Let me let you in on a little secret: Amazon’s kid-friendly e-readers are a better deal than the standard models. Each so-called “Kids” device is identical to its non-Kids counterpart, except that it comes with a protective case, an extended two-year warranty against damage, and six months of Amazon Kids Plus. They also include optional parental controls and exclude ads, letting you skip the $20 upcharge Amazon typically requires to remove its pesky lockscreen notices.
Thankfully, there are three Kids models to choose from, all of which are discounted right now. The one we’d recommend for most people, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids, is currently on sale for $149.99 ($30 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is the lowest price we’ve seen since last year. The entry-level Kindle Kids, meanwhile, is down to $109.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, while the Colorsoft Kids can be had for $219.99 ($50 off) at Amazon and Best Buy for a limited time.
The differences between the three models aren’t massive, but they’re worth flagging. All three e-readers feature a crisp 300ppi display, weekslong battery life, and 16GB of storage, which should allow you to store thousands of Kindle books. However, with the Paperwhite and Colorsoft Kids, you also get a slightly larger 7-inch display, IPX8 waterproofing, and adjustable warm lighting. The latter Kindle also uses the same color E Ink tech as e-readers like the Kobo Libra Colour, allowing you to view monochrome or color content (at 150ppi).
Having used the Colorsoft Kids on several occasions, I wouldn’t say it’s going to be a must-have upgrade for most folks. Then again, if you love magazines, graphic novels, or a good book cover, it’s the best color e-reader in its price range — and that’s without a $50 discount.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
