On Thursday, the company introduced a handful of new Kindle models: a new 6-inch base Kindle, a 7-inch Kindle Paperwhite, and a 7-inch Kindle Colorsoft. You can buy Signature Editions of the latter two and Kids versions of the entire range, which include artist-designed kids cases, a year of Amazon's worry-free guarantee for damage, and a year of Kids+, the company's subscription service that offers unlimited access to ad-free, child-appropriate books. The highlight is Amazon's use of aluminum for the Kindle's construction rather than traditional plastic.
The starting tier is plastic, but you can upgrade to an all-aluminum model (Amazon uses 80 percent recycled aluminum) if you prefer that Kindle model and you just want something more robust. It can get a little confusing with all the different SKUs, so here's a quick rundown: Kindle (plastic, 16 GB, lock screen ads): $150 Kindle (aluminum, 32 GB, no ads): $190 Kindle Paperwhite (plastic, 16 GB, lock screen ads): $200 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (aluminum, 32 GB, no ads): $250 Kindle Colorsoft (plastic, 16 GB): $290 Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (aluminum, 32 GB): $320 Kids Kindle (available for every model): $180+ Lighter and Premium The base Kindle, the aluminum version, and the Kids Kindle are on sale starting today. The Paperwhite and Colorsoft are available for preorder on a rolling basis and will launch at the end of October.
The base Kindle's screen offers 30 percent faster page turns than its predecessor, Amazon says. The build is a whole millimeter thinner at 6.8 mm, and Amazon cut the weight by around 18 grams to 140 grams. The Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft are both similarly lighter (204 grams) and thinner (6.8 mm), retain the waterproof design, and feature adjustable warm reading lights.
The screen refreshes 30 percent faster than the base Kindle, and the screen has a higher pixel density that makes text appear sharper. Amazon says the new Kindles are also compliant with the European Union’s new battery regulations, meaning they should be easier to remove and replace. Upgrading to the Signature Edition for both nets you the aluminum build, an ambient light sensor that adjusts brightness automatically, an accelerometer that lets you turn the screen to landscape orientation and have the pages adjust accordingly.
The upgrade also adds the ability to use a double-tap gesture to turn pages. Uniquely, the Signature Editions feature pogo pins that let you charge via Amazon's new $60 dock, which props the device up as it charges. There's also a new Page-Turn Cover ($80)—a case with physical page-turn buttons that magnetically attaches to the back of the devices and pairs via the pogo pins, which Amazon says offers page-turn buttons to the vocal minority that still loves them (around 5 percent of Kindle users) without adding unnecessary bulk to the device.
Don't worry, you don't need the case, the Signature Edition, or even a new Kindle if you just want page-turn buttons. Amazon is debuting its own Kindle Click, a $35 page-turn accessory that pairs over Bluetooth for the non-Signature (and older) Kindle models. Kindle Ablaze The Kindle business is booming.
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