8/10
Open rating explainerInformationWIREDNew base models are lighter. Signature models come in new colors with a more premium feel from the aluminum frame. All models (Signature or not) are compatible with Kindle Click, the new Bluetooth page-turner remote.TIREDExpensive after the price increases. Only the Signature Edition is compatible with the new Page Turn Cover.It's a good day to be a Kindle fan. Amazon announced the arrival of a new generation of devices earlier this month, and the new Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft are available today. A question now presents itself: Should you upgrade?
The most intriguing reason to upgrade isn't the devices themselves—the Paperwhite and Colorsoft both have base plastic versions with 16 GB of storage and aluminum-backed Signature Editions with 32 GB of storage and extra features—but the little extras could go a long way for certain readers. Namely, the ability to add page-turn buttons with the new Kindle Page Turn Cover ($80)—which is compatible only with the new Signature Editions of the Paperwhite and Colorsoft.
Color also plays a big role in the Signature Editions compared to the new base models. Not a color screen, to be clear—that's still Colorsoft only—but the color of the device itself, which Amazon has said was a huge driver for Kindle users to upgrade to a new model after the brand released colors like Matcha and Raspberry in 2024. The 2026 line has one color for each of these 7-inch e-readers that's only available with the Signature Editions.
It's worth noting that while the price of these new models is the same as the 2024 editions, it's because Kindle raised the prices of its 2024 versions back in August. At first, it seemed like this was intended to make Amazon sales look better than they actually were heading into Prime Day and Black Friday, but now it's clear it was probably a way to make these new models feel worth buying, since you won't find a cheaper model as easily. And it's a valid move: These models will be my new picks, because if you're spending the same amount, why wouldn't you want the latest model?
But that doesn't necessarily help you decide if it's worth upgrading. It might be worth it if you're desperate for page-turner buttons, which is easily my favorite part of this new line of Kindles. If you don't have a Kindle already and are on a mission to select your first one, this latest version of the Paperwhite remains a good choice unless you're determined to splurge on a color screen. The warm light is a big benefit for anyone who reads in the evening, and you'll have to choose one of these two models from Kindle's lineup to get it anyway.
The Base Lineup
The 2026 Kindle Paperwhite (left) and 2026 Kindle Colorsoft (right).
Photograph: Nena FarrellThe Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft are, to some degree, the same device. You'll see a similar laundry list of features: a 7-inch screen, a front light with adjustable brightness and warmth, and 16 GB of storage in the base models. Both have the same new look of a flush-front screen and ever-so-slightly-smaller body when compared to the 2024 Paperwhite and 2025 Colorsoft (the first Colorsoft in 2024 was later renamed the Signature Edition, and a cheaper base model came out in 2025).
Amazon touts these devices as being thinner and lighter than the previous models, but the difference is minimal. And most of the specs have stayed the same: You still get up to 12 weeks of battery life on the Paperwhite and eight on the Colorsoft, according to Amazon. The resolution is still 300 pixels per inch (ppi) for black-and-white content and 150 ppi for color, and both remain waterproof. The screens are obviously different, with the Colorsoft using a color display that has a slight blue tinge to it when compared side by side with the new Paperwhite models at the same brightness level, with the warm-light settings turned off.
The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite (in raspberry) and 2026 Kindle Paperwhite (black) side by side.
Photograph: Nena Farrell
The 2024 (left) and 2026 Kindle Paperwhites, stacked. The 2024 model looks thinner due to the rounded edge, but the 2026 model is actually slightly slimmer.
Photograph: Nena FarrellThe biggest change is in weight, which is still minimal—both 2026 versions now weigh 7.2 ounces, while the older Paperwhite was 7.4 ounces and the Colorsoft was 7.6 ounces. You can feel the difference, even if it is slight. But it's not so much lighter that you should switch to this model if you have wrist problems or mobility issues; if this is you, I'd recommend getting the new Kindle Click ($35) page-turner remote (which also launched today) and a stand of some kind. This Bluetooth remote will pair with Kindles from 2024 onward to turn pages for you without needing a secondary device to sit on the Kindle itself, which is what you've needed up to now.
Performance-wise, I found the experience to be very similar across both models, and similar to my older devices as well. Both the 2026 Paperwhite and Colorsoft are snappy with opening books and turning pages, and I was impressed by how well each model could quickly recall where I'd left off on another device; something my past Kindles never seemed to do. Compared with my 2024 Kindle Paperwhite, I didn't see a direct speed improvement in opening my books like the new Kindle Aluminum had over the 2024 Kindle.
The 2026 Kindle Colorsoft and 2024 Kindle Colorsoft.
Photograph: Nena FarrellWhen I put the new Colorsoft side by side with the old Colorsoft, I did see a slightly more yellow undertone to the base screen, but otherwise the colors looked identical to my naked eye. I didn't expect to see a huge change here; E Ink did just announce a new version of its color e-paper screen, but I don't expect to see it arrive on devices until next year at the earliest. The performance didn't seem to change between the first and second generations, either.
These new models of the Colorsoft and Paperwhite alike also promise two AI-based features. One is available now, and Kindle calls it Story So Far, but you'll find it in your Kindle's menus as “Recap.” (It can also sometimes pop up when you open a book, asking if you'd like a recap before you start reading.) Kindle will analyze how far you've read into the story and give you a spoiler-free summary based on your spot in the book. There's also a feature called Ask This Book that will let you ask questions about the story (and also promises to be spoiler-free), but Amazon only says this is coming soon. I don't love AI features for my books and can't see myself using this, but maybe you're reading a ton of books at once and need reminders of what's going on in each story.
The Signature Styles
The 2026 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition in Seaglass Green.
Photograph: Nena Farrell
The back of the 2026 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and the new pogo pins.
Photograph: Nena FarrellThe Signature Editions have always had a little more to offer than the base models, and while these new ones cost the same as the previous models, the 2026 Signature Edition versions of the Paperwhite and Colorsoft come with a couple of other extras. I tested just the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but besides the color screen and battery life, the rest of the benefits remain the same across both models.
The previous Signature Editions of both the Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft already offered auto-adjustment of their front lights, wireless charging, and more storage, and that remains true with the 2026 version. But the 2026 Signature Editions also pack a new, aluminum-backed frame that gives them a more premium feel and shiny look, plus pogo pins on the back to pair them with new Kindle accessories. That aluminum form makes it heavier, weighing 8.1 ounces instead of 7.2 ounces. You can feel the difference, but the taller form factor makes the weight feel better distributed than on the shorter (though lighter) Kindle Aluminum.
Colorful finishes are essentially locked into the Signature Editions only now with these new models, at least if you want one of the 7-inch ones. While the base, 6-inch plastic Kindle has a purple color option, the base Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft will only come in black. The Signature Editions are where you'll find the fun colors: I tested the Paperwhite Signature Edition’s Seaglass Green color, while the Colorsoft Signature has a deep-purple Fig option. I am disappointed it's only one color per model, given how expensive these are and the fact that the Aluminum version has two colors.
Photograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistSave to wishlistAmazon
Kindle Page Turn Cover
$80Amazon
But the biggest appeal to me for choosing a Signature Edition isn't the color but the compatibility with a new accessory made by Amazon for these new Kindles: the Kindle Page Turn Cover ($80).
Amazon used to make an e-reader with page-turn buttons, the Kindle Oasis, but hasn’t for years. It’s a feature we’ve been waiting to see come back, and instead of baking it into one of its e-readers, Amazon has chosen to make it an add-on. Amazon says it's a vocal minority of about 5 percent of Kindle users who want page-turn buttons, and I think this is a smart move to make it an option for those who want it without risking a potentially unpopular device.
The cover works well, easily popping onto my Paperwhite Signature Edition and quickly working to turn the pages. You can use it to move up and down on pages, too, but the experience feels backward—the higher-up forward button will move you down a page, when visually you expect it to move you upward. It's a lightweight, sleek cover otherwise, and feels identical to the new slim covers Amazon has out for its aluminum models. It’s sleek and discreet, and the buttons are in the perfect spot to start using them as soon as I open the book. I love that you don’t need to worry about anything besides popping the case on.
The downside is the cost. The Page Turn Cover will add another $80 to your purchase after already needing to upgrade to a Signature Edition, which costs $40 to $50 more than the base models. The cheapest combination is with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but you'll end up paying over $300, which is how much you'd spend to get the Kobo Libra Colour (my favorite e-reader that isn't a Kindle) with page-turn buttons built in and a stylus to have it double as a digital notebook. So while this Signature/Page Turn Cover combo works well, the price hurts when you look at the competition. Plus, if you aren’t picky about your page-turning accessory, the Bluetooth Kindle Click ($35) remote is significantly cheaper and works with older models.
It's hard for me to say you need any of these devices if you're already a Kindle user. The older models are already disappearing from Amazon’s website, though, so if you’re in the market for your first Kindle, I’d still recommend choosing a Paperwhite, and you might as well choose the newest model since the older one isn’t any cheaper.
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$200 at Amazon (Kindle Paperwhite, 2026)$250 at Amazon (Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, 2026)$290 at Amazon (Kindle Colorsoft, 2026)$320 at Amazon (Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, 2026)
