Amazon Unveils First-Ever Colour Kindle
Amazon has officially unveiled its first-ever colour Kindle, the Kindle Colorsoft, marking a significant shift in its e-reader lineup.
After years of experimentation with eInk technology, Amazon has opted for LED technology to deliver a more vibrant reading experience. Priced at $280, the Colorsoft arrives in the market alongside competing devices ranging from $149 to $330. The much-anticipated device is currently available for pre-order and will begin shipping on October 30th.
7 inch colour display
The new Kindle Colorsoft stands out with its 7-inch colour display, designed to provide sharper contrast and improved image quality. According to Amazon, the device offers an “ideal colour reading experience” with innovations like custom coatings and a light guide that enhances the vividness of each hue while reducing glare. Readers can now highlight text in various colours, including yellow, orange, blue, and pink, adding an extra layer of personalization.
Smooth reading experience for colourful content
While Amazon’s traditional eInk technology is known for its low power consumption, the Colorsoft’s eight-week battery life is shorter than the three months offered by its latest Kindle Paperwhite. However, the Colorsoft compensates with features like wireless charging, a waterproof design, and auto-adjusting front lighting. The device promises a smooth reading experience for content that benefits from full colour, such as graphic novels, cookbooks, and travel guides.
Amazon’s VP Panos Panay described the Kindle Colorsoft as part of "the largest shift of the Kindle lineup in years."
#BookTok boosts Kindle sales
The company has seen a resurgence in Kindle sales, fueled in part by TikTok’s #BookTok community, and it hopes the addition of colour will further enhance the reading experience. With more than 15 million titles available on the Kindle store, readers are consuming an impressive 20.8 billion pages per month, according to Panay.
New Paperwhite and Scribe models join Kindle Colorsoft
In addition to the Colorsoft, Amazon announced updates to its Kindle Paperwhite and Scribe models. The Paperwhite now boasts a slightly larger 7-inch screen, while the Scribe has enhanced note-taking capabilities, allowing users to jot down ideas with a stylus and convert notes into bullet points through artificial intelligence.
The new Kindle devices mark an effort by Amazon to stay competitive in a market where rivals like Kobo and Boox have already introduced colour e-paper displays. The Kindle Colorsoft, however, sets itself apart with its intricate display technology, which includes an oxide backplane for faster page turns and improved visual performance in both colour and black-and-white content.
For those eager to get their hands on the Kindle Colorsoft, preorders are available now. Alongside its stunning colour display, readers can look forward to the familiar Kindle features, like storage for thousands of books, seamless access to the Kindle store, and easy navigation with pinch-to-zoom functionality. Whether it’s for casual reading or in-depth study, the Colorsoft seems designed to elevate the Kindle experience to a whole new level.
