Amazon has introduced a new generation of Kindle e-readers focusing on a thinner design, higher speed and new features.
According to ITNA citing TechSpot, this update includes the Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft models and arrives ahead of the twentieth anniversary of the Kindle’s launch in 2027.
The base Kindle model still has a 6-inch display, but now uses a more integrated design with a flat front and the raised bezel around the display has been removed. The device thickness is 6.8 millimeters and its weight is about 140 grams; that is about one millimeter thinner and 18 grams lighter than the previous generation. Amazon also says page-turning speed on this model is about 30 percent faster.
The base model starts at $150. This version has 16 GB of storage but displays lock-screen ads. The $190 version with 32 GB of storage is ad-free and comes with an aluminum body. Amazon has stated that 80 percent of the aluminum used in the body of this model is recycled.
The Paperwhite and Colorsoft Kindles now also have a 6.8-millimeter thickness and both weigh about 204 grams. These two models remain waterproof and feature adjustable warm lighting. The standard Paperwhite with 16 GB of storage starts at $200, while the Signature Edition with 32 GB of storage and no ads is $250. The Colorsoft starts at $290 for the 16 GB base version and its 32 GB Signature Edition is priced at $320.
In addition to an aluminum body, the Signature models are equipped with an ambient light sensor for automatic brightness adjustment and an accelerometer for automatic screen orientation change. They also support page turning with a double tap.
One of the most attractive changes is the return of physical page-turn buttons. The Signature models are equipped with pogo pin connectors that allow them to attach to a $60 charging dock or an $80 magnetic "Page-Turn Cover." The latter cover adds physical page-turn buttons to the Kindle; a feature many users missed after the Oasis model was discontinued.