Nina Raemont/ZDNET
Looking to take some books on your summer vacation? If you've got several novels you're hauling on flights, to the beach, or in your backpack, I can think of one lightweight solution to your book-induced back ache. A Kindle.
A Kindle is a portable, e-reading powerhouse that is loaded with every book on your to-read list. Right now, Amazon is running a deal on its Kindle Essentials bundle, which includes its latest Kindle, a fabric cover case, and a power adapter for 25% off. The deal is live throughout Amazon Prime Day. The event began on July 8 and runs through July 11.
Also: The best Prime Day deals: Live updates
That slices the price of the Essentials bundle from $162 to $122. This discount is live on both the Black and Matcha Kindle. The fabric case colors include Black, Pink, and Matcha.
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.
"What the 2024 Kindle does have, however, is beautiful and effective simplicity that makes it easy to recommend the e-reader to anyone looking to dial into their reading goals in the new year," I write in my review.
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