If the onslaught of puny e-readers hasn’t enticed you yet, Amazon’s hoping one of its new Kindle e-readers might do the trick. After the entry-level Kindle leaked earlier this week, the retail giant confirmed its existence today alongside two other readers. Those would be the Kindle Paperwhite (2026) and Kindle Colorsoft (2026).
These are, unsurprisingly, the most competent e-readers Amazon has released in their respective categories. All three of ’em feature flush displays, ditching the recessed look of old. Amazon reckons the basic Kindle is the most “pocket-sized” reader it’s released yet at 6in, though it doesn’t really differ from the 2024 model we reviewed.
Kindle (2026)
The cheapest of the new Kindles was the most deserving of a refresh. Amazon has obliged, delivering a thinner and lighter e-reader that happens to look pretty damn good. This model still has an entirely plastic rear, but an aluminium option is also available — a first for the entry-level reader. You’ll be expected to cough up a hefty premium to get it, though. It and the rest of the Kindle family also introduce edge-to-edge colour, another first.
Possibly our biggest grievance with the 2024 model was the lack of waterproofing, and Amazon hasn’t corrected that here. It has at least promised a 30% speed increase when opening books, on top of the six weeks of battery life. The plastic model only packs in 16GB worth of books, while the aluminium model doubles that figure. Oh, and the power button has been moved to the side — not the top, as the leaks indicated. It’s better than nothing.
The plastic e-reader starts at $150 overseas, converting roughly to R2,500. The premium aluminium model costs $190, or R3,170. That’s a far cry from the $110 starting price we saw when the 2024 model got off the ground.
Kindle Paperwhite (2026)
The 2026 Kindle Paperwhite has also received a redesign, with Amazon claiming it’s thinner and lighter than the last. You’ll notice the power button has also been repositioned to the e-reader’s right-hand side. The 7in flush display is also the largest ever attached to the Paperwhite, and features an oxide-thin-film transistor backplane.
The IPX8 rating has stuck around, meaning it’ll survive a plunge in the bathwater. Adjustable warm light is another promised feature, as is the twelve weeks of battery life off a single charge. Amazon’s selling two models too. The first is a plastic affair with only 16GB capacity, while the aluminium body offers 32GB of storage.
These won’t come cheap. Even the plastic Paperwhite starts at around R3,330 ($200), while the Signature Edition goes up to R4,170 ($250). You’re also paying for auto-adjusting front light and pogo pin dock charging.
Kindle Colorsoft (2026)
Finally, there’s the Kindle Colorsoft. Like the rest of the Kindle family, the Colorsoft now reps a similar redesign. The 7in display is the only one in the line-up to offer colour, which makes comics bearable on Amazon’s handheld e-reader. It’s got an IPX8 rating, adjustable warm light, and up to eight weeks of juice on a single charge.
“Our latest Kindle Colorsoft has a completely redesigned display, using the reverse printing technology we applied across the lineup for edge-to-edge color. The light guide contains micro-deflectors that minimize stray light and improve uniformity, and an ultra-thin optical coating in the display stack improves clarity.”
Once again, Amazon has released two models — one wrapped up in plastic, and another covered in aluminium. The cheaper of the two (plastic) features a $290 (∼R4,830) starting price, with only 16GB of storage. The Signature Edition (aluminium) reaches as high as $320 (∼R5,380) and also doubles the storage. All three models are available for pre-order overseas. There’s no word on a South African launch, but we’re confident they’ll turn up eventually.
