Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition 32GB (newest model) – With color display, auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging, and long battery life - Metallic Black + 3 months of Kindle Unlimited (with auto-renewal)

Let's get one thing out of the way from the beginning: if the question is "which Kindle should somebody get," the answer most of the time is probably the Kindle Paperwhite. If, however, your pre-existing Kindle is almost a decade old or you're somebody who loves the latest and greatest thing, the Kindle Colorsoft might be for you. If that's you, my experience is that you won't regret diving into a more colorful world. I've been using the Kindle Oasis since 2017. In that time, the gradual degradation of hardware becomes noticeable: the ghostly appearance of text from pages past, the leisurely page turn speed, slow navigation, etc. None of these personal details matter to you, the person reading this review, but I share them because it should help provide some context so you can take my comments about the Colorsoft with a grain of salt if you would like to do so. With that said, I am genuinely impressed with what I've experienced so far. The text is crisp, and page turns are lightning quick. The star of the show, of course, is the introduction of color. I was initially skeptical of how much the color would add to the Kindle experience, especially given the existence of smaller tablets with LCD screens. After about a week with the Colorsoft, I must say I am surprised by how impactful the inclusion of color has been. Seeing the color versions of the book covers in my library is delightful, though I'm not sure why it resonates so much with me. Of course, the colors will be more vivid on an iPad but that misses the point. I enjoy reading on Kindles because they strain my eyes so much less than tablets do. The colors on the Colorsoft may be more muted (though you may be able to goose them a bit if you fiddle in settings), but they still look good, and the trade-off is worth it if you're prioritizing your eyes or if you tend to do a lot of reading in bed. I've seen some comment in reviews that the page turn speed is a bit slower when you go from a color page to a color page, but it hasn't been terribly noticeable for me. If you've gotten this far, you might be wondering about the yellow discoloration that some have noticed at the bottom of the Colorsoft's screen. While I understand that many people had this issue with their devices, I haven't noticed it with mine. Maybe it would show up if I took a photograph of my screen, but if I can't detect the issue with my naked eye, I'm not going to worry about it. With that said, I completely understand if the discoloration would be a dealbreaker. At $279.99, the Colorsoft is priced as a premium device. A premium device should deliver premium performance. Thankfully, it appears Amazon has already taken steps to address this problem for those affected by the discoloration issue. In my experience, though, the screen has been excellent. To sum it all up: the Kindle Colorsoft is really enjoyable to use, and you might be surprised by how much color adds to the experience. However, the price point does make the Colorsoft a bit of a tough sell if you're using a more recent Kindle or don't have issues using a tablet for reading.

I purchased the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft so I could have color images and graphics on many textbooks in my collection, as well as the ability to highlight in different colors, a feature I used a lot on my Android Kindle app but couldn't with my 2021 Paperwhite. The book covers are nice in color, too, bringing a level of dimension to my library that I enjoy a lot. I am giving this five stars as it satisfies my main objectives: The color is good, color highlighting excellent, and the speed of page turns and library browsing is excellent (noticeably faster than my 2021 Paperwhite). The only thing missing is a satisfying "dark mode," as it only affects the book pages and not the whole interface as with the Paperwhite. Perhaps this will change in a future update, but it isn't a big issue for me and the white text on a black background is still excellent for night reading, especially with the amber glow turned to the max. Color highlighting in this mode is also excellent. I do have some caveats, however: The battery drains a lot quicker than the Paperwhite, and the 32GB storage fills up a lot quicker. Also, the "Vivid" color setting seems to switch back to "Standard" sporadically, even if it still says "Vivid" is selected (this might be happening after I select a Restart). These are not serious issues as I just need to charge more frequently and will refrain from downloading my whole library as space fills up, and a reset to "Vivid" handles the color issue until a software fix is available (assuming this isn't just my imagination). In addition, the price is very high for what it offers, so unless color is very important to someone (to view comics, highlighting in color, etc.), the new 2024 Paperwhite might be the better option. UPDATE: An unfortunate issue a lot of reviews have mentioned is a yellow band at the bottom of the screen. At first, I didn't think my Colorsoft had this issue, but now I see a very faint band at the bottom of the screen when reading with black text on a white background. To be fair, I might not have noticed this without the issue being pointed out, and it is a lot less noticeable than some photos I've seen (I have the warmth setting set to 10 normally, which might camouflage the band a little). It looks to me like an issue of the calibration of the LEDs as it doesn't appear when the backlight is off. It is also undetectable with images and using the white test on a black background. Still, it is there, and I am requesting a replacement for when the issue is resolved. I'm keeping my review 5-stars because Amazon has been very responsive regarding this yellow banding issue. Contacting customer service via a chat was a simple process and a replacement request was quickly queued up (replacements, alas, aren't available yet while the underlying issue is being investigated and resolved), and I can keep using my current Colorsoft in the meantime (while noticeable, the yellow band isn't distracting while I read). One of the reasons I keep coming to Amazon is their fantastic customer service, and this is a good example of them doing what they can for an unfortunate situation. UPDATE #2: I received my replacement Kindle Colorsoft and the yellow banding issue is resolved. Again, I feel the customer service response to this issue was excellent and it is a primary reason I continue to use Amazon. UPDATE #3: The firmware update adding system-wide Dark Mode is a game-changer and very welcome addition to the Colorsoft. I prefer reading in Dark Mode and prior to the system-wide version, going outside a book was blinding at night. That issue has been resolved and the Colorsoft system-wide Dark Mode looks beautiful.

The colorsoft seems to be getting a lot of hate, and although I hate writing reviews, I wanted to share my thoughts. I have read the unfortunate reports of issues from other reviewers and I hate they are dealing with issues! However, I've been super happy with mine so far. Sure, there is a faint yellowish tinge at the bottom of the screen if the warmth is on, but it wasn't noticeable until I saw reports and went to check my screen. I'd kept my expectations low when it came to how saturated the colors would be based on other e-ink color screens, but the Colorsoft exceeded my hopes. The colors are lovely, even with the light off. I know many color e-inks are compared to reading a newspaper in color, but I find the Colorsoft to be more pigmented and the graphics are smoother (not grainy). I'm a visual learner and I remember information better if it is color coded or the graphics are in color, so having color for my non-fiction books makes a massive difference for me. And I can finally enjoy cookbooks and how-to art books on my Kindle! I'm sure I'll run into some hiccups since the Colorsoft is a new device, but they will be worth it just for the color quality alone! Also, I was very frustrated with the lag in my Paperwhite Signature. I'm a speed reader and waiting for it to respond to page turns and highlighting would take me out of my relaxed reading "state". The Colorsoft is lightning fast by comparison and that alone was worth the upgrade... At least for me! E-ink devices aren't tablets or ipads. They are often a little clunky and lack the sharpness or rich hues we are accustomed to on those screens. But they serve their purpose well, allowing us to step away from the notifications of our other devices, reduce eye strain/headaches (at least for me), and we can read outside in the sun. The colorsoft may not be for everyone, and there are things Amazon will need to address as with any new device, but I certainly don't regret my purchase! It serves the purpose I hoped it would. My neurodivergent brain is so pleased with the pops of color on my screen and it's so much easier finding books in my library thanks to the ability to view the covers in color. I'm so happy Amazon listened to all the requests for color... Now if we could just get a Scribe in color! *hint hint Amazon team!* I've attached pictures, but please note that if the words in the screen are blurry it's due to my camera, not the device. They are sharper than my PW signature in person. The mouse on the stack of books and the floral/succulent screensavers are both with the device powered off (so no light).

2nd UPDATE (March 12, 2025): The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite that I purchased to replace my yellowed Kindle Colorsoft in November arrived with EVEN WORSE YELLOWING. I could NOT believe it. So instead, I sent THAT Kindle back, and requested Amazon send a replacement Kindle Colorsoft instead. The replacement Colorsoft arrived in December and I sent back my original, yellowed Colorsoft. Then over the past three months, that replacement Colorsoft BEGAN YELLOWING TOO. It's ABSOLUTELY clear Amazon did not change their production process. No matter what 2024 Kindle device you buy, its display will eventually turn yellow due to the faulty display adhesive they switched to in 2024. DON'T BOTHER. Just DON'T BOTHER. If I could give my Kindle Colorsoft--for which I'll never get my money back--ZERO STARS, I would. Same with the 2024 Paperwhite. I just use my iPad now to read Kindle books. But I will NEVER, EVER buy another Kindle device. Neither should you. ____ UPDATE: After 10 days of owning my new Kindle ColorSoft, I changed my 5-star review to a 1-star review. My original review is below, and all of it still stands. But the weird, prominent yellow bar across the bottom of the display--almost like someone wrote across the display with a yellow hi-liter, is a real thing. The only way not to see it, or be distracted by it, is to pump your display warmth up so that the yellow from the warmth blends in with the bottom stripe. It's ridiculous that Amazon went to market with this display flaw. Were they hoping no one would notice? Now reviewers are saying there won't even be a hardware fix--there may instead be a "software fix". Which means either making your whole display yellow or putting a black bar across the bottom of the screen. Either way, hard nope. If you request a call from Amazon Product Services, you have options to return or exchange your dingy Colorsoft. If you return it, you'll wait 2 to 4 weeks for your funds to be processed back to you. If you exchange it, you can only do so for a new, hopefully corrected Colorsoft, and they're not shipping for "3 to 5 weeks". Until then, you get to keep on using your faulty one. If you want to exchange for a different new Kindle model, Amazon will NOT process that for you in one transaction. Instead, you have to initiate a return--triggering that 2 to 4 week wait for your refund--and purchase a different new Kindle SEPARATELY. Which means, until your refund arrives, you're essentially lending Amazon your money for a month for free. Making things EVEN MORE complicated, if you used your old Kindle for trade-in value, Amazon WILL NOT give you that value back, giving you zero options for a clean return. The Product Services representative will, however, give you a 20% discount code to purchase a new Kindle. But you still have to do the return and new purchase separately. (And wait that month for Amazon to give you back your original purchase price.) All in all, the handling of this complete launch misfire has been unacceptably customer-unfriendly. Amazon could make it SO MUCH EASIER for the people who placed advanced orders, traded in their old Kindles, and early adopted the Colorsoft to get their money back and get new devices. You would think they'd want to do that after all the hard promotion the Kindle management team did with tech media and influencers in mid-October. Instead, the nearly complete lack of proactive customer service for what is Amazon's 100% own goal and no one else's fault has turned their product ambassadors into naysayers. That's a lot of marketing money thrown in the toilet. I decided to return my Colorsoft, and use the 20% discount code to order a new Paperwhite. Amazon charged me A DOLLAR to send me a shipping label, and I have to BUY MY OWN BOX at UPS. (At this point, are you surprised? Whatever you do, DO NOT BUY THIS DEVICE. This launch has been an unmitigated disaster. If I want color book covers, I'll use the Kindle app on my iPad. You should, too. ____ ORIGINAL REVIEW: Like reading a newspaper with full-color photos. Not tablet-like photos, not meant to be. Absolutely joyful. A breath of fresh air to be able to easily browse the covers in your library, your wish list, and the Kindle Store. The Vivid mode makes the colors pop better. Auto-brightness and scheduled warmth make the device less fiddly. The alleged fuzzy look of reading B&W text due to the color layer is a nothing burger—the layer is barely noticeable at all. The layer allegedly making things darker is also mildly ridiculous. That’s what your brightness control is for—including when auto-brightness is on. Just choose your preferences once and you’re all set. And does anyone really care the battery now lasts for two MONTHS instead of three? Unless you were an Oasis owner, this will be the best Kindle you’ve ever owned. Take advantage of current generous trade-in offers and treat yourself.

Update 12.31.24: I heard that Amazon had started shipping out Colorsofts with the yellow banding apparently addressed. So I contacted customer service and even though I was beyond my originally allowed return date they VERY quickly shipped me a new device and a label to return the defective one. Not sure what they did or how they did it but my main (really only) issue the yellow band is gone. The color is sharp and just lovely. I’m enjoying it just as much as I’ve enjoyed every kindle I’ve had. This is at least my fifth generation of Kindle device and I’m still happy with the overall Kindle ecosystem. Highlighting and note taking are helpful when writing reviews and the multi color option of highlights let me categorize and annotate easily. While I still would have appreciated a more forward and front facing response and communication with those of us who purchased from the original run (I learned from a friend new ones were shipping, not Amazon), I’m willing to call it “new device bugginess” and just enjoy my device to its fullest. Original review: I was so excited for the arrival of a color e-ink e-reader to the Kindle ecosystem. I’ve been a kindle super user for about a dozen years now, I’ve tried out nearly every device Amazon has released in my perpetual pursuit of the perfect reading experience. This wasn’t it, it was close but for a device that costs nearly $300 retail any issues would be troublesome, but the yellow banding at the bottom of this device is kind of a big deal, and it isn’t just me. What Amazon could have done is come out and address this immediately, let customers know they are aware of the problem, they’re working on a fix, which may or may not be a firmware update. Or just do a full scale recall and head back to the drawing board for now. Instead what we’ve gotten is a patchwork of responses from regular customer service, each one a bit different. Any information we might have regarding what the plan to address the issue is from other owners who’ve tried to contact customer service, or review sites trying to help us decide the next step device owners might take. As it’s the first gen of color e-ink some issues were expected, but the lack of a clear plan for what is clearly a WIDESPREAD issue, and clear next step guidance for owners of their newest, device is lacking and until Amazon Kindle comes through with that we sit in limbo with a very expensive device with a major flaw. Removing this flaw from the review equation I would say this device is a strong 4 stars, the color itself is exactly the tone and brightness I’d been hoping for in a color ereader, the battery life is as expected and it’s a great addition to the Kindle family (but sadly the yellow screen banding overshadows all of the good about the device currently).

I like getting new technology, so I could not resist getting this new Colorsoft. It is slightly larger and the screen is brighter as compared to my Paperwhite 2021. So the big difference of course is the color which is available for book covers, highlighting, children’s books, magazines, and comics. The color is subtle, and not like color on an iPad or Computer. It is fun however. The screen is very responsive to touch. I also have a Scribe. It has many more LED lights so the screen is much brighter, it is much bigger and heavier and of course you can write on it. However it is not cozy to curl up and read with it. The Paperwhite is certainly cozy. The Colorsoft with the little larger screen and color is a very cozy and readable. So when it is my reading time, the Colorsoft is the one I reach for. Update: I have now seen a number of tech columns mentioning a problem with the Colorsoft Screen. They have mentioned a yellowish tint at the bottom of the screen. They said that Amazon is accepting requests for return or replacement because of this issue. I took a closer look at my Colorsoft and I did see a yellowish tint at the bottom of the screen and running partway up the right side. It wasn’t near the text. It wasn’t visible when you put it on the dark screen setting. So if Amazon is offering replacements I decided to try calling and see what the say about a replacement. I do not want to return it because I am very pleased with the Colorsoft otherwise. I contacted Amazon 2 different ways. One should have been the Kindle support number. Both did not seem to be aware of the issue. They both left the phone for a period of time and then seemed to be saying that yes there was an issue. After many repeats of the conversations they appeared to be saying it was a software issue and they were working on it. The first one said there would be a replacement when they get new ones. However there was no case number given to me, even though I asked for it. She had taken the device’s serial number and had my account information at the beginning of the call. At the end of the call I had no confidence anything would happen. So I called a Kindle Support number I had. This person was better at pretending she new about the issue. Again after much prodding and me repeating back what she was telling me nothing was clear. She too said it was software that they were working on it, that replacements were on back order. Again no case number. I would have liked to see that they staff have been informed of the issue and the next steps, and actually making a case file to be put on record that if the software issue if any was not resolved that I was on a list for a brand new corrected replacement. Those things were not clearly done. The Colorsoft is a really nice model and I could certainly live with this if I knew that this yellowish band would not spread upwards on the screen.

A perfect upgrade/2nd device to my 2018 (32gb) Kindle PW, especially considering it’s the 1st Gen of its kind. I was initially scared it’d feel a lot bigger than my current 6” reader (which I love size-wise because it fits in even the smallest of bags/pockets), but it honestly isn’t too noticeable & still light/easy to carry with me on-the-go. One of the first things I noticed was its speed & how much faster it was than my PW model. The 32gb of storage space was also something I didn’t want to compromise on because, imo, it’s such great value for the money and I really hate how they limit the other models to only 16gb (the Oasis and Scribe models just aren’t for me/too large & expensive). Regarding issues others have pointed out in reviews (and hence why I am updating my own review, after now having my CS for about a week)— I have yet to experience any *major* problems with the screen color or brightness/warmness (my device does have a very faint yellow tint at the bottom, but it’s barely noticeable so I really just…. don’t care lol, it doesn’t impact my reading at all). My favorite part is how you can switch the Color mode from “Standard” (for a more subtle, muted look) to “Vivid” (higher contrast than the latter setting, but still easy on the eyes & not too jarring). Lastly, I also love that Dark Mode + other misc things (like adding custom fonts) are still available. It IS worth noting that Dark Mode only works for [most] books & does NOT currently extend out to the Main Menu headers/Homepage— I say “most” because I have some downloaded files on my Kindles and, even though they’re the right file format (.epub), they don’t always allow for certain features to work for whatever reason. I genuinely didn’t realize that Dark Mode didn’t work across the board, so that was a little disappointing to discover later, but hopefully it’s something that can be fixed via software updates or in later Generations! For some added context: I have really bad eyes & need to wear glasses daily but, even so, I still do *not* view this as a dealbreaker on whether or not the CS device is worth it, because I still believe it is. Rather, I just use my PW at night & at home (so that I can utilize Dark Mode to the fullest), and keep/bring my CS now when I’m out or at work. Overall, my recommendation is just to do your own research on each model before buying! If some of the features (or lack thereof/limitations) are a dealbreaker for you, I’d consider holding off or buying a different model. However, if you’re just looking for a simple & new or supplemental e-reader that has plenty of space AND also just happens to be in color, I’d say this one fits the bill just fine!

Update: Amazon customer service contacted me less than 24 hours after leaving this review to "talk about my experience. After a lengthy 30-minute phone call, the CS rep assured me that Amazon is working on fixing the issue, and I would be put on the list to get a replacement as soon as the screen issue was resolved. Fast forward to 11/22/24. Jill from Amazon CS (a different CS rep than before) called me and asked if I still wanted a replacement for my Colorsoft. Of course, I said yes. While I had her on the phone, I asked repeatedly if they had fixed the yellow bar issue, and she told me that, without a doubt, they had. She also told me that Amazon would send my replacement Colorsoft via UPS Express, and she made sure to point out that my replacement device would not come in an Amazon box, "so don't be alarmed." I got off the phone feeling cautiously optimistic that I would have a yellow-bar-less Colorsoft in a few days. I got the replacement on 11/26/24. It came via UPS Express, as Jill said, and inside the box was a brand new sealed Colorsoft, two Kindle stickers, and a handwritten note with heartfelt apologies and assurance that this new device had been thoroughly checked out and was perfect. Spoiler alert: It was not. The yellow band at the bottom of the screen was still very much there and borderline worse than my original. The whole screen was yellow/green tinted, and the text wasn’t as crisp. There was also horrible ghosting, even when the “refresh every page turn” option was turned on. I immediately replied to the email I received with the tracking information for my replacement device, but I have gotten no response, so I contacted Customer Service again today. The first rep I spoke to via chat didn't even acknowledge my issue. They thanked me for being an Amazon customer and closed the chat session. I then contacted phone support, and after fighting with an automated assistant trying to get me to return my Colorsoft, I got a human on the phone. Today's CS phone rep, Dainty, told me that the yellow screen issue is "still emerging," and no replacements will be issued until the yellow screen issue has been fixed. This ensures that defective devices do not continue to reach customers. She assured me that I would receive a replacement as soon as the issue was resolved but could not give me a timeframe for when that might be. This is getting ridiculous. It's fixed, or it's not fixed. People are getting replacements, or no replacements can be issued. Some people have gotten a perfect replacement, and others, like me, have gotten a worse device than the original. I'm happy to be patient and wait for Amazon to fix this problem correctly. The Colorsoft is an awesome device, but for $300, it should be perfect. And it's absolutely not. However, honest communication would be much appreciated instead of excuse after excuse and futile attempts to appease unhappy customers in hopes they will quiet down and accept less than perfection. I have added updated pictures comparing my "fixed" replacement with the original. My Original is on the Left (or the top in one photo), and the Replacement is on the right (bottom). I will update this review as things progress. ------------------------------------ I’ve owned every iteration of Kindle since the very first generation, and I was thrilled to hear that Amazon was finally releasing a color Kindle! I’ve wanted to browse my e-books in color for years, but e-ink technology has only recently advanced to the point where a color e-ink display is both affordable and of good enough quality for use. When Kobo released the Libra Color earlier this year, I seriously considered switching. But I am so deeply ingrained in the Kindle ecosystem that I decided to wait patiently for Kindle to make my perfect e-reader. Amazon got SO CLOSE to perfection but ultimately they missed the mark. First, let’s talk about the positives: 1. The Colorsoft is light and perfectly sized, and page turns are lightning-fast. 2. The color e-ink screen displays some of the most vibrant colors I've seen on a color e-ink device. However, if you expect the vividness of an OLED or LCD tablet screen, you may be disappointed. But in terms of color e-ink, the colors on the Kindle Colorsoft look fantastic. 3. The color e-ink “grain” on the Colorsoft is superb compared to other color e-ink devices, but it’s still noticeable. All color e-ink screens have a slight graininess due to the film layer that transforms black and white gradients into the colors you see. While this slightly grainy appearance may bother some users, the Colorsoft’s screen is one of the best I’ve seen in terms of grain. In fact, I think it resembles text printed on paper in a book more than the typical black-and-white e-ink screen. If you prefer super crisp text on a buttery smooth background, you should consider either of the new Paperwhite models. 4. The holographic Amazon logo on the back of the Colorsoft. That was a cute touch. Now for the negatives: 1. At the bottom of the screen, there is a large muted yellow strip that gradually fades about an inch into the page. It almost looks like an old paperback that has yellowed with age. I've tried to ignore it, but the more I read, the more distracting it becomes. A color e-ink screen is naturally darker than a regular e-ink screen, so you have to increase the intensity of the backlight. Unfortunately, as the screen on the Colorsoft gets brighter, the yellow strip becomes more pronounced. While it’s easy to overlook when reading full-color publications like comics or manga, it stands out significantly when reading regular books on a white background. The yellow strip will disappear when you switch to the new "inverted color" option, which makes sense because the page turns black and that overpowers the yellow. 2. The beloved system-wide dark mode is no longer available. Each book now has an option in the theme settings that allows you to invert the screen. When using the new inverted color setting, the page turns black and the text turns white, just like dark mode, but the Kindle menus and the background of some images remain white. While this isn't a major issue, it could blind you with brightness if you're reading in the dark and accidentally access a menu. 3. There are no page-turn buttons. We haven't had them since the Oasis, so I don't really understand the complaints. Every picture clearly shows that the Colorsoft doesn’t have page-turn buttons. The Colorsoft is identical to the Kindle Paperwhite, but with a color e-ink screen. While I miss having physical buttons, I have adapted to tapping the screen to turn the page. 4. The power button is located on the bottom of the device. While it is possible for your finger to accidentally hit it if you hold the Kindle in a certain way, this issue is easily avoided by using a protective case. Personally, I have never experienced any problems with the power button being positioned at the bottom of the device. While issues 2-4 may be concerns for some users, they are relatively minor compared to the yellow tint at the bottom of the screen. Slight adjustments to the user interface and some design flaws can easily be overlooked. However, a screen that appears as though it has been dipped in yellow food coloring is a much bigger problem. Without that annoying yellow tint at the bottom of the screen, the Kindle Colorsoft could have been the perfect color e-ink e-reader. At nearly $300, it should indeed be flawless, but unfortunately, it isn't. This is incredibly disappointing. I hope Amazon can address the screen issues and resolve them soon because, without that yellow tint, the Kindle Colorsoft would be the color e-reader I've always dreamed of.