We have a Kindle, my daughter got it for her 16th birthday.
What will you get him when he is 16?
My personal opinion is to let them want someting for a while before they get it, and to save big ticket items for the teen years and graduations.
My 14 yo wants her ears pierced. For years she has begged for them. In our house the rule is 8th grade graduation. Now she is so excited because this is the year and next month is the month she gets her ears pierced.
Same with phones, they can have those WHEN they NEED them. My 11 yo thinks he needs one. Poppycock!! He'll get one when he is in activities that he would need to get a hold of me. His brother got one at 18, his sisters at 13 and 14. THe girls were in more activities away from home.
My 14 yo will get a computer probably next Christmas or birthday, she'll be in HS and will need it.
THe Kindle is wonderful. My daughter loves, loves, loves it. But she also loves her physical books.
Get the little guy a series, maybe Hardy Boys, where he gets more than one book to read. I still buy real books for all my kids and they love them. THen when he is older you still have the option of the newest coolest eReader and you won't run out of ideas because you got him that at 8, 9 and 10.