Amazon's newest 7-inch e-readers are on sale now, and the first reviews are in. Wired and Engadget both tested the 2026 Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft, and both outlets gave the lineup strong marks: Wired rated the pair 8/10, while Engadget scored the Paperwhite Signature Edition 8.6/10 and the Colorsoft Signature Edition 8.5/10.
The headline changes are physical, not technical. Amazon added aluminum-backed Signature Editions, new color options, and — for the first time — page-turn buttons through a pogo-pin cover. But the improvements arrive as Kindle prices sit higher than a year ago, and reviewers say buyers should think carefully about which version they actually need.
Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft 2026 specs and prices
Both devices share most of their hardware. You get a flush-front 7-inch screen, adjustable warm light, IPX8 waterproofing and the same storage tiers: 16GB on the base models, 32GB on the Signature Editions. The Colorsoft is the only one with a color display, and its blue tint is visible next to the Paperwhite at matching brightness, per Wired.
The biggest functional upgrade is the $80 Page Turn Cover, a magnetic case with physical buttons that attaches through pogo pins. Only the Signature Editions support it. Wired also praised the new $35 Kindle Click, a Bluetooth remote that turns pages and works with Kindles from 2024 onward.
- 7-inch display on both models, 300 ppi for black-and-white and 150 ppi for color (Colorsoft only)
- Base models: plastic body, 16GB storage, $200 for the Paperwhite and $290 for the Colorsoft
- Signature Editions: aluminum frame, 32GB storage, $250 for the Paperwhite and $320 for the Colorsoft
