Amazon updates the Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Colorsoft with new colors and up to 32GB of storage, and unveils the $35 Kindle Click page-turning remote

Kindle e-readers now offer up to 32GB of storage and user-replaceable batteries, and aluminum finishes are available for higher-end models.

Amazon has released updated versions of its Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Colorsoft e-readers, featuring design refinements and increased storage options. The new models are a millimeter thinner and 30 percent faster at opening books, with power buttons relocated to the right edge. They are available in new vibrant colors and, for the first time, in aluminum finishes. Storage has been doubled to 32GB on the aluminum versions, which also come without ads. All models now include user-replaceable batteries to comply with EU regulations. The base Kindle starts at $149.99 for the 16GB plastic version and $189.99 for the 32GB aluminum model. The updated Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft, with unchanged display specifications, are available for pre-order, launching October 28th. Signature Edition aluminum models of the Paperwhite and Colorsoft offer additional features like pogo pins for magnetic cases. Amazon also introduced the $34.99 Kindle Click, a Bluetooth remote for page-turning and brightness adjustment, compatible with Kindles from 2024 onwards.

The introduction of aluminum finishes and doubled storage on higher-end Kindles signals Amazon's strategy to position its e-readers as more premium devices, competing with a perceived higher-end feel often associated with metal construction. This move, combined with the user-replaceable battery feature driven by EU regulations, suggests a growing emphasis on device longevity and user customization, even within Amazon's established ecosystem.

The launch of the Kindle Click remote points to an evolving accessory market for e-readers, addressing user convenience for actions like page-turning without needing to hold the device. This accessory, along with the pogo-pin enabled cases for Signature Edition models, indicates Amazon's exploration of modularity and enhanced interaction methods to extend the functionality and appeal of its Kindle platform.