Amazon has unveiled a new generation of its Kindle e-readers, encompassing the basic Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Color. All models feature thinner and lighter casings, screens that are flush with the front, and new colours, with some variants featuring an aluminium back for the first time.
Amazon uses a new layer arrangement, meaning there is no longer a gap between the screen and its frame, so the front is completely flat. The casing colour extends all the way to the screen edges. Available shades include Ube (purple), Graphite (graphite grey), Alpine Sky (light blue), Seaglass Green (light green) and Fig (dark red), depending on the Kindle model.
The new basic Kindle retains a 6-inch e-ink screen, but has become thinner and lighter, with Amazon describing it as its most compact Kindle to date. Opening a book should take around 30 percent less time than the previous generation, while the battery, according to the manufacturer, allows for up to six weeks of use. The standard version comes with 16 GB of internal memory and is available in Ube and Graphite colours, priced at 154.99 euros on the German Amazon. The more expensive variant features an aluminium back made from 80 percent recycled aluminium, 32 GB of memory, is available in Alpine Sky and Seaglass Green, and is priced at 194.99 euros. Amazon has also moved the power button, which is now located on the right edge of the device, rather than the bottom as in previous models.
The Kindle Paperwhite retains a 7-inch screen, but comes in a thinner and lighter casing. Amazon states that the new screen uses an oxide-TFT backplane, providing the highest contrast ratio seen on a Paperwhite to date. The device remains water-resistant, features adjustable front lighting, and the battery should last up to 12 weeks. The standard Paperwhite has 16 GB of memory and is priced at 209 euros on the German Amazon. The Paperwhite Signature Edition raises the capacity to 32 GB, adds an aluminium back, automatic front-light adjustment, and a two-finger tap to turn pages, with a price of 259.99 euros.
The Kindle Color is aimed at users who wish to display content in colour. Amazon has redesigned the screen structure for the new generation, using a waveguide with nitride LEDs and micro-deflectors, which should reduce light scattering and provide more even illumination. The new optical layer on the screen should further improve text sharpness. The basic Kindle Color has 16 GB of internal memory and costs 299.99 euros in Germany, while the Color Signature Edition features an aluminium casing, 32 GB of memory, automatic light adjustment, support for two-finger page turns, and pogo-pin contacts for charging. It is available in Graphite and Fig colours, priced at 329.99 euros.
Alongside the e-readers, Amazon has introduced several new accessories. The Kindle Click is a small Bluetooth remote control that allows page turning without touching the Kindle itself; it is compatible with the new devices as well as Kindle models released in 2024 or later, and is priced at 34.99 euros in Germany. The magnetic Page-Turn Cover, featuring physical buttons for page turning, costs 79.99 euros and is designed for the Signature Edition variants of the Paperwhite and Color, while the charging station, which uses pogo-pin contacts, costs 54.99 euros.
