Now that Amazon Prime Day is approaching, you might be wondering whether to grab the gadgets you’ve got your eyes on now or wait a little longer until the online retailer’s discount days begin on July 12th.
One popular gadget we see at a discount all the time is the Amazon Kindle line of ereaders, and that device is likely to be a top pick this Prime Day as well; Amazon is always quick to discount their own products for Prime Day.
In fact, if you’re looking to buy a new Kindle ereader, we always recommend that you wait for sales – they come often enough that you don’t have to buy at full price.
So, should a new Kindle ereader be on your list of Prime Day gadgets to buy? Well, it really depends on which Kindle model you want – Basic, Paperwhite, or Oasis. We’ll show you the three different types and tell you what your plan of action should be.
Amazon’s Standard Kindle
Amazon’s cheaper but less feature-packed entry-level Kindle ereader line hasn’t received an update since 2019. We imagine the company is operating under the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mantra until a new ereader innovation comes along. together.
As the oldest member of Kindle products currently sold, it is often the first to see a discount during Prime Day (and Black Friday, and often throughout the year) sales.
So it’s understandable if you’re looking for a deal – and we recommend you pick one if you find one. While there is a small chance that a new, updated model will be released later this year, a new one, without a discount, will be much more expensive than an older, discounted one, perhaps enough to justify the limited features.
Saying that, it depends on the level of discount being offered. The current model launched for $89.99 / £69.99 / AU$139, but we’ve already seen it as low as $49 / £39 / AU$99 at various sales. As such, if you see it selling at a mega discount, but not as low as previous best prices, you might want to hold off until Black Friday or another time.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
The mid-range member of the Kindle family is the latest to have an update, with the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) being joined by a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for the first time.
As such, we don’t expect to see a new version of this model anytime soon. That is, do not skip sales in the hope of a 2022 edition.
Despite being relatively new, we’ve already seen some decent discounts on Paperwhite devices, so don’t fish your credit card for a measly 10% discount.
We still see some older versions of the Paperwhite sold on Amazon too – they’re recognizable for having 6-inch, not 6.8-inch screens. If you’re looking for a lot and don’t need the latest features, these devices might give you a better deal – if the price is reduced, of course.
Amazon Kindle Oasis
Amazon’s high-end Kindle costs a significant amount compared to its brethren, so it makes sense that you’d want to hold off until Prime Day to buy one at a good discount.
However, of the three Kindle lines that Amazon makes, the Oasis is the one we most expect to receive an update this year. Just like the base model, the current generation model was released in 2019; but we expect to see a few more premium features released on the Oasis models soon, including color screens and wireless charging.
If a new Kindle Oasis was released in late 2022, we could see it (yes, the latest version) at a discount for Black Friday, and in that hypothetical future, it would definitely be worth skipping Prime Day and waiting. However, we can’t be sure that a new version is coming, so that would be a risk.
If you like the look and feel of the premium Kindle but don’t think you need the high-end upgrades that can come with an updated model, then certainly look out for the Oasis offerings during Prime Day. But if you don’t need to be in a hurry, there’s no harm in waiting until Black Friday.