Amazon just lately unveiled its refreshed Kindle lineup, introducing a brand new fundamental Kindle, Paperwhite, and Colorsoft. The brand new Kindle Colorsoft begins at $290, whereas the Signature Version, which I’ve spent the previous few weeks testing, prices $320. 

The bottom mannequin comes with 16GB of storage, whereas the Signature Version doubles that to 32GB and is accessible in graphite or a maroon-like Fig end with an aluminum again.

Amazon first introduced colour to its Kindle lineup in 2024 with the launch of the unique Colorsoft. The most recent mannequin is lighter and thinner than its predecessor and options an edge-to-edge show. In the event you already personal the first-generation Colorsoft, there’s little cause to improve. 

The core studying expertise stays largely the identical. Each fashions have a 7-inch colour E-Ink show, 300ppi decision for black-and-white content material and 150ppi for colour.

Nonetheless, if you happen to’ve been eyeing a colour e-reader, the brand new Colorsoft is value contemplating if you may get previous the hefty price ticket. 

Not like customary Kindles, which show all the things in black and white, the Colorsoft brings your digital bookshelf to life with their unique colours. This makes it a very interesting possibility for readers who take pleasure in comics, graphic novels, or cookbooks, the place colour makes an enormous distinction. It’s additionally nice for readers who like highlighting passages in numerous colours.

It’s value noting that colours on the Colorsoft are nonetheless comparatively muted and never as vibrant as what you’d see on an iPad. Nonetheless, they add a welcome splash of colour and make a noticeable distinction in comparison with the black-and-white shows of ordinary Kindles. 

The Colorsoft enables you to modify the display screen’s colour temperature, so you possibly can swap to a hotter, extra yellow-toned show that’s simpler on the eyes when studying at night time. There’s additionally an auto-adjusting brightness possibility that is useful.

Relating to battery life, Amazon says that the Colorsoft can last as long as eight weeks on a single cost, in comparison with as much as 12 weeks for the Paperwhite. Throughout my testing, I didn’t need to stress about charging the Colorsoft as a result of like different Kindles, its battery lasts a comparatively very long time in comparison with different on a regular basis electronics. 

One small however welcome enchancment on the brand new Colorsoft is the repositioned energy button. On the earlier era, it was on the underside of the machine subsequent to the charging port, making it straightforward to unintentionally press it when dealing with the Kindle. On the brand new mannequin, Amazon has moved it to the top-right edge, the place it’s much less prone to get in the best way. I fairly like this variation, and located the brand new location extra intuitive when powering the machine on and off.

I loved the premium really feel of the aluminum again on the Signature Version. Though Amazon supplied a case with my overview unit, I hardly ever used it, and the end held up nicely. Whereas the slimmer design isn’t a significant change, I discovered the brand new Colorsoft fairly snug to carry in comparison with older Kindle units.

For many who take pleasure in studying within the bathtub or by the pool, the Colorsoft is waterproof, so that you don’t have to fret about unintentional splashes or spills damaging the e-reader.

One factor I appreciated in regards to the Colorsoft was how occasionally the display screen wanted to refresh, which was one thing I seen extra usually with the bigger Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. I additionally didn’t expertise any noticeable ghosting, the place textual content from earlier pages lingers on the display screen, which is widespread on some e-readers.

The Signature Version helps a magnetic cowl with built-in page-turn buttons that connects to the pogo pins on the again of the machine, however I can’t converse to this expertise as a result of I didn’t have entry to the case. 

The largest disadvantage of the Colorsoft is its worth. It’s a steep funding for a tool that’s simply used for studying. That stated, if you happen to actually need a colour show, the Colorsoft is unquestionably value contemplating. For everybody else, it’s a pleasant improve, however removed from essential. Many readers could be higher off with the fundamental Kindle or Paperwhite, which begin at $169.99 and $199.99, respectively.