As Mashable's Tech Editor, I review a lot of gadgets, but the Kindle Paperwhite was actually a gift (thanks, Mom). It topped my Christmas list in 2024, and it's the Kindle I recommend to friends and family. And for Prime Day 2025, you can grab this e-reader for just $124.99, a new record-low price, but I don't think you should.
Yes, as Mashable's Tech Editor, I can tell you that Kindle deals like this are rare. Amazon only breaks them out for the big shopping events, Prime Day and Black Friday. But even though you can get the Kindle Paperwhite for $124.99, I think you should actually spend $144.99 for the version without lockscreen ads. (Thankfully, the ad-free version is also on sale for Prime Day.)
Hear me out. Without lockscreen ads, your Kindle's lockscreen will display gorgeous black-and-white photographs with the e-ink display. Meanwhile, the regular version will display ads for lowest-common-denominator romance and fantasy books. This isn't a knock on good old-fashioned bodice rippers or Big Foot fantasy novels (you do you), but I don't want to face yet another ad every time I pick up my e-reader.
I highly recommend paying the extra $20 and getting the Kindle Paperwhite without lockscreen ads. The good news? Both versions of this e-reader are at their lowest-ever prices. For Prime Day 2025, Amazon is beating the previous record price by $5 for each model, no small feat in the tariff shopping era. Besides, if you're really on a budget, you should opt for the $84.99 Kindle that's on sale anyway.
I'm not the only Mashable editor who loves this Amazon e-reader, either. Our resident Kindle Tester, Samantha Mangino, declared in her review that the new Paperwhite "is the only one you need."
And there's a reason we think this is the best Kindle for most readers. The Kindle Papewhite offers features such as:
7-inch glare-free display with 300 nits brightness
Battery lasts up to 12 weeks
16GB of onboard storage
IPX8 waterproof rating
25 percent brighter and improved contrast
