Amazon Unveils New Kindle Colorsoft E-Reader Starting at $290
Amazon's refreshed Kindle Colorsoft starts at $290, with a $320 Signature Edition offering 32GB storage and an aluminum back.
Amazon recently unveiled its refreshed Kindle lineup, including a new basic Kindle, Paperwhite and Colorsoft. The new Kindle Colorsoft starts at $290, while the Signature Edition, which TechCrunch reviewer Aisha Malik tested over several weeks, costs $320.
The base model comes with 16GB of storage, while the Signature Edition doubles that to 32GB and is available in graphite or a maroon-like Fig finish with an aluminum back. Amazon first brought color to its Kindle lineup in 2024 with the original Colorsoft. The latest model is lighter and thinner than its predecessor and features an edge-to-edge display. Both models have a 7-inch color E-Ink display with 300ppi resolution for black-and-white content and 150ppi for color.
Unlike standard Kindles, which display everything in black and white, the Colorsoft brings a bookshelf to life in color, making it appealing for readers of comics, graphic novels and cookbooks. Colors on the device are still relatively muted and not as vibrant as on an iPad, according to the review, but they add a welcome splash of color compared with black-and-white displays.
The Colorsoft lets users adjust screen color temperature for warmer, yellow-toned reading at night, and includes an auto-adjusting brightness option. Amazon says the Colorsoft can last up to eight weeks on a single charge, compared with up to 12 weeks for the Paperwhite. During testing, the reviewer did not have to worry about charging.
One improvement on the new Colorsoft is the repositioned power button, now on the top-right edge rather than the bottom next to the charging port, reducing accidental presses. The Signature Edition supports a magnetic cover with built-in page-turn buttons that connects to pogo pins on the back, though the reviewer did not test it. The device is waterproof.
The biggest drawback is price. The review calls it a steep investment for a device used only for reading, and suggests many readers would be better off with the basic Kindle or Paperwhite, which start at $169.99 and $199.99 respectively. If you already own the first-generation Colorsoft, there is little reason to upgrade.
Amazon (AMZN) shares were down 0.29% in delayed trading on Friday.