Kindle Colorsoft returns lighter and thinner at a higher price

Amazon unveils the refreshed Colorsoft

Amazon has announced a refreshed Kindle lineup that includes a new basic Kindle, Paperwhite and Colorsoft. The second-generation Kindle Colorsoft starts at $290 with 16GB of storage, while the Signature Edition costs $320 and doubles the storage to 32GB.

According to TechCrunch, which spent several weeks testing the Signature Edition, the new model is lighter and thinner than the original and features an edge-to-edge display. The Signature Edition comes with an aluminium back in graphite or a maroon-like Fig finish.

Amazon first added colour to its e-readers in 2024 with the launch of the original Colorsoft. Despite the revised design, the core hardware has changed little between generations.

What is new in the design

The most noticeable change is the power button. On the previous generation it sat on the bottom edge next to the charging port, where readers could press it by accident. Amazon has now moved it to the top-right edge, a placement the TechCrunch reviewer found more intuitive.

The slimmer body also makes the device comfortable to hold, and the aluminium back of the Signature Edition held up well without a case during testing. The device remains waterproof, so it can cope with splashes near a bath or pool.

The Signature Edition also works with a magnetic cover that has page-turn buttons of its own. The cover attaches through pins on the back of the device, although the reviewer was not able to try this accessory.

Reading on a colour E-Ink screen

Both generations of the Colorsoft use a 7-inch colour E-Ink display, a screen technology that mimics ink on paper. The screen shows black-and-white content at 300ppi and colour content at 150ppi, matching the first model.

The colour display is aimed at readers of comics, graphic novels and cookbooks, where colour matters. It also lets readers highlight passages in different colours. The screen supports adjustable colour temperature for a warmer tone at night, plus automatic brightness.

TechCrunch notes that colours on the device are muted compared with an iPad, and the panel does not fully match the vibrancy of a tablet. Still, the reviewer saw few screen refreshes and no noticeable ghosting, the faint leftover text that can appear on some e-readers.

Battery life and performance

Amazon says the Colorsoft can run for up to eight weeks on a single charge. That figure falls short of the Paperwhite, which the company says lasts up to 12 weeks.

In practice, the reviewer did not worry much about charging, since e-readers generally consume far less power than phones or tablets. Battery endurance has long been one of the main advantages of E-Ink devices over tablets for reading.

Price remains the main obstacle

The biggest drawback, according to TechCrunch, is the cost. At $290 for the base model and $320 for the Signature Edition, the Colorsoft is a steep investment for a device dedicated to reading.

For comparison, the new basic Kindle starts at $169.99 and the Paperwhite at $199.99. Both of those models use black-and-white screens, which suit most books well.

The verdict is straightforward. Readers who already own the first-generation Colorsoft have little reason to upgrade, as the core reading experience is largely the same. Those who have been waiting for a colour e-reader may find the new model appealing, provided they accept the price. Most other readers would be better served by a basic Kindle or a Paperwhite.