Introduction
Amazon’s Kindle line-up has dominated the e-reader market for years, but second-place Kobo has seemingly been the one leading on innovation. It was first with a colour e-ink reader, and now Amazon is playing catch-up with the Kindle Colorsoft. Yes, without the “u”, as much as it pains me as a British writer.
The biggest change is obviously the colour display, but the device seems very familiar beyond it. Perhaps almost too familiar given the $280/£270 asking price. Having been turning its virtual pages for a few weeks now, I’m not convinced it stacks up in a world where rivals – and tablets – exist.
Design: we meet again
Kindle Colorsoft Amazon Logo
Kindle Colorsoft Back
Kindle Colorsoft Ports
The Kindle Colorsoft looks, feels, and weighs almost exactly the same as the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite, which is either a comfort or a letdown, depending on how much you value design innovation. At 7.8mm thick and 219g, it’s supremely portable and easy to hold for long reading sessions. The weight distribution is spot-on, so you don’t feel like you’re balancing an awkward tablet or lugging a brick around. It’s clearly a device designed for reading, not scrolling Instagram.
If you’ve ever held a Kindle, this one feels instantly familiar. And that’s part of the problem: at £270, the Colorsoft doesn’t look or feel more premium than the cheaper Paperwhite Signature Edition. The absence of the swankier, metallic design and physical buttons from the Oasis stings a little – especially since the Colorsoft’s price sits higher than the now-defunct flagship. Sure, you’re paying for the colour display, but I can’t help but feel the body is somewhat lacking.
That said, Amazon did throw in one subtle flourish to differentiate the Colorsoft. The Amazon logo on the back has an iridescent sheen, which catches the light and shimmers beautifully. It’s a small detail but adds a hint of distinction. The rest of the device, however, plays it safe, with its matte black body and minimal bezels. Speaking of bezels, they’re slim enough to maximise the 7in display but thick enough to provide a comfortable grip without accidental touches.
You’ll find a USB-C port and a power button on the bottom edge. While this is a convenient spot for charging and ensures a clean look, it does mean that resting the device on your lap or a table might result in an accidental press, switching the screen off mid-page. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a small design quirk worth mentioning.
Wireless charging makes a return, with Amazon offering an optional charging stand that fits the device perfectly. As someone whose home is littered with wireless chargers, I love this. Now, if only a third-party could make a MagSafe case…
Display: brilliant until you remember there are other options
Kindle Colorsoft Display
The big news here is, of course, the addition of colour. Amazon took its sweet time getting here, but the results are pretty good at first glance, especially as I’ve used plenty of normal e-readers before but never a colour one. It’s not vibrant in the way an iPad or smartphone screen is, but is certainly a game-changer for certain types of content.
Colours are soft and subdued rather than bright and punchy, keeping the aesthetic closer to traditional printed material like magazines. Think muted tones that blend into the page rather than jumping out at you. But compare it to traditional comic books, and you’ll feel like the colours are lacking.
Colour is an entirely separate display layer (to get geeky about it, an oxide backplane and nitride LEDs shone through a special filter), while the underlying e-ink screen matches the larger 7in size seen in the new Paperwhite. The bezels have shrunk a bit to make room for it, but there’s still enough of ’em to comfortably grip the device.
Look closely and you’ll spot the separate e-ink layer; the display is that little bit darker than an older Kindle. This probably won’t impact you while reading, but bear in mind that other Kindles offer a better black and white display.
Kindle Colorsoft vs Kindle Paperwhite
Kindle Colorsoft vs iPad Colour
This is only more noticeable when you compare the device to a tablet. Take the similarly-sized iPad Mini (A17 Pro), for example. Colours on the tablet are infinitely better and brighter. Even black and white text gets brighter. If you’re buying a reading device with the intention of enjoying colours, then the iPad mini is a better pick.
The display resolution varies depending on what you’re looking at. Black-and-white text remains razor-sharp at 300 dpi, while colour imagery drops to 150 dpi. It’s noticeable when you try images closely, but in most use cases, it’s not a huge issue. With the exception of comics, that is. Try to read the text in boxes on comics, and you’ll have a hard time if you zoom in. Yet another win for the iPad.
Maps, travel guides, and graphic novels are undoubtedly more enjoyable in colour, though side-by-side comparisons with an iPad Mini highlight the softer detail on the Colorsoft. For pure reading, however, the screen’s sharpness is more than adequate.
Kindle Colorsoft vs iPad mini 7 Comic Colour
Kindle Colorsoft vs iPad mini 7 Comic Zoom
Lighting has always been a strength of Kindle devices (opting for side-lit rather than backlit), and the Colorsoft doesn’t disappoint. It uses a combination of warm and cool LEDs, which can be adjusted to suit your environment. Whether you’re reading in bright sunlight or a dimly lit bedroom, the screen maintains its even illumination. Amazon has ensured that the colour and greyscale layers are lit uniformly, so you don’t get odd inconsistencies when viewing coloured pages.
Zooming and panning are surprisingly smooth for an e-ink display, a technology not exactly known for speed. Pinch-to-zoom, often a pain point on older devices, works seamlessly here. There’s a momentary pause while colour images snap to full resolution, but it’s nothing jarring. That said, the refresh rate when swiping through colour-heavy pages is slightly slower than the latest Paperwhite’s 25% faster page turns, and certainly slower than a tablet. But it’s not a dealbreaker unless you’re flipping through graphic novels at lightning speed.
Features: now in colour
Kindle Colorsoft Web Browser
The Kindle Colorsoft shares most of its features with the Paperwhite. That means wireless charging, 32GB of storage, and an official battery life of eight weeks based on a leisurely 30 minutes of reading per day at moderate brightness (more on this later). While the storage might seem excessive for text-based novels, it becomes essential when you start downloading colour-rich content like graphic novels and travel guides.
The real appeal of colour lies in content. Graphic novels look leagues better than on previous Kindles, with bold illustrations and vibrant covers that finally do justice to the medium. Travel books now feel more useful, as maps and images pop with colour, making it easier to navigate your next adventure. Even children’s books benefit from the added dimension of colour. But I can’t help but think how much better any of this would look on my iPad Mini.
However, the ecosystem has some glaring gaps. You can’t directly access major comic platforms like Marvel Unlimited or DC Universe Infinite, which is a huge missed opportunity. Instead, you’re stuck with Amazon’s Comixology, which offers a limited selection through its Unlimited subscription. For die-hard comic fans, this limitation makes the Colorsoft feel like a half-step rather than a complete solution.
If you’re a Kindle Store devotee, you’ll appreciate the colourful book covers, which give the storefront a fresh, modern feel. For those who like to highlight text, the addition of colour makes annotations more visually engaging. However, it’s worth asking yourself: how many of the books you’ve read in the past year actually needed colour? If the answer is “not many,” the feature might feel more like a luxury than a necessity.
Interface: almost identical
If you’ve used a Kindle before, the software on the Colorsoft will feel like coming home. That’s both a compliment and a criticism. On the one hand, it’s intuitive and reliable. On the other, it feels stagnant. The interface, menus, and controls are nearly identical to what Kindle users have been navigating for years. There are many areas where I feel Amazon could refine things to require fewer button taps.
The only notable addition is the ability to toggle between “vivid” and “standard” colour modes in the settings. Beyond that, it’s business as usual. The Kindle Store, while visually enhanced by colour book covers, functions the same as ever. The web browser remains painfully basic and struggles with anything beyond the simplest web pages.
For library enthusiasts, sideloading content or using apps like Libby still requires a bit of manual effort. And for comic fans, the lack of direct integration with major platforms means you’re limited to what Amazon offers. If you’re not already invested in Amazon’s ecosystem, the Colorsoft’s software won’t do much to win you over.
Performance & Battery: a battery hero
Kindle Colorsoft Display
E-ink displays have traditionally been synonymous with slow refresh rates and ghosting, but the Kindle Colorsoft bucks that trend. Page turns, menu navigation, and even zooming on colour images feel fluid compared to older models. It’s not as snappy as a tablet, but for an e-reader, it’s a noticeable leap forward.
Battery life is, as always, a standout feature. Amazon claims up to eight weeks on a 30-minute-a-day schedule, and while real-world usage will vary, the Colorsoft lives up to its long-lasting reputation.
In my testing, which included marathon reading sessions from both myself and my fianncee (and use of colour content), the device lasted over 20 hours of active screen time. In real-life terms, that meant I could use it for more than a week. Before testing the device, I charged it up and sat it in a drawer – a month later it still had power. That said, the new Paperwhite promises twelve weeks per charge.
Wireless charging is a welcome convenience, though the charging process isn’t exactly quick. If you’re running on empty, expect to wait a couple of hours for a full charge.
Kindle Colorsoft verdict
Kindle Colorsoft Review Featured
The Kindle Colorsoft is a confusing device. It answers years of demand for a colour Kindle, and does so without sacrificing the long battery life, outdoor readability, or eye-friendly design that made previous Kindles the go-to e-readers for millions. The colour screen adds a fresh dimension to the Kindle experience, and is a thousand times better than black and white for graphic novels, travel books, and children’s content.
However, the muted colours and lower resolution constantly left me wishing I was using a tablet. For almost everyone, colour alone just won’t justify the £270 price. A Paperwhite offers nearly identical functionality at a much lower cost if your reading habits are primarily text-heavy novel, while any tablet running the Kindle app delivers sharper images and brighter hues.
Anyone that’s been yearning for a Kindle that can handle illustrated books and comics will appreciate what the Colorsoft offers, but that makes it a product for a fairly small group of people.
Kindle Colorsoft technical specifications
Screen 7in Colorsoft, 300ppi (B&W); 150ppi color
Illumination 12 white LEDs, 13 amber LEDs
Storage 32GB
Battery 8 weeks, wireless charging
Dimensions 127x177x7.8mm, 213g