is for the lockscreen ad edition of the Kindle, though buyers can spend a little more to get the configuration without these.

Amazon Kindle 16GB (latest model): ~~$109.99~~ $89.99 at Amazon's Labor Day Sale

Amazon's Labor Day sale continues with 18% off the price of the entry-level Kindle model, bringing its price down to just $90. If you were already in the market for an e-reader and were looking for a sub-$100 price tag, this might just be the opportunity you were waiting for. This particular deal is for the version of the e-reader with lockscreen ads, though you can spend an extra $20 to remove them.View Deal

✅Recommended if: you're looking for an affordable e-reader with a lightweight, easy-to-transport design; you want something that features both Bluetooth connectivity and USB-C charging; you want an e-reader with easy access to Audible for audiobooks.

❌Skip this deal if: you need something water-resistant and wouldn't mind upgrading to Amazon's premium-level Kindles; you want a Kindle with an adjustable warm light rather than the standard backlight included on the base model; you're looking for an e-reader with a larger screen than the average model.

While the 2024 edition of the entry-level Kindle included many upgrades over the 2022 Kindle, it still bears a similarly lightweight, portable build that makes it perfect for slipping into a backpack for on-the-go use. It also came with sizable upgrades to page turning speeds, contrast ratio, and a 25-percent brighter screen at maximum settings.

Amazon says you can get up to six weeks of battery life per charge with the base Kindle model, and it also comes with 16GB of onboard storage for thousands of titles at a time.

Labor Day sales 2025 - quick links

Amazon: discounted headphones, dorm appliances, and more
Best Buy: up to $250 off Chromebooks, tablets
Walmart: major savings on Chromebooks, smart TVs
Samsung: foldable phones, trade-in opportunities
Lenovo: epic laptop sale, free shipping for students
Dell: students get 10% off all back-to-school purchases

With this $140 discount, the Kindle Scribe is actually worth buying

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:49:46 +0000

Despite being a die-hard Onyx Boox fan, this Amazon Prime Day deal is too delectable even for me. This whopping $140 discount on the stylus-bearing 10.2-inch Amazon Kindle Scribe e-reader is an incredible offer. It won't last forever, though. You only have today to take advantage of it, should you choose to.

Although Onyx Boox e-paper tablets are superior and come with unrestricted Android installed, they are also pretty darn expensive. If you don't need anything more than a high-quality E Ink display for reading and writing on, then the Kindle Scribe will serve you perfectly well. This deal includes the Premium Pen, increasing the value prospect even more.

This epic Prime Day drives down this e-reader's unjustifiable $420 going rate to a wonderfully affordable $280 on Amazon.

You only have until tomorrow to shop all Amazon Prime Day deals!

It is largely agreed upon that there's nothing like a Kindle when it comes to reading. Therefore, one that comes with a stylus for handwriting input is twice as awesome as a regular one. Usually, the Kindle Scribe makes for a poor purchase. But with this deal, it is a lot cheaper, helping it rise to the top as one of the best e-readers and E Ink tablets that money can buy. This deal includes the Premium Pen with the Kindle Scribe.

Alternative deal 🪙: Onyx Boox Go Color 7 - $279.99 at AmazonView Deal

✅Recommended if: You need stylus support, weeks upon weeks of battery life, and a large B&W e-paper display.

❌Skip this deal if: You want unfettered access to Android apps on the Play Store and prefer color e-paper devices.

I've always had mixed feelings about the Kindle Scribe. While the e-reader slash E Ink tablet is a good product for reading and writing, the $420 price tag is too high. I'd rather recommend more powerful and higher-spec-bearing color e-paper tablets like the Onyx Boox Note Air 4C for $500 or the Boox Go Color 7 which is just $280.

Thanks to this Prime Day deal, though, the Kindle Scribe is finally worth buying. As expected from any great E Ink tablet, it has a gorgeous e-paper display that looks just like real books and consumes very little power. The display is what makes a Kindle so stunning, because Amazon's e-paper screens are extremely crisp and lovely to look at. The 10.2-inch display is just the right size, neither too big nor too small. You can choose from 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB storage options.

Battery-wise, the Kindle Scribe lasts for weeks on a single charge and comes with a USB Type-C port. Unlike some other Kindle models, the Amazon Kindle Scribe does not have water resistance.

For everything to do with Amazon Prime Day, head to our ultimate buying guide.

This Kindle changed e-reading forever, and now it's cheaper than it's EVER been during Prime Day

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:17:43 +0000

Although it seems like they completely dominate the e-reader space, we actually don't see deals on Kindles very often. Fortunately, it appears that Amazon Prime Day is attempting to change all of that by slashing 36% off the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, dropping the price of the tablet down to its lowest point ever.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition 32GB: ~~$279.99~~ $179.99 with Prime at Amazon

The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft is a full color e-reader with an intelligent 7-inch display and great battery life. Members who order the e-reader during the four-day Prime Day sale will receive a whopping 36% off their order. We've seen a lot of great Prime Day Kindle deals this week, but this is easily one of the best yet. View Deal

The Kindle Colorsoft boasts a 7-inch color display that automatically adjusts to meet your lighting needs, whether you're reading outdoors or in the dark. It also features up to eight weeks of battery life, wireless charging support, and a sturdy, waterproof construction.

First unveiled back in October 2024, the Colorsoft was the first full-color Kindle e-reader released by Amazon, and it understandably raised a bit of a ruckus in the industry. After all, underdog e-reader manufacturers like Kobo and BOOX had been producing full color devices for a while, and now they had to compete against the "Big A" with technology that they had perfected long before. And indeed, once a giant company like Amazon gets involved in a technology like this, there's no going back to simple black-and-white e-readers.

Need a backup plan?

Kobo Libra Colour: ~~$249.99~~ $209.99 with Prime at Amazon

If you're looking for something a little different, the 7-inch Kobo Libra Colour is another great option, boasting a waterproof design, audiobook support, and features like Dark Mode. Buy the e-reader during Prime Day and you'll score an excellent 16% discount. View Deal

Prime Day 2025 Android deals — quick links

Prime Day is LIVE July 8-11: see the full list of Amazon deals
Phones: major discounts on Samsung and Pixel
Tablets: discounted Galaxy Tab and iPad
Wearables: up to %45 off Garmin watches
Most Prime Day deals are members-only: sign up for the 30-day trial

For more on Prime Day 2025, check out our ultimate shopping guide.

Need a last-minute Mother's Day gift? This popular Kindle has crashed back to its lowest price EVER at Amazon

zacharydvisconti@gmail.com (Zachary David) — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:36:36 +0000

If you waited too long and are in need of some last-minute Mother's Day tech deals, this Amazon discount on one of our favorite Kindle e-readers is worth a look. Just days ahead of the holiday, Amazon's Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is 20% off the normal purchase price, bringing this color e-reader back to its lowest price ever.

We named the Colorsoft our favorite color Kindle, in no small part due to its vibrant 7-inch display. It also sports up to eight weeks of battery life per charge, and it comes with many of the same useful features included in the retailer's Paperwhite configuration.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB): ~~$279.99~~ $224.99 at Amazon

Amazon is currently offering a 20% discount on our top pick for the best color Kindle, the Kindle Colorsoft, just ahead of Mother's Day. If you were considering gifting Mom a color-display e-reader of some sort, this deal rings in at under $225, marking a $55 discount and what looks like a pretty solid deal.

Price comparison: Best Buy - $224.99 View Deal

✅Recommended if: you're looking for an e-reader with a color display; battery life is important to you when it comes to having a Kindle; you like having something small and portable that you can take with you on the go.

❌Skip this deal if: you don't need a color display and are more interested in one of the best e-ink tablets; you want an even more affordable Kindle than this deal is offering; you'd prefer an e-reader that comes in more colors than just black.

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition features a vivid, high-contrast 7-inch color screen, along with a USB-C charging port, and a battery life of up to eight weeks per charge, according to Amazon. The display can show color at 150 ppi, or black and white at 150 ppi, and it also gives users the ability to highlight and annotate in various colors. Plus, the Colorsoft supports wireless charging, in case that's a priority for you.

Additionally, the screen of the tablet is considered glare-free, as it uses auto-adjust to adapt to your lighting conditions automatically. The Colorsoft also includes dedicated profiles and child profiles, in case users want to share, and the Amazon library includes more than 15 million book titles.

Unbelievable! The Kindle Scribe soars to its lowest price EVER during Amazon's Big Spring Sale

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 16:36:15 +0000

The Amazon Big Spring Sale has arrived, and so far we've seen no shortage of outstanding tablet deals, heavily-discounted Android smartphones, and so much more. Despite the broad nature of the event, I actually just uncovered a deal that left me feeling pretty surprised. The Kindle Scribe, a versatile drawing tablet and e-reader that users love for its realistic paper-like feeling, just received an awesome $85 price drop during the sale. Not only is this a return to the tablet's lowest-ever price, but it's actually only the second time that the Scribe has ever been discounted!

Kindle Scribe 64GB w/ three months of Kindle Unlimited: ~~$449.99~~ $364.99 at Amazon

Buy the 64GB version of the Kindle Scribe during Amazon's Big Spring Sale and you'll get 19% off alongside a three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited at no additional cost. The 16GB and 32GB versions of the tablet are also receiving discounts during the sale, so take your pick.View Deal

Tablet deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Dell

One of the better e-ink tablets we've used, the Kindle Scribe boasts a 10.2-inch black-and-white display that feels just like paper when drawing or taking notes, plus you get an accompanying stylus with your purchase, weeks of battery life on a single charge, and easy access to all of your favorite books and audiobooks (via Audible).

Speaking of which, buying the Kindle Scribe through Amazon also gets you three months of Kindle Unlimited for free (a $35.97 value), which means you're getting instant access to a library of over four million titles straight out of the box.

Now, be aware that the Kindle Scribe is a pretty no-frills device, so if you need an Android tablet with loads of apps, a fancy camera, or a powerful processor, look elsewhere. But if you're simply seeking a device that lets you read and write for days on end with zero distractions, then the Kindle Scribe is an excellent pick.

Looking for more deals? Check out our guide to Walmart's Spring Sale to see how it competes with Amazon's offerings.

You shouldn't steal eBooks unless you have good lawyers

jerry.hildenbrand@futurenet.com (Jerry Hildenbrand) — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Two really interesting things happened recently. Well, it's interesting if you enjoy eBooks or copyright law, or just like to watch huge tech companies do stupid things. You might even enjoy all three; if so you hit the jackpot.

On one side we have Amazon cracking down on people who move Kindle books to a computer. There are legitimate reasons you might want to do this, but one of the biggest reasons is so that you can strip the Kindle DRM away from the document and can use any reader software to enjoy your book.

Android & Chill

(Image credit: Future)

One of the web's longest-running tech columns, Android & Chill is your Saturday discussion of Android, Google, and all things tech.

The issue is that once you've stripped away that DRM (Digital Rights Management) you can also upload and share that work with someone who didn't give Amazon any money for it. That's stealing and against the law no matter how you or I feel about it. More importantly to Amazon, it means the company loses a potential sale.

On the other side, we have Meta. You know, the company that used to be Facebook but has morphed into an AI company that happens to own WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram among others. Their AI is pretty good, too. On par with the offerings from Google and OpenAI, Meta's Llama AI models are open source and used by other AI companies like DeepSeek.

According to court records, Meta allegedly illegally pirated 82TB of DRM-free eBooks to train Llama. That's 8.2e+13 bytes of data, a number that's basically unfathomable to normal people who don't love math. These court records show that Meta knew it was wrong, did it anyway, and made jokes about it.

Way back in October of 2022 senior AI researchers said things like "I don’t think we should use pirated material. I really need to draw a line here” and “Using pirated material should be beyond our ethical threshold.” One even added, “SciHub, ResearchGate, LibGen are basically like PirateBay or something like that, they are distributing content that is protected by copyright and they’re infringing it.”

After some gentle nudging from Mark Zuckerberg himself, things changed. The company took steps to make sure the torrenting couldn't be traced back to Meta's network infrastructure and began sailing under the black flag.

The tone of the messages between employees changed from stoic refusal to things like "torrenting from a corporate laptop doesn’t feel right 😂." Emoji included.

(Image credit: Meta)

It's alleged — remember Meta hasn't been found guilty of anything yet — that this shows both evidence of the unlawful activity and how Meta took deliberate steps to try and get away with it. The case against Meta is still ongoing so we have no idea if the writers who are suing the company will be able to get some sort of satisfaction.

In any case, Android Central has reached out to Meta for a comment regarding the allegations against it and will update this article when we hear back.

"Stealing" content to train AI isn't anything new. Google scrapes every bit of free content on the internet and much of it is used to train Gemini models which often plagiarize the actual source. OpenAI and Microsoft have faced several lawsuits similar to the current one against Meta, including an ongoing case brought by the New York Times for "billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages" for using millions of NYT articles to build a competitor without paying for it.

Nvidia allegedly scrapes "A human lifetime" of video every day to train its AI models according to documents leaked to 404 Media., and DeepSeek is being investigated for allegedly obtaining content from ChatGPT illegally. That's a lot of "allegedly" but still very concerning.

yargh (Image credit: Future)

It feels like all these tech giants do whatever the hell they please when it comes to copyright, but you shouldn't do the same. The financial penalties are peanuts to companies like Google or Meta but would ruin the average person. We've seen that happen; pirating music can cost you $150,000 for every song you download illegally.

Equally important is the message this gives. If it's OK for a company like Meta to steal eBooks then you can do the same thing, though the reality is that both are wrong. The difference is that if you have a huge war chest and legal team, you can get away with it.

I'm not going to tell you what to do. I try very hard to pay for all the content I consume, but if it's not easy to pay for it I've fired up a torrent client to get what I wanted or used a web archive to get around a paywall. I think most people are the same.

In the long run, someone will find another way to strip Kindle DRM, eBook piracy sites aren't going away, and Meta will fight and appeal until Zuck gets a slap on the wrist for doing something that would financially ruin you or me.

The world keeps turning.

Amazon Kindle users are going to lose this popular PC feature very soon

vishnu.skar@gmail.com (Vishnu Sarangapurkar) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 17:53:05 +0000

What you need to know

Amazon appears to be removing the ability to download and back up Kindle books to PCs starting February 26.
Users can still send downloaded books to Kindle devices via Wi-Fi using the “Deliver or Remove from Device” option.
The removal is likely to prevent users from removing DRM and converting books to other formats, potentially to use on other devices.

Amazon has started suggesting that it is removing the ability to download and back up Kindle books to its PCs.

The feature widely dubbed “Download & Transfer via USB” will be removed starting February 26 (via Android Police). Amazon has started showing pop-up messages to many Kindle users on the web. Until then, the ability to download books on a PC and transfer them to Kindle devices via USB transfer should work flawlessly for consumers.

Amazon notes that users would still be able to send downloaded Kindle books to their respective devices, provided they have Wi-Fi-enabled ones and by “selecting the ‘Deliver or Remove from Device’ option.”

The company; however, doesn’t mention why it is removing the feature but as How-to Geek points out, it appears it is to lock consumers in the Kindle ecosystem of devices and not allow side loading of books.

The popular “Download & Transfer via USB” feature is believed to be often used for downloading older purchased books removing their DRM (Digital Rights Management), and converting them to a more universal ePUB format so that they can be imported to other rival book apps similar to Kindle.

The initial purpose of the feature was to import purchased books to Kindle devices that didn’t feature Wi-Fi connectivity and relied on cellular — but that applied to devices released before 2011.

The new move; however, would likely save from making pirated copies of the books, which seems hassle-free to an extent with the aforementioned functionality. Regardless, it appears to be an encouraging move from Amazon to keep its users glued to its devices’ ecosystem.

FYI Amazon is removing Download & Transfer option on Feb 26th from r/kindle

According to a recent Reddit post, users who bought the books through the Kindle store and downloaded them to their Kindle device through Wi-Fi or a cellular network are not affected by the removal of this tool. Similarly, users who have side-loaded books through USB are not affected. Kindle app users on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android are also not affected.

Tablet deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Dell |

So you bought an e-reader — here's how you can get the most out of it

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:14:58 +0000

Gadget Weekly

(Image credit: Android Central)

Join Namerah Saud Fatmi as she explores the cool, quirky, and sometimes downright odd world of smartphone accessories, gadgets, and other nerdy toys every week.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday were exceedingly long this year. In fact, some Cyber Monday deals are still around! If you took advantage of the sales and got yourself an e-reader, that's awesome. You might just kickstart a reading habit right in time for 2025.

Choosing the right e-ink tablet is no easy task. There are so many cool options to pick from, even if they're not as versatile as full-blown Android tablets from the likes of Samsung, Google, and OnePlus. If you just bought an e-reader, here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your new device.

I've been mad about e-readers and anything E Ink since the days of the Sony Reader, c. 2006. Allow an avid bookwork such as myself to help you get the best possible reading experience from your fancy new reading tab.

Adjust your settings

(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

Whether it's an Amazon Kindle or an Onyx Boox, your new e-reader has various brightness, contrast, and light settings. Modern E Ink tablets all let you adjust the backlight and front light as well. This is the first thing to tweak right after setting up your new e-reader. Find the right balance of brightness and saturation to give you maximum eye comfort while reading.

I like to turn the brightness and warmth levels down to give my e-reader the most paper-like feel possible. This looks especially nice on color e-readers such as the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C or the Onyx Boox Note Air 4 C. Since these tabs have anti-glare displays, the papery look is absolutely fantastic with dimmer backlighting.

Of course, this is a subjective setting. My friend and colleague Nick Sutrich, for example, likes his settings to be on the warmer side as it's easier on his eyes.

After the display satisfies your eyeballs, customize any physical page-turning buttons that your e-reader may or may not have. You can also customize the gestures on your tablet for more efficient readability and usability.

For example, the latest Onyx Boox tablets have vertical swipe gestures along either side of the screen that can be personalized. I like mine to be set to brightness and volume adjustability. Swiping up along the right corner increases brightness, whereas swiping downwards along the edge of the display decreases it. It's the same thing for the volume settings but on the left side of the display. You get the gist.

Try different reading apps

(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

If you're on an Android e-reader like a Boox or a Bigme, you're going to be very happy. One of the biggest reasons why I love Android e-readers like these is because I can download and use any of my favorite reading apps or just any of the best Android apps, period. Amazon limits you from doing so, which I find stifling.

Open the Google Play Store on your Android E Ink tablet and go crazy kid. From the Kindle store and Manga Plus to Crunchyroll and Wattpad, you can go all out. It's one of the most exciting parts of setting up your new e-reader. Google Play Books is pretty great, too, and if you're in the North American region, you'll find great sales on the platform. You should also get local library apps, such as Libby, so you can borrow e-books from digital libraries in your neighborhood.

I like to install the Google Drive app as well so I can access my personal library of e-books, which I've been collecting and adding to for a decade now. If you're accessing a local library from your laptop or PC, I highly recommend Calibre for computers. Not only does it help you convert e-book formats and add your preferred covers to them, but you can directly connect your e-reader to your computer and sort, arrange, import, export, convert, and edit e-books via Calibre. It's the ultimate e-book management tool, and it's free to use!

And don't forget to adjust screen settings per app once you're done decking out your e-reader. Some content, such as graphic novels and manga, require different profiles and contrast settings compared to apps like e-book readers or web browsers.

Goodreads is invaluable

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

After you're all set with the right apps and tools, it's time to start reading! But don't forget, you can track your reading with the fabulous Goodreads app. Disagree with me all you want, but you probably didn't read 300 books in one summer, so I'm vetoing everyone. Goodreads is the perfect platform to track your reading progress, set reading goals, find new reads, and just talk about books in general.

My e-reader setup is incomplete without Goodreads on it. I don't know how I would keep up with my yearly reading goals without the platform. You can set a yearly reading challenge for yourself, and it is completely customizable. It's highly motivating to see how much you've read at any given point in the year.

The Goodreads community is warm, welcoming, and extremely passionate. There are community events where users can vote on the best books of the year in each category or create their own lists. You can even become a Goodreads librarian if you want. Be sure to check it out to help you find all the latest and greatest new releases in whatever genre of books you prefer.

There's no limit or end to what you can do to make your e-reading experience better. These were my top tips and tricks based on countless e-readers and E Ink tablets that I have used and tested.

Keep playing around with your new e-reader and have fun with it; that's the most important thing. I hope you enjoy your reading sessions and find the perfect read for any mood. Now curl up in a cozy nook with a warm cuppa coffee, preferably a furry four-legged companion, and a soft blanket. Happy reading!

Onyx Boox Note Air 4 C

Android supremacy

Even in the world of e-readers, you get the best reading experience from an Android tablet. I've been testing the newest Onyx Boox Note Air 4 C and it's easily the best E Ink tablet or e-reader for anyone. Forget about a cheap Kindle, this tablet will level up your reading experience like no other without sacrificing your eyesight.

Make your phone-addicted kids read with these major Black Friday Kindle Kids deals

michael.hicks@futurenet.com (Michael L Hicks) — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 01:56:16 +0000

Amazon has discounted most of its new Kindles for Black Friday, but parents can get the All-New Kindle Paperwhite Kids or Kindle Kids at deal prices that match their all-time lows. The 6-inch Kindle Kids is $94 ($35 off), while the 7-inch Kindle Paperwhite Kids is $139.99 ($40 off).

Amazon's Black Friday sale is LIVE — see the full list of deals

Out of the best Kindle e-readers today, the Kids Paperwhite Edition (12th Gen) is high up on our list. So far, we've only reviewed the 11th-Gen Kindle Paperwhite Kids — it's hard to keep up with every release — but our parent reviewer loved it for its two-month battery life and distraction-free software. The 12th-Gen tablet lasts three months per charge, has the upgraded display tech for better contrast, and adds another 0.2 inches of display space. Basically, what was already great got even better!

The newest Kindle Kids (16GB) has a 300ppi, glare-free display that's as bright as the Paperwhite Kids, with 6 weeks of battery life per charge and a "If it breaks, we will replace it" policy to withstand whatever your kid throws at it (metaphorically or literally). It comes with a six-month Kids+ sub, so your kid can choose from thousands of the most popular ebooks without making you pay an extra dime.View Deal

Black Friday deals

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Funnily enough, the normal Kindle Paperwhite (2024) has its own Black Friday deal that makes it $10 cheaper than the Kids version! If your kid is closer to being a teen, that's probably the better fit.

If you want to save some money to go towards new books for your kid, the Kindle Kids has the same storage, USB-C charging port, 300 pixels per inch, and six-month subscription to Amazon Kids+ for a library of age-appropriate ebooks as the Paperwhite. It also comes with a fun case in the box to help protect it from rough treatment.

The 12th-Gen Kindle Paperwhite Kids has an "oxide thin-film transistor" that "gives it the highest contrast ratio of any Kindle," plus 25% faster page turns than the previous generations. All that marketing talk aside, you're paying for an extra inch of warm-colored reading space, water resistance, and a warm, subtle backlight so they can read more easily in dim lighting.View Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale is LIVE — see the full list of deals

The best part of buying either Kindle is that it's limited. Sure, you can buy the Kindle Fire HD 8 Kids Pro for 50% off so they can stream content as well as read, but I think it's pretty obvious what'll be more appealing to a kid if both options are presented! Giving them tablet time with an e-reader ensures their brain gets a break from YouTube endorphins, so they can focus on learning and imagination instead!

That being said, if you want to give your kid the most possible content, from shows to books, the Kindle Fire deals are more affordable at the moment! The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is $80 off ($109), while the Fire 7 Kids is only $54 (50% off).

The best Kindle e-reader EVER just got its biggest discount EVER for Black Friday — how can this be?

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 17:15:31 +0000

Readers, rejoice — Amazon's Black Friday sale is officially here, and the iconic retailer has just dropped a truly unmissable Kindle deal. Go pick up the Kindle Paperwhite before the holiday sale ends and you'll get 19% off AND three free months of Kindle Unlimited at no additional cost. That's the biggest discount that the e-reader has EVER received from the retailer.

Amazon's Black Friday sale is LIVE — see the full list of deals

The 12th-Gen Paperwhite topped our list of the best Kindle e-readers, and it isn't hard to see why. The lightweight device boasts the perfect blend of specs and versatility, with a 7-inch, 300ppi anti-glare display, an upgraded processor that's said to be 20% faster than previous generations, and up to 12 weeks of battery life on a single charge! The slab also weighs less than half a pound, so it's easy to travel with, plus you get IPX8 water resistance and Bluetooth support for Audible.

Save paper by buying the Paperwhite this Black Friday

Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) 12th Gen, 2024: ~~$159.99~~ $129.99 at Amazon

The Kindle Paperwhite is arguably the best e-reader Amazon has ever produced, with ridiculously-good battery life, a display that's easy to read in any light, and 20% faster performance than its predecessor. Grab this slab from Amazon during the Black Friday sale and you'll enjoy a historic 19% off plus three months of Kindle Unlimited for free!

👀Alternate Black Friday deal: Get 23% off the standard Amazon Kindle (16GB) at Amazon View Deal

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The purchase of this Kindle Paperwhite also comes with three months of Kindle Unlimited at no additional cost. That's a value of over $30 dropped straight into your pocket, not to mention instant access to millions of titles as soon as you boot up your device. If your New Year's resolution is to read more books in 2025, this is a great way to get started.

One problem with the Black Friday deal is that this particular model comes with Lock Screen Ads. While these advertisements won't interrupt you while you're reading, they will show up on the device's lock screen. If that's a problem, you can spend 20 more bucks to get the ad-free version of the device, which is also chilling with a 16% discount.

My favorite Kindle just crashed to its lowest price ever for Black Friday — get millions of books for just 85 bucks

patrick.farmer@futurenet.com (Patrick Farmer) — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 21:01:01 +0000

Black Friday has finally arrived and the Kindle deals aren't messing around! The e-reader that I use every day, the super-portable 16GB Amazon Kindle (2024), just scored a 23% discount during Amazon's Black Friday event, which is a record for the device. As if that wasn't enough, the deal comes with a free trial to Kindle Unlimited, giving you instant access to millions of books for three months.

85 bucks for millions of books? Sign me up

Amazon Kindle (2024) 16GB: ~~$109.99~~ $84.99, plus three months of Kindle Unlimited at Amazon

Lightweight and versatile, the 11th-gen Amazon Kindle boasts a bright 6-inch display with 16GB of storage for all of your favorite titles, plus a built-in light for anywhere reading, Bluetooth support for audiobooks, and up to six weeks of battery life on a single charge. This version also comes with a free three-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited, so you'll have instant access to millions of e-books at no additional cost.

There are other Kindle e-readers to consider if you want a bigger screen or more features, but if you just need something simple to throw into a bag when traveling, this device is pretty perfect.

👀Alternate Black Friday deal: Get 19% off the Kindle Paperwhite (2024) during Amazon's Black Friday sale!View Deal

More deals

-Cyber Monday Google Pixel deals
-Cyber Monday Motorola deals
-Cyber Monday Samsung deals
-Cyber Monday OnePlus deals

Now, to be clear: I'm a big advocate of physical books and I strongly recommend that you spend some money at your local independent bookstore this holiday season — but if you travel a lot like me, it's hard to beat the convenience of the Amazon Kindle (2024), especially at this price.

Boot up this e-reader and you'll get instant access to a vast library of books on a 6-inch, anti-glare display that you can use in any light, thanks to the adjustable built-in screen light. You also get audiobook support via Bluetooth, some incredible battery life, and a durable construction that's supposed to be waterproof (although I haven't tested that myself). 16GB of onboard storage also means that you can easily carry thousands of titles with you wherever you go.

One drawback is that this particular model is ad-supported, which means you'll have to deal with the occasional banner ad on your lock screen. They won't show up when you're reading though, which is good enough for me, but you'll have to consider if it's worth paying a bit more to go completely ad-free.

News Weekly: The Pixel hits new heights, Android 15 on the OnePlus 12, Galaxy S25 Slim rumors, and more

derrek.lee@futurenet.com (Derrek Lee) — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

News Weekly

(Image credit: Android Central)

News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week's top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, we find out just how popular the Pixel 9 is, the OnePlus 12 gets OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, Samsung is rumored to have a Galaxy S25 Slim in the works, Google rolls out the November 2024 update to Pixels, and Amazon is having some issues with its Colorsoft Kindle.

Google has a hit on its hands

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Read more here.

The Pixel series may not be as popular as Samsung's Galaxy lineup, but Google has seen more success with its smartphones in recent years, and the latest numbers show how popular the phones have become. According to a report from Counterpoint Research, Google's smartphone shipments grew 20% in Q3 2024, which can be attributed to the much earlier launch of the Pixel 9 series.

A second report from Statcounter shows just how drastic Pixel growth has been, with a graph revealing a jump from about 5% to a whopping 14% share between September and October. The Pixel 9 series went on sale at the end of August, when there was a noticeable uptick in share, giving Google a good amount of time to see the Pixel 9 affected Q3 sales figures. It's worth noting that the Pixel 8 did not go on sale until Q4 2023.

While Google still has some catching up to do to reach the numbers of Samsung Galaxy phones, it's clear that the company's strategy is working. The Pixel 9 series has have been impressive thanks to great cameras, standout designs, a better chipset, and fun on-device AI features.

Breathe new life into the OnePlus 12 with OxygenOS 15

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Read more here.

It hasn't been that long since Google rolled out Android 15 to its Pixel phones. Now, OnePlus is getting in on the action by rolling out OxygenOS 15 to the OnePlus 12, the company's current global flagship (the OnePlus 13 is still China-only for now). Some Android Central staff have already received the update, which is steadily arriving on global variants of the phone.

The update brings a host of visual improvements to the home screen, themes, and animations and should make things more fluid and uniform throughout the UI. The pulldown menu can now be separated by notifications and quick settings, similar to iPhones and some other Android phones. There's also a new Live Alerts feature that mimics Apple's Dynamic Island by showing real-time updates for apps and activities in an expandable pill at the top of the display.

There are a ton of new updates, but Android Central senior editor Harish Jonnalagadda has highlighted some of his favorite OxygenOS 15 features.

Galaxy on a diet, with an "Ultra" appetite

(Image credit: Android Headlines)

Read more here.

Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy S25 series sometime in 2025, but rumors are circulating that the company is preparing a "Galaxy S25 Slim." The device, as hinted by the name, would be a thinner model, but that apparently might not mean that it'll be a watered-down version. A recent leak suggests that despite its thinner profile, the phone may feature an "Ultra" camera.

While the leak doesn't specify what that means, it's not hard to guess that it could adopt a 200MP camera similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra and previous Ultra models. If true, it'll be interesting to see how this will fit in the phone; will it feature a massively protruding camera sensor? We don't know how "slim" this phone will be, but it may likely be thinner than the current batch of Galaxy S24 models, which come in at 7.6, 7.7, and 8.6mm for the S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra, respectively.

That’s a fact and not just a guess https://t.co/AAGlsZVOIWNovember 8, 2024

It's also being said that if the Galaxy S25 Slim does launch, it won't arrive with the rest of the Galaxy S25 series, which is expected in January. That said, it's not clear when Samsung is planning to launch the device if it does end up coming to market.

Pixels grab post-Android 15 update

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Read more here.

October was a big month for Pixel phones with the rollout of Android 15. November isn't as big, but there's still plenty to look forward to with the November 2024 update, which has begun rolling out to Google's smartphones from the Pixel 6 and newer.

Most of the bug fixes address issues with the Pixel 9 series, such as Adaptive brightness not kicking in or problems pertaining to Bluetooth range. There's also a fix for the cameras when zooming in between sensors, which would cause tilting under certain conditions.

Meanwhile, all eligible Pixel smartphones received performance improvements for UI animations, while the Pixel 8a received a specific display fix for an issue that would cause flickering.

The November 2024 update is rolling out with version numbers AP3A.241105.007 and .008, depending on the device, and your phone must be running Android 15 to receive the update.

Amazon's first color Kindle runs into problems

(Image credit: Amazon)

Read more here.

Amazon made headlines when it launched its first full-color Kindle. However, as exciting as it seems, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition has already encountered some problems, with owners complaining about a yellow tint at the bottom of the display that bleeds into about an inch of the screen. Not only that, but apparently, the dark mode is not working on the device.

The problem has led to plenty of low reviews on Amazon, with the device sitting at an average of 2.6 stars. With Amazon well aware of the issue, the company is working on a fix and noting that owners can contact customer service and request a replacement or refund. That said, replacements may take some time to arrive as Amazon works on fixing the screen tint issues, although there's no word on the dark mode issue.

Amazon confirms Kindle Colorsoft issues, encourages users to reach out

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 19:46:34 +0000

(Update: Nov 5, 3 p.m. ET): Added an updated statement from Amazon about the Colorsoft issue.

What you need to know

Users who've received the Kindle Colorsoft report an odd yellowish bar at the bottom of the e-readers' display.
As a result, Amazon has reportedly suspended all Kindle Colorsoft shipments, leaving consumers to wait up to "a week or more."
Amazon has stated it is working on a software fix for this issue, but the company has not said when this could arrive.

Amazon launched several updated Kindles in mid-October and among them is its first full-color e-reader, which has hit a snag.

Over the weekend, Amazon reportedly informed customers who purchased the Kindle Colorsoft that its delivery would be suspended. According to GoodEReader, the company is delaying all shipments of its color e-reader by "a week or more." The publication states Amazon's Kindle Colorsoft encountered a problem with its display that caused a "yellowish bar" to appear at the bottom of its display.

Amazon is only now becoming aware of the problem after users took to its product page to leave several negative reviews. One user's review claims that the yellowish bar takes up "5-10%" of the bottom of their display. The trend continued as several more reviews brought up the strange yellow stripe as users bombarded the Colorsoft e-reader's page.

Amazon confirmed its recent actions to The Verge. The company's spokesperson, Jill Tornifoglio stated, "we’re aware of a small number of reports from customers who see a yellow band along the bottom of the display. We take the quality of our products seriously and are looking into it. If customers notice this on their device, they can reach out to our customer service team."

Additionally, Dark mode was originally listed as one of the e-reader's features; however, Amazon has included a note on the product's page stating it's not working. Amazon shifts users' attention to the device's "Page Soft" feature, which acts similarly to dark mode.

There's no word about Dark Mode, but GoodEReader states Amazon informed users that the device may arrive anywhere from November 9 to the 18 in the U.S. Those in the U.K. are said to receive it around November 26. The issue with the Colorsoft's display seems widespread, but Amazon told users that it's working on a patch to solve the problem, indicating it could be a software issue.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon launched the Kindle Colorsoft on October 16 alongside the new Kindle Scribe, Paperwhite, and base model. The Colorsoft is its first full-color e-reader rocking a 7-inch display and a custom coating to enhance its visuals. Amazon stated in a press release that the Colorsoft features two modes: "standard" and "vibrant" colors to improve its experience.

Aside from 32GB of storage, the Kindle Colorsoft received note-taking features like text highlighting, a zoom function for images, and more. Per the company's post, the device started shipping on October 30. However, in light of recent events, Amazon has suspended all Kindle Colorsoft shipments until it can work out a solution.

While we're likely waiting on a software update, Amazon has not said when users can expect this to rollout.

Update

Amazon reached out to Android Central to provide an update on the Kindle Colorsoft situation.

The following statement was delivered by an Amazon spokesperson:

"A small number of customers have reported a yellow band along the bottom of the display. We take the quality of our products seriously—customers who notice this can reach out to our customer service team for a replacement or refund, and we’re making the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue moving forward."

Additionally, those who have reached out for a replacement unit can still use the one they have in their possession until that new device arrives. Amazon states consumers "might see shifts in availability dates as we implement these changes. We’re working quickly to get new and replacement devices to customers."

News Weekly: Android 15 is officially here, the Kindle gets some color, a new Galaxy foldable, and more

derrek.lee@futurenet.com (Derrek Lee) — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 12:00:10 +0000

News Weekly

(Image credit: Android Central)

News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week's top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news.

This week, Pixel phones finally got stable Android 15, Google pushed some new anti-theft features onto Android phones, Amazon launched its first color Kindle, Mobvoi has another impressive TicWatch model, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 Special Edition might arrive very soon.

Android 15 is rolling out now on Pixel phones!

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Read more here.

The big update is finally here! Stable Android 15 has launched on Pixel smartphones, bringing with it a host of improvements and security enhancements.

Among the new improvements coming to Pixel phones are the ability to easily archive apps, adaptive vibration, a Private Space for apps, and much more. For people who frequently use Bluetooth earbuds, the Bluetooth tile has changed behavior so that a quick tap will now open the dialogue, allowing you to switch devices, connect/disconnect, and so on.

For foldables, Android 15 now makes it easier to switch apps from the larger display to the external screen when you open or close your phone. Tablets should also benefit from the enhanced taskbar, which you can now pin to the bottom of the screen for easy multitasking.

There are a ton of small enhancements that help make this a much better software experience, and you can get it now if you have a Pixel 6 or newer, alongside the new features arriving with the Pixel Drop.

Google has new ways to protect your phone from thieves

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Read more here.

Along with the new features arriving on Pixel phones with Android 15, Google is also pushing new theft protection features on all Android phones, and it's a pretty huge deal. These are all part of the new Theft protection features, which include the new Theft Detection Lock. If the phone detects that it's being stolen (using motion sensors, Wi-Fi, and other connections, it will automatically lock itself.

The new Offline Device Lock is a secondary theft protection measure that locks your phone if the thief turns off your data connections to prevent the device from being tracked.

Remote Lock, which is available in the Find My Device settings, will work if your device is still online, allowing you to lock it from a website. Android Central senior editor Jerry Hildenbrand says this is one of Google's best security features to arrive in a long time.

These features are rolling out across Android phones now.

Amazon's new Kindle is mighty colorful

(Image credit: Amazon)

Read more here.

If you're tired of the old, samey Kindle devices with black and white screens, Amazon is here to spice up your reading a bit. The company announced a new family of Kindle tablets, many of which are updates but one with a full color display.

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition features a 7-inch "Colorsoft" display that has been optimized for reading. As a result of this optimization, Amazon says the display has " none of the harsh glare or intense light of a conventional backlit screen." Users will be able to experience full-color illustrations with faster page turns and better image quality than a traditional Kindle.

For readers who like highlighting things, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition will also allow users different color highlighter options, which should spice up your reading a bit and help organize your thoughts.

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is available for preorder now and will ship on October 30.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon also announced an improved Kindle Scribe, which Android Central senior editor Michael Hicks says addresses his complaints about the last model with improved annotations. There's also a new Kindle Paperwhite and upgraded Kindle Kids tablet available for preorder.

A rugged TicWatch

(Image credit: Mobvoi)

Read more here.

The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 is one of our favorite Wear OS smartwatches, and while it received a new Enduro variant earlier this year, the company is back with what's basically another version of the watch.

The TicWatch Atlas takes what's great about the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro and puts it in a more durable smartwatch with a rugged design and redesigned button layout. It's physically larger than this year's flagship TicWatch Pro 5 models and features a stainless steel chassis with a sapphire crystal display. It also runs Wear OS 4 out of the box, which is a pretty good sign despite Wear OS 5 already being available for the Galaxy and Pixel smartwatches.

Otherwise, the watch features many of the same specs, including the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a huge 628mAh battery. You also get access to all your health metrics on the secondary low-power display, which can help extend the battery far longer than most other Android smartwatches.

The Atlas can be purchased for $350.

We may be getting another Z Fold 6 soon

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Read more here.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has only been out for a couple of months, but Samsung is reportedly preparing for a newer version that may launch very soon, and this one might be a true competitor to some of the best foldable phones that have come out this year.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 "Special Edition" has been rumored for some time as a phone that would come with a slimmer body, larger displays, and improved cameras. Now, we're hearing that the launch could be just around the corner. According to a report from FNNews, Samsung was expected to launch the phone on October 25, which is in less than a week. However, Samsung itself posted a teaser for a "new Galaxy," which is set to be revealed on October 21, which is in just a couple of days.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition is rumored to measure just 4.9mm thick when unfolded and 10.6mm when folded, which is slimmer than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 but still thicker than other foldables like the Honor Magic V3. It has also been rumored to sport a 200MP primary camera.

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

New Kindle Scribe fixes my biggest complaint with the last one

michael.hicks@futurenet.com (Michael L Hicks) — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0000

The Amazon Kindle Scribe was very clearly a first-gen device when it launched in late 2022, with hardware flaws and limited productivity software. Amazon patched it over the next year with useful fixes, but the fundamental problems remained. Now, the Kindle Scribe 2024 fixes nearly every complaint I had with its predecessor.

Amazon announced four new Kindles on Wednesday, including its first color e-ink Kindle. But its newest Scribe stands out for me thanks to one feature: Active Canvas. Essentially, you can now write directly on e-books and have the notes stay attached to the text, even if you resize the font or change the layout.

In my Kindle Scribe (2022) review, I complained that the only way to annotate e-books was to tap next to a word to create a little footnote icon and then write your notes in a pop-out box. Those notes weren't visible unless you expanded them, and they covered up half of the screen.

Compared to underlining and marking up your school textbooks and novels in the margins, it felt extremely limited. At the time, I wished Amazon would let us lock an e-book into PDF format to enable notes.

It turns out Amazon took this criticism and enacted a much smarter solution with Active Canvas. As you can see in the photo above, you can write a note that reflows the book text itself and resizes it if you change the font size, so it's always anchored to that part of the text.

You can also underline and highlight text using the pen for the first time, which is a simple necessity for me. Plus, you can open a collapsable marginal column on any page and take full-sized notes, then hide the column — though this feature won't go live until 2025, according to Amazon. It's not quite as natural as writing in the margins, but it also gives you more space, so I won't complain.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon wants the Kindle Scribe to be a note-taking tablet for students and professionals. The second-gen Kindle Scribe is "AI-powered," letting you "quickly summarize pages and pages of notes into concise bullets in a script font that can be easily shared—directly within the notebook tab."

I personally would prefer a standard Android tablet for note-taking; I like working directly in app suites like Google Drive or Microsoft Office instead of having to export notes. But Amazon's smarts revamp is a welcome one regardless. I complained about the 1st-gen Scribe's "slow response time" for most tasks, and this AI boost gives me hope that the next version is a bit faster.

Plus, the Kindle Scribe 2024 design looks more attractive. I complained about the "massive bezel" on the first Scribe, but this design has shrunk it to a more manageable size that'll be easier to grip while adding new white borders along the edge that give it a distinct appearance from other Kindles.

The 300 ppi display and 16GB to 64GB of storage are the same, but it comes with a Premium Pen by default, and the Scribe has new fun color options to give it more personality. Unfortunately, it also costs more than the original Scribe—$399.99 and up—but now it feels like it earns that higher price tag.

Over Prime Day, I wrote about how my fiancee stole my Kindle Scribe to read e-books on a larger screen and that I wanted to buy a new one for myself despite its failings. Now, I'm ready to return that Scribe and shell out full price for the Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) once it arrives on December 4. It could very well be one of the best e-ink tablets we've seen.

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024)

Take notes freely

The Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) has a 10.2" glare-free, 300 ppi front-lit display and comes with a Premium Pen that requires no charging and feels like you're sketching with a pencil. Now you can annotate your full library of Kindle e-books, keeping track of your thoughts for future tests or meetings.

Amazon's leaked next-gen Kindle Paperwhite might not surprise you

nickodiaz@sbcglobal.net (Nickolas Diaz) — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 19:43:24 +0000

What you need to know

Amazon's 12th-gen Kindle Paperwhite allegedly leaked as images of its retail box surfaced online.
The box shows the tablet could grab a slightly larger 7-inch display and 16GB of internal storage with "weeks" of battery life.
The supposed upgrades are minimalistic at best as other options like Kobo's new color e-readers and the Onyx Boox turn heads.

Amazon might have a next-gen Paperwhite tablet on the way as it seemingly leaks unceremoniously.

The rumor stems from a retail worker who supposedly got their hands on the retail box for Amazon's 12th-Gen Kindle Paperwhite. As noted by Good E Reader, the images don't excite as the most notable change is its alleged 7-inch display. The back of the box adds the device could feature an "adjustable warm light," an IPX8 2M waterproof rating, and "weeks" of battery life.

The front of the box suggests the 12th-Gen Paperwhite will offer 16GB of internal storage.

The design of this alleged next-gen reading tablet mirrors the 11th-gen Paperwhite from 2021. The device still features quite thick bezels around its entirety, not to mention the rather pronounced chin with the Kindle name. Small differences in its form factor are expected as the display increases (slightly) from 6.8 inches to the rumored seven.

What's not clear is whether this is the only 12th-gen Kindle Paperwhite we're getting or if there's a Signature Edition on the way. The publication stated that a next-gen Signature Edition model could add features like page-turn buttons and an e-paper display. However, it's too early to tell as it's unclear when this leaked model will arrive.

But the existence of its retail box could indicate we're approaching such a launch date.

(Image credit: Good E Reader)

When Amazon launched its trio of Paperwhites in 2021, the company noted its 10% brighter display. More importantly, the battery life of those older tablets sat at around 10 weeks. This meant users would have to charge their Paperwhites (roughly) once every two and a half months. This was paired with a 9W charger that took around 2.5 hours to complete a full charging cycle.

If these images are to be believed, perhaps we should look elsewhere for more changes. It would be nice if Amazon could improve the tablet's charging capabilities with more strength to quicken its cycle.

But, the kicker is that Amazon could risk falling behind other, more popular e-readers that are doing more. Earlier this year, Kobo launched its first color e-readers: the Libra Colour and the Clara Colour. Those devices offer a 7-inch display with 32GB of storage and richer saturation with a palette of 4,096 colors.

There's also the Onyx Boox, which is turning heads over Amazon's options.

My fiancée stole my Kindle Scribe, so I'm buying one during Prime Day for 25% off

michael.hicks@futurenet.com (Michael L Hicks) — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 18:41:44 +0000

I reviewed the Amazon Kindle Scribe last year and loved the core experience: reading on a massive 10.2-inch display, with enough space to fit large text or more words without it feeling cramped like on a Paperwhite or Oasis. Its note-taking tools were fairly basic at launch, but it's gotten some great updates since then to make it more useful for productivity.

Unfortunately, my fiancée spied me reading comfortably one too many times and asked to "borrow" my Kindle Scribe for a vacation. She fell in love with it...and kept it, leaving me reading my ebooks on my bright Mac screen. I thought about buying a second Scribe, but the $340 price tag scared me off. Now that it's $254.99 (25% off) for Prime Day, it's my chance to spare my strained eyes.

Amazon Kindle Scribe: ~~$339.99~~ $254.99 at Amazon

This massive 10.2-inch, 300 ppi e-ink tablet is (was) my favorite way to read ebooks, and also doubled as a sketching and note-taking pad. You can import PDFs to annotate them or send work notes to your computer, or add sticky notes to ebooks. This is slightly higher than the lowest price we've seen ($239), but still an excellent deal.View Deal

(I'm obligated to report that my partner disagrees with the headline and says that I could have reclaimed my Kindle Scribe at any time. Uh-huh. Love you, sweetie.)

The Kindle Scribe isn't the most advanced or powerful e-ink tablet out there. You should look at the Onyx Boox series if you want color e-ink or a full suite of Play Store apps, not just the Kindle store and basic notes. But these tablets are more expensive and a bit overcomplicated for anyone who just wants to read e-books on a large slab.

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I also wish that you could take proper notes on the Kindle Scribe instead of having to put little sticky notes on the text. I get why: you can't resize the text without messing up the placement of notes, and there might be legal reasons against it. So you can only write directly on specific ebooks like Sudoku or crosswords. But I wish instead you could choose a specific text size and lock an ebook into a specific format, like a PDF, so students could take persistent notes for classes.

Still, my complaints about note-taking aside, I still want a Kindle Scribe more than I want a Kindle Paperwhite, even though it's only $124.99 ($25 off) for Prime Day, simply because I care more about display space than portability. Glasses wearers or the elderly who struggle to read smaller text will appreciate the Scribe's size, trust me on that.

This Prime Day deal finally makes the Kindle Scribe worth buying — buy it before the deal runs out!!

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 13:25:19 +0000

Prime Day is nearly over, but you can't stop shopping until you've bagged all the best discounts. Back when Amazon launched the Kindle Scribe, I had mixed feelings. While the e-reader slash E Ink tablet is a good product for reading and writing, the launch price was too high. Thanks to this Prime Day deal though, the Kindle Scribe is finally worth buying. Amazon knocked a neat 31% off the price tag, bringing the Kindle Scribe down to a lowly $234.99. That saves you a whole $100 and some change to spare!

The Kindle Scribe is a large, eye-friendly 10.3-inch tablet that runs Amazon's proprietary Kindle software based on Android. You can read books and comics, listen to audiobooks, take notes, sketch, and even annotate documents on the Scribe. It's undeniably the best Kindle for academics and the only one to come with a stylus.

Android Central Prime Day Deal Hubs:
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Amazon Kindle Scribe: ~~$339.99~~ now $234.99 at Amazon

There's nothing like a Kindle when it comes to reading, so one that comes with a stylus for handwriting input is twice as awesome as a regular one. Amazon priced the Kindle Scribe out of contention, but this deal brings it back to the top of the best e-readers and E Ink tablets that money can buy.View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want stylus support, weeks upon weeks of battery life, and a large B&W e-paper display.

❌Skip this deal if: you want access to Android apps on the Play Store and prefer color e-paper devices.

Just like any great E Ink tablet, the Amazon Kindle Scribe has a gorgeous e-paper display that looks just like real books and consumes very little power. The display is what makes a Kindle so stunning, because Amazon's e-paper screens are extremely crisp and lovely to look at. The 10.2-inch display is just the right size, neither too big nor too small. You can choose from 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB storage options.

On top of that, the Kindle Scribe lasts for weeks on a single charge and comes with a USB Type-C port. You can choose to get the Basic Pen or the Premium Pen with your Kindle Scribe, but keep in mind that the latter drives up the tablet's price. Unlike some of the other recently released Kindle models, the Amazon Kindle Scribe does not have water resistance.

If you're looking for an E Ink tablet with unrestricted access to the Google Play Store and maybe a color e-paper display, try Onyx Boox instead.

Amazon's best-selling Kindle is down to an unbelievable price right now

harish.jonnalagadda@futurenet.com (Harish Jonnalagadda) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 04:39:37 +0000

After my monitor, the Kindle is the device that gets the most amount of use. I go through at least 75 books a year, and while my e-reader of choice is the Kindle Oasis, Amazon doesn't sell that any longer, but there's a silver lining — the entry-level model in the portfolio has picked up a lot of the best features of the Oasis, and it is much more affordable.

The Kindle usually retails for $99, but for Prime Day, the e-reader is down to $84, a modest 15% discount on what is already a great value. The biggest advantage to the Kindle Oasis is that it has physical page turn buttons, and I just found that there's a dedicated attachment that lets you add those to any Kindle — and it costs just $19 right now.

Amazon Kindle 11th Generation: ~~$99~~ $84 at Amazon

The Kindle is a great starting point if you're new to e-readers; the E Ink panel is significantly better to read than an LCD screen like most tablets, and it has the same 300 ppi resolution as the higher-end models. That means you get the same great clarity and pixel density, and with an adjustable front light, you can easily read at night. It even has Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to listen to audiobooks.View Deal

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The current-gen Kindle is the 11th-gen model, and it has a lot of exciting features. The key addition is a front light that sees four LEDs around the panel; you can adjust the brightness of the LEDs easily, and they allow you to read books at night comfortably. The Kindle also gets Bluetooth connectivity, and with Audible integration, you can connect earbuds and stream your audiobooks via the same device.

✅Recommended if: You want an affordable e-reader that excels at the basics. The Kindle has the same pixel density as its higher-priced siblings, and you get a front light and Bluetooth.

❌Skip this deal if: You need warm light or water resistance.

In fact, the only feature you miss out on is water resistance; if that is a something you absolutely need to have, you will need to pick up one of the costlier options that Amazon has to offer. Otherwise, the Kindle is now my go-to recommendation; even if you have an older model, there are tangible benefits to switching to the latest-gen Kindle. And coming in at just $84, it is a fabulous deal.

A new type of Kindle might be on the horizon, but not the kind we need

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:00:41 +0000

Gadget Weekly

(Image credit: Android Central)

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Amazon doesn't refresh its best-selling Kindle lineup very often. Unlike Android phones and tablets, e-readers see updated models once in two to three years. It probably doesn't make sense to upgrade such devices as often as phones because the improvements would be too minimal.

Every single one of Amazon's Kindle e-readers have had black and white displays to date. It's not like the technology for color e-paper doesn't exist, though. Competitors like Onyx Boox and Pocketbook have long since taken advantage of the E Ink Corporation's color e-paper displays.

Now that color e-ink displays are several generations old, it seems like Amazon might cash in.

Earlier this month, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo — who mainly focuses on Apple products and trends — predicted that Amazon is likely to roll out color E Ink devices as early as 2025. Despite the high cost associated with color e-paper screens, Kuo's predictions suggest that color Kindles will come with the latest Advanced Color ePaper (ACeP) display.

Amazon generally plays it very safe with its e-readers, but Kuo's insight leans towards a potentially risky move. See, the cost of e-paper screens is the most expensive part of any e-paper device. Color e-ink displays cost more than double the price of B&W e-ink screens.

This means that a color Kindle would probably cost nearly twice as much as a regular old Amazon e-reader and that spells trouble for the brand. One of the major selling points of a Kindle is that it is darn cheap and accessible. Feature-wise, it loses out to competitors like Onyx Boox in nearly every single category except for waterproofing.

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

Amazon limits the potential of its Kindles, filling them with ads and removing access to the Google Play Store. On the other hand, other popular e-readers like the Boox Palma give you unfettered access to the Play Store, and you are free to install whatever app you want. Then there are other factors like e-ink tablets with styli, speakers, a mic, and microSD card slots.

When such fully-featured e-readers exist, the only reason why people buy Amazon's limited paper tablets is obviously money. And when an expensive color Kindle rolls around with just as narrow a use case as all the rest of the Kindles, it just won't make sense to the consumer anymore.

If you don't believe me, just take a look at the Kindle Scribe, which comes in at around $340 apiece. For the same amount of money, you can purchase something from Onyx Boox with far superior specs and a stylus that supports better pressure sensitivity levels with unrestricted access to the Play Store. Add a little more money and you can even score one with a color screen.

There was a lot of talk about a Kindle with a stylus up to its release, but once everyone saw the price of the Scribe, they weren't as interested anymore. The general consensus is that the device doesn't deliver much value for money.

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

Aside from the price, the only other factor keeping Kindles at the top is the battery life. As we have tested and discovered time and time again, color e-paper tablets don't last anywhere near as long as monochrome black-and-white ones.

Naturally, you won't be able to squeeze out weeks upon weeks of battery life from a color Kindle, at least not unless you are very miserly with your usage or Amazon bumps up the battery capacity significantly. Neither of those scenarios is optimal because you either sacrifice performance or the price goes up even more because of the larger battery.

At the end of the day, I am forced to ask a simple question. Who benefits from a color Kindle? Is this even something we want to see? Based on my own judgment, I wouldn't say so.

Instead, I would much rather see a Kindle with the Play Store, speakers, more apps, a microSD slot, or something else practical along those lines. Give me fast charging or better stylus support. I want a better Kindle, not the same old thing in color.

How to password-protect your Amazon Kindle

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 13:31:05 +0000

It may not have occurred to you until you needed it (or until you read this), but you can add a password to lock your Amazon Kindle device. Whether you need to hide away your e-books and audiobooks from prying eyes or prevent young ones from reading something that may not be appropriate for them, you can simply password-protect your Kindle e-reader in a few short swipes.

Here's how you can add a password to lock your Amazon Kindle.

How to password-protect your Amazon Kindle

1. Swipe down from the top of your Kindle's screen.

2. Tap All Settings.

(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

3. Select Device Options.

(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

4. Tap Device Passcode.

(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

5. Create a passcode and enter it twice.

6. Press OK to save changes.

(Image credit: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)

A Kindle is an avid reader's best friend

Although the E Ink tablet space is far more versatile than it's ever been, Amazon's Kindle tabs continue to be the ultimate e-readers for the general public. If you want a cheap, robust little e-reader that won't die for weeks, a Kindle is the right answer.

Sure, you can't many download apps as there's no Google Play Store, but most average folks don't care about all that jazz. If you're an enthusiast, you've probably already got an Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C or something similar anyway.

For everyone else who likes to read and not looking to do much else, the Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) is an ideal reading device. It's extremely affordable thanks to Amazon's competitive pricing strategy and you get a lot of space to keep your e-books and audiobooks. If you haven't already got a Kindle, this is the one to have.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)

Still the best

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) may have come out in 2021, but it's still good for use today. It continues to serve as the best Kindle for almost anyone out there thanks to its size, waterproofing, and phenomenal battery life.

The Kindle Scribe is $100 off for Cyber Monday, finally making it worth the purchase

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 08:02:54 +0000

Amazon's e-readers are found in nearly every home. These budget-friendly reading devices have famously long-lasting batteries and provide a delightful reading experience that mimics the ink-and-paper feel of traditional books, but without the need to destroy hundreds of trees or have lots of storage space. Thanks to Cyber Monday and Black Friday, one of the most premium Kindle devices is almost as affordable as some of Amazon's mid-range devices.

The Amazon Kindle Scribe comes with either the Basic Pen or the Premium Pen and keeps the tried-and-tested Kindle recipe largely intact. You get a large and beautiful 10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite display with 35 LEDs and 16-level grayscale. It's easily one of the best Kindle e-readers if you like to read on larger screens.

While we criticized Amazon for pricing the Kindle Scribe too highly in the past, today's Black Friday deal fixes this problem. You can score $100 off the Kindle Scribe with the Basic Pen today, as well as similar discounts on other variants of the E Ink tablet. Although you don't get support for as many formats and as many writing features as an Onyx Boox, the Kindle Scribe does cost a lot cheaper and it delivers one of the best reading experiences from any tablet. The battery life is insane, lasting from anywhere between three to twelve weeks depending on your usage.

Enjoy reading your favorite e-books and comics, annotating documents, taking notes, and so much more with the Kindle Scribe this Black Friday. It's the perfect holiday gift for a loved one who enjoys reading, professionals such as lawyers who need to read a lot of books and documents, or even students who need to take a ton of notes.

Android Central's Cyber Monday deal hubs:
Tech | Phones | Tablets | Wearables | TVs | Smart Home

Amazon Kindle Scribe 16GB with Basic Pen: ~~$339.99~~ $239.99 at Amazon
Amazon Kindle Scribe 16GB with Premium Pen: ~~$369.99~~ $264.99 at Amazon

Amazon Kindle Scribe 32GB with Premium Pen: ~~$389.99~~ $279.99 at Amazon

Enjoy $100 off the Kindle Scribe with Basic Pen with this awesome Cyber Monday deal. If you want the Premium Pen, you still save almost as much. The other models with 32GB or 64GB of storage are on sale as well, but they're nowhere near as cheap as the 16GB model. Besides, e-books don't take up a lot of space anyway.

Cyber Monday Quick Links

Why I'm ditching Kindle for a Boox this Black Friday

Nicholas Sutrich — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 15:44:21 +0000

It wasn't too long ago that I got my first Kindle. I was several years late to the e-reader party but my wife loved her Kindle and we both love reading together, so I figured, why not get one for myself?

The 2018 Kindle Oasis was expensive but it did everything I needed at the time, and it made the digital book-buying experience easy. But as competing online bookstores have cropped up over the years, my Kindle is still stuck reading books on Amazon's store. If I want to buy a book on sale on the Google Play Store or Barnes & Noble's digital storefront, I can't read them on a Kindle.

That's when I started looking elsewhere for an e-reader that could do more. My first foray into this adventure was with the Kobo Elipsa 2E, a giant $400 e-reader that comes with a stylus for note-taking. But I quickly realized I don't like Kobo's design or build, as the tablet both feels too heavy and, strangely, too cheap for my liking.

Looking around, Onyx makes several similar products with even better functionality, thanks to the fact that they all run Android. The Onyx Boox Tab Ultra is massive but has great note-taking capabilities, while the Boox Page and Boox Poke5 offer a smaller form factor and a much lower price. The Boox Tab Mini C is even on sale right now as an early Black Friday deal.

But how about going even smaller? That's where the Onyx Boox Palma comes in.

Onyx Boox Palma

Most e-readers are big like a tablet, which is why the Boox Palma is so great. This phone-sized e-reader is easier to hold and can do anything you want since it's powered by Android and a powerful octa-core Qualcomm processor.

Onyx Boox Kant: $229.99 at Walmart

If you can't find the Boox Palma in stock and don't need all the extra features, the Boox Kant comes with a more budget-friendly price and less powerful internal hardware. It's still powered by Android and retains the amazing phone-sized form factor of the Palma, making this a great alternative.View Deal

Android Central's Black Friday deal hubs:
General | Phones | Tablets | Wearables | TVs | Smart Home

A phone-sized e-reader

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

I feel like the Onyx Boox Palma sells itself. It's an Android-powered phone-size e-reader with a fast 6.1-inch e-ink Carta display. That display runs at 1648 x 824 resolution (300 ppi) but looks sharper than an LCD or OLED would at the same resolution because of the way e-ink works.

My one complaint is that there's no way to stick a SIM card in it, as the removable tray on the side just supports microSD cards. At least you'll never run out of storage on it!

It's also got a heavenly paper-like back to it, adding a nice grippy surface that complements the svelte, smaller frame, which makes one-handed reading as comfortable as possible.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

And, yeah, those are cameras on the back but they're only intended for document scanning, even if the 16MP resolution is rather generous.

Reading one-handed is incredibly comfortable thanks to the size and the paper-like back.

Reading on this thing is an absolute dream thanks to a combination of factors. As I said before, it's very comfortable to read one-handed, and since it's powered by Android you can read anything you want to on its display.

I tend to buy books through several different outlets — Google Play Books being a very commonly used service because I frequently have reward points to use — and reading them on the Palma is as simple as opening the app you want to use.

There's no need to transfer PDFs, no need to digitally sign things with Adobe's software, and no hoops to jump through. It works just like it does on your phone, and that's a dream come true for me.

Reading is as easy as opening the app you want to use. No transferring PDFs or other nonsense as you have to do with other e-readers.

It's also important to me as a PWM-sensitive individual that the built-in backlight doesn't flicker. Thankfully, this is a solidly-lit display with no flicker and it even has built-in color adjustment to make the light warmer or cooler depending on your preference.

And, believe it or not, the Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor and 6GB of RAM make it powerful enough to run most Android games. Plus, the display's fast-refresh mode makes it possible to play even visually-busy games like Vampire Survivors.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Personally, I'd probably just stick with playing games with less movement on this thing. Not because the screen isn't capable of playing, but as Tech Spurt also noticed in his review, it's difficult to play certain types of games because of the lack of color.

If I had to recommend one e-reader to buy this Black Friday, it would be the Onyx Boox Palma.

Android Central's Black Friday deal hubs:
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Best October Prime Day Kindle deals

michael.hicks@futurenet.com (Michael L Hicks) — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 20:23:21 +0000

Quick menu

1. Quick links
2. Editor's picks
3. FAQ

Amazon's October Prime Day deals event is here. And like all of Amazon's big deal events, fans of Kindles and other Amazon tablets will find significant discounts on all models, from the base Kindle (2022) to the ergonomic Oasis and massive Scribe.

Compared to most of the Prime Day tablet deals we've spotted, you can snag a Kindle or Fire HD tablet for significantly less. Below, we're mainly focused on Amazon's e-ink tablet deals, designed specifically to spare your eyes the strain of a bright LCD; but we've also thrown in one or two Fire HD deals, since you can get all of your Kindle e-books (plus video streaming) at a lower price than your typical Kindle.

Quick links

All Amazon Kindle models and deals available
Amazon Kindle (2022): ~~$100~~ $74.99 at Amazon
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite: ~~$140~~ $94.99 at Amazon
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition : ~~$190~~ $139.99 at Amazon
Amazon Kindle Oasis: ~~$250~~ $199.99 at Amazon
Amazon Kindle Scribe: ~~$340~~ $264.99 at Amazon
Amazon Kindle Kids (2022): ~~$120~~ $79.99 at Amazon
Amazon Fire 7: ~~$60~~ $39.99 at Amazon

Editor's picks

Amazon Kindle (2022): ~~$100~~ $74.99 at Amazon

The baseline Kindle will surprise you. It has the same 300 pixels per inch as the most expensive Kindles, and its 16GB storage matches or beats most of the pricier models. Yes, it's not backlit or waterproof, and the 6-inch screen is the smallest. But it's the lightest in hand, and many people won't need a bunch of extras, just a petite slab to read thousands of books.View Deal

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite: ~~$140~~ $94.99 at Amazon

The Paperwhite is a popular option for most e-reader fans because it perfects the budget-focused design of the Kindle (2022). For just $20 more, you get 0.8-inches of extra text space, 17 backlight LEDs for warm lighting instead of just 4, waterproofing for worst-case scenarios, and 10 weeks of battery life instead of just 6. View Deal

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition: ~~$190~~ $139.99 at Amazon

What does "Signature" mean, you ask? It has 32GB of book storage instead of just 8GB, and those same 17 LEDs now auto-adjust to the lighting conditions of your room instead of making you go into the settings yourself. Plus, you don't have to pay extra to remove lockscreen ads, like you do on the Paperwhite. And it even supports wireless charging, if that matters to you more than USB-C.View Deal

Amazon Kindle Scribe: ~~$340~~ $264.99 at Amazon

Most Kindles have limited uses beyond reading e-books. If you want to both read and write down notes and sketches, the Kindle Scribe is worth seriously considering. It's on the pricey side, but now that it's 22% off, it's cheaper than an Oasis and gives you space for more words per screen with large text enabled. It has the longest battery life (12 weeks), plus the most LEDs for full readability (35). View Deal

Amazon Kindle Oasis: ~~$250~~ $199.99 at Amazon

I personally own and love the Oasis, but I'll admit that most people don't need its page-turn buttons and its ability to auto-adjust the orientation when you turn it one way or the other. Honestly, my favorite aspect of the Oasis is how comfortable it is to hold, with one wider side for your palm to comfortably grip. As a negative to its lightweight design, it lasts 6 weeks, the same as the base Kindle.View Deal

Amazon Kindle Kids (2022): ~~$120~~ $79.99 at Amazon
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids: ~~$170~~ $109.99 at Amazon

Help foster a love of reading in your kids without giving them the app temptations and eye strain of a Fire HD tablet. Both Prime Day Kindle deals are solid; if you upgrade to the Paperwhite, you get a brighter backlit display that's slightly larger and auto-adjusts to the light, plus IPX8 water resistance. Both tablets come with a Kids+ subscription for free books, too.View Deal

FAQ

When does the October Prime Day event begin?

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days lasts 48 hours, starting at 3am EDT on October 10 and running through the end of October 11 on the West Coast. The sequel to Amazon's July deal window, the October Prime Day event lets you get an early start on holiday shopping or just lets you splurge for yourself on tech deals before having to worry about others

You'll most likely need a Prime account for various Lightning deals or deals of the day, so you may want to start your 30-day free trial now if you're going to do some serious deal hunting. But keep in mind that not every worthwhile deal will be on Amazon's site. Rivals like Best Buy and Walmart have launched their own deal events around this time to steal away Amazon's customers.

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Which Kindle should you buy?

Looking at the best Amazon Kindle e-readers, we generally recommend that you start with the Paperwhite: the sweet-spot tablet with its warm, bright, and waterproof display. It does better than the standard Kindle in these areas, but isn't as expensive as the lightweight, more ergonomic Oasis.

The Paperwhite Signature Edition is nice, of course, but you can probably make do with less storage and without wireless charging; the real question is whether or not you care about adaptive lighting, or if you're fine sliding the brightness yourself in order to save $45 extra.

The Kindle Scribe is surprisingly tempting even if you don't need the stylus, because you get a 10.2-inch display instead of 6 or 7 inches; you can fit more text on screen, especially large text for the visually impaired, without having to constantly change the page. It's expensive, but Prime Day is the time to get one for a reasonable price.

Do Kindle e-readers have access to the Google Play Store?

christinep2424@gmail.com (Christine Persaud) — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Do Kindle e-readers have access to the Google Play Store?

Best answer: No. There aren’t any Kindle e-readers that come with access to the Google Play Store, focusing instead on books and audiobooks from the Kindle Store. Even Amazon Fire tablets don’t come with access to the Google Play Store, using the Amazon App Store instead. Kindle e-readers are designed for accessing e-books exclusively, some with light web surfing. But they aren’t designed for app access.

Why don’t Kindle e-readers have access to the Google Play Store?

Amazon Kindle e-readers are designed primarily to afford access to text-based and audio e-books so you can read on the go, or even at home. The benefit over a tablet or even a smartphone is that you can use a black and white, glare-free E Ink screen that’s much easier on the eyes than other mobile device. You can store thousands of books, enjoy weeks of battery life per charge, and virtually turn pages like you would with a physical paperback book. Add a folio cover, and you really get the feel of a page-turner novel.

Some premium models, like the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (11th Gen), include Wi-Fi access built-in so you can surf the web and enjoy assistive features while reading, like being able to look up words and passages, get definitions, and more. The highest-end model in the Kindle line is the Kindle Scribe, which combines both an e-reader and a digital notebook for composing journal entries, taking notes, making annotations, accessing and editing PDFs, and more. But even that Kindle does not afford access to apps, though you can browse the web.

If you’re looking for a Kindle device that can access apps, any Kindle Fire device running Fire OS 5.3.1.1 or later comes with the Amazon App Store. These can technically work with Google Play store as well through a workaround that involves downloading and installing APK files. But this isn’t something the average person will want to try. If you have some technical know-how, you can give it a go. But it’s advisable to download an anti-malware security app first.

When it comes to Kindle e-readers, however, stick with simple reading with these devices, which is what they are designed to accomplish. The idea is to enjoy a distraction-free reading experience, so the omission of Google Play Store access, or access to any app store, for that matter, is intentional and purposeful.

If you want to access apps, opt for an Amazon Fire tablet instead, but keep in mind that you’ll be limited to the Amazon App Store. That store offers a limited selection of apps, including popular streaming ones like Netflix, Spotify, and Disney+. But it isn’t as expansive nor robust as the Google Play Store. For access to Google Play Store on a mobile device you can use for e-reading, albeit without an E Ink screen, consider one of the best Android tablets.

Bottom line: if you are using one of the best Amazon Kindle e-readers, enjoy reading e-books, listening to audiobooks, and disconnecting from the web for a moment of peace, relaxation, and de-stressing with a compelling story or educational text.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Cut out distractions

Like most other e-readers, Amazon Kindle e-readers like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (11th Gen) are designed to help cut out distractions, instead allowing you to focus on a good book while you relax and shut off from other technology. Consider them a 21st Century version of the paperback novel, except you can carry thousands of books in your pocket.

Kindle Scribe finally lets you write directly on (some) ebooks, adds text conversion

michael.hicks@futurenet.com (Michael L Hicks) — Mon, 22 May 2023 16:00:27 +0000

What you need to know

The Kindle Scribe receives its third over-the-air update on May 22, adding a few key features.
You now have the option to convert notebook pages into .txt files and either email or upload it to your PC.
It also adds an "exclusive" feature where you can write on certain types of ebooks like Crosswords and Sudoku collections, though most ebooks still won't allow this.
Other new Kindle Scribe updates include a Lasso select tool and the option to crop, edit, or highlight text in imported PDFs.

When the Amazon Kindle Scribe first arrived, we found it hard to recommend for serious students or workers, because it lacked the productivity tools that would have made it useful. Thankfully, Amazon took that criticism to heart and has continually improved the Scribe since launch.

With its May OTA update, which Amazon calls "the final update in its first series of ongoing improvements," the Kindle Scribe will now convert your handwritten notes to text when exporting them to your computer. OCR conversion was one of the Scribe's most-requested features since its November 2022 launch.

The other, most highly-requested Scribe feature was the ability to write directly on ebooks — something that faced both logistical and legal issues to implement. With this Kindle Scribe update, certain ebooks with fixed layouts (like Crossword puzzle books) will now have a "Write-on Book" label in the Kindle store.

Unfortunately, most ebooks still don't allow native writing on them. Your only option is to add a handwritten note that appears as a small paper icon next to a word.

Rounding out this May Scribe update, the new "Lasso select tool" lets you select any amount of text in a notebook, then resize it, move it to another document, copy/paste it, or delete it. And imported PDFs, which used to be fixed so you couldn't edit them properly, can now be cropped, highlighted, or swapped between portrait and landscape.

Amazon first updated the Kindle Scribe in February, adding new brushes, subfolders, and better folder navigation. Then, in April, the Kindle Scribe received the ability to receive .doc files from Microsoft Word directly, as well as a Notebook Overview to edit them easily and a two-column reading view for ebooks while holding the Kindle Scribe in landscape mode.

With these latest updates, the Kindle Scribe has become easier to recommend as an option for students and office workers, simply because you can convert your hand-written notes to text or import Word and PDF files more easily.

This new update should start to roll out to Kindle Scribe owners on May 22, though it may take some time. Although Amazon called this "the final update in its first series of ongoing improvements next week," we expect the Scribe to receive more updates later this year.

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Amazon Kindle Scribe

The largest ever Kindle e-reader, the Scribe works for simple ebooks and Audible listening, but is meant for taking notes and then exporting or emailing them for productivity. Thanks to its OTA updates over the last six months, the Scribe better earns its high price tag.

The Onyx Boox Tab X is what the Kindle Scribe should have been, but at what cost?

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000

If you haven't caught on already, Onyx Boox is slowly starting to make a name for itself in the e-reader and E Ink tablet space. The brand's products are generally expensive, especially when pitted against Amazon's cheap Kindle devices, but they more than make up for it in terms of specs. If you ever found your Kindle device to be extremely limited in functionality, an Onyx Boox is the way to go.

Just like all e-readers, Boox tablets have E Ink displays. This means you get weeks of battery life and a supremely comfortable viewing experience. Unlike most popular e-readers though, Onyx Boox devices come with Android 11 and the Google Play Store. This opens the door to limitless possibilities because it enables you to install any app you desire on your Boox device. That's a far cry from anything Amazon or Kobo gives you.

I have always been a big fan of Onyx Boox tablets because they offer all you could ever want in an e-paper device without being too distracting. If you want, you can access your email and browse the web, but it's not as easy. It's a great balance for a capable reading device that doesn't destroy your eyesight. Not to mention, all Boox tablets come with a battery-free stylus and optical character recognition, so you can take notes and automatically convert them into digital text.

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

We've reviewed a couple of interesting Onyx Boox tablets here at Android Central, including the Nova Air C and the Nova3 Color which come with colored e-ink displays. While the vision and innovation are appreciated, the contrast and sharpness of traditional B&W e-ink tablets are undeniably better, at least until the technology catches up.

Now, we've got our hands on the latest range of Onyx Boox tablets that was announced in January 2023. This includes the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra, Tab X, and Note Air 2 Plus. Today, I'll be taking a look at the top-of-the-line Tab X. If you're interested in the other two, don't worry. We have reviews lined up for the Tab Ultra and Note Air 2 Plus in the coming weeks.

Onyx Boox Tab X hands-on: The X is for eXcellence

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

There are two sides to any story, and this rings true while testing devices hands-on as well. First, you've got your on-paper specs, and then there's the matter of real-life performance and delivery. In both regards, I found the Onyx Boox Tab X to be exceptional.

Inside the shockingly slim 6.8mm-wide body of the Tab X, Onyx Boox managed to cram a number of juicy fixtures and fittings. The enticing e-ink tablet has a lovely 13.3-inch E Ink Mobius display with a 207 ppi pixel density and 16 shades of gray. Words can't describe how gorgeous and truly paper-like the screen is. It has an anti-glare finish and a Wacom layer on top, so you can use any compatible stylus with it and not just the one that came with the Tab X.

With that stately size, you would expect it to weigh a whole lot more than all of 560 grams. It's amazing how sleek and lightweight this tablet is. I've eaten biscuits thicker than the Tab X. In fact, if tablets were biscuits, then the Onyx Boox Tab X would be a thin mint.

Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central

Ghosting was a major issue with Boox tablets of the past, but the Tab X performs leaps and bounds better than its predecessors. This is largely because of the unnamed Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core chipset that powers the rig, along with the tablet's 6GB LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 internal storage.

As I mentioned earlier, the Tab X runs a tweaked version of Android 11 out of the box. Onyx Boox is always rolling out meaningful updates to its devices. You still get the Google Play Store in all of its unrestricted glory, so you can install apps like Google Drive, Bilibili, Audible, Comixology, and even the Kindle app. Since the e-ink tablet has speakers, a mic, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, you can go all out and put all your favorite Android apps on there. Some good ones are apps for podcasts, news, note-taking, drawing, cloud storage, and music streaming.

If you're feeling particularly naughty, you could install YouTube or Netflix too. Although the Tab X isn't meant to be used for video playback, it's nice to have the ability to play around. You even get a screencasting feature and things like Boox Drop and Nearby Share make it super easy to send and receive files to and from the Tab X.

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

Anyone who is a student, professor, writer, editor, or someone whose job involves taking a lot of notes will make excellent use of the Onyx Boox Tab X. The native OCR is fantastic and the stylus feels really good against the E Ink display. Writing on this e-paper device is very satisfying. You also get voice typing in addition to typing and handwriting inputs.

Can you imagine that the Kindle Scribe does not even have OCR? Time and time again, I couldn't help but compare the two e-ink devices. While the stylus on the Tab X is sure to get a lot of use, the one on the Kindle Scribe is almost entirely wasted because you can't search your handwritten notes or export them anywhere in the form of digital text. The Onyx Boox Tab X on the other hand makes it so easy.

Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central

The Tab X's ecosystem isn't limited like it is on a Kindle, you have a million ways to share stuff to and from it, and the text recognition converts the nastiest-looking doctor's hand into searchable text anywhere, whether it's in the search bar on an app or while taking notes. It's incredible.

Ironically, you can't purchase ebooks from Amazon on a Kindle but you can on the Onyx Boox by accessing Amazon on a web browser of your choice. This thing makes a Kindle look lame and severely outdated. Sorry Amazon, you have been outclassed.

To borrow the words of Wiz Khalifa, all it does is win, win, win no matter what.

Let's also not forget that the Onyx Boox Tab X comes with a USB-C port that supports OTG, so you can use a USB-C thumb drive to read or transfer data on your Onyx tablet. This is a cool feature that compensates for the lack of expandable storage. Let's be honest though, who needs more than 128GB on an e-reader slash note-taking device? You can also install your regular cloud storage app to expand storage, so it's very unlikely that anyone might actually use the OTG feature.

To put the final cherry on top, the gigantic 6,300mAh battery in the Onyx Boox Tab X lasts for weeks on a single charge. This is with heavy to moderate use with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, making it even more impressive. To borrow the words of Wiz Khalifa, all it does is win, win, win no matter what.

Onyx Boox Tab X hands-on: Should you invest in one?

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)

The only reason why I would shy away from freely recommending this thing is the price. Clocking in at a hefty $880, that's a lot of money for an e-ink tablet. That's almost a thousand dollars, which would easily get you one of the best Android tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+.

If Onyx Boox were to reduce its prices just a tad bit, the world would forget Amazon's sub-par Kindle tablets exist. The only reason why Kindles have gotten so big is because of Amazon's dirt-cheap prices and the lack of any real competition. This utter state of monopoly may be good for Amazon, but consumers aren't getting much out of it. Competition is always healthy, as it pushes brands to do better.

If Onyx Boox were to reduce its prices just a tad bit, the world would forget Amazon's sub-par Kindle tablets exist.

To summarize, the Onyx Boox Tab X is amazing and better than every other e-paper tablet in every conceivable way. But, the elephant in the room is the gut-wrenching price tag attached to it. It makes me so mad just thinking about it. You could purchase a proper Android tablet or an iPad for the same amount of money, and those things are feature-rich and have gorgeous color displays.

If you've got your heart set on an e-ink device from Onyx Boox, I recommend the more affordable Note Air 2 Plus. It may not be as powerful as the Tab X, but it easily defeats the Kindle Scribe any day.

Onyx Boox Tab X

A bold move from Onyx Boox

The ludicrously expensive Onyx Boox Tab X is also ludicrously good at serving its purpose. Everything from reading to writing is an absolute delight on this Android-powered E Ink tablet, and there's no limit to what you can do with it. You're only held back by one thing: the price.

Pros

Unreal 13.3-inch E Ink Mobius display
Powerful internals and memory specs
Runs Android 11 and has Play Store
Speaker and mic
USB-C charging with weeks upon weeks of battery life
Battery-free stylus included

Cons

Ridiculously expensive

How to download and add EPUB books to your Amazon Kindle

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 17:15:06 +0000

The entire world rejoiced when Amazon announced that Kindle e-readers would finally be able to support EPUB files. It's one of the most popular e-book file formats around the globe, so it's pretty shocking that it took Amazon so long.

Things aren't so simple though, because this compatibility isn't possible natively. Long story short, it means that you can't just transfer an EPUB file to your Kindle directly and open it on the device.

So, how do you access an EPUB file on your Kindle then? The answer involves the use of Amazon's Send to Kindle feature. Here's how you can use it to download and add EPUB books to your Amazon Kindle.

How to download and add EPUB books to your Amazon Kindle

(Image credit: Android Central)

Since the Send to Kindle feature is limited to the web, these steps can only be carried out on a computer. So if you're using an Android phone or a tablet, read the next set of instructions.

How to download and add EPUB books to your Kindle on the web

1. Go to amazon.com/sendtokindle on your computer.

2. Make sure you're logged into the same Amazon account as your Kindle.

3. Select any EBUP file and upload it. The file must be smaller than 200MB.

4. Choose your Kindle device.

5. Hit Send.

How to download and add EPUB books to your Kindle on Android

Android and iOS users need to install the Kindle app on their phones before converting and sending EPUB files to their Kindle. Make sure you've installed it on your smartphone and logged into it with the same Amazon account as your Kindle before following these steps.

Pro tip: If you don't want to use the Kindle app to send and use EPUB books on your Kindle, simply access the desktop version of amazon.com/sendtokindle on your phone's internet browser.

1. Find the EPUB book in your phone's file manager.

2. Choose the EPUB file and press the Share option.

3. Select the Amazon Kindle app to share your EPUB.

4. Choose your Kindle device.

5. Tap Send.

There's a Kindle for everyone

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

When it comes to e-paper tablets that are meant for reading, no one does it better than Amazon. Sure, Kindle devices aren't the best E Ink tablets, but they sure make fine reading companions. Thanks to Amazon's accessible pricing strategy, anyone and everyone can afford a Kindle.

Deciding to buy a Kindle e-reader is easy, but settling on a single model isn't as straightforward. If you're unsure which Kindle is right for you, stop thinking and grab the 11th Gen Kindle Paperwhite. It's not the cheapest Kindle around, but it is pretty darn affordable. You get splash resistance, ground-breaking battery life, USB-C charging, and plenty of memory variants to choose from. Amazon offers the waterproof Kindle Paperwhite in a couple of fun colors, so you aren't limited to a boring color like black.

Of course, if you want an e-paper device that can do a lot more than any Kindle, there are much better options out there. Look into a brand called Onyx Boox and its fantastic array of E Ink tablets that usually come with Android 11, the Google Play Store, a stylus, speakers, a mic, and optical character recognition. Not to mention, Onyx Boox tablets support many more file formats than an Amazon Kindle e-reader, including native support for EPUB books.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)

Bang-for-buck value

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) is the best Kindle you can buy for several reasons. Not only do you get all the advantages of any decent Kindle, but it is also waterproof. With weeks of battery life and an eye-friendly reading experience, you'll definitely be able to get a lot more reading done with the Kindle Paperwhite in your hands.

Amazon Kindle Scribe vs. Remarkable 2: The pen is mightier, but which one?

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:30:34 +0000

Amazon Kindle Scribe

Versatile Kindle

At long last, Amazon has given us what we've wanted for ages. The Kindle Scribe is just as good as any other Kindle, but it also supports writing input via a stylus. You get the signature Kindle experience, complete with e-book and audiobook support as well as an undying battery that goes on for weeks on end. The one thing Amazon did not add is an IP rating, meaning the device is not waterproof.

Pros

Supports loads of file formats, including audiobooks
Phenomenal battery life
Suitable for reading and writing
Beautiful levels of contrast
Comes with two stylus options

Cons

No OCR
Not waterproof
Doesn't have Google Play Store

Remarkable 2

One-trick pony

The Remarkable 2 is a niche e-ink tablet that is designed from the ground up solely for the purpose of writing. There are no speakers, limited apps, and you can't listen to audiobooks. This thing doesn't even have Bluetooth. What it does have is the ultimate e-paper display that feels marvelous to write on. Although the writing experience is unparalleled, the Remarkable 2 is too darn expensive for such limited usage.

Pros

Unbeatable paper-like display with superb writing experience
Comes with two stylus options
Excellent battery life
Great native OCR

Cons

No Bluetooth or audio onboard
Very limited file and app support
Not waterproof
Doesn't have Google Play Store

The e-paper tablet market has grown vastly in recent years, thanks in large part to Amazon's superb range of Kindle e-readers. Rivaled only by a company called Onyx Boox, Amazon dominates the world of e-ink devices with its budget-friendly offerings.

Traditionally, Kindle devices have always focused on reading and augmented that experience with support for audiobooks. With the arrival of the Kindle Scribe, that narrative has changed. Amazon introduced the Kindle Scribe with stylus support very recently. It was well received for the most part, but not everyone is happy about the pricing.

Enter the Remarkable 2, a dedicated writing tablet made for no other task. Much like any Kindle, it also features a gorgeous E Ink display that emulates the feel of paper like no other e-paper tablet. It is a dream to write on, but there's a lot missing as well. It's going to be a shirt discussion, but a worthwhile one nonetheless. So, let's compare both e-ink devices and find out which one's the better tablet for you.

Amazon Kindle Scribe vs. Remarkable 2: Breaking it down

(Image credit: Daniel Bader / Android Central)

Anyone who's reading this most likely prioritizes stylus input above all else. However, just because your goal is to buy a note-taking e-ink tablet doesn't mean that you don't want to do anything with your device. On the contrary, most folks want to get the most out of the money they spend on anything.

This is an important point to start with, seeing as the Amazon Kindle Scribe is an e-reader cum writing tablet. Where the Kindle Scribe is versatile, the Remarkable 2 is unadaptable and limited in nature. Making matters worse, the dedicated writing device costs more than the Kindle once its expensive stylus is taken into consideration.

Category	Amazon Kindle Scribe	Remarkable 2
Display	10.2”, 300ppi, B&W	10.3”, 300ppi, B&W
Stylus	Basic Pen, Premium Pen	Marker, Marker Plus
Supported file formats	AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC, PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, AAX	PDF, EPUB
Memory	16GB/32GB/64GB	8GB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C	Wi-Fi, USB-C
Battery	3,000mAh	3,000mAh
Dimensions	196 x 230 x 5.8mm	187 x 246 x 4.7mm
Weight	433g	403.5g
Price	From $340 (with stylus)	From $299 (without stylus)

Next to the Kindle Scribe, the Remarkable 2 fails in nearly every category. Amazon's e-paper device supports more file formats, comes with Bluetooth connectivity, supports audiobooks, and it has a lot more internal storage than the Remarkable 2. It is also cheaper, especially if you opt for the Basic Pen over the Premium Pen and grab the lowest memory variant.

So what gives? Surely this can't be such a simple comparison. Well, that's almost true. While Amazon did so much right with the Kindle Scribe — weeks of battery and USB-C? Yes, please! — it forgot that any decent writing tablet worth its salt needs a crucial feature.

Surprisingly, the Kindle Scribe doesn't do, OCR, also known as optical character recognition, and you can't search your handwritten notes either. This is a gigantic problem because that's the first feature you'd want in a note-taking device.

Surprisingly, the Kindle Scribe doesn't do OCR and you can't search your handwritten notes either.

As a device created for no other purpose, the Remarkable 2 excels at OCR, searching handwritten notes, syncing your notes, and everything related to writing. You get a very realistic, true-to-life sort of writing experience that feels superb. The e-paper tablet has plenty of cool features such as LiveView, a tool that mirrors your writing to your computer.

You can read e-books on the Remarkable 2 as long as they are in PDF or EPUB file formats, because the tab only supports those two formats. The tablet also lacks front lights, which is sad considering the Kindle Scribe comes with 32 front-lit LED lights. Also, receiving files from the device is easy as pie but sending them to it is a hassle.

The Remarkable 2 can be used with two styli, the Marker and Marker Plus, but they don't come with the tab itself as standard. The entry-level Marker costs a whopping $79 and the premium Marker Plus is somehow even more expensive, priced at an eye-watering $129. That brings the total up to roughly $378 for the cheapest combo, which is $30 more than the 16GB Kindle Scribe's asking price with the Basic Pen.

Amazon Kindle Scribe vs. Remarkable 2: Which e-paper tablet is better for you?

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

Even if you value a superior writing experience with a robust set of complementary features above all else, I would not recommend the Remarkable 2. Don't get me wrong, it is genuinely one of the best E Ink tablets for note-taking of any sort. However, it is also grossly expensive for a device that can do so little. And the fact that Remarkable does not include the Marker as standard with the tablet is too rich for my blood.

Amazon may have skipped water resistance with the Kindle Scribe, but the basics are all there. It's a fantastic e-reader with stylus support and it offers so much more value for your money. You don't get OCR but the device supports a ton of file formats, including audiobooks.

If you can't live without optical character recognition and need an e-paper tablet that can convert your handwriting into text in a jiffy, I would recommend something from Onyx Boox instead. For $400, the Onyx Boox Nova Air C gives you a colored e-ink display with the Google Play Store, excellent OCR functionality, USB-C charging, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, stylus support, and speakers.

If you want something that doesn't display color, get the Nova Air 2 which also comes with a stylus, dual speakers, a mic, and an open Android system with the Google Play Store. The Onyx Boox Nova Air 2 has a smaller 7.8-inch display but it's lightweight and it'll only set you back $340 to get one.

Amazon Kindle Scribe

Maximum value

The Kindle Scribe is a fantastic e-reader with minimal note-taking functionality. You can enjoy e-books and audiobooks in various formats, but the device doesn't have handwriting recognition baked into it. This takes away from its viability as a great writing tablet, but it's still a far better deal next to the Remarkable 2.

Remarkable 2

Niche device

The Remarkable 2 provides the ultimate digital writing experience with a wide range of writing-centered features. Unfortunately, the device costs too much for an e-paper tablet that can't do much of anything else and we don't recommend you to buy one.

How to send articles, files, or web pages to your Amazon Kindle device

namerah.saud-fatmi@futurenet.com (Namerah Saud Fatmi) — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 12:30:17 +0000

There are countless ways to share all sorts of files and folders across Android phones, tablets, and even smartwatches. E-readers fall a bit behind in this category, especially the Kindle devices from Amazon. This is because Kindle e-readers do not run Android and they've got quite a restricted operating system that doesn't allow third-party app installation.

You can stop scratching your head because Amazon has created a very easy process to aid you in your endeavors. The Send to Kindle feature allows you to send compatible files such as documents, e-books, images, and even web pages to your Amazon Kindle device in a matter of seconds. Here's how you can use it.

How to send articles, files, or web pages to your Amazon Kindle device

(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)

How to send files to your Amazon Kindle device on Android

You need to have the Kindle app for Android installed on your phone. Make sure you're logged in to the app with the same Amazon account as your Kindle and then carry out the following steps.

1. Select a compatible file and tap the Share option on your Android phone.

2. Choose the Kindle app from the list of sending options.

3. Select your Kindle device.

(Image credit: Android Central)

4. Check if all the details are entered properly as per your wishes.

5. Tap Send.

(Image credit: Android Central)

How to send files to your Amazon Kindle device on the web

1. Go to amazon.com/sendtokindle on your phone, tablet, or computer.

2. Upload a file that is supported and smaller than 200MB.

3. Click the Send button.

(Image credit: Android Central)

You need to be logged in to your Amazon account on the web browser as well as your Kindle with the same credentials to use this quick and easy method. Once the upload is done, you can download the file on your Kindle.

Bear in mind that this feature only supports limited file formats. Here are the compatible formats that can be shared through the Send to Kindle feature both on the Android app and the web:

EPUB
PDF
RTF
DOC, DOCX
HTML, HTM
JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP

Kindles: Can't live with em', can't live without em'

(Image credit: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central)

Unlike top-of-the-line E Ink tablets from Onyx Boox, Kindle e-readers have a very limited operating system. You can't install third-party apps, which inevitably creates barriers to many tasks. They are, however, astonishingly cheap and very long-lasting.

Amazon's clever strategy has made Kindles more than just a household name. These cheap and cheerful e-readers are almost synonymous with e-readers in most parts of the world. Thankfully, Amazon has been improving and adding new features for Kindle devices, such as EPUB support and the Send to Kindle function.

If you need an e-reader, the question isn't which brand should you buy. Instead, what most people wonder is which Amazon Kindle should they buy.

Our favorite Kindle is the Kindle Paperwhite, which is waterproof and has a crip 6.8-inch 300ppi display. It's the best Kindle for most people and the price is accessible to all. If you want to spend a bit more, you can also get the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition which has more storage and wireless charging support.

Amazon Kindle

The Amazon Kindle app for Android makes it extremely convenient to send all sorts of files to your Kindle. Download it for free and log into your Amazon account to enjoy all of its features.

Get from: Google Play Store

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen)

Best Kindle for everyone

The fantastic Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen) has an excellent 6.8-inch display with 16 grayscale hues, a 300ppi pixel density, and 17 front-lit LEDs. This e-reader is waterproof, comes with 8GB or 16GB of storage, and charges via USB-C. The battery lasts for weeks on end and its compact size makes it very portable.

Bare-bones Kindle Scribe gets much-needed update, new brushes

michael.hicks@futurenet.com (Michael L Hicks) — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:00:31 +0000

What you need to know

Amazon plans to release "regular, free software updates" to the Kindle Scribe throughout 2023.
The first update arrives 2/27 with three new brushes and easier page navigation for notebooks.
It also adds the ability to create subfolders or move those folders for the first time.

In our Amazon Kindle Scribe review, we explained how the device's software — especially the note-taking tools — felt surprisingly simplistic and overly limited. It appears Amazon took that kind of criticism to heart, because the company plans to roll out improvements and new features to the Kindle Scribe across 2023, starting this week with new brush styles.

Up until now, Scribe owners could only use a pen or highlighter, each with five thickness options. After installing the 2/27 update, you'll get a fountain pen, marker, and pencil as well, each of which have "enhanced pressure and tilt" detection.

The calligraphy option should help you take more dignified notes, while the marker will make broad strokes and bigger drawings easier. We're most excited about the pencil, though, since it'll help the Scribe prove a more versatile option as a drawing tablet as well as a note-taking tablet.

Amazon

The next significant change with this update is subfolders. Up to this point, you could only create one organization level, making it harder to group a single note-topic together neatly or better rank your notebooks by importance. Now, you can better organize everything or move one folder out of or into another.

The last update is to page navigation. You can already create multi-page notebooks, but could only move sequentially from one page to the next — a hassle if the note is especially long. Now you can simply use the "Go to page" option and type in the number.

We're excited to see what future software updates Amazon has in store. Our wishlist includes OCR support, third-party app support for favorites like OneDrive, and a better note-taking experience for e-books. However, it's unclear whether or not such major changes will be saved for a future Kindle Scribe 2.

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Amazon Kindle Scribe

This chunky e-ink tablet has low-latency note-taking on an attractive black-and-white display and the same seamless access to your favorite Kindle e-books. With the promise of future updates, we're hopeful the Scribe will start to offer an ever better experience for Kindle fans.

How to take notes on the Amazon Kindle Scribe

michael.hicks@futurenet.com (Michael L Hicks) — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 15:30:35 +0000

The Kindle Scribe is the first e-reader by Amazon to support a stylus for note-taking, including on Kindle ebooks, PDFs, and other files you import, and the proprietary note-taking app on the e-ink tablet itself. You can sketch out notes in a work meeting or school lecture, with no other apps to distract you or annoy your teacher.

But before you buy the Amazon Kindle Scribe, or if you have one but need some Kindle Scribe help, you should know how to take notes on the Kindle Scribe, what tools you have at your disposal, and how to save or share those notes after you're done. On that note, let's dive right in.

How to take notes on the Kindle Scribe

After you've set up your Kindle Scribe, the mechanics of creating a note in your Notebook is incredibly straightforward and needs little guidance.

1. Tap the Notebooks tab on the bottom of the display.

2. Tap the + icon in the top-right corner, then select Create notebook from the pop-up menu that appears.

3. Type in a recognizable name for your note so you'll know how to find it in the future.

4. Select one of the 18 templates for your note. These include lined paper, tables, bulleted checklists, schedules and calendars, and a blank page. Then hit Create.

You'll now have your Kindle Scribe note open and ready to go! But we're just getting started with what you need to know.

Using the Kindle Scribe toolbar

On your Scribe display's side, you'll see options for different pen types in a toolbar. Here are the tools at your disposal:

The top icon is an Arrow that you can tap to collapse or expand the toolbar; this is useful if you want to use your full screen with fewer distractions.
The Pen icon is your primary note-taking tool. Tap it once to select it and again to pull up a thickness menu with five options: Fine, Thin, Medium, Thick, and Heavy.
The highlighter also has five thickness options, though no way to customize the opacity or lightness/darkness.
The eraser has the same five size choices, but the secondary menu also has an Erase selection tool that lets you circle and delete something, or Erase page to wipe out everything.
The selector tool (the hand icon) is how you'll be able to navigate away from the notebook or switch to a new page.
The undo button will remove the last thing you wrote until you removed the stylus from the display. It's easier to use than the eraser, and you can use redo to re-add the line if you decide it belongs there.
The ellipsis icon includes a move to right/left side option that relocates the toolbar to the other side. There is no way to change its position otherwise.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

How to adjust your Premium Pen shortcut

1. Go to your Kindle Scribe settings. You can either find Settings in the More tab from the tablet's main menu, or from any note via the ellipsis icon in the top-right corner.

2. Select Pen > Pen Shortcuts.

3. Choose whether to pull up the highlighter, pen, eraser, or sticky note when you press the shortcut button on your Kindle Scribe stylus. We personally prefer the eraser option, because we don't like using the hard-edged eraser on the Premium Pen's rear end.

How to add multiple pages to your Kindle Scribe notebook

If you run out of room on your note, you cannot scroll down to create more room. However, if you select the hand icon and tap the right side of the display, it'll create a new page, which should be apparent from the Page X of X text on the bottom-left of the display. Tap the left side to go back to previous note pages.

Unfortunately, you can't change the template between pages in the same Notebook. But if you tap the display top, then the first right-side icon for Notebook settings, you can change the Cover so a different page appears as the thumbnail in your main Notebooks tab. Or, if you accidentally create an extra page you don't need, you can tap the ellipsis icon for a Delete current page option.

One last note: you can hide or show the Page 1 of X text by tapping that bottom-left corner with the selector icon.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

How to share personal documents to your Kindle

You have two main options for sending documents to your Kindle. One is this Send to Kindle link that lets you drag and drop files and have them appear on your Kindle Scribe library momentarily. But this only works if you're logged into your own Amazon account.

If you can't log in because you're on a shared device, or if you want someone else to add files to your Kindle Scribe, you can actually email files to your tablet's specific email address. But to prevent spam, this address will only receive emails from preapproved email addresses.

1. Go to Amazon.com and select Manage Your Content and Devices, followed by the Preferences tab. You'll find the direct link here.

2. Expand the Personal Document Settings section. You should see an email address associated with your specific Kindle, which you can copy and share with others.

3. At the bottom, you'll see Approved Personal Document E-mail List. Select Add a new approved e-mail address and input the email of whoever needs access.

4. Now, you or your fellow worker, classmate, or family member can email documents directly to your Kindle Scribe. They must be in one of the following formats for the email transfer to work: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF, HTM, HTML, PNG, GIF, JPG, JPEG, BMP, or EPUB.

5. Find the document in your library and start annotating!

How to share your Kindle Scribe notes

The Kindle Scribe doesn't have third-party apps like Microsoft OneNote that would sync your notes across devices. And although you can access your document library on other Kindle apps on your phone or computer, your annotations won't appear on any device besides the Kindle Scribe. So your best bet is to export your notebooks as a PDF.

1. In your note, tap the page top with the selector icon to pull up the nav menu, then the Share icon (second from the right) to pull up the Share menu.

1a. Alternatively, from the main Notebooks tab, tap the ellipsis underneath a document and select Share from the options that appear.

2. To send the note directly to you, choose the Quick Send option associated with your Amazon email. Within a minute, you'll see an email from Amazon with a download link for your PDF.

3. If you choose Share via email, you can send the file directly to up to 5 email addresses at once.

How to add notes to Kindle ebooks

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

Amazon purposefully limited our ability to take detailed notes on its Kindle ebooks, saying that it wants to "keep pages clean and uncluttered." So your only option is to add "sticky notes" to an ebook.

Open up a Kindle ebook, where you'll see a smaller toolbar with just a selector tool and a sticky note icon. When you place a sticky note, you must associate it with a specific word; if you try to put it in the margins or between paragraphs, it'll just hone in on the closest word. This is because margins and spacing will change if you change your theme, font, or layout.

Once you place the sticky note, you'll see a small note window appear where you can either write a handwritten note (using the same tools above) or a text note with the digital keyboard. Once you're done, hit the X button to close the note and it'll save automatically. You can then tap the sticky note icon to open it back up and see what you wrote before.

You can also select and highlight text directly in the document itself: tap and hold a word in the text, then slide right and down to select more words and then let go. A pop-up menu will let you highlight that text or add a note that'll appear at the end of the highlighted text.

Is the Kindle Scribe the note-taking tablet you need?

There isn't a wide selection of e-ink tablets with stylus support available today, and only the Kindle Scribe has the benefit of first-party access to your Kindle ebooks. Others from Onyx Boox have Android Play Store support, meaning you can access the Kindle app from the app library, as well as other note-taking apps. But only the Kindle Scribe can annotate Kindle ebooks with sticky notes.

Other e-ink tablets have displays with full-color ink and more memory for faster performance; and you could choose a drawing tablet instead if you want more colorful notes and better customization and sketching options. Plus, other tablets will access productivity software that the Scribe can't.

But despite the Kindle Scribe's somewhat limited software, many fans of the smaller Kindles will appreciate the Scribe's bright display, epic battery life, comfortable stylus, and easy access to their ebooks.

Amazon Kindle Scribe

This chunky e-ink tablet has low-latency note-taking on a large, pixel-rich display, with easy access to your favorite Kindle e-books. It doesn't have in-depth note-taking tools yet, but we hope Amazon engineers will improve your options over time.

Amazon Kindle Scribe review: A 'flagship' e-ink tablet with budget hardware

michael.hicks@futurenet.com (Michael L Hicks) — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:00:06 +0000

Amazon's e-ink dominance relies on its ebook monopoly, easy wi-fi downloads, a stripped-down Kindle OS that takes you right to your book, and a petite design aesthetic. The Amazon Kindle Scribe flips that script: it's a hefty e-ink tablet with a stylus, working with dozens more file formats but making you transfer them via cable or email yourself to access them, and reliant on a new note-taking app — an area where Amazon has little experience compared to, say, Microsoft or Google.

A few smaller e-ink tablet brands like Onyx Boox and Remarkable have established a core following with students and professionals that want a no-distraction note-taking slab. Still, it's fair to say that Amazon had little competition from traditional tablet behemoths like Apple or Samsung.

That lack of urgency comes across when you use the Kindle Scribe, a first-generation device with plenty of room to grow.

Undoubtedly, the Kindle Scribe succeeds at its core mission: it gives you a traditional Kindle experience while tacking on note-taking, so you can annotate your e-books or PDFs or just take notes during meetings with a paper-like experience. If you want that, then the Kindle Scribe might be worth the price. But you may want to wait patiently for a Kindle Scribe 2nd Gen, both for some hardware fixes and a software revamp.

Amazon Kindle Scribe: Price and availability

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

The Amazon Kindle Scribe with standard 16GB of storage and the "Basic Pen" costs $339.99 and is available at Amazon and Best Buy. You can upgrade to a "Premium Pen," which has an exclusive shortcut button and eraser, for $30 more. The box contains the e-ink tablet, your basic or premium pen stylus with five replacement tips, a tip replacement tool, and USB-C charging cable (no adapter).

If you pay extra for 32GB ($389.99) or 64GB ($419.99) storage, you automatically upgrade to the premium pen. You can also buy the Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle ($380 and up) or Leather Bundle ($400 and up), adding a power adapter and a fabric or leather cover for $40 or $60 extra, respectively.

Amazon Kindle Scribe: Hardware and design

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

If it weren't for the high price, I suspect many Kindle fans would choose the Kindle Scribe over the popular Paperwhite or Oasis simply thanks to the 10.2-inch display. Yes, the Scribe weighs more than twice as much as either 7-inch model, coming close to one pound; but it helps those who prefer larger font sizes to see a lot more on the page without the words feeling as crowded.

My dad, who reads a few ebooks a week, chose the Amazon Fire HD 10 over a Kindle solely because he prioritized size over eye comfort, and he's already hinted that he wants to steal this Kindle Scribe once I finish this review. You have the same respectable 300 pixels-per-inch as the smaller Kindles, plus the same adaptive ambient lighting, auto-orientation, and warm/cool slider as the Oasis. But you get the size of a traditional tablet and more LEDs that make it more visible in bright, sunny areas.

Also thanks to its size, the Scribe fits in a 3,000mAh battery. That may not sound like much compared to a typical phone or tablet, but it's about twice as big as the Kindle Paperwhite battery or three times the Oasis' battery. Simply for e-book reading, it'll last about six weeks if you read an hour a day. With frequent note-taking and reading, it'll require two charges per month or so; but that's still darn impressive compared to most Android tablets that tap out every couple of days.

Lastly, you get a USB-C port and 5GHz wi-fi support. Again, that might not seem newsworthy, but as someone with a Kindle Oasis locked at 2.4GHz with a frustrating micro-USB port, I appreciate the switch to current standards for near-instant e-book downloads and decently fast recharging speeds.

Category	Amazon Kindle Scribe
Display	10.2-inch Paperwhite display with 35 LEDs, 16-level grayscale
Resolution	2480 × 1860 (300 ppi)
Processor	MediaTek MT8113 (1GHz) with 1GB RAM
Storage	16/ 32/ 64GB
Battery life (Reading only)	12 weeks w/ 30 minutes per day
Battery life (Writing only)	3 weeks w/ 30 minutes per day
Charging	USB-C; 100% in about 2.5 hours
Water resistance rating	N/A
Supported file formats	Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, DOCX, DOC, HTML, EPUB, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion; Audible audio format (AAX)
Connectivity	Wi-fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth
Dimensions	7.7 x 9.0 x .22 in./ 196 x 230 x 5.8mm
Weight	15.3oz (433g)

While Kindle enthusiasts will appreciate all that, it's fair to say that Amazon's designers haven't perfected the Kindle Scribe design the same way they have for the Kindle Oasis. The Kindle Scribe has some design elements that are either unfriendly to users or just poorly thought out, telltale issues of any first-generation device.

For starters, just look at the massive bezel along one side of the Scribe. That design aesthetic works for the tinier Oasis because it's comfortably built for one-handed use and its asymmetrical spine gives your fingers something to grip. With the slab-like Scribe, you're just gripping a flat surface with no give. And Amazon chose to put the power button and port along that edge; it makes them easier to find but also disrupts any smooth feeling when you hold it by that side.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

I honestly prefer to grip the non-bezel edge at times — since it feels more like a traditionally narrow tablet bezel — making all that non-display space on the other side feel especially useless. And in general, the Kindle Scribe just weighs more than you might expect given its lightweight MediaTek MT8113 chip — the same as in the Paperwhite.

When it comes to taking notes or flipping pages, the processor works well enough. But for anything more demanding — scrolling through menus of books, loading large folders of note thumbnails, trying to select multiple words to highlight in an e-book — you'll deal with lag or distracting full-display refreshes. Part of the problem stems from the need to avoid ghosting, fully refreshing the page so no ink artifacts appear when scrolling. But that doesn't change the fact that the slow response time to your menu taps and navigation swipes can be a headache, and is less forgivable at this price.

You also should be prepared to upgrade beyond the base storage. The "16GB" model only has about 11.6GB due to preinstalled software, and because most target Kindle Scribe buyers will want to install and annotate PDFs and other media files, they'll eat up storage more quickly than your typical Kindle e-books.

Lastly, Amazon removed the IPX8 water resistance found on the Oasis and Paperwhite. It's possible that e-ink displays with touch support have more difficulty with water, but it does mean that the tablet is more vulnerable to damage on the go.

The Kindle Scribe is an enlarged version of the Kindles that came before it, which is a double-edged sword. It's unclear to me why the Scribe ended up so heavy and thick when it doesn't pack in a larger processor and memory for more advanced software, but that's the trade-off you'll have to accept.

Amazon Kindle Scribe: Software and note-taking

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

The typical Kindle OS has a homepage with Amazon-recommended books, a Library with all your downloaded e-books, and a Settings menu. The Kindle Scribe adds one more "Notebooks" tab where you can organize folders of notes. Otherwise, if you're expecting to find a bunch of new e-ink "apps" on the Scribe, you should temper your expectations.

You could either describe Kindle Scribe's note-taking tools as rudimentary or streamlined depending on your perspective. When you create a note, you can choose one of several templates (lined paper, a calendar, a table, and so on) and start making notes that'll then sync to the Kindle app on your other devices. You can choose a pen or a highlighter with five thickness options, plus an eraser and an undo-last-action button.

It's wonderful how pleasant note-taking feels on the Kindle Scribe. The screen has a texture that makes writing on it feel as close to paper-like as I've tried, and the latency between your pen movements and the ink appearing on the display is minimal. For basic note-taking, it's a huge step up over a typical LCD or AMOLED.

What is the Kindle Scribe notes tool missing? Quite a bit! Without OCR, the Kindle Scribe lacks the option to search your notes for specific text or convert notes to text. You'll need to carefully name your notes and organize them in folders to make them more easily findable, and you can't specifically tie a note to an e-book (a feature I'd love to see).

Lacking third-party apps like OneDrive or Dropbox, the Scribe makes you transfer notes from the Kindle app to your favorite note-taking app manually. While other e-ink tablets like the Remarkable 2 have many more digital pen types, geometric shapes, and color options, the Scribe leaves little room for creativity.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

I enjoyed having the option to scratch out quick notes during a meeting, and plenty of people will appreciate how the Kindle Scribe lacks the distracting apps of a typical tablet. But if Amazon wants to make its e-ink tablet more essential, I'd argue that it needs more advanced software to accomplish this.

For example, I want a calendar app where I can write a to-do list associated with a specific day rather than having to create one manually each day. And I'd love it if a note could have infinite scrolling rather than sticking to a rigid page size — though you can at least have multiple pages per document. These, at least, seem like something Amazon could add down the line with a software update.

Most other tools I'd want, however, would be hamstrung by the Kindle Scribe's limited memory. Other e-ink tablets like the Onyx Boox Nova Air C can support a full suite of apps through the Android Play Store, including a browser and email clients, but that has 3GB of RAM. I believe Amazon could pull off something similar with a future Kindle Scribe generation, but only if it revamps the Kindle OS to be a little closer to Fire OS, isn't afraid to enable third-party applications, and gives the next Scribe a more powerful processor.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

You can also take notes on your Kindle e-books, something people have anticipated for years. Unfortunately, you can't free-sketch notes in an ebook's margins because (A) changing the font or layout will make your notes appear next to different words, and (B) Amazon wants to "keep pages clean and uncluttered." So you can only fill the page with minuscule icons next to specific words; upon rereading the ebook, you'll have to tap each one to see your past thoughts.

This solution makes sense, but frankly, it's just not as natural as taking your own notes. I'd appreciate it if Amazon let us save or lock a specific font size and layout for an ebook, essentially turning it into a PDF so we can freely underline and annotate a page without being confined to tiny expandable icons. And if you want a more "clean" reading experience down the line, you could just toggle annotations off. These updates would make it much more useful as a student tablet since all your required reading could fit inside your tablet, with your annotations and highlights synced to your laptop.

On the subject of syncing, Amazon's methods feel a bit slapdash. You can send a variety of file types, up to 200MB per file, to your Scribe via this simple Send to Kindle drag-and-drop link. PDFs will appear in your ebook library rather than in the Notebooks folder, which was fine when it was just for reading ebooks in other formats but feels a bit archaic in this context.

Any annotations you make won't sync to your other Kindle apps; you have to "share" the file to your email, and you can't choose or change the file format. At least both downloading and uploading a file are relatively quick. Our Kindle Scribe note-taking guide goes into greater detail about how you can email notes to coworkers (and yourself) if you need to use your Scribe in a business context.

If Amazon were to break down its walled Kindle garden and add Microsoft OneNote or other mainstream note-taking apps to it, so the device could sync your notes directly to your workplace's chosen platform without so many extra steps, that would make the Kindle Scribe a much more tempting choice for professional use. As it is, Kindle's notes and sharing system might make it a non-starter for people closely tied to a specific app by work or preferences.

Amazon Kindle Scribe: Stylus and cases

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

Unlike an Apple Pencil or S Pen with smart functionality and Bluetooth connectivity, the Kindle Scribe Basic Pen and Premium Pen are both rudimentary styli that you don't need to charge — but you have no way to track them down if you lose them. Thankfully, a replacement shouldn't be too expensive, and frankly, any soft-tip stylus would probably work in lieu of the Basic Pen, which does nothing except write.

The Kindle Scribe Premium Pen has two main differences: a shortcut button close to the front and a collapsing "eraser" at the end. Using the eraser feels a bit stressful because it doesn't have any softness to it, so you feel as if you're going to scratch the screen if you're too vigorous. The customizable shortcut button lets you pull up the pen, highlighter, eraser, or sticky note, and I chose the eraser so I could clean up my messy writing without having to turn the pen around.

Between spending $369 on the 16GB Kindle Scribe with Premium Pen or $389 for the 32GB (which has the Premium by default), that $20 difference feels like a no-brainer since storage is so limited. It's not exactly as "Premium" as the name implies, but as the Kindle Scribe software gets smarter, I'd bet it'll have more uses in the future. And considering many other stylus replacements would cost you upwards of $100, Amazon's choice to go cheaper and simple isn't a bad thing in this case.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

Because the Kindle Scribe has no IP protection and is meant to be taken on the go, I'd recommend buying a Kindle Scribe case for some rudimentary protection.

Amazon sells leather and fabric versions that look ruggedly attractive, come in a couple of colors, have a dedicated loop to hold and secure your Premium Pen, and secure your Scribe with four magnetic points that hold the e-ink tablet steady but make it relatively easy to remove if you want.

I liked the Kindle Scribe Leather Cover that Amazon gave me, as the texture feels nice on my fingers and the front cover can be turned into a makeshift stand if you want to take notes on a desk without holding it. This stand isn't perfect because it doesn't hold the Scribe perfectly steady if you write or tap too vigorously — so you'll need a gentle touch.

Basically, I'd recommend buying the first-party cases if money is no object, but you may want to look into third-party alternatives to avoid the high price for them.

Other e-ink tablets to consider

(Image credit: Daniel Bader / Android Central)

If you simply want the best possible note-taking experience, the Remarkable 2 will suit your needs. It has the same RAM, display size, and battery size as the Scribe, but is much lighter and more ergonomic. Its note-taking software is much more robust, including OCR support for searchable notes and more pen options. It's also quite expensive and requires a Connect subscription for some features like unlimited cloud storage, but you do get a year free before having to pay a $2.99/month fee.

Otherwise, you'll want to check out the Onyx Boox lineup of e-ink tablets, which has a huge selection of options. I plan to review two competing products, the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra and Onyx Boox Leaf 2, to see how the Scribe compares, but the main differences are plain: Onyx Boox gives its e-ink tablets full Android 11 support, so you can access any app you want (including the Kindle app) with no restrictions. And other options like the aforementioned Nova Air C and Nova3 Color have full-color e-ink displays, which could make them a better option for comic book fans.

Otherwise, if you just want a solid Kindle experience, then you should obviously consider the other Kindle e-readers. Either the Paperwhite or Oasis give you a more petite reading experience with the same 300ppi quality, but with water resistance and a more ergonomic design — especially the Oasis, which has a comfortable grip, page turn buttons, and free cellular data. The problem, of course, is that only the Scribe lets you take notes; and despite its more uncomfortable grip, some readers — those who need extra-large text or who read lots of comics — will prefer the extra size.

Amazon Kindle Scribe: Should you buy it?

(Image credit: Michael Hicks/ Android Central)

You should buy the Kindle Scribe if...

You just want a big e-ink Kindle for a large font size.
You need a note-taking device for casual rather than professional use.
You want a tablet without the distraction of other apps.

You shouldn't buy the Kindle Scribe if...

You want an easy way to take notes and sync them to another service.
You're looking for a comfortable in-bed reading experience.
You need access to specific apps beyond the Kindle ecosystem.

The Kindle Scribe isn't necessarily the best e-ink tablet in terms of hardware, as you'll find others with faster performance, full-color support, faster refreshing, or other perks. And many can technically access the Kindle app via Android OS support. But quick, native access to Kindle e-books and Audible audiobooks (with Bluetooth-connected headphones) is something plenty of people will prioritize over the rest.

Amazon is the king of selling budget devices to consumers, making them think any cool tech is just $100-$200 away. So it's not surprising that the unpolished Kindle Scribe hasn't sold in huge numbers compared to its cheaper siblings, or to the popular Amazon Fire tablets that can do much more than just take notes. But with some software polish and key third-party partnerships, I think the Amazon Kindle Scribe could be a popular niche option with enthusiasts.

The problem in my mind is that Amazon's inability to make a profit on hardware contributed to its recent massive layoffs. In this context, I'm concerned about the company's ability to iterate on the Kindle Scribe and provide better software on this model with its limited RAM. But given Amazon takes a few years between each new Kindle generation, it's unclear when a revamped Kindle Scribe 2nd-Gen model would even arrive.

But that's a discussion for another time. In terms of whether or not you should buy the Kindle Scribe right now, I'd argue that you should take a good look at competing options if you're going to spend upwards of $400 on a productivity tablet. But depending on your needs, the Kindle Scribe may remain your best option despite its shortcomings.

Amazon Kindle Scribe

This chunky e-ink tablet has low-latency note-taking on an attractive black-and-white display and the same seamless access to your favorite Kindle e-books. It doesn't have an in-depth note-taking experience yet, but we can hope Amazon engineers will improve your options over time.

How to read free books on an Amazon Kindle

jeramy.johnson@futurenet.com (Jeramy Johnson) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 22:17:36 +0000

Aside from my smartphone, the one gadget I'll never travel without is my Amazon Kindle. I love how I can quickly and easily download books, magazines, and other written and audio content almost instantaneously, and store thousands of books for enjoyment on the go. While I abhor piracy and am all about supporting creators, I was also pleased to discover that there are many ways of getting and reading free (or almost free) content on my Kindle. I'll show you how you can access this content for yourself on your Kindle device!

How to read free books and other content on your Amazon Kindle

It's easy to supplement your paid content with free material to read on your Kindle, and fill up that immense Kindle storage with just about anything you can imagine! Note that these tips work for any Kindle e-reader, Fire tablet, or other Android or iOS device with the Amazon Kindle app.

Borrow free ebooks from your local library

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The most popular way to borrow books for free from your local library is through a service called Libby. This app is available on virtually every device, and you can also use it to get free content onto your Kindle e-reader. For note, it used to be called Overdrive but has since received a complete app relaunch and accompanying overhaul.

To begin, you'll need a library card from your local library first. Libby utilizes your local library's digital books system to seamlessly deliver content to your favorite devices. Once you have your library card in hand, here's how to get Libby going on your favorite devices.

Download the Libby app from your preferred app store.
Follow the steps to set up a new account.
When asked, input your library card number to link your account to your local library system.
Once logged in, tap the magnifying glass to search for a book.
Once you find the book you're looking for, tap the borrow button to the right of the book's name.
On the following screen, confirm you want to borrow the book by tapping the borrow button at the bottom.

(Image credit: Android Central)

To find your books, tap the shelf tab at the bottom.
Tap the loans tag at the top of the shelf page.
Tap read with... next to the book you want to read.
Select Kindle on the next screen.
You will be taken to Amazon.com, where you should sign in to your Amazon account if you haven't already.
Click on the Get Library Book button. You will then be able to download the book to your Kindle device or app wirelessly.

(Image credit: Android Central)

Once you've tapped get library book on the Kindle website, the book will be automatically downloaded to your Kindle for reading. Make sure your Kindle isn't on airplane mode so that it can connect to Wi-Fi and download the book.

According to Libby's website, Kindle books are only available for libraries in the U.S.

If you have friends who also have an Amazon Kindle, or who have purchased e-books from Amazon in the past, they can share books with you (one at a time), and vice versa. Once you've politely asked them to borrow their e-book, here's what they need to do.

From a web browser, have them log in to their Amazon account.
Have them click on their profile.
Then, click on Your Content and Devices.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Search by books to find the title you want to borrow.
Click the Actions button next to the book.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Click Loan this title.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Fill out the recipient's e-mail address, name, and a personal message.
Click send

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

The recipient of the loaned title will have seven days to accept the book, or else it will be "returned" to the owner. The owner will not be able to read the book while it is on loan.

Note that not all Kindle e-books will be eligible for the loan program. Be sure to look for the "Loan this title" link.

If you've set up a family profile with your Amazon Prime account, you can share apps, games, videos, books, and other content with family members. That means that if your partner purchased a Kindle book that you are interested in, you don't have to repurchase it to read on your device. Just share it!

We have a thorough step-by-step guide on how Amazon family sharing works, so I won't rehash the steps here. Just know that once you set up your Amazon Household, you'll be able to borrow at will!

Find free ebooks on Goodreads

Goodreads is a social network centered around a shared love of reading, and it's no surprise that Amazon acquired it in 2013. From the website, app, or their Kindle, users can post updates on what they're reading, write and share reviews, and mark books for later reading. A little-known fact is that you can also find free e-books on the site if you know where to look.

Log in or sign up for a Goodreads account.
From the search bar, type in free e-books, or click on the following link curated by Goodreads.
Click on a book you are interested on.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Click on the Download eBook button to download an excerpt, sample, or entire book (as available).

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Select your format, and click download.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

There are many other websites and apps that offer free, downloadable e-books that you may want to look into, such as Project Gutenberg and Manybooks. Each website has books in multiple formats as well.

Amazon Prime Reading has free ebooks

One of the many benefits of an Amazon Prime membership is all the free content you have access to, from videos to music, and yes, even ebooks. Here's how to find this content and add it to your Kindle for later reading.

From your browser of choice, go to the Amazon Kindle Store.
Click on the tab that says Prime Reading.
Scroll through the many recommendations and categories.
Click on a book or magazine you want to read.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Click Read Now or Add to Library.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Make sure your Kindle is synced, and then the title should appear on your device.

If you are not currently an Amazon Prime member, you can try it out for free to see if it's right for you (but I suspect if you have a Kindle, you're in the target audience already). You can also search for titles directly from your Kindle from the Store tab, under Prime Reading.

Free Kindle e-books

In addition to the programs mentioned above, there are literally tens of thousands of free Kindle e-books available for download. Sometimes they're public domain content, sometimes they're through author giveaways, and sometimes they are part of the programs mentioned above. Regardless, all you have to do is type in "free Kindle books" the Amazon.com search bar, and you'll see what we mean!

From our browser of choice, go to Amazon.com.
Type in free kindle books into the search bar.
Alternatively, Amazon has curated a list of free Kindle e-books here.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Last but not least (expensive) is the popular Kindle Unlimited subscription service. For only $10/month, you can "borrow" as many books, magazines, and audiobooks from the available list (over 100,000). Amazon offers a two-month free trial, so it's worth giving it a shot to see if you like it.

From your web browser of choice, go to the Kindle Unlimited site.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

Click Start your free trial and confirm your subscription and payment details.
Start searching for books you love from the Kindle store.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018)

The one to get
If you're an avid reader, then the Kindle Paperwhite is the device to get. It's waterproof, has backlighting, multiple storage options, and comes in several fun colors.

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