Meet the New Kindle Paperwhite, Colorsoft: Amazon Gives Entire Kindle Range a Metal Makeover

Amazon has introduced the first aluminium-backed version of its standard 6-inch Kindle, widening the use of metal across its October 2026 e-reader range ahead of Kindle's 20th anniversary in November 2027, according to WIRED. The retail giant unveiled the redesigned range, including the new Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft, on 1 October.

The distinction, however, applies specifically to the standard Kindle, as the company used an aluminium back on the Kindle Oasis in 2017, meaning the latest release is not Amazon's first metal-backed e-reader.

The plastic entry model costs £134.99 ($149.99) and includes 16 gigabytes (GB) of storage and lock-screen adverts. Available in Ube and Graphite, it has a flush-front display, up to six weeks of battery life and book opening that Amazon says is 30 per cent faster than on the previous release.

Amazon describes it as its most pocket-sized Kindle. The housing incorporates recycled materials, while the battery uses 100 per cent recycled cobalt.

The aluminium version costs £169.99 ($189.99), doubles storage to 32 GB and removes lock-screen adverts. It retains the same 6-inch format and flush display but adds a matte housing made from 80 per cent recycled aluminium in Alpine Sky or Seaglass Green.

A Common Design Reaches the New Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft

Amazon rebuilt the range around what it calls a reverse-stack display construction, which the company says is a first for the e-reader category. Every model now has a flush front instead of a raised border, while the device colour extends from front to back.

The new Kindle Paperwhite starts at £184.99 ($199.99). It is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, remains waterproof and combines an adjustable warm light with battery life of up to 12 weeks.

Its display uses an oxide thin-film transistor backplane and has the largest screen and highest contrast ratio offered on a Paperwhite, according to Amazon. The 32 GB Signature Edition adds an aluminium rear housing, automatic front-light adjustment, dock charging through pogo pins and a double-tap page-turning function.

The Kindle Colorsoft starts at £259.99 ($289.99). Amazon redesigned its colour display with nitride light-emitting diodes, an oxide backplane, micro-deflectors that limit stray light and a thin optical coating intended to improve clarity.

Its Signature Edition also gains an aluminium housing, 32 GB of storage, an automatically adjusting front light, double-tap page turning and pogo-pin dock charging.

Physical Page Turning Returns Through Accessories

The £31.99 ($34.99) Kindle Click is a compact Bluetooth remote that turns pages without requiring the reader to touch the device. It works with the entire new range and Kindle models released from 2024 onwards.

Amazon also introduced a £74.99 ($79.99) magnetic Page-Turn Cover with physical buttons. It connects through pogo pins and works only with the new Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions, which also support a £49.99 ($59.99) upright charging dock.

Sales Begin Across 19 Markets

The standard Kindle and its aluminium version went on sale on 1 October in the UK and 18 other markets. The new Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft pre-orders opened on a rolling basis across the same regions.

The new Kids Kindle also became available immediately, while the Kids Kindle Colorsoft has been opened for pre-order in the UK, US, Canada, Germany and Japan.

Amazon positioned the redesign as the start of its 20th-anniversary activity. Kevin Keith, vice-president for devices, said: 'Today, we're introducing a completely redesigned Kindle lineup.' The company reported double-digit global Kindle growth for three consecutive years and said readers viewed more than 720 billion pages in 2025.