Amazon is refreshing its Kindle e-reader lineup ahead of the 20th anniversary in 2027, introducing slimmer bodies, flat front bezels, optional aluminum housings, and a $34.99 Bluetooth remote. The entry-level Kindle is available immediately starting at $149.99, while upgraded Paperwhite and Colorsoft models arrive later in October.
Amazon is refreshing its e-reader lineup, updating the entry-level Kindle alongside the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Colorsoft. While the devices look sleeker with trimmer profiles and wrap-around colors, the internal E Ink displays remain identical to the previous generation, offering 300 pixels per inch for monochrome screens.
Entry-Level Kindle Drops Raised Bezels and Adds Aluminum Options
The basic six-inch Kindle sheds a millimeter of thickness to measure 6.8 millimeters across and drops roughly 18 grams, bringing the base plastic model down to 140 grams. The screen now sits completely flush with the surrounding bezel, eliminating the raised plastic frame found on older iterations.
Performance sees a modest bump, with Amazon claiming page turns are 30% faster than its predecessor. The entry-level device still lacks waterproofing and adjustable warm lighting, but it introduces several new casing shades including ube, alpine sky, seaglass green, and graphite.
Pricing for the base model starts at $149.99 with 16GB of storage and lock-screen ads. Buyers can also opt for a step-up version built with an 80% recycled aluminum back that doubles storage to 32GB, removes ads, and costs $189.99.
Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions Bring Pogo Pins and Redesigned Displays
The seven-inch Paperwhite and Colorsoft models have also been slimmed down to 6.8mm while maintaining waterproof designs and adjustable warm lighting.
The Kindle Colorsoft starts at $289.99 for the base configuration, rising to $319.99 for its 32GB Signature Edition. Amazon updated the Colorsoft display with a light-guide featuring nitride LEDs and an oxide backplane with custom waveforms, aiming to enhance color brightness and contrast without washing out details.
To achieve paper-like color, our Kindle Colorsoft display includes a light-guide with nitride LEDs to enhance color and increase brightness, all without washing out the details.
Amazon press release, via The Ebook Reader
Both Signature models feature pogo-pin contacts on the rear housing. These connectors link the e-readers to a new $60 charging dock that holds the device upright.
Accessories Bring Back Physical Page-Turn Buttons and Remote Controls
Physical page-turn buttons, which disappeared when Amazon discontinued the Kindle Oasis in 2024, make a return through optional hardware add-ons. The $79.99 Page-Turn Cover attaches magnetically to the Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions, adding physical buttons to the right side of the screen.
Amazon introduced the Kindle Click, a $34.99 Bluetooth remote control designed for reading on a treadmill, under bed covers, or on an airplane tray table. The remote recharges via USB-C, includes side buttons for adjusting screen brightness, and works with any Kindle released in 2024 or later.
According to reporting from Bloomberg cited by GeekWire, Amazon was inspired by the BookTok community on TikTok, where readers have long demonstrated third-party clicker setups.
Kindle Models Launch Across Global Markets with Replaceable Batteries
The basic Kindle and its aluminum variant are available immediately in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Australia. The Paperwhite and Colorsoft models will begin shipping on October 28, with preorders opening on a rolling basis.
Product listings on Amazon’s customer support pages also indicate that the new devices feature user-replaceable batteries to comply with European Union regulations.
During a media preview, Kevin Keith, Amazon VP of devices, noted that Kindle device sales hit their highest point in more than a decade last year, driven by three straight years of double-digit growth. Meanwhile, Chris Green, Amazon VP of industrial design, outlined futuristic concepts for future iterations, telling Bloomberg he envisions eventually reaching a credit-card-thin display that users can flex to turn pages.