Amazon updates Kindle Colorsoft for 2026 with thinner design and edge-to-edge color
Amazon’s 2026 Kindle Colorsoft adds edge-to-edge color and a thinner design, but color still cuts battery life.
The 2026 Colorsoft is 6.8mm thick and weighs 204g in its standard version, compared with 7.8mm and 211g for the 2024 model, TechRadar reported. The Signature edition is also thinner at 6.8mm but heavier than before at 229g, up from 219g. Amazon moved the power button to the upper right edge to reduce accidental presses and added a new Fig colorway for adult models; the Kids version gets new cover options.
Like the Paperwhite, the Colorsoft has a 7-inch glare-free display, IPX8 waterproofing and adjustable warm or cool backlighting. It offers 300 ppi for black-and-white content and 150 ppi for color. The standard model has 16GB of storage, while the Signature edition doubles that to 32GB, adds an aluminum back, automatic brightness adjustment and wireless charging. Both are rated for up to eight weeks of battery life. The Kids version connects to a Parent Dashboard and includes a 12-month Amazon Kids+ subscription.
Most of the 2024 range remains available, but TechRadar reported that the older models are not cheaper than their 2026 equivalents. Amazon has raised prices on the 2024 models to match the new range’s higher list price, leaving no real reason to choose the older version, the report said.
TechRadar said the Colorsoft is best suited to readers of graphic novels, manga and image-heavy books. It estimated that the standard model can hold about 30 to 50 graphic novels, depending on file size, while the Signature edition can store 60 to 100. Color-coded highlights are another use. Readers who mainly read text-based books can save money and get longer runtimes with the black-and-white Paperwhite, and the Colorsoft does not support a stylus for note-taking.