The first color Amazon Kindle is finally here – and it's been joined by an AI-powered Scribe

The big Kindle news is now official

News By Jamie RichardsContributions from Mark Wilson last updated 16 October 2024

Amazon has now officially announced the new Kindle Colorsoft, the first Kindle with a full-color display, alongside three more new Kindle products, after an earlier leaked press release spilled the beans on the news. And you can read our early impressions in our hands-on Amazon Kindle Colorsoft review.

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition was prematurely announced earlier in a Spanish-language announcement through an official Amazon blog (spotted by The Verge). But the full release has now been posted – and our first look calls it "a significant step forward for ereader technology".

The Kindle Colorsoft was announced alongside a new AI-powered Kindle Scribe, an updated Kindle Paperwhite, and a refreshed entry-level Kindle.

First, that Kindle Colorsoft news. Amazon claims it offers “rich, paper-like color” in either standard or vibrant styles, a “custom-designed oxide backing layer”, new algorithms to enhance color and increase brightness, eight weeks of battery life, and the fast page-turns and high contrast that Kindle users have come to expect.

It's available for pre-order now for $279.99 / £269.99 (around AU$420), with the first units shipping on October 30.

The leaked release (which has now been confirmed as the official one) also says that you'll be able to “search for color covers in your Library or Kindle Store, view photos and images of books in color, or highlight text that you can easily search for later” thanks to the custom Colorsoft display, new light guide, and nitride LEDs. You'll also be able to “zoom in on images without worrying about pixelation”.

As mentioned, the Kindle Colorsoft also boasts eight weeks of battery life with support for wireless charging, and is waterproof.

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