New Kindles are thinner and faster, but the base model now costs $150
Amazon's new Kindles cost noticeably more than the ones they replace. The base model now starts at $149.99 in the US and £169.99 in the UK, against $109.99 for the 2024 version. The 2026 range is thinner, lighter and opens books about 30% faster. The 16GB entry Kindle is on sale now, and the Paperwhite and Colorsoft are due to ship on October 28.
The hardware
All models get a flush front, with the screen sitting level with the bezel. The power button moves to the top right edge. Amazon says it is the first full redesign in two years, and the company showed off the 12th-generation look just days earlier.
The base Kindle has 16GB of storage and a plastic body. Amazon claims up to six weeks of battery life. The 32GB Kindle, the Paperwhite and the Colorsoft all use aluminium.
The new base Kindle has a flush front and a lighter body.
The Paperwhite keeps its 7-inch screen and IPX8 water resistance, meaning it survives submersion in fresh water. Amazon rates it at up to 12 weeks per charge. The Colorsoft has a 7-inch colour display for covers and illustrations, plus five highlight colours, and lasts up to eight weeks.
The Paperwhite keeps its 7-inch screen and water resistance.
Kids versions get the same design. The standard one has a 6-inch black-and-white screen, and the Colorsoft kids model has a 7-inch colour display. Both have 16GB.
The aluminium models add a physical power button on the top right edge.
The price
Prices in the US, per Business Standard: the 32GB aluminium Kindle is $189.99, the Paperwhite $199.99 and the Colorsoft $289.99. The Paperwhite was $159.99 before.
CNN points out that the base Kindle launched at about $110 in 2024. That means the "same price as before" framing only holds against an August 2026 increase. Anyone with a working Kindle has little reason to rush. Amazon is also Amazon to End Support for Older Kindles: What It Means for Users Starting May 2026, which matters if yours is very old.
The accessories
Kindle Click is a small Bluetooth remote that turns pages without touching the screen. It costs $34.99. A magnetic vegan-leather cover with built-in page-turn buttons costs about $80 and fits only the Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions.
Kindle Click is a Bluetooth remote for turning pages.
Both arrive in November. Buying the pair adds roughly $115 to the cost of a reader.
Amazon has also used the colour display on its larger Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which remains the pricier option for note-takers. Rollout dates for the accessories outside the US, UK, Germany and Japan have not been confirmed.
