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 their 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. While we wait for the official deals to take shape, peruse these deals on certain models and Kindle accessories 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.
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet for $55 (save $77): OK, so 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.
- Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle for $245 (save $20): The Kindle Paperwhite is our pick for the best Kindle — but this isn’t the best deal on the list, given that it’s only $20 off. We’re expecting the price to drop more as we get closer to October Prime Day.
- Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with Cork Cover for $253 (save $20): Another decent deal if you want a Paperwhite with a cork cover.
- 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 $22 (save $11): 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
