Tech
All you need to know about Amazon’s brand-new lineup of Kindle devices
We’ve been wondering when Amazon would next update each of its Kindle models, given that it last launched an entry-level Kindle in 2022 and a Kindle Paperwhite in 2021. Well, it turns out that the answer is now, as the brand has just unveiled its fully revamped Kindle range with a new entry-level model, new models for kids, a new Kindle Scribe and, for the first time, a Kindle with a colour display, the Kindle Colorsoft.
Here’s what you need to know about each of the new models:
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition
This update wasn’t unexpected, but it’s still welcome news to see Kindle join its rivals Kobo and reMarkable by offering a variant of the Kindle with a colour display.
The all-new Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is a premium ereader with a 7-inch display and 32GB of storage space for thousands of books and audiobooks. It has a detailed and high-contrast display, an automatically adjusting front light and weeks of battery life, much like other Kindles.
Of course, what sets it apart is the colour screen, ideal for viewing book covers, illustrations, travel guides and graphic novels. It also supports highlighting in multiple colours.
The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is available to pre-order now, starting at £269.99. It will be released on 30 October.
Amazon Kindle (2024)
The newest entry-level Kindle for 2024 remains the smallest and lightest model in the range, weighing only 158g (the same weight as the previous compact Kindle). It now comes in a new “Matcha” colour, to go along with a basic “Black” shade.
The Kindle has 16GB of storage (still enough for thousands of books) and a glare-free 6-inch display that gets 25% brighter than it did on the previous version. It offers faster page turns, a higher contrast ratio and up to six weeks of battery life.
Unlike the Paperwhite, though, this version doesn’t have waterproofing. The extra brightness and speed do make it something of a mini version of the Paperwhite, but the more expensive model still adds waterproofing (an essential if you like to read in the bath) and a lot more battery life.
There’s also a refreshed version of the Kindle Kids to bring these upgraded features to a more child-friendly model. It has the same improved contrast, faster page turns and brighter screen, in addition to an included cover, a two-year worry-free guarantee and six months of free Amazon Kids Plus.
The new Kindle costs £94.99 while the new Kindle Kids costs £114.99 – both models are available to buy right away.
Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024)
The previous-generation Kindle Scribe was the best Kindle for notetakers, and the updated version takes its capabilities further by allowing you to write directly on books and documents rather than only in a popup that you need to tap to access. This should help solve one of our only criticisms of the biggest Kindle and will make it even more competitive with the Kobo Elipsa 2E.
It has a detailed and high-contrast 10.2-inch glare-free screen and a backlight optimised for use in indoor or outdoor conditions. It has white borders around the display to help it feel more like writing on paper and is available with the new “Premium Pen”, which has a soft-tipped eraser for if you make a mistake while jotting down notes. It comes in either 16GB, 32GB or 64GB storage sizes and costs £379.99 – it’s available to order now but not released until 4 December.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024)
The all-new Kindle Paperwhite is made to be the fastest yet, offering 25% faster page turns and the highest contrast ratio of any Kindle Paperwhite.
As with the previous version it is waterproof and has 16GB of storage, but it also now has a new 7-inch display while also being the thinnest Kindle Paperwhite ever. Amazon says it also delivers up to three months of battery life, which is some of the best longevity ever in a Kindle model.
It starts at £159.99 and comes in “Raspberry”, “Jade”, and “Black” colours, and there’s also a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (for £189.99), which comes with 32GB of storage. The “Signature” version has wireless charging support too.
Lastly, there’s a new Kindle Paperwhite Kids, which starts at £169.99, and this model has the same included cover, a two-year guarantee and the free six months of Amazon Kids Plus.
Both the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Paperwhite Kids are available to order now.
Simon Cocks is Hearst UK’s Technology Ecommerce Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy across a range of titles including Good Housekeeping UK, Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, ebook readers and smartphones. He’s reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and money-saving advice guides and edited thousands of in-depth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.You can follow Simon on Instagram at @simonrcocks, on Threads at @simonrcocks, and on Twitter/X at @simoncocks.