Amazon launched a redesigned Kindle lineup, and the new Kindle Colorsoft starts at $290. The entry-level Kindle is thinner, faster, and now uses a flush-front display instead of the recessed screen buyers knew before.
The basic 6-inch model is Amazon’s most pocket-sized Kindle yet. It is 6.8mm thin, weighs 140 grams, and lasts for six weeks on a single charge, while opening books 30 percent faster than the previous entry-level e-reader.
Cherlynn Low in New York
Cherlynn Low previewed the new Kindles in New York and said, “It's one thing to admire the view of the colorful new Kindles, especially that ube color option, which is lovely in real life.”
She also said, “It's quite different when you're picking them up to get a feel for the aluminum housing of the signature editions and the texture of the plastic models.”
Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft
The new Kindle Paperwhite is thinner and lighter than before, and Amazon says it has the largest screen and highest contrast ratio among its Paperwhites. It still has 16GB of storage, waterproofing, and an adjustable warm light, while the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition adds 32GB, an aluminum back, auto-adjusting lights, and double-tap page turns for about $50 more.
The basic Kindle starts at at least $150 with lockscreen ads and comes in Ube or Graphite, while an aluminum-backed version adds 32GB and weighs 20 grams more in Alpine Sky Aluminum or Seaglass Green Aluminum. The Colorsoft line follows the same split, with a 16GB model in Graphite for $290 and a Signature Edition in Graphite or Fig for at least $320, plus aluminum housing, auto-adjusting front light, dock charging, and double-tap page turns.
Preorders across 20 markets
The entry-level Kindle and its aluminum version are available now in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Australia. The new Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Colorsoft will roll out for preorder across the same regions, and the Kids versions start at $180 with child-friendly covers and Amazon Kids+.
What buyers still need to weigh is the tradeoff Amazon has left in place: the cheapest Kindle keeps ads and 16GB of storage, while the new display and body changes sit behind higher prices or preorder timing on the Paperwhite and Colorsoft.
