The Kindle is my ultimate travel essential — here's why
This year I've set a goal to read more books, and repping a Kindle has been a great help. Not only do I appreciate the storage, but the portable size is a real standout design feature for me. It's the perfect size to fit in my purse or backpack, so I can take it with me on adventures to the park or long trips somewhere further afield. In my opinion, it's easily one of the best Kindles Amazon has ever released.
If you've been on the fence about buying a Kindle, I think this reason alone makes it a worthy purchase. (If you need more persuading, you can also read Mashable's full review of the 2024 Kindle.) I love the feel of a physical book, but the design of the Kindle makes it an appealing option if you're out and about a lot. I've found that I actually read more often because I can bring it with me to various spaces without feeling like it's taking up a ton of space in my bag.
Of course, it's not the only reason I adore the Kindle. As I mentioned before, it comes with 16GB of storage so I can always stock up on exciting titles. Its glare-free display makes it easy to read in any location as well, no matter if you're outside in the sunshine or not. It even has an adjustable front light and dark mode, so you can read in darker locations without a bright screen shining in your face.
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If you've been looking to make the jump to buying an e-reader and want something compact that's easy to travel with, the Kindle is the real deal. It's also something that goes on sale fairly frequently during big sale events, so if you want to secure a discount, there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year.
The best travel companion
The Kindle features a six-inch display and comes to about 6.2-inches tall in total. It also has an incredibly thin design — coming to just 0.32-inches deep — and is super lightweight. I have a case which only adds a bit more bulk, but it's not enough to notice a huge difference.
Another added bonus of the Kindle is its battery life. This tiny but mighty e-reader can last up to six weeks on a single charge, so you can think less about recharging and focus more on the book you're currently absorbed in. If you give it a quick charge before you leave the house, you don't have to worry about the battery draining too much while relaxing on your vacation.
Amazon Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite
The big question when it comes to Kindles is whether or not the base model is right for you. It's right for me, but I totally understand why some would want to upgrade. Amazon's more expensive Kindle offers a bigger and more versatile display, with better battery life and water resistance (which could come in handy on those vacations).
If you really like reading at the pool, at the beach, or in the bathtub, the Kindle Paperwhite is the clear winner here. But that doesn't really matter to me. I'm all about portability. The regular Kindle comes in at 5.56 ounces, while the Paperwhite is a relatively bulky 7.23 ounces. It's not a huge difference, but every little helps.
Where to buy the Kindle
We've included a link to where you can buy the Kindle at Amazon right now. It's currently listed for $109.99, but it's a device that often sees discounts during major sale events.
Prime Day is behind us, but there are more opportunities throughout the year for this Kindle to get a discount. Amazon often hosts another Prime Day in October that is likely to feature Kindle deals and the next big sale event of the year, Black Friday, is still to come in November. Make sure to mark your calendars so you don't miss out on the remaining chances to save this year.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer with Mashable. She’s written for various entertainment websites since 2017, covering everything from tech to games to film. You’ll currently find her work on IGN and Fangoria alongside Mashable, but she also has bylines at Rock Paper Shotgun, Collider, Screen Rant, and more. When she’s not writing, she enjoys catching up with the latest films and shows — horror, in particular — and has a deep love of FromSoft games, which she continues to happily replay.
