by
Amazon redesigned its Kindle lineup this fall and raised prices on its main models. The basic Kindle now starts at $149.99, up from $109.99, and the Kindle Paperwhite at $199.99, up from $159.99.
That makes last year’s Black Friday prices look very good now. A Paperwhite sold for $124.99 and a basic Kindle for $79.99, and a repeat of those prices on the new models is unlikely.
Amazon still discounts its own devices every Black Friday, including models that just launched. The Kindle Black Friday deal to wait for on November 27 is a cut on the new model you want. Last year’s prices are a reminder of where the floor used to be.
Kindle Prices Right Now
These are the US list prices for the 2026 lineup, from Amazon’s own Kindle guide and its product listings:
| Model | Storage or extras | US list price |
|---|---|---|
| Kindle | 16GB | $149.99 |
| Kindle (aluminum) | 32GB | $189.99 |
| Kids Kindle | With 12 months of Amazon Kids+ | $179.99 |
| Kindle Paperwhite | 16GB | $199.99 |
| Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition | 32GB | $249.99 |
| Kindle Colorsoft | 16GB | $289.99 |
| Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition | 32GB | $319.99 |
| Kindle Scribe | Varies | From $429.99 |
The Paperwhite is the one most people should look at. It has a bigger, higher-contrast screen than the basic Kindle, warm light and a waterproof design for $50 more.
Black Friday 2025 vs 2026
Last year’s Kindle sale ran through Black Friday weekend and into Cyber Monday. This is how those prices compare with this year’s list prices:
| Model | 2025 list price | Black Friday 2025 price | 2026 list price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindle | $109.99 | $79.99 | $149.99 |
| Kindle Paperwhite | $159.99 | $124.99 | $199.99 |
| Paperwhite Signature Edition | $199.99 | $149.99 | $249.99 |
| Kindle Colorsoft | $249.99 | $169.99 | $289.99 |
| Colorsoft Signature Edition | $279.99 | $229.99 | $319.99 |
| Kindle Scribe (32GB) | $419.99 | $279.99 | From $429.99 (current model) |
Even if Amazon repeats last year’s percentage cuts on the new prices, every model would still cost more than it did last Black Friday. The Scribe row compares different generations, since the current Scribe replaced the one that sold for $279.99.
What’s Pushing Kindle Prices Up
Amazon hasn’t said why Kindles cost more this year, so it is worth separating what changed from what is only context.
New hardware at a higher starting price. The 2026 models are thinner and lighter, the Paperwhite and Colorsoft gained edge-to-edge color designs, and the Signature Editions moved to aluminum. Amazon raised prices along with the redesign.
Memory and parts costs. Every Kindle has flash storage, and memory prices have climbed across electronics since 2025 because AI data centers take a large share of supply. Amazon hasn’t tied its prices to memory, so treat this as background only.
Amazon’s sale calendar. Amazon now runs several big sales a year, including Prime Day in summer and Prime Big Deal Days in October. Kindle prices in those sales often land close to Black Friday prices, which takes some of the surprise out of November.
What to Expect This Black Friday
Amazon hasn’t published its 2026 Black Friday Kindle prices. Its pattern is steady enough to plan around:
- Likely: discounts on the new 2026 Kindles. Amazon cut the then-new 2024 Kindle and Paperwhite at their first Black Friday too, by about $20 to $30.
- Possible: a Kindle Scribe discount close to last year’s, since the Scribe got the biggest cut of any model in 2025.
- Possible: clearance prices on older models Amazon still sells, while stock lasts.
- Unlikely: any new 2026 Kindle back at last year’s Black Friday price.
If Amazon repeats its first-Black-Friday cuts of about $30, these are fair prices to act on:
| Model | US list price | Good Black Friday price |
|---|---|---|
| Kindle | $149.99 | $119.99 or less |
| Kindle Paperwhite | $199.99 | $169.99 or less |
| Kindle Colorsoft | $289.99 | $259.99 or less |
Those are my estimates. A deeper cut is a bonus, and anything at list price can wait for the next sale.
Which Kindle to Buy
Pick by what you read. Most readers need a Paperwhite, comics and cookbooks justify a Colorsoft, and only note-takers need a Scribe.
Kindle Paperwhite
The Kindle Paperwhite is the Kindle I’d buy for most readers.
- 7-inch glare-free display with adjustable warm light
- Waterproof, with up to 12 weeks of battery on a charge
- 16GB of storage, or 32GB and wireless charging on the Signature Edition
Amazon India still sells the previous Paperwhite, which is a fine buy there if the new model isn’t available: Kindle Paperwhite on Amazon India.
Kindle
The basic Kindle is the cheapest way into the Kindle store and the right pick if you mostly read in bed or on a commute.
- 6-inch glare-free display with adjustable front light
- Up to 6 weeks of battery and a replaceable battery
- 16GB, or 32GB in the aluminum version
It has no warm light and no waterproofing. If either matters, the Paperwhite is worth the extra $50.
Kindle Colorsoft
The Kindle Colorsoft is worth it for comics, graphic novels, cookbooks and anyone who highlights a lot.
- 7-inch paper-like color display with warm light and dark mode
- Color highlights in 5 colors
- Waterproof, with up to 8 weeks of battery
For plain text, the color screen adds cost without adding much. It got a bigger Black Friday cut than the Paperwhite last year, so it is the one to watch if you want color.
Kindle Scribe
The Kindle Scribe is for people who write notes, mark up PDFs and read on a large screen.
- 11-inch glare-free display with front light and a paper-like feel
- Pen included, with no charging needed
- Notebooks with AI summaries, plus Google Drive and OneDrive import
It got the deepest cut of any Kindle last Black Friday, about a third off. If you only read, it is too much device.
FAQs on Kindle Black Friday Deals
Will Kindles be on sale for Black Friday 2026?
Amazon discounts Kindles every Black Friday, and last year the cuts ran up to about a third off. Expect smaller cuts on the new 2026 models, which launched in October, and the best value on whatever older models are still in stock.
Why did Kindle prices go up in 2026?
Amazon raised prices when it redesigned the lineup in October 2026 and hasn’t given a reason. Memory and parts costs rose across electronics at the same time.
Is the Kindle Paperwhite worth it over the basic Kindle?
Yes, for most people. It adds a bigger 7-inch screen, warm light and waterproofing for $50 more at list price.
Should I buy an older Kindle on Black Friday?
Only if it is clearly cheaper than the new model. An older Paperwhite at about $40 less than the new one is a good buy, since the reading experience is close.
Is Kindle Unlimited included with a Kindle?
No, it is a separate subscription, although Amazon sometimes adds a few free months to Kindle deals.
Final Remarks
Buy the new Kindle Paperwhite if it drops to about $169.99 or less on Black Friday. If you read comics or cookbooks, wait for the Colorsoft’s cut instead, and skip any Kindle at full list price, because Amazon will discount it again in its next sale.
If you’re deciding whether a subscription is worth adding, my Kindle Unlimited review covers who it pays off for.