I love reading books, and my favorite way to crack open a new one isn’t by turning physical pages; it’s by powering on an e-reader. That’s because e-readers like this on-sale $85 Kindle are lighter and thinner than any book, making it a joy to hold and read for hours at a time.
Amazon makes a ton of Kindles, but this particular model is the most modest-sized of all and comes in a lovely soft-touch construction that’s easy to hold. Plus, it’s the lightest Kindle ever and is lighter than even the smallest phones on the market today, despite having a paperback-sized 6-inch screen.
The $85 deal is for the ad-supported version, but don’t be fooled by that description. Ads generally come in the form of book recommendations and only appear on the lock screen. Amazon doesn’t give you obnoxious pop-ups or on-screen ads while reading. If any ads bother you, the ad-free version of this Kindle is just $20 more.
✅Recommended if: You want an unbelievably light, distraction-free e-reader with a bright backlight and near-perfect construction.
❌Skip this deal if: You want an e-reader with a warmer backlight, one with waterproofing, or one that runs more apps than just the Kindle library.
This one comes in two colors, black and matcha. I’d like to have a word with Amazon’s design team, as this is absolutely not a matcha color. Rather, it’s more like seafoam green, which still looks amazing in hand, but it’s not a rich verdant green like matcha tea is.
While we’re speaking of matcha, it wouldn’t hurt to grab this 16oz matcha tin for $20. I bought one last Prime Day, and it took me nearly an entire year to use up. It’s the perfect way to make a great latte while reading a good book on your new Kindle!
Why choose a Kindle over other e-readers?
Most e-readers these days are powered by Android and let you download any Android app on them (like this excellent $157 Prime Day deal). That’s amazing for book selection and whatever else you want to do on your e-reader, but it also opens the gates for lots of distractions while you’re trying to read.
Kindles are a more basic product, only offering access to Kindle books and Audible audiobooks. That’s all in Amazon’s ecosystem, of course, but it also means you won’t be seeing text messages, emails, or getting bothered by notifications while enjoying your book.
Black & white e-readers are also still the best for book reading, as they are substantially crisper than color E Ink. That, combined with a backlight you can completely disable, and the paper-like reflectivity of E Ink, makes this a perfect reading companion for your summer and beyond.
More Prime Day 2026 – quick links
- Phones: major savings on Pixel, Samsung, and beyond
- Wearables: up to 50% off Garmin, Galaxy Watch, and Fitbit
- Tablets: Galaxy Tab, Kindle, and Amazon Fire tablets from $50
- Chromebooks: discounts on ASUS, HP, and Lenovo
- Smart Home: up to 60% off Alexa devices
- Headphones/earbuds: huge discounts on Beats, Sony, and more
- Smart TVs: cheap smart TVs from $69.99