Its a pricey upgrade, but its going to change the way we see Kindle forever.
But it’s finally here, and it is a decidedly Kindle take on color e-readers.
Monochrome Kindles will feel like a step backward once you’ve seen this screen.
The Kobo Libra Colour uses averysimilar color E Ink display
Maybe in the future.
Scrolling is actually kind of amazing on the Kindle Colorsoft, and so is zooming.
On E Ink tablets, this is usually a weakness that might have been fatal for comic reading.
The Kobo Libra Colour uses averysimilar color E Ink display
That doesn’t mean the Colorsoft has what I’d consider a premium build.
It feels more premium than this.
The Kindle Colorsoft display is all that matters, and it’s a delight.
A panel from All-Star Superman, available on Comixology Unlimited
It’s very bright, for a Kindle, and the color looks good enough for graphic art.
I wouldn’t invest in photography art books for the Kindle Colorsoft, but Manga looks perfect.
So, everyone is due for an upgrade.
Just saying, the Kindle Oasis felt like a premium e-reader
TheKobo Libra Colouris a fantastic equipment.
Do you need color?
If you aren’t reading graphic novels, probably not, but what is this, 1983?
Reading the latest tattooed, smoking Nun detective story on my Kindle Colorsoft
Are we still choosing between color displays and monochrome?
It doesn’t feel like a first-generation technology, or an early attempt.
It’s a Kindle in color, and it might be the best Kindle yet.
That power button is unfortunately placed
Actually, the Paperwhite Signature is available in some very nice metallic colors.
Is it worth the additional cost?
Adding color increases the price by 75% versus the Kindle Paperwhite.
This is a good depiction of color on the Kindle Colorsoft, with no touch-ups
I cant say its worth the premium, but it doesnt feel too expensive for the luxury.
I just wish the rest of the unit felt more luxurious to justify the higher price.
Some metallic paint would help.
Here’s a closeup of a color e-book cover
Ironic for Amazons first color Kindle?
Still, I’d love to see a Kindle Oasis comeback with this display.
Not just for the Oasiss premium build, but for the page turn buttons as well.
Highlighting a book in different colors on the Kindle Colorsoft
Instead, the color layer is independent, and the color pixels are much less dense.
There was no weird cycling through colors, as I’ve seen on other color E Ink devices.
They look like paper, as they should, so don’t expect a glossy magazine.
You can choose Standard or Vivid color styles, but they look very similar
Get aniPadif you want bright and saturated.
I dont expect perfect color fidelity from a Kindle, so it didnt bother me one bit.
The whole Kindle interface has been dramatically improved with faster processing and the new display.
A TechRadar.com web page on the Kindle Colorsoft browser
The old delays, flashing screen refreshes, and taps lost to the ether are no longer a problem.
I prefer Amazons simpler software over a more robust E Ink tablet, like anOnyx Boox Note Air 3.
E Ink tablets are better when the interface keeps things simple.
Hulk isn’t the greenest, but it still looks fantastic
If you use Amazon and get your books from Kindle, the software is made for you specifically.
Amazon offersComixologyinstead, which has a much more limited Unlimited subscription offering.
Id rather see partnerships with the big name publishers.
USB-C charging or go wireless with the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition
There’s a web web app, but it cant load complicated web pages properly.
Amazon also lets you connect directly to Goodreads to report the book youre currently reading and write reviews.
Goodreads looks especially sharp on the Colorsoft display.
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: performance
It’s a book.
What sort of performance do you want?
In the past, I’d tap the screen and kind of wonder if my touch got through.
On the new Kindle Colorsoft, the screen responds immediately.
What’s most impressive is watching the E Ink display zoom and pan around pages and images.
Otherwise, performance was great in my time with the Kindle Colorsoft.
It’s a book, and now it turns pages faster than before.
Amazon improved the performance of a book.
That’s kind of cool.
I was reading comic books from Comixology Unlimited, includingPlanet HulkandAll-Star Superman.
The Kindle Colorsoft doesn’t charge super fast.
I guess after eight weeks of power it assumes you’ll be patient for a couple of hours.
you’ve got the option to read while it charges, of course.
Should I buy the Kindle Colorsoft Signature?
Buy it if…
You want a Kindle UpgradeIt’s the Kindle in color.
I read graphic novels in color and books in black and white on the Kindle.
I read during the day and before bed, adjusting the color temperature to the time of day.
I read in bed, on the couch, on the train, and in the bathtub.
I dunked the Kindle Colorsoft and rinsed it under a running shower.
I tested the web browsing features by visiting TechRadar and reading articles at our own site.
It wasnt a great experience.
I connected Bluetooth headphones, Pixel Buds Pro, and listened to Audible audiobooks.
I used the Kindle Colorsoft without a case for the entirety of my review.
Read we test
[First reviewed November 2024]
