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TechRadar Publishes Quordle, NYT Connections and Strands Answers for October 16Withings to Charge New Users $100 a Year for Apple Health SyncValve Adds 'Achievement Sets' to Steam, Splitting Base Game and DLC ProgressRamp Raises $1.85B in Dragoneer-Led Series G at $60B ValuationOpenAI Adds Open-Tab Awareness to ChatGPT Chrome ExtensionProofpoint Agrees to Buy Varonis Systems for $6.3 Billion in Cash
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Amazon refreshes Kindle Paperwhite for 2026 with thinner design and new color

Amazon's 2026 Kindle Paperwhite is thinner and lighter and adds a new color, but older models remain at the same price.

AI News Feed · 2026-10-16 08:59

TechRadar reported that the 2026 Paperwhite measures 6.8mm thick and weighs 204g, compared with 7.8mm and 211g for the 2024 version. The power button now sits at the top right rather than at the base, where it was easy to press accidentally. The new Seaglass Green color is available only on Signature models; standard Paperwhites come only in graphite.

The Paperwhite is the model TechRadar would probably recommend to most readers. It costs more than the classic 6-inch Kindle, but the larger screen, waterproofing and adjustable backlight color temperature make the extra spending worthwhile for many people, the publication said. More expensive Kindles offer additional features, but those are described as more niche and unnecessary for many readers.

In the US lineup, Amazon also offers Signature versions of the Paperwhite. The Signature model has double the storage of the standard Paperwhite, at 32GB versus 16GB, and includes sensors that automatically adjust backlight brightness to the environment. Brightness on the standard Paperwhite must be adjusted manually. TechRadar noted that 16GB is enough for around 6,000 books, so the storage difference will not matter to the average reader. Graphic novels take up more space, but readers who prioritize them should consider the Colorsoft, which has a color display, rather than a Paperwhite.

Amazon still sells a number of 2024 Paperwhite e-readers, but TechRadar said shoppers hoping for a discount will be disappointed because they are priced the same as their 2026 equivalents. Amazon also raised prices on its 2024 lineup around the time it released the new range, meaning most 2024 models now cost more than they did a few months earlier. TechRadar sees no real reason to choose a 2024 model unless a buyer is in the US and particularly likes one of the previous colorways.

For readers who mainly want text-based novels, the Paperwhite's lack of a color option is not a drawback, according to the report. The 7-inch screen is a significant step up from the 6-inch base Kindle, and IPX8 waterproofing means the device can survive being submerged in up to 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes, making it suitable for reading in a bathtub or by a pool. The warm backlight setting can be more soothing for reading before sleep, while the classic Kindle only offers a cool-toned white backlight. On Signature Paperwhites, the display also dims or brightens automatically.

TechRadar advised against buying a Paperwhite for graphic novels, for which the Colorsoft is a better fit, or for note-taking, which requires a Scribe model. Readers who want the smallest and lightest Kindle should choose the classic Kindle instead.