Amazon's New Kindle Colorsoft: A Color E-Reader With a Premium Price
Amazon's refreshed Kindle lineup includes the new Colorsoft color e-reader, priced from $290. A TechCrunch reviewer calls it a good pick for color fans, though many readers would do better with cheaper models.
Amazon has recently unveiled a refreshed lineup of its Kindle e-readers, consisting of a new basic Kindle, a Paperwhite and a Colorsoft. The Colorsoft is the model with a color E-Ink screen, and in the US its price starts at $290. TechCrunch consumer reporter Aisha Malik spent several weeks testing the pricier version, and her verdict is cautiously positive: it is a good choice for anyone who wants a color display, but the price is steep.
Key features
The Colorsoft Signature Edition costs $320. The base model has 16GB of storage, while the Signature Edition offers 32GB. It comes in graphite or a maroon-like Fig finish with an aluminum back. Amazon first brought color to the Kindle range in 2024 with the original Colorsoft. The new device is lighter and thinner than its predecessor and has an edge-to-edge display.
Both generations use a 7-inch color E-Ink display, with 300ppi resolution for black-and-white content and 150ppi for color. For that reason, owners of the first-generation Colorsoft have little reason to upgrade, since the core reading experience is largely unchanged.
Who it suits
Color is most useful for readers of comics, graphic novels and cookbooks, as well as those who highlight passages in different colors. The reviewer notes that the colors are fairly muted and less vibrant than on an iPad. The color temperature can be shifted to a warmer tone for night reading, and there is an auto-adjusting brightness option.
Amazon says the battery lasts up to eight weeks per charge, against up to 12 weeks for the Paperwhite. The power button has been moved to the top-right edge, making accidental presses less likely. The device is waterproof, and no noticeable ghosting was seen during testing.
Price is the main drawback
The reviewer concludes that most readers would be better served by the basic Kindle or the Paperwhite, which start at $169.99 and $199.99 respectively.
