Which New Kindle Is Best for You?
After about three years , Amazon finally has a new line of Kindles . This time we have just four models, starting with the basic Kindle at $110 and ending with the Kindle Scribe at $400. And in the middle we finally have a model with a color e-ink screen. Some of these devices are already on sale, but Scribe will have to wait a little longer.
But the question is, which model is right for you? The Kindle is available to everyone, ranging from $100 to $400, and keeping track of models can be difficult, especially now that Amazon also has premium Signature Editions. Here’s your guide to all the Amazon Kindle models released in 2024 and how to choose the best one for you.
The basic Kindle is getting closer to the Paperwhite
The latest Kindle comes in a new Matcha Green color and has a $10 price increase, now starting at $110. The Kindle retains the previous generation’s 6-inch, 300 ppi E Ink display. With an updated processor, Amazon promises faster page turns and a front-light that’s 25% brighter at maximum settings, making it as bright as the Kindle Paperwhite. This Kindle offers the same 6-week battery life as the previous generation.
Paperwhite – for bookworms
The Paperwhite gets a more significant upgrade with a redesigned body that results in slightly smaller bezels. The screen is now completely flush with the bezel, giving it the appearance of a tablet.
The screen now has a diagonal of 7 inches instead of 6.8 inches like the previous model. It’s also 25% faster and, according to Amazon, it’s the fastest Kindle.
The Kindle Paperwhite now features a thin-film oxide transistor display that offers the highest contrast ratio of any Kindle. This should make black text really pop on the screen. The headlight system now features 10 white and 9 amber LEDs. The Signature Edition features an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts brightness based on your surroundings (just like a smartphone).
Speaking of the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition , it comes with 32GB of internal storage instead of 16GB in the standard model and has the option of a wireless charging dock. Additionally, it is available in three exclusive colors: Metallic Raspberry, Jade Metallic and Metallic Black. Instead, the regular Kindle Paperwhite is available in Raspberry, Jade, and Black.
As with the base Kindle, the price has increased by $10. The Paperwhite starts at $159.99, and the Signature version costs $199.99.
Kindle Colorsoft is finally bringing color to Kindle
Amazon finally has a brand new type of Kindle. It’s called the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition and is based on the new Paperwhite. The big difference, however, is the new E Ink color display.
The color screen is designed for viewing the covers of books, graphic novels and some manga. The book reading experience is still black and white, but you can highlight it with multiple colors (like the Kindle app for smartphones and tablets).
The E-ink display is based on Kaleido’s E Ink technology, but uses an entirely new display stack designed for Kindles. A newly developed oxide backplate with a custom waveform provides high performance and high contrast for both black and white and color content. The display also features specially designed nitride LEDs that enhance color and increase brightness, supposedly without washing out details. Black and white content is still rendered at 300 PPI like the Paperwhite, but switching to color drops the resolution to 150 PPI.
The Kindle Colorsoft features wireless charging, eight weeks of battery life (compared to three months for the regular Paperwhite), and is waterproof. Kindle Colorsoft starts at $289.99.
Kindle Scribe becomes artificial intelligence
Kindle Scribe 2nd Generation is a slight upgrade over the previous Kindle Scribe. The large 10.2-inch black-and-white E Ink display with a pixel density of 300 ppi remains the same. But now the device has white frames. The screen also now has a paper-like finish, and the screen is flush with the bezel.
The main feature here is the AI. You can’t mark up books or PDFs yet, but Scribe has a new feature that lets you highlight or annotate pages and attach handwritten notes, which are then saved in the margins. The Kindle’s AI can also help you summarize a couple of pages of handwritten notes. Finally, a new feature will help you clean up your handwritten notes, making them more legible.
The new Kindle Scribe will cost $399, which is $20 more than the previous model, and won’t go on sale until December 2024. Amazon will also add these AI features to the older Scribe model.
Which Kindle is right for you?
For the vast majority of users, the Kindle Paperwhite is still the best option. It now has the fastest screen on any Kindle, high contrast, and adjustable warm lighting.
The $199 Kindle Paperwhite Signature version may not be worth the extra $40, although it does have extra bells and whistles like improved LEDs, ambient lighting, and metallic colors.
Kindle Colorsoft is a great choice for graphic novel and manga lovers. The quick screen should make illustrated stories easier to read. However, competition is cheaper. You can purchase the Kobo Libra Color for $220 on Amazon.
Kindle Scribe is best for people who actually want to annotate and take notes in their eBooks.
The basic Kindle is a good option if you’re on a budget. The $110 Kindle is very close to the Paperwhite, but it lacks key features like a flush-mounted design, adjustable warm light, water resistance, and a new performance upgrade.