I revisited the Kindle Colorsoft, and I can't wait to go back to my Kindle Paperwhite

For the last couple of years, I’ve been reading on the Kindle Paperwhite (2024) every day, and have really enjoyed it. It has reignited my love for books, and if I didn’t own it, I probably wouldn’t be reading much at all. It’s so convenient, takes up no space, and is very low maintenance for a mobile device.

Then, when looking through some devices I wanted to revisit, I found the Kindle Colorsoft. I wasn’t all that taken with it when I originally reviewed it, and went back to the Paperwhite soon after finishing with it. It’s where I’ve remained ever since.

I wondered, having now spent so much time with the Paperwhite, whether my feelings about the Colorsoft had changed. I returned to it to find out.

What I love about the Kindle Paperwhite

The Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle e-reader in general are among my favorite pieces of tech. Unlike a phone, smartwatch, or a laptop, it serves one purpose. You read on it, and quite often it’s done when you’re relaxing. It doesn’t show emails, doesn’t access social media, and only needs charging every few months. It’s distraction-free, and in my experience, never a burden in any way.

The Paperwhite’s glare-free 7-inch screen has a dark mode and adjustable warmth, along with a considerable range of brightness, allowing you to really dial it in. It doesn’t have automatic brightness adjustment, but I’ve found that after I set the brightness to level seven, I have never needed to change it. It’s fine for daylight and low light.

Performance is excellent, and buying books from Amazon is obviously seamless. Provided you’re on board with using Amazon’s Kindle bookstore, it’s incredibly easy to buy and start reading. I’ve often finished a book and still wanted to read more, and it takes a minute or two to locate the next in a series, purchase it, and download it onto the Paperwhite. It’s incredibly convenient.

My only real criticism is the body’s durability. My Paperwhite primarily lives at home but sometimes accompanies me on travels, yet the back is covered in scuffs and scratches, and the previously matte finish has been worn away to a shine. It doesn’t affect its operation or how it feels in your hand, and it’s nothing a case wouldn’t have prevented.

What has the Kindle Colorsoft been like?

The Kindle Colorsoft looks and feels almost identical to the Paperwhite. The screen is the same size, but is color rather than monochrome. If that were the only difference, I’d be quite happy continuing to use the Colorsoft, but there are odd differences that will soon have me returning to the Paperwhite.

Set at level seven brightness and in light mode, the Colorsoft’s screen appears dull and lifeless next to the Paperwhite’s crisp, white screen. Increasing the brightness improves it slightly, but it takes on a cool, daylight tone when you crank it up, making the Paperwhite’s screen appear warmer and more pleasant to look at for long periods. It’s worth saying I only read books and not comics, so the color screen only gets a workout when I read a magazine.

Oddly, I also prefer the way the text is formatted on the Paperwhite’s screen. It doesn’t show more words on a line or page, but I find it easier to get the font size exactly right. It may be a case of me being used to the Paperwhite, but it could also be due to the Colorsoft’s less-sharp text. It’s most noticeable when the pair are side by side, but when you compare the two directly, it’s the Paperwhite I expect you’ll prefer.

The Kindle Colorsoft isn’t a bad product, and if you do read a lot of comics or color media, you may prefer it. However, I don’t find the small 7-inch screen all that good for magazines, and I’m sure a tablet like the new Alexa Tablet 11 would work better. The new Alexa Tablets even have a Kindle Mode to make reading books more comfortable.

The Kindle Paperwhite is still the e-reader for me

After less than a week reading on the Kindle Colorsoft, I’m ready to go back to the Paperwhite. It’s disappointing to find the reasons I wasn’t a fan when I reviewed it at the end of 2024 still remain, and continue to make the Paperwhite not only my preference, but the Kindle I recommend to people when asked.

The sharp text, warm screen, long battery life, and convenience of the Kindle bookstore, plus the way I prefer the books’ formatting on its screen, mean I would choose it over the Colorsoft every time.

The Colorsoft’s color screen gives the eReader a modern sheen that’s missing from the simple Paperwhite, though I know that if it matched the Paperwhite in the ways mentioned above, I’d use it instead. There are times when the color screen looks fantastic, whether it’s reading a magazine or simply seeing the lock screen wallpaper. Both share the same wonderful tactility and neat size too.

Wait, don’t buy one today

I’ll be back to reading on the Paperwhite very soon, and if you’re thinking of buying one for the first time, or upgrading from an old model, it’s the sweet spot in Amazon’s current Kindle range. The more expensive Signature Edition has more storage, wireless charging, and auto-brightness, but I don’t think they add much to the act of reading on the Paperwhite, which is why you’ll buy one in the first place.

Tempted? I don’t blame you. The Kindle is one of my favorite pieces of tech for a reason: it promotes relaxation and quiet, unlike every other connected device I own. However, if you’re reading this at the beginning of November, don’t go out and buy one today. Black Friday 2026 is rapidly approaching, and Amazon regularly reduces the price of its Kindle e-readers for major sale events.

If you’re shopping for a new Kindle e-reader, you’ll almost certainly get a better deal if you wait. If you’re wondering whether the Paperwhite or Colorsoft is the right one for you, unless you really intend to make use of the color screen on a very regular basis, the Paperwhite is my recommendation. I intend to use mine for many years to come.