Amazon expands Kindle lineup with new paperwhite and colorsoft

Bookworms, take note: Amazon has just unveiled its brand-new Kindle range. Since launching in 2007, the company’s market-leading ereader has come a long way. Today, Kindles are a ubiquitous sight on commutes, flights and holidays, giving readers an entire library of books at their fingertips – often at more affordable prices than print editions. I remain a paper purist, but my Kindle Paperwhite is my best friend while on the go. And as The Standard’s contributing technology editor, David Phelan, explains: “Amazon continues to dominate the ereader market because of exactly the kind of redesign that’s happening now.”The changes are both stylish (aluminium backs, sleek new colourways) and technical. Advances in screen technology and resolution have been accompanied by more sophisticated front lighting and carefully tuned colour displays. “This is the first time the entry-level Kindle has a flush front design, adding a classy sheen to the most affordable model,” David says. The new blue colourway of the entry-level Kindle AmazonThere is, however, an important omission. Unlike the Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft, the basic Kindle remains without waterproofing. That means readers who want to take their device to the beach, pool or bath will still need to look further up the range.Price remains central to Amazon’s Kindle popularity. The company has historically positioned its ereaders competitively against rival devices, making it relatively inexpensive to get started with digital reading. But the hardware is also part of a wider ecosystem. Amazon can undercut competitors because “once you’ve bought the hardware you have to come back to Amazon to buy the books to read on it,” David says. The colorsoft comes in an attractive fig finish Amazon“In some ways, Amazon is catching up to rivals here with the launch of the page-turner accessory, the Kindle Click (£31.99, Amazon.co.uk),” David explains. “This comes a long time after the brilliant Boox Tappy, which looks like an adorable tiny two-key typewriter and means you can turn the page without touching the device – handy if you’re reading while running on a treadmill.” Amazon’s kids editions continue to offer another point of differentiation, from the paperwhite (£209, Amazon.co.uk) and colorsoft (£274.99, Amazon.co.uk). These versions use the same essential design but add child-focused features. “You pay more for the same hardware, but with a year’s worth of content supplied,” David says. This means parents are paying extra for the accompanying ecosystem rather than a radically different, inferior device.Rather than reinventing the format, Amazon is refining the familiar Kindle formula – and in time for Christmas gifting. You can pre-order each new Kindle ereader now, for delivery from 11 November. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32AmazonThinner, lighter and sleeker than older Kindle Paperwhites, Amazon’s new ereader is waterproof with an adjustable warm light. Battery life reportedly lasts up to 12 weeks, while an aluminium back has been added for an extra stylish feel. Colourways include classic graphite or seaglass green. Amazon Kindle 32GB (Newest Gen)AmazonThe brand new 6-inch Kindle is the most pocket-sized yet. Designed in four stylish colourways – baby blue, vibrant purple, sage green and black – it’s about to become a bookish accessory. Complete with 16GB of storage, up to six weeks of battery life, and 30 per cent faster book opening than its predecessors, it boasts a premium flush-front design.Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition 32 GB (Newest Gen)AmazonOffering a tablet-like experience without screen glare, the new Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition can house travel guides, comics, or graphic novels in colour, alongside your favourite novels. With an aluminium rear and an auto-adjusting front light, the device comes in graphite or fig.