Should I Buy the Latest Kindle?

If you are a big fan of reading, then you definitely should have a Kindle. Even for casual readers, a Kindle is a great way to read whenever you have a few minutes to do so. Besides listening to an audiobook, a Kindle is easily the best tool to help you read more books for anyone who is busy. You can take it anywhere you go, and it's simple to read just a few pages when you only have a few minutes.

Like cell phones, the Kindle gets a refresh and updates every single year. This year's model has a few more bells and whistles than last year’s model. Should you update your Kindle and get a new one so that you have the latest features? Probably not. While a cell phone generally has at least some decent upgrades (still not worth upgrading your phone every year though), the Kindle updates are usually quite minor and will not really affect what you do with the Kindle - reading.

Your Kindle is literally used just for reading. You can fit hundreds of books on the Kindle, so any upgrade in space is basically useless to most people. Things like faster page turning, and a slightly brighter light aren’t going to make any significant difference in your reading. If your Kindle is still working without issue, then it doesn’t really make sense to try to upgrade to the latest Kindle.

The time when it will make sense to get a new Kindle is when your current Kindle is no longer working, or if you’re really feeling it slow down a lot. In 8 years, I’ve actually had 4 different Kindles - that’s quite a few. I usually read on my Kindle every single day, and I take it with me everywhere. I have a case on my Kindle, but twice I’ve broken my Kindle by dropping it on a hard surface while I’m reading it. The other reason I upgraded was because I wanted a different model than what I had.

That would be the other reason that you might consider upgrading your Kindle - if you want a completely different model. Amazon currently offers 3 primary models of the Kindle: the standard Kindle, the Kindle Paperwhite, and the Oasis model. I’d highly recommend the Paperwhite model. If you have never used one, and you’ve only used the standard Kindle then you’re in for a real treat. The Oasis is also a great device, but for the majority of people there is no reason to pay the price premium for it. While I really like the buttons on the Oasis, it’s not something that you must have.

If you don’t currently have a Kindle at all, then you should definitely pick one up if you’re either into reading or planning on getting into reading. If you’re not sure where you’ll find time to read, then check out our guide about where you can find that time even as a busy parent. Reading is one of the best ways to relax after a long day, and it’s a great way to get your brain working vs other forms of entertainment out there. Furthermore, when your kids see you reading, they’re far more likely to want to read as well.

If you don’t currently have a Kindle, pick one up. If you do have one, then you should get one if your current Kindle is on its last legs or if you want to change to a completely different model. Otherwise, sticking with the Kindle you have will let you do the primary thing you do with your Kindle: read.