Is a Kindle a Good Christmas Gift for Mom?
An e-reader is one of the most popular gifts for moms, and for good reason. It's light, it holds thousands of books, and it gives her a quiet escape from a busy house. But it isn't right for every mom.
Here's how to tell if a Kindle is a good fit for yours.
A Kindle is a great gift if she…
- Reads a lot. If she finishes a book every week or two, an e-reader saves shelf space and trips to the store.
- Reads in bed. A Kindle Paperwhite's screen lights itself and can shift to warm amber light, so she can read without a lamp.
- Travels or reads outside. The glare-free screen is easy to read in the sun, and the Paperwhite is waterproof for the pool or the bath.
- Wants less screen time. A Kindle has no social media or notifications. It's just books.
It may not be the best gift if she…
- Loves paper books. Some readers love the feel of a real book and their shelves full of favorites. Ask yourself if she's mentioned e-readers before.
- Rarely reads. A Kindle is a reading machine. If she'd rather watch shows, pick something else.
- Doesn't like tech. It's simple, but it still needs Wi-Fi to download books and an Amazon account.
The ongoing cost
A Kindle itself is a one-time gift, but books aren't free. She'll buy books from the Kindle Store one at a time, or use a subscription like Kindle+ for access to a big library. Many public libraries also lend e-books.
If you want to make the gift complete, add a gift card for books, or pay for a few months of a subscription.
How to set it up before you give it
A few minutes of prep makes Christmas morning easy:
- Charge it. The Paperwhite charges over USB-C, and Amazon says one charge lasts up to 12 weeks.
- Connect it to Wi-Fi. You can do this at her house, or set it up for her home network later.
- Add a few books. Pick two or three she'd love: an author she likes, a new release, a book club pick.
- Add a case. A cover protects the screen in a purse.
Kindle Paperwhite or something else?
The Paperwhite covers what most readers want: a 7-inch glare-free screen, fast page turns, white-to-amber light and waterproofing. Other Kindles add or leave out features (the Signature Edition, for one, adds an auto-adjusting front light), so compare the listings if she wants something specific.
The bottom line: yes, for a mom who reads often
A Kindle is a great gift for a mom who reads often and doesn't mind a little tech. If she's a paper-book lover or not much of a reader, a gift with nothing to charge or buy, like a LEGO botanical set or cozy slippers, may suit her better.
For four gifts for mom compared on sizes, charging and ongoing costs, see our best Christmas gifts for mom.