Essentials

Best 2023 Cyber Monday e-reader deals: Save on Kindles and other e-book readers today

Edited By Lily Rose

Updated on: November 27, 2023 / 12:43 PM CST / Essentials

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

The latest e-readers have really evolved -- not just with improved readability and more internal storage, but in durability and functionality. Sure, they can be used for reading e-books in just about any lighting situation. But most can also now play audiobooks (when used with wireless headphones or earbuds), and be used as a note-taking device that lets you to handwrite directly on the display with a stylus.

We've discovered that Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), Rakuten (Kobo) and Boox have reduced their e-reader prices for Cyber Monday 2023. You can snag a new e-reader or upgrade your existing one and save a ton of cash on a fabulous tech deal.

Best Cyber Monday e-reader deals you can get now

If you're an avid reader yourself or looking for an ideal Christmas gift for someone who enjoys reading (and who doesn't need a whole tablet to do it), consider taking advantage of these Cyber Monday deals on the latest e-readers.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition: $140 (26% off)

For Cyber Monday, Amazon has this edition of the Kindle on sale for 26% off, bringing the price down to $140. Plus, if you have an older Kindle e-reader, you can take advantage of Amazon's trade-in deal. Not only will you get an Amazon gift card for the appraised value of your existing Kindle, you'll also get 20% off the purchase of the new one.

We're huge fans of the Amazon Kindle Signature Paperwhite Edition and it's a top pick in our in-depth e-reader coverage. It offers an easy-on-the-eyes 6.8-inch Paperwhite display and 32GB of internal storage. It also comes in three casing colors -- black, agave green and denim blue. This version does not include lock screen ads, but does include a three month subscription to Kindle Unlimited.

For the average reader, this Paperwhite Signature Edition in the ideal e-reader because it's lightweight (just 7.3 ounces). This makes it easy to hold in one hand during extended reading sessions. Its glare-free display fights eye fatigue in any lighting situation, including in direct sunlight or in a dark room (thanks to 17 integrated LED lights). In addition to serving as an e-reader, it can also play audiobooks when you pair the device with wireless (Bluetooth) headphones or earbuds.

The Paperwhite Signature Edition is also waterproof, so you can read in the bathtub, at the beach, in or near a pool, or just about anywhere that's convenient. The battery lasts for up to 10 weeks between charges. This version of the Kindle also supports wireless charging.

$140 at Amazon

Amazon Kindle Scribe: $240 (29% off)

For a limited time, Amazon has slashed the price of the Scribe to just $240, which is 29% off its usual $340 price. As a result, you'll save $100. Plus, if you're able to trade in an older Kindle model, will you get an Amazon Gift Card for the appraised value of your existing Kindle and receive get 20% off the purchase of the Scribe.

Amazon's Kindle Scribe does everything a regular Kindle e-reader can do, but a whole lot more. It offers a 10.2-inch Paperwhite display, along with 16GB of internal storage. This is enough to hold your entire e-book and audiobook library.

The Scribe comes with a pen-shaped stylus. A note-taking app comes preinstalled. You can to handwrite or draw directly on the screen. Leave your handwritten notes as is, or have them converted into editable text.

As you're reading e-books, one nice feature is you can annotate as you go. It's also possible to important PDF files directly into the Scribe and then be able to read, annotate and share them with others.

This is the most versatile Kindle e-reader ever released. It's biggest drawback is that it's not waterproof, like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.

$240 at Amazon

Other Amazon Kindles on sale during Cyber Monday

Amazon currently has all of its Kindle e-readers on sale, but only for a limited time. Check out these other awesome deals:

Amazon Kindle (with lock screen ads): $80 (20% off)
Amazon Kindle (without lock screen ads): $100 (16% off)
Kindle Paperwhite: $120 (14% off)
Kindle Oasis: $180 (28% off)
Kindle Kids (2022 Release): $100 (17% off)
Kindle Paperwhite Kids: $135 (21% off)

When shopping for any Kindle e-reader from Amazon, if you have an older model to trade in, will you get an Amazon gift card for the appraised value of your existing Kindle and receive get 20% off the purchase of the new one. Also, for a limited time, if you sign up for the Kindle Unlimited service, you'll get the first three months for free. After that, it will renew for $11.99 per month.

iPad Mini (6th Generation): $400 (20% off)

Right now, Amazon has the popular iPad Mini on sale for 20% off, which brings its price down to $400. It comes in your choice of four casing colors and can be upgraded to include 256GB of internal storage at the time of purchase. This version of the iPad Mini is also on sale for $548 (a $101 savings off its regular $649 price).

Out of all the various iPad models currently available, the iPad Mini is the smallest and lightest, which makes it the perfect reader. Not only does it comes with Apple Books reinstalled (for buying e-books and audiobooks from Apple), but the Kindle, Nook, or Kobo e-reader app can also be downloaded for free onto the tablet, so you can access your e-book or audiobook library purchased from any one of those online e-book stores.

The iPad Mini (6th Generation) is the current version of this tablet. It features an 8.3-inch, full-color, Liquid Retina display that's a touchscreen. It runs using Apple's A16 processor and comes configured with 64GB of internal storage. Battery life is up to 10 hours per charge. Because this is a full-featured tablet that runs iOS 17 (or later), it can handle all of the same tasks as other current iPad models and it comes with the same selection of preinstalled apps.

The benefit to using the iPad Mini as an e-reader is that you get a full-color display, so e-books with photos, charts, graphs or other graphic content can be seen in full-color (a feature that e-readers with an e-ink or Paperwhite display can't provide).

$400 at Amazon

$449 at B&H Photo

$469 at Walmart

Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight 4e: $80 (33% off)

For a limited time, save 33% on the Barnes & Noble GlowLight 4e and purchase it for just $80.

Barnes & Noble remains the largest chain of retail bookstores in America and as you'd expect, it offers its own lineup of e-readers. Just like the e-readers from Amazon, Kobo and Boox, as well as the iPad Mini that runs Apple Books, all of the Nook e-readers support their own, proprietary e-book and audiobook file format. So, if you purchase a Nook for yourself or as a gift, you'll use the online-based Barnes & Noble e-book Store to purchase your content for it.

The GlowLight 4e represents Barnes & Noble's least expensive e-reader. It offers a 6-inch glare resistant display with a glow light that makes it easy to read in dark situations. The device has a rechargeable battery that lasts for weeks at a time. It's 8GB of internal storage is enough to hold hundreds of e-books or audiobooks.

Thanks to its built-in Wi-Fi, eBooks or audiobooks can be purchased and installed directly from the device. And in addition to e-books, it can display your own PDF files or e-books published in the ePub file format.

When shopping at Barnes & Noble's website, be sure to use promo code CYBER15 at checkout to receive 15% off your entire order. Meanwhile, Barnes & Noble Premium members will receive an additional 10% off any Nook purchase that's not otherwise on sale.

Use this promo code CYBER15 at checkout to save on the new Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, which is normally $200. It is waterproof and features a 7.8-inch, glare-free display, along with 32GB of storage. This e-reader can also be used to listen to audiobooks. We like this e-reader because of its size and adaptive GlowLight. There's also a useful night mode that's easier on your eyes when you're in bed reading in a darkened room.

$80 at Barnes & Noble

Boox Tab Mini C: $400 ($50 off)

Save $50 on this Boox Tablet Tab Mini C ePaper tablet/e-reader with a full-color, 7.8-inch display when you shop at Amazon.

Boox is a lesser known e-reader and Android tablet maker in the United States, but it's also one of the very first to offer these handheld devices with full-color ePaper touchscreen displays. In this case, the Boox Tab Mini C offers a 7.8-inch color display that offers a resolution of 150 pixels-per-inch in color mode or 300 pixels-per-inch in B&W mode.

What's great about these Android-based devices is that e-books or graphic novels that contain color can be seen in full color on the tablets screen. And when you're done with you're reading, you can take advantage of the Tab Mini C's tablet capabilities to run Android apps from the Google Play Store.

The Tab Mini C also comes with a pen-shaped stylus, so when using compatible apps, you're able to write, draw, or annotate files directly on the screen and take notes while reading e-books. As an e-reader, the Tab Mini C supports 24 digital file formats. It comes with 64GB of internal storage.

While the full-color display can showcase more than 4,096 colors, the ePaper tech makes them to appear more muted compared with a Liquid Retina display, like what you'd find in an iPad. The benefit: Battery life lasts for weeks, not hours.

Boox offers a lineup of e-readers and Android-based tablets with full-color ePaper displays, but the Tab Mini C is the device that's currently on sale for $50 off on Amazon. This brings the price down to $400. The two newest models, the Boox Tab Ultra C Pro ($650) with its 10.3-inch full-color HD ePaper display, and the Boox Note Air3 C ($500) with its beautiful 10.3-inch full-color display are also available right now from Amazon. Both offer e-book reading, audiobook playing and virtual note-taking capabilities and the ability to run Android apps.

$400 at Amazon

Kobo Elipsa Pack: $308 ($90 off)

Amazon has the Elipsa Pack on sale for $308, which is $91 off its usual price of $399.

In terms of its features and functions, the Kobo Elipsa Pack is very similar to the Amazon Kindle Scribe. Both are feature-packed e-readers that can also serve as a digital note-taking device. The Kobo Elipsa Pack offers a 10.3-inch, glare-free touchscreen that uses e-ink technology that nicely replicates the pages of a printed book thanks to its 227 pixels-per-inch resolution.

This version comes with 32GB of internal storage, a pen-shaped stylus and a sleep cover. The devices weighs about 13.5 ounces and can be comfortably held in your hands during extended reading or note-taking sessions.

$308 at Amazon

$350 at Rakuten

Other Kobo e-readers are also on sale

Several other Kobo readers, that are more similar in appearance and functionality with the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Edition are also currently on sale. Check out these deals:

Kobo Clara 2E: $120 (14% off) on Amazon or $120 on Rakuten's website.
Kobo Nia: $90 (18% off) on Amazon or $90 on Rakuten's website.
Kobo Elipsa 2E: $350 ($50 off) on Rakuten's website.
Kobo Sage: $240 ($30 off) on Rakuten's website.

The majority (but not all Kobo e-readers are waterproof). However, all support OverDrive's Libby service, which allows you to borrow eBooks and audiobooks from your local public library for free.

Give the gift of Kindle Unlimited, Barnes & Noble Premium, Kobo Plus or Audible

All of the online stores that support their own, branded e-readers sell e-books at about the same price as paperback, hardcover or audio counterparts. But some offer a monthly subscription that grants unlimited access to thousands of titles. As a member of a subscription service, the reader does not own any of the e-books or audiobooks. They're simply borrowed and then returned to the service.

For Kindle e-readers, Amazon offers the Kindle Unlimited service for $11.99 per month. This includes access to more than four million digital titles, thousands of audiobooks, and hundreds of magazines. Whether for yourself or as a gift, a subscription to Kindle Unlimited offers a low cost way for avid readers to have a vast library of content at their disposal.

$11.99 per month at Kindle Unlimited

Barnes & Noble Premium membership ($40 a year)

Barnes & Noble Nook users can subscribe to the company's Premium membership service. For $40 per year, this includes discounts on all printed books and e-books, audiobook purchases, and whatever you buy at a Barnes & Noble Cafe. You also get to choose one e-book title per month that you then own. So, in addition to the other perks, after each 12-month period, you wind up with a dozen e-book titles of your choosing, each costing only about $3.33 each.

$40 per year at Barnes & Noble Premium

Kobo Plus membership (starting at $8)

Meanwhile, Kobo e-reader owners can subscribe to one of three Kobo Plus subscription-based services. Kobo Plus Read ($8 per month) offers unlimited access to 1.5+ million eBooks, while Kobo Plus Read & Listen ($10 per month) offers unlimited access to 1.5+ million eBooks and 150,000+ audiobooks. For just access to the service's 150,000+ audiobooks, sign up for the Kobo Plus Listen service ($8 per month).

$8 to $10 per month at Kobo Plus

Audible membership for audiobooks

For audiobook fans who want to access their collection from any Kindle e-reader, or from an app on their smartphone, tablet, or computer, we recommend Amazon's Audible service. Initially, you get two free audiobooks and the first four months of your subscription for just $5.95 per month. After that, the price goes up to $14.95 per month. Each month, you get one free audiobook of your choice which you then own, plus unlimited access to a vast library of additional audiobooks and audio content that's included with the membership.

A one-year subscription to any of these services makes the perfect gift for yourself or any avid reader on your holiday gift list.

$14.95 per month at Audible

Don't forget an e-reader cover

Regardless of which e-reader you choose, most do not come with a protective cover. A cover keeps the display safe from scratches or cracks if you accidentally drop or crush it while carrying it around.

For Amazon Kindle e-readers, you can find a wide range of covers and accessories on Amazon. A vast selection of iPad Mini accessories, including cases, covers, the Apple Pencil stylus and a wireless keyboard can also be found on Amazon. Check out the Barnes & Noble website to discover what Nook e-reader cases, covers and accessories are available. To find cases, covers, stylus, stands and other accessories for the Boox e-readers and tablets, you can also visit Amazon. And for the various Kobo e-readers and tablets, a selection of cases, covers and other accessories can be found on the Kobo website.

Looking for even more Cyber Monday deals? Fashion, beauty, sports fan gear, fitness equipment, furniture, appliances, mattresses, toys – no matter the category, we have your holiday shopping needs covered. Plus, we're sharing ways to help you make your dollar work harder during Cyber Week and beyond.