Amazon updates Kindle lineup with thinner designs and new color options

Amazon has introduced a redesigned family of e-readers, updating the base Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Colorsoft with thinner profiles and a new flush-front display construction. The company has moved away from the raised bezels found on previous entry-level models, opting for an edge-to-edge screen design across the entire lineup. These devices are now 6.8 mm thick, with the base Kindle weighing 140 grams.

The entry-level 6-inch Kindle is available starting today, featuring 16GB of storage and a 30 percent faster book-opening speed compared to its predecessor. It is offered in Ube and Graphite, with a 32GB aluminum-backed version also available in Alpine Sky and Seaglass Green. Amazon claims the base model provides up to six weeks of battery life on a single charge.

The new 7-inch Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft are available for preorder on a rolling basis, with a launch scheduled for late October. The Paperwhite includes a waterproof design, adjustable warm light, and up to 12 weeks of battery life. The Kindle Colorsoft utilizes new display technology designed to provide paper-like color, incorporating a light guide with nitride LEDs and micro-deflectors to improve uniformity and clarity.

Signature Editions for the Paperwhite and Colorsoft models introduce premium features, including aluminum housings, 32GB of storage, auto-adjusting front lights, and pogo pin connectors for dock charging. These versions also support a double-tap gesture for turning pages. Amazon is also releasing new accessories, such as the $35 Kindle Click Bluetooth remote, a $60 charging dock, and a $80 magnetic Page-Turn cover that adds physical buttons to the Paperwhite and Colorsoft.

Amazon’s design team implemented a new manufacturing process for the aluminum models, using a stamping and forging technique rather than traditional milling. To achieve the new colors on flush-front displays without light scattering, the company developed a printing method that layers the chosen color under a black layer to absorb stray light. This technology was previously utilized in the Kindle Scribe.