New Kindles are lighter and nicer, but they cost more now

Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft are out, and Wired gave them 8 out of 10. They are slightly lighter, the premium versions come in new colors, and they run quickly. The catch is cost. Prices start at $200, and the reviewer says the devices feel expensive after Amazon's recent price increases.

What is new

Both 7-inch models have a flush-front screen and a body that is a touch smaller than the 2024 Paperwhite and 2025 Colorsoft. Each now weighs 7.2 ounces. The older Paperwhite was 7.4 ounces and the Colorsoft was 7.6. The reviewer says you can feel the difference, but it is slight.

Each line has a base model with a plastic body and 16 GB of storage. The Signature Editions have an aluminum back, 32 GB of storage and extra features. Each 2026 line also has one device color sold only as a Signature Edition.

What stayed the same

• Battery life of up to 12 weeks on the Paperwhite and eight on the Colorsoft, per Amazon
• Sharpness of 300 pixels per inch for black and white, 150 for color
• Waterproof bodies
• A front light with adjustable brightness and warmth

Speed is good but not new. Books open and pages turn quickly, and the reviewer saw no direct speed gain over a 2024 Paperwhite. The Colorsoft screen has a slight blue tinge next to the Paperwhite. Next to the older Colorsoft, it has a slightly more yellow undertone.

Prices and add-ons

The Paperwhite costs $200 and the Signature Edition $250. The Colorsoft costs $290 and its Signature Edition $320. These match the 2024 prices only because Amazon raised the older models' prices in August. The reviewer still names the new ones as top picks, since the cost is the same.

The extras may matter more than the devices. The Kindle Page Turn Cover adds page-turn buttons for $80, but it fits only the Signature Editions. The Kindle Click is a $35 Bluetooth remote that turns pages. It works with all the new models and with Kindles from 2024 onward.

Who should upgrade

For a 2024 Kindle owner, the case is thin. The reviewer says the upgrade makes sense mainly if you badly want page-turn buttons. A $35 Kindle Click and a stand may solve that, and may suit readers with wrist or mobility problems better than the small weight drop.

First-time buyers have an easier choice. The Paperwhite remains a good pick unless you want a color screen. Its warm light helps with evening reading, and only the Paperwhite and Colorsoft have it among Kindle's lineup, per the review.