Kindle price predictions for Prime Day 2020

Prime Day 2020 may be the biggest Amazon shopping event ever – and the worst one for Kindle lovers.

Prime Day is delayed by mid-October this year. It dramatically changes the dynamics of what and why Amazon customers buy. Combine it with delayed shipping conditions that may become unpredictable with the second wave of coronavirus.

As a result, a vast number of online shoppers may decide to buy Christmas gifts much earlier than on Black Friday, to make sure they arrive on time.

And this is why Prime Day 2020 may steal the show from Black Friday and Cyber Monday. For Amazon, the Prime Day is a way to control shipping over six or eight weeks instead of a sudden strike at the end of November.

That’s why I believe this year there will be more and better Prime Day deals than ever. Especially that customers will be willing to accept product delivery taking four or six weeks. It’s sill before Christmas, right?

Unfortunately, Prime Day will not be the best event for anyone who thinks about upgrading the Kindle. It may be the worst event ever for Kindle fans.

Jump directly to:

Kindle Paperwhite Oasis

There are two major reasons. Several variants of the basic Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite will be back on stock just after Prime Day. Amazon puts a lot more efforts into other product categories, such as Echo speakers or Fire TV.

Below, you will see Kindle price predictions for Prime Day 2020, backed by price tables from former events, and accompanied by availability details.

You can always check out the official home page of Prime Day below:

⇢ Prime Day 2020

Prime Day 2020 – Kindle prices and availability

Basic Kindle

• Event: Prime Day 2020
• Model: Basic Kindle, 10th generation
• Availability: Limited
• Expected Price: $64.99

The 10th-generation Kindle was introduced in April 2019, sot it’s not a new model. No upgrade to this model is planned by Amazon this year, so if you want to buy the most affordable Kindle e-reader, it should be this one.

The biggest improvement, compared to Kindle 9, is a front-lighted display. Four LED lamps embedded in the edge of the screen spread an even light across the surface letting you read in the dark without a bedside lamp disturbing the sleep of your significant other.

This feature alone made the price of the 2019 Kindle go up by $10, to $89.99, compared to the previous-generation model.

Basic Kindle – Prime Day price predictions

Predicting the price in this case is purely hypothetical, as there may be problems with availability – see the next section below the table to save time.

The table presents former deal prices of the basic Kindle since the first Prime Day in 2016. We also provide deal prices for Black Friday & Cyber Monday to help you get a bigger picture.

As you see, the deals are pretty stable. You could save $30, no matter the generation and list price.

If the Kindle were available for Prime Day 2020, we are not sure the deal price would be set at $59.99 just like in previous years. Why? The first reason is that Amazon is switching attention from Kindle e-readers to Alexa-enabled devices.

The second reason is that due to the coronavirus pandemic, users were buying Kindles even without price cuts, to better manage their time while being stuck at their homes. And as a result, Amazon adjusted their policy accordingly:

• There were no Kindle deals during National Reading Month (March 2020).
• Mother’s Day Kindle deals were lunched quietly, and they were not as deep as in previous years. The price of the basic Kindle was reduced to $64.99.
• The deal price of Kindle 10 in Back-to-school 2020 sale was even higher – $69.99.

Basic Kindle – Prime Day availability

When you visit Kindle 10 product page in the US Amazon store, you will see that most variants are sold out, and they will be back on stock in mid-October.

Having in mind that this year’s Prime Day is expected to run on October 13, the basic Kindle may be simply not available on time.

The black variant, both with and without ads, is going to be back on stock on October 10-11. The ad-supported white version will arrive a week later, while for the ad-free variant you will need to wait even 8 weeks – that’s almost Black Friday!

Basic Kindle – quick facts

What are the biggest benefits of Kindle 10?

1. An adjustable front light that makes the text readable in any light conditions.
2. Ability to play Audible audiobooks via connected headphones and speakers.
3. Smoother design, compared to Kindle 9.
4. A display with a bit better contrast.
5. White color!

Which Kindle is better for me: the basic or Paperwhite?

If all you need is a convenient e-reading device with front light and long battery life, don’t overpay $40 for extra features of the Paperwhite.

Should I wait for the next-generation Kindle?

No, you should not. Kindle models are being recycled every two years. We can expect Kindle 11 next year, but having in mind that customers switch attention from e-readers to tablets and smart home appliances, we may wait even longer.

Should I choose a Kindle or tablet?

If you are looking for a device specifically to read ebooks, it should be the Kindle. Pick up Amazon Fire or iPad, if you want to do more: write mails, browse the web, or check your social networks. Also, the Kindle is not good if you want to read comic books and magazines.

⇢ Basic Kindle

Kindle Paperwhite

• Event: Prime Day 2020
• Model: Kindle Paperwhite, 10th generation
• Availability: Limited
• Expected Price: $84.99

4th-generation Kindle Paperwhite is the oldest model among currently offered by Amazon. It was launched almost two years ago, with a set of features users were desperately waiting for.

The best thing about Paperwhite 4 is that it’s waterproof. The device has IPX8 water resistance badge. It means it can withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for up to 60 minutes. Plus, the screen is covered by edge-to-edge glass – a solution known from top-shelf Kindle Voyage or Oasis.

Despite rumors about Kindle Paperwhite 5 featuring warm light, we don’t expect the new model to be released before Prime Day 2020.

So, if you are looking for a waterproof Kindle model with adjustable (but not warm) front light, available at a relatively reasonable price – and if you need this device before Christmas – make sure to check out Paperwhite 4 during Prime Day 2020.

Kindle Paperwhite – Prime Day price predictions

The rule is that the older the model, the deeper price cuts. Can we expect the highest price drop on the Kindle Paperwhite, especially that it’s two years old now?

Most probably, no. First, just like in case of the basic Kindle, Paperwhite 4 may not be available during Prime Day 2020 at all – read the next section for more details.

Even if the e-reader is back on stock in early October, we may not see price drops higher than a year ago. Here is why.

Last Prime Day and last Black Friday, the deal price of the Kindle Paperwhite was set at $84.99, $45 less than a regular one, for the ad-supported variant with 8 GB of internal memory.

However, Kindle deals offered by Amazon this year may suggest that seeing the same price as last year would be a great thing already.

There was no National Reading Month deal on the Kindles this year. During Mother’s Day shopping event, the Paperwhite was discounted by only $35. Back-to-school 2020 deal was even worse – the price was cut by only $30, to $99.99.

Right now, there are several deals on Amazon devices, including Fire tablets and Echo speakers, but no Kindles are on the list.

All together, don’t expect the Prime Day price to be lower than $80.

Kindle Paperwhite – Prime Day availability

Availability of the Kindle Paperwhite in October is at stake. In the US Amazon store, only the 8 GB version with ads is available without significant delays – and only two color variants: Black and Twilight Blue.

Most other variants will be available in mid-October the soonest, with the popular Plum color to be restocked as late as the beginning of November.

In other words, Amazon may want to use limited Kindle Paperwhite availability during Prime Day to push sales of less popular variants.

Kindle Paperwhite – quick facts

What are the biggest benefits of Kindle Paperwhite 4?

1. Waterproof design that makes it withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for up to 60 minutes.
2. Slim design with edge-to-edge glass front.
3. Bigger storage options (8 or 32 GB), compared to the predecessor. A helpful feature if you are planning to listen to Audible audiobooks on the Kindle.
4. Multiple colors to choose from, matching the new color line of Amazon Fire tablets: Plum, Sage, Twilight Blue, and Black.
5. The largest number of compatible case covers and accessories.

Which Kindle is better for me: the basic or Paperwhite?

If all you need is a convenient e-reading device with front light and long battery life, choose the basic Kindle. If you like to read in a bathtub or on a beach and want to have peace of mind, go for Kindle Paperwhite.

Should I wait for the next-generation Kindle Paperwhite?

The next Kindle model to be launched will be the 5th-generation Paperwhite, that’s for sure. Will it happen this year? It’s hardly possible to see the new model before Prime Day. November would be a natural end of the life cycle of the current model (two full years), but due to problems created by coronavirus, Amazon may delay the launch till spring or ever summer 2021.

Should I choose a Kindle or tablet?

If you are looking for a device specifically to read ebooks, it should be the Kindle. Pick up Amazon Fire or iPad, if you want to do more: write mails, browse the web, or check your social networks. Also, the Kindle is not good if you want to read comic books and magazines.

⇢ Kindle Paperwhite

Kindle Oasis

• Event: Prime Day 2020
• Model: Kindle Oasis, 3rd generation
• Availability: Full
• Expected Price: $199.99

The most advanced Kindle e-reader to date, the 3rd-generation Oasis, was launched in summer 2019. Compared to the previous model, it offered only one – but essential – upgrade: an adjustable warm light.

The Oasis is still Amazon’s only e-reader to sport this feature. You can adjust the color temperature of the front light to be warmer. It’s helpful in the evening, as blue light (which is natural for daytime) can cause sleep problems.

Asymmetric design of Kindle Oasis 3 is what makes it a truly unique device. The design is not there to shock, however. It is intended to help owners use the e-reader with one hand. The gravity point was moved to the side, by placing an internal battery and most other components in the grip area. Thanks to that, your hand won’t hurt even if you keep the device in the same position for long hours.

Kindle Oasis – Prime Day price predictions

When it comes to Prime Day, the rule so far was that Kindle Oasis didn’t join the list of discounted Amazon devices.

In the entire history of Prime Day and Black Friday, the Oasis was offered for a reduced price only once. It happened in 2017, and it applied only to the most expensive version with cellular connectivity. The deal was symbolic – 14% off the list price.

However, with limited availability of the basic Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite, it’s quite possible to see Oasis 3 with a reduced price, especially that we have seen price drops a few times.

For Father’s Day 2019, Amazon offered Kindle Oasis for $199 instead of $249.99. The relative savings are not impressive (only 20%), but $50 was enough to grab the original leather cover.

It’s also worth mentioning that during Prime Day 2019 the older Oasis, the 2nd generation model, was discounted while the newly released model was offered at the regular price.

It may turn out that, with no two other models to offer, Amazon will decide to feature Kindle Oasis on Prime Day 2020. It would be a good idea to spread the world about the warm light which is rumored to be added to Kindle Paperwhite 5.

Kindle Oasis – Prime Day availability

All version of the 3rd-generation Oasis are available to ship in one or two days, and there are no signs it will change in the next weeks.

Kindle Oasis – quick facts

What are the biggest benefits of Kindle Oasis 4?

1. Adjustable warm light that lets you control the color of the front lighted screen. In the evening, you can replace blue light with a warmer tone to reduce eye strain and minimize the negative effect on sleep.
2. Large, 7-inch touchscreen that displays crisp text and helps enjoy larger documents with fixed layout. It’s the largest currently available Kindle model.
3. Asymmetric design that shifts the center of gravity to one side to help you keep the e-reader comfortably in one had for long hours.
4. Audible player combined with 8 or 32 GB internal storage to enjoy Audible audiobooks to the fullest.
5. Waterproof index IPX8 – tested to withstand immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes.
6. Aluminum body combined with premium finishes: Graphite or Champagne Gold.

Is Kindle Oasis worth buying?

If you have owned Paperwhite before, and would like to upgrade your reading experience with bigger display and warm light, you can consider getting the Oasis.

Should I wait for the next-generation Kindle Oasis?

If the Oasis will be featured during this year’s Prime Day or Black Friday, this would be the best time to get the device.

⇢ Kindle Oasis

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