Kindle Colorsoft overview: Is shade actually value $250?

Desk of Contents

The Kindle Colorsoft has had a bizarre rollout. The colour e-reader debuted in October of 2024 however rapidly paused delivery after buyer stories of discoloration. Since then, the Colorsoft has quietly been available on the market with two new iterations becoming a member of the lineup. Now the Colorsoft assortment contains Kindle Colorsoft (16GB), Kindle Colorsoft Signature Version (32GB), and Kindle Colorsoft Youngsters.

Amazon’s Kindles admittedly joined the colour e-reader occasion fairly late. Earlier than the Colorsoft’s launch, Kobo already had two shade e-readers, the Clara Color and Libra Color, Boox had the Go Shade 7, and the Outstanding Paper Professional pill has a shade show too (though the Outstanding is extra of a paper pill than an e-reader).

With the debut of the Colorsoft, Amazon additionally had an enormous worth downside, as the primary machine launched — the Colorsoft Signature Version — price $279.99. As of July 2025, Amazon launched the extra reasonably priced Kindle Colorsoft, which we’re right here to overview right now.

At $249.99, it is nonetheless an funding of an e-reader — so is it value it? Listed below are our ideas on the Kindle Colorsoft.

Kindle Colorsoft worth and specs

From the surface, Kindle Colorsoft and Paperwhite are indistinguishable.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

As talked about above, the Kindle Colorsoft with 16 GB prices $249.99. To place that worth into perspective, that is $90 greater than the comparable Kindle Paperwhite however $30 cheaper than the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Version.

In comparison with different shade e-readers, it nonetheless runs costly. The Kobo Clara Color prices the identical because the Paperwhite at $159.99, whereas the Kobo Libra Color prices $229.99. So, worth alone, it is one of the costly shade e-readers.

Let’s get into the specs of the Kindle Colorsoft:

• 7-inch show

• As much as 94 nits brightness with adjustable heat

• 300 ppi decision for black and white and 150 ppi for shade

• USB-C charging port with as much as 8 weeks of battery life

• 16GB of storage

• IPX8 waterproof ranking could be totally submerged in water for as much as one hour

• Is available in black, raspberry, and jade

The colour would not disappoint

Evaluating the e-reader to the bodily ebook.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The massive show-stopping high quality of the Kindle Colorsoft is the colour show, so that is the precedence right here. The colour seems to be very nice on the Kindle Colorsoft.

I borrowed a duplicate of Heartstopper Quantity 3 with Libby and despatched it to the Kindle Colorsoft, however I needed to see the way it really in comparison with the actual factor. After grabbing a bodily copy of the novel from the library, I set them side-by-side to see how the visuals in contrast.

The Kindle Colorsoft does a pleasant job of precisely color-matching the bodily copy. Nevertheless, the colours on the Colorsoft are muted in comparison with the ebook, even once you flip up the brightness. I want the show have been larger distinction to seize punchy, vibrant hues.

I additionally pulled out the Apple iPad (eleventh gen) to evaluate the colour shows on the Colorsoft.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

However I needed to confirm that its muted tone wasn’t simply how the e-books have been illustrated, so I pulled out my iPad to view the e-book throughout the Libby app. On the iPad, the colours have been extra vibrant and correct to the bodily ebook than the Kindle Colorsoft. Plus, the iPad highlighted the Colorsoft’s decrease decision.

You will not miss a ton of shade whereas utilizing the Kindle Colorsoft — simply do not count on the identical vibrancy you’d count on with a bodily copy. If that is a precedence for you in studying digitally, go for a pill as a substitute, as shade e-ink shows nonetheless have a methods to go by way of decision and high quality.

It runs identical to a Kindle Paperwhite

With the addition of shade to a Kindle, I used to be curious if it will have an effect on the effectivity of its working system. Fortunately, it would not. The Colorsoft runs identical to the Kindle Paperwhite, which is to say, rapidly and effectively. There’s little to no lag time between pages, and it has a 300 ppi decision when utilizing black and white, adjustable heat and brightness, and an IPX8 waterproof ranking.

There’s one small distinction when working the Colorsoft in comparison with the Paperwhite. When utilizing the e-reader in shade, the display screen tends to flash between pages whereas loading. It is a frequent plight amongst shade e-readers, and one thing you may discover true amongst Kobo’s shade e-readers, too.

Aside from the apparent shade side, the Colorsoft boasts one benefit over the usual Kindle Paperwhite: It’s ad-free. This was a nice shock to me, however one I would count on for a tool that prices $250.

I’m disillusioned that Colorsoft would not have auto-adjusting brightness. For that, you may need to spend much more on the Colorsoft Signature Version.

Is the Kindle Colorsoft value it?

Is the Kindle Colorsoft value it? We’re choosing different e-readers.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

For the typical reader, no, the Kindle Colorsoft is just not value it. Except you are largely studying graphic novels, you do not want shade on an e-reader. In relation to buying a Kindle, it is a greater worth to go for the Paperwhite and even the Signature Version.

In case you are actually keen about getting a shade e-reader, I would discover Kobo’s choices as a substitute. The Clara Color is our favourite e-reader at Mashable, and whereas it does have a barely smaller display screen, it possesses the identical brightness and backbone because the Kindle Colorsoft — to not point out it is $90 cheaper. If you need the larger display screen, the Kobo Libra Color can also be nice.

I’d suggest this Kindle Colorsoft to folks shopping for for teenagers. This mannequin is $20 cheaper than the Colorsoft Youngsters, and through setup, you may select to set it up so it is kid-friendly. The colour show is a big boon for teenagers who need to expertise their favourite books in shade, plus it is a significantly better distraction-free reader than a pill.