Surprise, surprise: another Prime Day is almost here. Though we just had a Prime Day sale in July, Amazon is hosting its Prime Big Deal Days event on Oct. 8-9, ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.
Also: The best October Prime Day deals you can shop right now
As someone who has researched and written about these deals events for over a year, I’ve noticed a lot of fake “deals” that run amok during sales like Prime Day. Brands will raise the price of a product ahead of a discount to make the deal look more attractive than it actually is. Since most people aren’t checking the price of an e-reader five days ahead of Prime Day and two days after (like I do for my job), they won’t see this trick and will think they’re saving themselves some money. They aren’t.
And often, the best deals are on Amazon-owned products, like Kindles, Echo speakers, and Ring doorbells, since Amazon has the most control over its merchandise during deals events. So if you’re in the market for a new e-reader for yourself or your loved one (or you’re already getting a start on holiday shopping — kudos to you), now could be the time to buy a Kindle. Not every Kindle deal is worth your while, and I’ll do my best to highlight the ones that are during this October Prime Day. But a deals event like Prime Day is one of the best times of the year for buying a Kindle. While we wait for the official deals to take shape next week, peruse these deals on certain models, Kindle accessories, and even some dupes from Amazon Fire and Kobo Clara below.
Our favorite early Amazon October Prime Day Kindle deals
- Kindle Oasis for $135 (save $135): Get this e-reader for half off right now. It comes with an adjustable warm light and IPX8 resistance for pool or bath reading sessions.
- Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle with Leather Folio Cover<!–> for $380 (save $60): If you’re in the market for a Kindle Scribe, a leather case, and a power adapter, this bundle is $60 off right now. One reviewer said it was “worth every penny” – and there were “a lot of pennies” spent on this tablet.
- Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle–> for $210 (save $55): The Kindle Paperwhite is our pick for the best Kindle. We’re expecting the price to drop more as we get closer to October Prime Day.
- Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with Cork Cover<!–> for $213 (save $60): Another decent deal if you want a Paperwhite with a cork cover. Plus, the discount of the Signature Edition got a $40 increase over the past day.
- Wireless Charging Dock for Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition–> for $25 (save $8): You don’t need to go on a scavenger hunt for that charging cord. Get this wireless charging dock instead to never use the USB-C port again.
- CoBak Kindle Leather Paperwhite Case with Stand<!–> for $14 (save $11): Save $11 on this brown leather case fit for your Kindle Paperwhite.
- CoBak Kindle Paperwhite Leather Case with Hand Strap–> for $15 (save $15): This mint green leather Paperwhite case is half off right now.
- Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder<!–> for $25 (save $8): If you’re an avid bed reader, you might want a stand that holds up your Kindle as you lie in bed. This one has fairly good reviews, and verified buyers say customer service is helpful when they’ve experienced product hiccups.
- Kindle Paperwhite Cover–> for $30 (save $12): This cover has over 12,000 reviews on Amazon, and 80% of them are five stars. Reviews compliment the lightweight and high-quality case.
- Kindle Kids Paperwhite<!–>for $115 (save $55): This Kindle Paperwhite offers up parental controls, a fun protective case, and enough books to keep your little one busy.
- Current price: $135
- Original price: $270
The international version of the Kindle Oasis is 50% off right now on Amazon, a substantial deal for a device with IPX8 water resistance and warm light adjustment. Read in the bathtub, on the beach, and on the go with this 7-inch Paperwhite display.
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- Current price: $55
- Original price: $130
This is a nice alternative to a Kindle with a far cheaper price tag than the e-readers themselves, and you can still use the Kindle app on this device to read your favorite books while also streaming your shows on apps like Max and Netflix and tending to emails on Gmail. If you want a more versatile device for a cheaper price, this isn’t a bad deal.
–> <!–>
- Current price: $380
- Original price: $440
If you’re in the market for the Kindle Scribe and would like the adapter and a leather cover included in your purchase, this bundle cuts down the price by $60. Draw, take notes, and annotate your favorite novels with the Scribe.
–> <!–>
Prime Day deals on flagship e-readers that rival Kindle
- Refurbished Kobo Clara–> for $90 (save $30): The Kobo Clara is a more affordable option than the Kindle models, and if you aren’t an Amazon shopper, this e-reader could be up your alley.
- Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet<!–> for $75 (save $65): If you’re looking for a device that’s part e-reader, part tablet, this Fire HD 10 tablet is the latest model of the Fire tablets, and offers a wide screen for all your viewing needs.
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet–> for $55 (save $75): This isn’t a Kindle product, but it is a tablet with Kindle compatibility, and it’s $70 off right now. Read your favorite books and watch your favorite shows on the Fire HD 8 tablet.
My top 3 Prime Day Kindle deals from July
Many of the Kindle deals worth buying aren’t available yet, and we can keep an eye out for the best deals to go live on Oct. 8 and 9, during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event. When I covered these deals during July Prime Day, the Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle<!–> was substantially discounted, one of the best deals on an e-reader you could get. Amazon also lowers the price of its flagship Kindle–>, which currently retails for $120, and discounts its most popular $150 Paperwhite<!–> as well.
FAQs
When is Amazon’s October Prime Day 2024?
Amazon’s October Prime Day takes place on Oct. 8 and 9, though you can expect some products to be discounted a few days ahead of and after the deals event.
Are Kindles really cheaper on Prime Day?
For some Kindle products, 100% yes. We’ve seen Amazon slash the prices on Kindle Scribes and other models during its Prime Day deals events in the past. Your best bet is to buy one during these events when the deals are more substantial. Throughout the event, we’ll call out when a deal is rare and when it’s middling.
Is Kindle Unlimited free with Amazon Prime?
No. Kindle runs an offer where you can get a few months free to try out Kindle Unlimited, but after your trial period ends the cost goes up to $12 a month.
How did we choose these October Prime Day deals?
ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy – devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.
We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing – in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.
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