Amazon unveils this year's colorful Kindle upgrades

Amazon may have introduced shoppers to the idea of e-readers for the first time with its Kindle series, but by 2026 it’s hardly the only game in town, and the market now enjoys plenty of healthy competition, complete with some interesting new device types. Still, Amazon’s not ceding ground without a fight, and earlier this week we got a preview of where the next-gen Kindle lineup could be headed. Today, that new hardware finally starts going official.

All told, Amazon is announcing a compact new edition of its six-inch Kindle, new Kindle Colorsoft, new Kindle Paperwhite, and a complete lineup of accessories, including the Kindle Click remote.

While six-inch Kindles have been around since the beginning, Amazon keeps finding ways to make them smaller and more capable, and this latest model only continues that trend. Besides being the company’s lightest yet, it’s also 30% faster at starting up than last generation. But maybe the most eye-catching thing this year is the expansive use of color. The 16GB model is available in both Ube and Graphite, priced at about $150.

Then there’s also a 32GB model with a slightly more premium-feeling aluminum back. That one’s being released in Alpine Sky and Seaglass Green for right around $180.

If you’re looking for a larger screen, Paperwhite’s the way to go. The seven-inch model is thinner and lighter this time around, while offering an extra-high-contrast screen and waterproof build. The 16GB version comes in Graphite and sells for $200, while the 32GB Signature Edition adds Seaglass Green as an option and offers an aluminum back for $250.

Read more than just books? If a color screen is what you need to get the most out of the media you consume, consider the upgraded Kindle Colorsoft. The year Amazon’s been working hard to improve display quality, minimizing stray light and optimizing contrast. The 16GB model comes in Graphite and sells for $290. The 32GB Signature Edition — you guessed it — is built with aluminum. Amazon also throws in a few other upgrades, like charging dock support and an auto-adjusting front light. This one adds a Fig color option and goes for $320.

All three updated Kindles are also available in Kids editions featuring colorful book-style cases.

Amazon’s new accessories include the usual assortment of covers, as well as charging dock for the Paperwhite Colorsoft Signature Editions, but the biggest thing here has got to be the Kindle Click remote. We’ve been seeing e-reader remotes really take off in recent years, and now Amazon is getting in on the action, too. The Bluetooth-based remote is designed to let you easily flip through pages, and supports Kindles from 2024 on up. It’s yours for right around $35.