Amazon's refreshed Kindle Colorsoft goes lighter and thinner at a premium $290 price

Amazon updates its Kindle family

Amazon has refreshed its e-reader range, introducing a new entry-level Kindle, a new Paperwhite and a second-generation Colorsoft. According to TechCrunch, which spent several weeks with the top-spec Colorsoft Signature Edition, the new Colorsoft starts at $290, with the Signature Edition priced at $320. That places it well above the basic Kindle at $169.99 and the Paperwhite at $199.99.

What changed on the Colorsoft

The standard model ships with 16GB of storage, while the Signature Edition carries 32GB and is offered in graphite or a Fig finish that reads as maroon, paired with an aluminum back. Amazon first brought color E Ink to the Kindle line in 2024 with the original Colorsoft, and TechCrunch reports that the new model is lighter and thinner than its predecessor and now features an edge-to-edge display.

For anyone who already owns the first-generation device, the reviewer sees little reason to upgrade, since the core reading experience is largely the same. Both generations use a 7-inch color E Ink panel that renders black-and-white content at 300ppi and color content at 150ppi.

Display and everyday use

The Colorsoft's main distinction is color itself. Book covers appear with their original hues, and the device is particularly appealing for comics, graphic novels and cookbooks, as well as for readers who highlight passages in different colors. TechCrunch cautions that the palette remains muted compared with a tablet like an iPad, though it still makes a noticeable difference against the monochrome screens of standard Kindles.

The screen's color temperature can be shifted toward a warmer, yellow-toned look for nighttime reading, and an auto-adjusting brightness option is available. The device is also waterproof, so splashes by the pool or bath are not a concern.

Two small refinements stand out in daily use. The power button, which previously sat on the bottom edge next to the charging port and was easy to press by accident, has moved to the top-right edge, a placement the reviewer found more intuitive. Screen performance also impressed: full refreshes are needed less frequently, and TechCrunch observed no noticeable ghosting, the effect where text from earlier pages lingers on the display.

The aluminum back on the Signature Edition gave the device a premium feel that held up even when used without a case, and the slimmer body made it comfortable to hold for long sessions.

Battery and accessories

Amazon rates the new Colorsoft at up to eight weeks of battery life per charge, shorter than the up-to-twelve-week claim for the Paperwhite. In practice, the reviewer found battery life was not a concern during testing, in line with other Kindles.

The Signature Edition supports a magnetic cover with built-in page-turn buttons that attaches to pogo pins on the back of the device, though TechCrunch could not evaluate this accessory because the case was not provided with the review unit.

Why it matters

The second-generation Colorsoft shows both the promise and the limits of color E Ink in mainstream consumer hardware. Color genuinely changes the experience for comics, illustrated books and color-coded highlighting, and Amazon has addressed real annoyances like the misplaced power button and frequent refreshes. But at $290 to $320, the Colorsoft costs roughly double the Paperwhite while delivering what TechCrunch describes as essentially the same core reading experience, and one generation in, the upgrades are largely incremental: a slimmer body, more storage and a redesigned chassis. The review's verdict lands on a clear split: buyers who specifically want color on an e-reader have a compelling option, while most readers will be better served by the cheaper Kindle or Paperwhite.