With all the fuss being made about pint-sized e-readers in recent months, we had hoped Amazon’s Kindle line would follow suit. That hasn’t happened (yet), after images of the company’s upcoming e-reader leaked, courtesy of WinFuture. That would be the 12th-gen Kindle, the retail giant’s basic model — and not the Paperwhite.
Amazon needs to get with the times
As anyone familiar with the Kindle line might’ve expected, not much has changed here. At least on the outside. This 12th-gen model retains the same basic size that the 2024 model had — meaning a 6in e-ink display. The corners here do appear more rounded than its sibling, and the power button has finally been moved to the top.
The actual specs of the screen haven’t yet been revealed, though we don’t envision much of an upgrade over the 300ppi display currently in use. Interestingly, this model may ship in two versions. One with a display that sits flush with the rest of the device, and one where the display is recessed. It’s unclear which would cost more.
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We could see customers paying a premium to get hold of the slightly cleaner flush display, though many likely won’t care either way. More important to buyers is the new selection of colours. WinFuture claims this e-reader will ship in four colours: black, green, purple, and light blue. South Africa’s models may not be quite as flexible.
Also on the cards is a new Kindle for Kids. No major changes are expected here, other than a new kid-friendly cover. There’s no telling when Amazon will release the 12th-gen reader, though if images are already circulating, it can’t be too far off. We’re still keeping our fingers crossed for a Mini Kindle or something along those lines.
