Desk of Contents
The Kindle Colorsoft has had a bizarre rollout. The colour e-reader debuted in October of 2024 however rapidly paused delivery after buyer experiences of discoloration. Since then, the Colorsoft has quietly been available on the market with two new iterations becoming a member of the lineup. Now the Colorsoft assortment contains Kindle Colorsoft (16GB), Kindle Colorsoft Signature Version (32GB), and Kindle Colorsoft Youngsters.
Amazon’s Kindles admittedly joined the colour e-reader celebration fairly late. Earlier than the Colorsoft’s launch, Kobo already had two coloration e-readers, the Clara Color and Libra Color, Boox had the Go Colour 7, and the Exceptional Paper Professional pill has a coloration show too (though the Exceptional is extra of a paper pill than an e-reader).
The Kindle Colorsoft (left) is the newcomer to the colour e-reader market, becoming a member of the Kobo Clara Color (proper).
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
With the debut of the Colorsoft, Amazon additionally had an enormous worth drawback, as the primary machine launched — the Colorsoft Signature Version — price $279.99. As of July 2025, Amazon launched the extra inexpensive Kindle Colorsoft, which we’re right here to overview as we speak.
At $249.99, it is nonetheless an funding of an e-reader — so is it price it? Listed below are our ideas on the Kindle Colorsoft.
Kindle Colorsoft worth and specs
From the surface, Kindle Colorsoft and Paperwhite are indistinguishable.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
As talked about above, the Kindle Colorsoft with 16 GB prices $249.99. To place that worth into perspective, that is $90 greater than the comparable Kindle Paperwhite however $30 cheaper than the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Version.
In comparison with different coloration e-readers, it nonetheless runs costly. The Kobo Clara Color prices the identical because the Paperwhite at $159.99, whereas the Kobo Libra Color prices $229.99. So, taking a look at worth alone, it is probably the most costly coloration e-readers.
Let’s get into the specs of the Kindle Colorsoft:
7-inch show
As much as 94 nits brightness with adjustable heat
300 ppi decision for black and white and 150 ppi for coloration
USB-C charging port with as much as 8 weeks of battery life
16GB of storage
IPX8 waterproof ranking could be totally submerged in water for as much as one hour
Is available in black, raspberry, and jade
The colour would not disappoint
Evaluating the e-reader to the bodily guide.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
The large show-stopping high quality of the Kindle Colorsoft is the colour show, so that is the precedence right here. The colour appears to be like very nice on the Kindle Colorsoft.
I borrowed a duplicate of Heartstopper Quantity 3 with Libby and despatched it to the Kindle Colorsoft, however I needed to see the way it really in comparison with the true factor. After grabbing a bodily copy of the novel from the library, I set them side-by-side to see how the visuals in contrast.
The Kindle Colorsoft does a pleasant job of precisely color-matching the bodily copy. Nevertheless, the colours on the Colorsoft are muted in comparison with the guide, even once you flip up the brightness. I want the show had been greater distinction to seize punchy, vibrant hues.
I additionally pulled out the Apple iPad (eleventh gen) to evaluate the colour shows on the Colorsoft.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
However I needed to confirm that its muted tone wasn’t simply how the e-books had been illustrated, so I pulled out my iPad to view the e-book inside the Libby app. On the iPad, the colours had been extra vibrant and correct to the bodily guide than the Kindle Colorsoft. Plus, the iPad highlighted the Colorsoft’s decrease decision.
You will not miss a ton of coloration whereas utilizing the Kindle Colorsoft — simply do not count on the identical vibrancy you’d count on with a bodily copy. If that is a precedence for you in studying digitally, go for a pill as an alternative, as coloration e-ink shows nonetheless have a methods to go by way of decision and high quality.
It runs similar to a Kindle Paperwhite
With the addition of coloration to a Kindle, I used to be curious if it might have an effect on the effectivity of its working system. Fortunately, it would not. The Colorsoft runs similar to the Kindle Paperwhite, which is to say, rapidly and effectively. There’s little to no lag time between pages, and it has a 300 ppi decision when utilizing black and white, adjustable heat and brightness, and an IPX8 waterproof ranking.
There’s one small distinction when working the Colorsoft in comparison with the Paperwhite. When utilizing the e-reader in coloration, the display tends to flash between pages whereas loading. It is a widespread plight amongst coloration e-readers, and one thing you may discover true amongst Kobo’s coloration e-readers, too.
Aside from the plain coloration side, the Colorsoft boasts one benefit over the usual Kindle Paperwhite: It’s ad-free. This was a nice shock to me, however one I might count on for a tool that prices $250.
I’m disenchanted that Colorsoft would not have auto-adjusting brightness. For that, you may must spend much more on the Colorsoft Signature Version.
Is the Kindle Colorsoft price it?
Is the Kindle Colorsoft price it? We’re choosing different e-readers.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
For the typical reader, no, the Kindle Colorsoft will not be price it. Until you are principally studying graphic novels, you do not want coloration on an e-reader. With regards to buying a Kindle, it is a greater worth to go for the Paperwhite and even the Signature Version.
In case you are actually enthusiastic about getting a coloration e-reader, I might discover Kobo’s choices as an alternative. The Clara Color is our favourite e-reader at Mashable, and whereas it does have a barely smaller display, it possesses the identical brightness and determination because the Kindle Colorsoft — to not point out it is $90 cheaper. If you’d like the larger display, the Kobo Libra Color can also be nice.
I’d suggest this Kindle Colorsoft to folks shopping for for teenagers. This mannequin is $20 cheaper than the Colorsoft Youngsters, and through setup, you possibly can select to set it up so it is kid-friendly. The colour show is a large boon for teenagers who wish to expertise their favourite books in coloration, plus it is a a lot better distraction-free reader than a pill.
