Amazon has launched the Kindle Colorsoft, an e-reader with a 7-inch colour E Ink display, aimed at those seeking a more vibrant experience with content such as comics, manga, and illustrated books. The device retains familiar Kindle features, such as long battery life and water resistance, but comes to market at a higher price than the Kindle Paperwhite, which may limit its adoption among readers who primarily consume black-and-white texts.
Strengths
The standout feature is the colour E Ink display, offering visual comfort and allowing longer reading sessions without the typical fatigue associated with tablets. Key features include dark mode (“Page Colour”), multicolour highlighting for notes, useful for study, and a slimmer design with narrower borders compared to previous models. The battery remains a significant advantage: even with a colour display, the device still lasts for weeks on a single charge. The e-reader is also waterproof, making it ideal for use at the beach or by the pool.
What struck me the most during use was this: I didn’t know I’d enjoy having colour on a Kindle. That’s because I no longer read comics much. So, the Colorsoft might not be for me. But the colour quality, reminiscent of the vibrant pages of print newspapers (nostalgia!), really pops visually.
I also noticed that page-turning feels even smoother. It was not an issue before, but now it is noticeably faster. There’s little to no difference between using the Colorsoft and the Paperwhite if your main goal is reading. However, there is a difference if you want to annotate. The Colorsoft now allows annotations in multiple colours, which is excellent for organizing highlights from most to least important.
Weaknesses
The biggest hurdle is the price, which is significantly higher than that of the Kindle Paperwhite, particularly in Brazil. The investment may not be worthwhile for those who only read novels and textbooks. Additionally, the screen has a resolution of 150 ppi (colour and 300 ppi black & white), lower than the Paperwhite’s, which can affect sharpness during extended reading. I noticed this especially with comics: despite the beautiful colours, the black-and-white version seemed sharper and easier to read, especially when compared to the larger Kindle Scribe and even the Paperwhite.
Price Differences
In Brazil, the Kindle Colorsoft 16GB costs R$1,479 on Amazon, versus R$869 for the 16GB Kindle Paperwhite. My tested version, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition 32GB, would be R$1,519, compared to R$1,084 for the 32GB Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. That’s nearly an R$500 difference between the 16GB and 32GB models, which is a significant gap. In Canada, however, the difference is less stark.
Here in Canada, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 16GB is $154.99, while the Kindle Colorsoft 16GB is $234.99, a roughly $80 difference, still notable. For the premium 32GB versions, the gap narrows to $50: the Kindle Paperwhite Signature 32GB is $229.99, while the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition 32GB is $279.99.
As can be seen, the price difference in Canada makes the 32GB models less prohibitive. Still, I don’t think 32GB is necessary for everyone. The 16GB version can store roughly 4,500 books, comics, PDFs, and other text-based content with or without images; the 32GB version doubles that capacity. But will anyone really read over 4,500 books or comics? Possible, but unlikely.
Who It’s For
The Kindle Colorsoft is aimed at readers who value comics, illustrated books, and colour-coded annotation features. For those who want immersion in novels and linear texts, the Kindle Paperwhite remains the more economical option with sharper text. However, the Kindle Scribe is worth considering if you can travel to the U.S. or Canada. Slightly smaller than the 5th-generation iPad Air, it’s much lighter and offers superior reading quality. It won’t strain your eyes, with naturally larger, more comfortable text for books and comics. Prices range from $455.99 (16GB) to $479.99 (32GB) in Canada as of this article, with both models including the Premium Pen. Tomorrow, I’ll discuss the Kindle Scribe in more detail.
