For easy reading

Photo: Nena Farrell

If you’ve ever had a long reading session that left your hands cramping, these accessories might help. You can check out more options in our Best Kindle Accessories guide.

Strapsicle E-Reader wristbands for $21: Attach one or both of these to the back of your Kindle—one is angled for your right hand and the other for your left hand—and slide your hand inside. Your hands won’t cramp, you won’t accidentally hit the screen and turn it over. pages, and the reader will not slip out of your hands. There are three sizes meant to hold different types of e-readers. You should see exactly which models they work with on the Amazon pages as well as on this page on the Strapsicle website.

Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder for $29: WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell tested it and said that while it’s not completely hands-free, it’s a very convenient and comfortable experience, especially if you have any sources of chronic pain in your wrists. The clamp is easy to attach to bed frames and side tables (there’s also a floor stand version for $70). It’s lightweight to deploy anywhere and has enough resistance to the neck that it doesn’t fall forward or out of position. It wobbles a bit when touched to turn the page (or bumped by a curious cat), so she tended to rest a hand on it to keep it steady from herself and her feline roommate . If you want to go completely hands-free, add a page-turner remote so you can read without lifting a finger.

PopSocket for $10: Popsockets aren’t just for your phone, they work great on e-readers too. Whether you have a Paperwhite or a basic Kindle, this is another great solution to reduce hand cramps.

Do you need a cover?

Photo: Amazon

Kindles are fortunately not as fragile as our expensive smartphones, but you may still want to add a cover to protect the screen if you carry it in a bag often. It is not padded for serious drops. The Kids’ editions come with cases.

Dust Covers for Kindle ($32) and Paperwhite ($37): These open like a book and come in a variation of black, blue, pink or green. They are made from post-consumer recycled materials.

Dust jacket for author ($60): This one flips up and over like a notebook, and you can also put it in a stand. There’s also a slot for the pin if you don’t want it magnetically attached all the time. It is also made with recycled materials.

The Quirky Cup Collective E-Reader Sleeve for $42: I prefer these beautiful sleeves, especially the Sun and Moon version. They’re beautiful and will protect your device when you’re not using it, so you can throw it in your pocket without worry. The outside is velvet and the inside is satin, with some padding in between and a zipper. At the back is a small zippered pocket. On each product page you will see which devices fit, but consult the measurements. There are also separate, and larger, book and iPad sleeves.

CoBak Clear Case for $10: The best part about a clear case is that it protects the back of your Kindle and allows you to decorate it with stickers underneath. In addition to CoBak’s case, I also recommend this fun sticker pack ($10).

Large reading lights

Photo: Simon Hill

If you usually read before bed, but don’t want to disturb roommates, children or roommates, I suggest investing in a reading light. All the Kindles now have a front light, so you don’t need one, but it can still be handy, especially if you switch between your Kindle and physical books. Below are some of our favorites. You can find more in our Best Reading Lights guide.

Vekkia 14 LED Book Light for $18: This is our top pick. It’s a clip-on light with an adjustable gooseneck and two rotatable light bars that pack seven LEDs each. You can scroll through five levels of brightness and three warm colors. However, it is relatively large, so it is not ideal for small paperbacks. The clamp opens as wide as 2.1 inches and serves as a stable base to place on a nightstand.

Glocusent LED neck reading light for $22: This reading light wraps around your neck, so it looks silly. But it’s an excellent alternative to a clip-on reading light while remaining hands-free. It is lightweight, adjustable and comes with three color temperature modes as well as six brightness settings. It is rechargeable and offers up to 80 hours of battery life at dim settings.

Black Diamond Wiz Headlamp for $28: This is our favorite headlamp for kids. It’s comfortable, and the adjustable straps come in different colors. It has three brightness settings and an IPX4 water resistance rating, so you don’t have to worry about splashes. It turns itself off automatically after two hours, in case they fall asleep with it on. It takes two AAA batteries.

About those older Kindles

Amazon doesn’t release new Kindles often — the company usually takes a few years between models. When a new model arrives, its predecessor’s stock begins to dwindle. It’s not that I don’t recommend it per se, but I only suggest it if you can get it for sale at the right price. Otherwise, I recommend buying the latest version.

Before you make your purchase, check the price with the latest model to make sure you’re spending a fair amount less on the older device.

• Kindle (2022, 11th generation): It’s the smallest of the lot at 6.2 inches tall and 4.3 inches wide, with a 6-inch screen. If you find tablets too cumbersome to hold with one hand, consider this one. With this model, Amazon has doubled the storage space to 16 gigabytes and upgraded the screen to 300 pixel-per-inch (PPI) resolution (from 167 PPI). It’s hard to find, but if you manage to find one, you shouldn’t spend more than $50.
• Kindle Paperwhite (2021, 11th generation): This is the next step up from the basic model. It has a bright 6.8-inch screen with adjustable warm lighting, a fast page-turning rate, a USB-C port and 16 gigs of storage. It is also waterproof. I like the Signature Edition (8/10, WIRED Recommends) which also includes auto-adjustable brightness and 32 gigabytes of storage. I don’t recommend spending more than $100 if you can get it.
• Kindle Scribe (1st generation): The Scribe (8/10, WIRED recommends) is a good option for note-taking. It has a giant 10.2-inch screen for taking notes, marking up or drawing PDFs, and tons of paper formats you can choose from, like college-ruled or dotted. It also comes with the basic pen that feels natural to write with and attaches magnetically to the side of the Kindle. I only recommend it for $230 or less.
• Kindle Kids (2022): This is the kid-friendly version of the entry-level Kindle. It comes with a cover, a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+, parental controls and a two-year warranty. I don’t suggest spending more than $70 on this one.
• Kindle Paperwhite Kids (2021): The Paperwhite version is a step up from the Kindle Kids. It has a high-resolution 300-ppi display with an adjustable hot screen and is also waterproof. You shouldn’t spend more than $110 on this one.