Nina Raemont/ZDNET
Looking to take some novels on your next vacation? If you've got several books you're hauling on flights, to the beach, or between classes, I can think of one lightweight solution to your book-induced back ache. A Kindle.
A Kindle is a portable, e-reading powerhouse that can be loaded with every book on your to-read list. Ahead of next week's October Prime Day, Amazon is running a deal on its Kindle Essentials bundle, which includes its latest Kindle, a fabric cover case, and a power adapter for 27% off.
Also: The best early October Prime Day deals
That slices the price of the Essentials bundle from $162 to $118. This discount is live on both the Black and Matcha Kindle. The fabric case colors include Black, Pink, and Matcha.
Normally, Amazon discounts its Kindle bundles ahead of its deals events but holds off on doing the same with its standalone Kindles, like the Paperwhite, base model, Colorsoft, or Scribe. The unbundled models typically see discounts only during its deals events.
I tested the 2024 base model Kindle and fell in love with its thin and portable build. I found myself downloading more e-books from my public library and reading a wider variety of novels because of how easy it was to rent them through Libby and read them while I sat on the subway or passed the time in the waiting room of doctor's appointments. The Kindle actually fits in my coat pocket, which is nearly miraculous for a woman given how small women's pockets are. The page-turning and book-loading speeds were significantly quicker than my Kindle Oasis or Kindle Paperwhite from 2022.
Also: The best early Prime Day Kindle deals
I recommend the base model Kindle to people who have never owned an e-reader before, because the Kindle Paperwhite has a few more functionalities that major bookworms and e-reader obsessives would appreciate, but make no difference to e-reading novices. You're getting around six weeks of battery life on the base model Kindle -- a long time in between charges, to say the least.
I also adored the bright Matcha colorway of the base model Kindle, Kindle's newest green color that it added to its 2024 Kindle lineup. It's a flashy pop of color that adds some brightness to the e-reader, so you can easily locate it in your backpack or book bag.
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