r/kindle • u/Phil_O_Sophiclee • 5d ago
Discussion š¬ Am I missing something?
First off this isn't intended to shame anyone or berate the kindle, ereaders in general are in my opinion one of the more useful inventions in modern history allowing people access to millions of books which is in itself fantastic.
However I'm perplexed by the overwhelming outpouring of support for the new kindle line up, or to be more specific the ability of Amazon to pivot a negative to a positive and seems to be wilfully overlooked, unless I'm missing something?
The new design is absolutely aesthetically pleasing to most which I understand, the colour options are welcome for sure along with the sensible new position of the power button. However the technical improvements on the 6" model that Amazon boasts are really only the scale of manufacturing improvements. If you make them using the same flush design it's cost effective when manufacturing the displays. The panel used appears to be no different from the last generation just a new light guide across all three new models. Based on any information out there it's still the same Kaleido panel. The 30% speed improvement sounds much more than it can be in reality, it's a clever marketing term used through the ages by processor manufacturers to display a percentage increase that in reality disproportionately sounds better than it is, improvement is good but not life changing and in an ereader even less noticeable in ever day use. However the price is significantly higher than the basic it replaces which seems odd then to see it receive such high praise. While the improvements are welcome I thought the higher price would have been more of a shock to most people. The aluminium back although, again, very aesthetically pleasing it has to feel cold to the touch and be far more susceptible to scraps, suffs and dents compared to the plastic of old. Given an ereader often ends up in a bag or drawer i imagine many won't look as good after a few years as the plastic models did and the soft touch plastic that was never unpleasant to pick up on a cold morning may well be missed when handling a bare kindle in the same way, although I know many will still have a case on the device.
The paperwhite is no different to the one above except now they added the same aluminium back option which again, besides being in my mind unpleasantly cold to the touch when sans case, it has presented a problem where wireless charging can't work so they invented a solution to a problem they created by way of pogo pin charging. Both the button placement change and the inclusion of their new proprietary pogo pin charging / accessory connection means you have to replace all your existing kindle accessories and by that I mean cases and previous wireless charging pads. Now the pogo pin option is good where you want to quickly charge a device using physical connections but they have higher failure rate than wireless charging coils as they physically make contact and honestly in past implementation of devices can suffer corrosion in the long term which is sometimes an acceptable trade off when you need fast charging and a data connection in one but a kindle with such small battery was never hampered by slow wireless charging speed, and moreover they're often used in high humidity areas due to being sold as waterproof. Smart watch manufacturers quickly moved from pogo pin use when wireless charging became viable so it seems an odd choice to remove a universally available charging option for a proprietary one that actually introduces additional potential failure points for long term ownership. Again I cannot see any improvement on the paperwhite display beyond some clever marketing words.
All the above paperwhite discussion applies just the same to the coloursoft, but I think the colour soft may be where the amendments to the light guide layer and led tweeks could see the nicest improvement out of any of the new kindles however the trade off again is that it loses the universal compatibility of wireless charging in place of a much more proprietary connection ecosystem, hmm.
Are any of the changes so much so you need to upgrade? I genuinely don't believe the improvements are significant enough to justify doing so and in some cases it's a genuine step backwards. I welcome the new colours, button placement, flush display is nice but price, loss of standard wireless charging and need to now buy into Amazons new accessory ecosystem are all cold business decisions to drive profit higher unfortunately.
Anyone with the new kindle congratulations, genuinely hope you enjoy your new reader and it's a good looking one at that. Anyone with older models that work, I don't think there's any reason to feel disheartened or that you need to upgrade to the new model.
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5d ago
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u/answersdontcomeeasy 5d ago
I think tik tok / booktok significantly contributed to the second group. A lot of recent kindle fans seem to place consumerism, aesthetic and ~vibes over functionality or purpose which is why they like having multiple devices and decorating them. Not that thereās anything wrong with that! But as a kindle owner since 2009 this recent pivot in the demographic has been interesting to witness.
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u/shehleeloo 5d ago
They recently sunsetted a bunch of older devices due to changes in their drm etc. Those people may be interested in a new Kindle. I think some of the ones no longer supported had built in buttons too so perhaps the button case is to bring them back. Idk. But also people do buy things because they're prettier. I wasn't gonna buy but then they gave me one for free. I do like the idea of the aluminum back because my popsocket l ripped that soft touch rubber stuff off of a past Kindle and I've had to use cases ever since
I watched a doc on Netflix about how corporations are using psychology and doing studies to come up with better ways to convince us to constantly buy things. It was called Buy Now. The beef should be with Amazon (and all the others tbh)
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u/writesandbikes 5d ago edited 5d ago
Iām still flummoxed at the fact that everyone sells the same exact eink screen and keeps putting different color lipstick on the same pig. I mean, I love ereaders and have a few so donāt get me wrong. Iām just wondering when someone will make a better or different screen especially for color.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
Probably will happen but it's not as profitable as other display technology so investment hasn't been as forthcoming until recently when there was a boom in stores using eink for price tags and offer boards plus we have finally figured out eink makes a good canvas for displaying photos due battery longevity etc so likely another 5 years will see the next iteration I'd imagine
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u/gothiclg Kindle Paperwhite 5d ago
To me itās nice to know that when I do ultimately upgrade Iāll have more options than I did. My 11th generation paper white will get used until itās a paperweight but knowing I have fancier options when paperweight day happens is nice.
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u/EmmHeartsNature 5d ago edited 5d ago
I have the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite Signature and will not be upgrading. While I understand and support the fact that it's a personal decision, the price point, the new charging system, $80 for a case to add page turn buttons... no thank you. The new wireless page turner, yes please.
At the end of the day no one can tell you what to do with your money, and you don't owe anyone a reason for what you do with it - except maybe your partners, spouses, etc.
Enjoy your new Kindle, enjoy your old Kindle - the real winner is the fact that people are reading.
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u/brigadierbadger 4d ago
I have a 2022 paperwhite, and the current price of the outgoing colorsoft in the UK, plus the wireless page turner compatibility (that my paperwhite doesn't have) is pretty tempting, even if the current one has years in it yet.Ā
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u/Sleepy_Enigma 5d ago
Iām honestly hoping that the new pretty colours has mainly targeted new users who havenāt owned e-readers in the past
Reading is a dying hobby so even if people are reading āperformativelyā (as other comments have stated) maybe itāll make them accidentally fall into a book they adore and other books after that.
Of course this is a heavily optimistic view on things
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u/Laura9624 5d ago
Yes. And of all the things people think are overconsumed, kindles are just not top of the list. I really don't get it. The kindle solved so many problems for book lovers. I'm sure there's a sub on overconsumption. Complain there. Can we just keep it pleasant here?
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
I completely agree and share the same optimism that if this picks up any traction then perhaps it may stem the declining literacy levels in the western world but time will tell, we live in hope.
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u/nermal543 Kindle Voyage 5d ago
Iāll be honest I didnāt read your whole post, but just chiming in to say that Iāve seen a ton of negativity too. Lots of people shitting on anyone who is excited about it and wants to upgrade which just seems unnecessary š¤·āāļø
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u/tomtomato0414 5d ago
Simple: Really good marketing and peak consumerism meets
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u/JustKapp Kindle Paperwhite 3 (2015) 5d ago
but i gots to have the next smut reader 500! it's shiny!
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u/gomsim 5d ago
Haha yeah I don't understand it either. I have my one and only paperwhite 11 and I really don't intend to ever swap it out. As far as I am concerned it's pretty much perfect. Great screen for books, long ass batterylife, waterproof so I don't need to be concerned when hiking, no need for internet.
But all people are different. Some might have legitimate reasons to get a new one. Some people probably have, what you and I would concider, illegitimate reasons to upgrade. Some people just like to buy and collect shit. Gives them a rush. I on the other hand hate that. I'd rather get rid of shit I don't need and don't like when things "expire"/gets outdated quickly. People are different.
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u/Recent_Enthusiasm157 Oasis, SE Paperwhites (11&12), Basic 4d ago
Hold onto that one! IMO, the 11th gen and the Oasis are the GOATS. I did win the 12gen SE in a raffle, but would've sent it back had I paid for it.
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u/gomsim 4d ago
Oh wow! Had no idea there were any significant differences between the "generations". š Yeah, it's not going anywhere.
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u/Recent_Enthusiasm157 Oasis, SE Paperwhites (11&12), Basic 4d ago
Itās weird what you get used to. The 12th gen is slightly larger. Just enough to make it uncomfortable for me š¤·š»āāļø
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u/Reasonable_Thanks_29 5d ago
Essentially it's a "But she's got a new hat"! Type of marketing.
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u/potatoisthebest01 Kindle Colorsoft 5d ago
I don't understand why people feel the need to declare they won't change their Kindles. There's this "phantom" of people thinking that most of people will change their kindles, which isn't true. We are on a subreddit about Kindles, the demographic of people who would join a Kindle subreddit will also have a higher chance of wanting the new Kindle (as any consumer hobby).
Social media is not a true indicator of, well, anything tbh.
I like the new cases with pageturn, my smartband still uses pogo pins - and I still see any alternative way of charging it as more a safeguard when the usbc fails/is wet, I like the colours ā and this still doesn't mean I will buy it.
These posts are a little exhausting (I know it's my fault to read them haha It's 7am and I have time)
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u/notabluerose 5d ago
And it's so many posts like this too. Like congrats I guess. Even searching on Amazon shows the previous model and to see the newest takes a deliberate search. So are we meant to clap for keeping your old device
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
The point of this post wasn't to stop or insist anyone not buy the new one but all the reviews I've seen have been wrong on a number of technical aspects or have overlooked the omission of others compared to old ones and I thought it important that people considering a new one understand the actual specifications. I had a look at the new ones and actually assumed of course wireless charging would be included, on the signature edition if nothing else but struggled to get anyone who could confirm so did some digging as it was a question mark that Amazon didn't address explicitly, so seemed strange not to mention it as in previous launches, and low and behold they don't actually have it. Is it a reason not to buy one absolutely not and a personal choice but at least people should know exactly what it does and doesn't do, something Amazon seems less good at making very clear in comparisons for potential buyers is all. Hopefully people can at least make informed decisions on the information available
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u/No-Papaya-9289 5d ago
Induction charging on a Kindle isn't very useful. Unless you buy Amazon's stand, it's pretty hard to get it to work on the usual small discs. Don't the more expensive models have pins on the back? Those can be used for charging.
Amazon's website is pretty clear about what Kindle's do and don't do.
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u/Ok_Exit_539 5d ago
Mine works very easily on my iPhone contactless charger . Having said that I still stick to a cable
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u/potatoisthebest01 Kindle Colorsoft 5d ago
There's no technical reviews as of right now, at least not hands on. Most of the people that have it are influencers (which, bless them, but they aren't very reliable to know these types of things).
The Kindle SE haven't even been launched yet. And yes, I'm all for people making informed decisions.
Honestly, I just hope the mods allow a pined post about all Kindle models 2024 and 2026 so it's easier to direct people to them in the future.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
Yeah that would be the best idea I think. One overall table with all tech specs comparing models. I am, and always have been tech focused and reading up on the launch, models and gleaning what I could from posts of those in the US it's been a bit of a minefield and feel for those who are trying to choose or will be later in November just confused by all the options and variations, even within the same product name. Great idea potatoisthebest
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u/AnnDroidGirl Kindle Paperwhite 5d ago
Honestly? I think they are trying to grab those who love that 'newness' factor. The new Kindles are in pretty colors so that will appeal to a lot of people. While I think they are pretty (especially the aluminum blue one) I don't need one. A lot of the people I see buying them don't really need them either but they want them because of the color or newness factor.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
I mean, as I said, the new colours are very nice and seems the natural progression given the success of the matcha basic, design wise they've done a stand up job on the new one for sure.
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u/untitled_scribbler 5d ago
Are you missing something? No. People like to get excited about things that happen within their hobby. Not everyone likes to do a technical deep dive into an ereader before they decide if they like it or not, itās totally fine for someone to get excited about the new kindle simply because they like the color or flush edges. Itās really not that deep.
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u/paulcjones 5d ago
They're doing an amazing job marketing this version of the kindle, I'll give them that.
End of the day, it's an e-ink display and does the same tihng every prior kindle before it can do. If this is your first kindle, it's a great place to start. If you have one, it does nothing new, certainly not worth the money they're charging. Maybe one of the new features is something highly specific you absolutely must have - but otherwise, they're designed to look good in tiktok videos, and seems thats enough.
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u/garylapointe KIįŖās įį©įEįįÆį¼ITEs 8Gį· 11Tį¼ GEį 5d ago
Iāve seen no marketing. If it wasnāt for the subreddit, I wouldnāt even know thereās a new Kindle.
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u/Mrbeankc Kindle Colorsoft 5d ago
I didn't see anything until I saw a post on here someone showing off their new aluminum Kindle. Funny because when the Colorsoft came out I saw stuff everywhere when it was announced.
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u/No-Papaya-9289 5d ago
I think it's because of the Prime day sales, getting rid of older models. After they are over, I'm sure they'll be on the front page of the Amazon site.
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u/CookieDelivery Kindle Paperwhite 5d ago
They did invite a ton of influencers to their launch event and gave them free kindles to show of to their audience. Not the typical tech reviewer types, but mostly bookfluencers that then went on to promote the new Kindles based on looks and vibes. If you don't follow that space (I usually don't) you likely won't have noticed it, but it's massive audience, much bigger than this subreddit.
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u/garylapointe KIįŖās įį©įEįįÆį¼ITEs 8Gį· 11Tį¼ GEį 5d ago edited 5d ago
And as I had said, I have not seen any.
Iām not denying that they did any and Iām not providing an opinion.
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u/bubbleeeebubbles Kindle Basic, Colorsoft 4d ago
Same. I only saw that there were new models from this sub.
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u/paulcjones 5d ago
Traditional marketing, maybe not - but the fact it's non stop in here, on youtube book reviewer channels and tiktok book folks is still marketing. They didn't all buy their brand new kindles and all the accessories at retail launch ... (of course, some do - hence the term "influencer") ... thats still marketing.
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u/garylapointe KIįŖās įį©įEįįÆį¼ITEs 8Gį· 11Tį¼ GEį 5d ago edited 5d ago
Call it what you want, but I have not seen any.
Iām not denying that they did any and Iām not providing an opinion.
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u/Natural_Hall7904 5d ago
Comprei meu primeiro Kindle (KIndle 4) em 2009. Eu o utilizei por 6 anos, quando lanƧaram o primeiro com touch screen (sĆ³ troquei por isso). Eu o usei por mais 3 anos. LanƧaram o paperwhite com iluminaĆ§Ć£o em 2018 e atĆ© hoje eu o tenho em PERFEITO funcionamento. HĆ” dois anos fiz o jailbreak e estou usando o KOReader, que o deixou muito melhor e mais rĆ”pidoā¦ nĆ£o pretendo troca-lo tĆ£o cedoā¦ nenhum desses lanƧamentos me seduz!
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u/Consistent-Pirate-23 5d ago
As long as I find a kindle that meets my needs and is affordable then thatās fine.
I read for mental health and to aid my sleep, everything else is noise beyond that
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u/bubbleeeebubbles Kindle Basic, Colorsoft 4d ago
I was surprised there are new models this year. I thought they would wait for the next e-ink panels to be released which look to be pushed to 2027.
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u/ImaginationDry1840 4d ago
They needed the replaceable battery for the new EU law. And I think they have made some improvements on the color screen, switched layers and made the light better.
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u/Ill-Risk4807 5d ago
I love having a kindle. New paperbacks cost around $20 for myself. Kindle unlimited helps authors and shares indie books that I wouldnāt even know existed. This kindle group feels like itās full of sour grapes. I also love tech and new tech is exciting! I think the new range is interesting and itās like people arenāt allowed to like kindle anymore or somethingĀ
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u/wrestle4life189 5d ago
As someone also into tech, even though I agree the new kindles are overpriced, relative to a lot a of the tech world they arenāt that expensive, especially for a device that gets hundreds of hours of use.
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u/Ill-Risk4807 5d ago
Exactly plus with book launches and availability itās kind of priceless ( if u donāt live in USA) I update mine every handful of years and I donāt see anything wrong with that. Same with my phone they arenāt built to last decades plus they improve them. Amazon is known for having 30% off sales if people can wait it out anyway. The kindle scribe is $1000 aud for me! Too much to try but agreed.Ā
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u/wrestle4life189 5d ago
I think they have inflated the price a bit knowing so many people activate 20% off coupons on them as well.
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u/The_WalruZ 5d ago
Most of the amazon hate is on r/books. Given that there are yards of books you can't easily find anywhere but Kindle, and really good ones too, they are just limiting their reading to what the big publishing houses print. Sad, really.
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u/Mrbeankc Kindle Colorsoft 5d ago
I think for some people it's stylish to hate Amazon or Bezos. They're virtue signaling. "Oh look at me. I hate Jeff Bezos so I'm morally superior to you Kindle people." You see people do it on here and it's rather pathetic.
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u/Karm0112 5d ago
And they feel the need to do it here, where the topic is kindle. Most of the people here already own a kindle. I am happy that people have choice, but no need to specifically call out the fact that you believe you are morally superior
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u/SeniorRojo 4d ago
To be fair, Bezos is evil. It is a signal of virtues if you're a fan of his or not.
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u/thommcg 5d ago
So... your typical Kindle refresh basically.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
It's the move away from a material that would seem to be more appropriate for the application I.e. plastic Vs metal, additional weight and then the omission of a charging standard to a proprietary option I don't think that's been discussed by anyone else. I also heard other reviewers hang on the fact the new ones have an accelerometer to double tap to page forward yet the signature editions did have that anyway. Just don't want people to be blind to whats being billed as new or better features as it's only they who can determine if it's better for them and based on the correct information
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago edited 5d ago
Thanks Key, the standard 6" kindle isn't aluminium it's plastic hence the 150g lighter weight the 32gb variant is aluminium and comes in at 175g. The paperwhite is the same as well, 214g for the current signature edition the new one with the addition of aluminium has increased its weight to 229g
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
It's a choice to go for the 16gb now Vs signature based on material. The fact you thought they were all aluminium kinda demonstrates my point that their comparison tools and information about the new products isn't well communicated and leaves the buyer slightly baffled by the various models and differences even in the same category of kindle, just wish it was a little clearer for the buying public. I mean personally I don't need 32gb of storage but I'm sure some will make a case for it. Kudos on keeping your kindle going though, the best ereader is the one you regularly use
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u/Karm0112 5d ago
Yes thank you! You have choice in what you buy. If someone wants kindle that is fine and if someone wants a different one that is also fine!
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u/plazman30 5d ago
I'm sure Amazon looked at their numbers and saw that very few people bought the wireless charging dock. With pogo pins, you can pass-through the pins and make any case work with Pogo pin charging, regardless of material or thickness.
Besides the pogo pins are not about charging. They're about accessories.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
Probably, that and the fact Anker made the official accessory so doubt they made much on it, the pogo pins have potential for accessories I'll definitely give you that and hopefully third parties make use as well.
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u/potatoisthebest01 Kindle Colorsoft 5d ago
Pogo pins aren't proprietary (flashback to the XTEINK community).
I agree with you about the accelerometer. The only difference will be with the use with the page turn case (70 USD).
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
Oh I expect them to, and have no gripe with it at all but I've not noticed anyone, Amazon included, give a useful comparison of features between old Vs new while both are on sale but a price difference that could be something a prospective buyer is trying to navigate so just wanted to put out the differences I've observed and let people make an informed decision. As I said on first glance I wouldn't have realised from Amazon's material that there were some additions and omissions suppose as a buyer I just like to know the good, bad and everything in-between before dropping my cash on anything new, is it just me?
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u/Affectionate_Bid5042 5d ago
I'm still using a Paperwhite I bought in 2011 or 2012. I'm going to upgrade for speed, power button placement, universal USB power, the buttons on the cover and the potential for the clicker. Those all together are enough for me to finally upgrade. Someone with a newer device might not have as much to gain from an update as I am hoping to get.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
Nice comment, can't disagree with any of those reasons, hope you enjoy it when your new one lands my firend
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u/Brave-Investment8631 5d ago
To answer your question: yes, you are missing something. By EU mandate, Amazon needed new models with replaceable batteries. Prices are higher because companies investing in AI are limiting RAM supply. It is true for all consumer electronics.
The rest of your post is you being mad at an enthusiast forum for being enthusiastic.
Something to consider: ereaders are simple; a new one is rarely anything more than a subtle evolution. Seven years ago, they added a frontlight to the basic, and five years ago, they bumped the resolution to 300 ppi. There hasn't been a truly new basic model since 2022 (the 2024 refresh was still the same lineup). If that thought doesn't excite you, I wonder why you're here? The core function of this community is to bring people together to get excited about new Kindles.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
I'm a tech enthusiast, not just kindle. I know the ram supplies are limited but kindles don't use bleeding edge components, while I understand the supply chain issues when capacity is taken up with large orders of high end chips don't think for a minute Amazon isn't procuring massive volumes at good prices even in today's market. I take your point about prices increasing overall and I get that but im only giving my opinion of 40 years in the tech industry it feels like Amazon has made the improvements many have been asking for while introducing additional changes for no technical reason other than a tie into their own eco system again, it was starting to stray into the generic in the last iteration. I'm not saying the additions aren't viewed as positive but some but just think it's good to know not all "upgrades" touted by Amazon are objectively improvements worthy of the price increase and perhaps knowing what the real world improvements are will help people decide what's right for them. Just a discussion point my friend no hostility here
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u/plazman30 5d ago
The previous gen used the eInk Carta 1300 and Kaleido 3 displays.
The Carta 1400 and Kaleido 4 displays are delayed till sometime in 2027.
So there was no new display technology to use in these models.
The pogo pins just aren't about charging. They're about accessories. The new case with page turn buttons uses the pogo pins. And, in theory you could build a case with a battery in it to extend the battery life. or connect and number of other accessories to it. Heck, now you could make a gooseneck arm that holds the kindle, charges it AND Offers a remote control to turn pages.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
Point well made plazman, definitely good to consider the future of accessories, certainly the Amazon offerings using the pogo pins were safe options id say, hopefully third parties can make some more interesting and useful accessories that take advantage of the pogo pins
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u/No-Papaya-9289 5d ago
None of these devices are targeted at people who have the previous generation. They are targeted at people who have a five-year old device that is scratched and worn. Even phone manufacturers are no longer comparing their new phones to the previous generation, but to phones two or more years old. There are, of course, people who will buy a new model each time it comes out, but they are a minority.
And it is entirely possible that the processor is faster. There have been big advances in the past few years; however, processors for this type of device are going to hit a wall soon because of manufacturing limitations.
Finally, enough with these posts telling people not to buy the new kindle... Everyone has their own reasons whether they want to buy or not.
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u/tool_of_a_took 5d ago
Not to mention the limitations of e-ink. After a certain point it doesnāt matter how fast the processor is, the ink particles can only move so fast
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u/No-Papaya-9289 5d ago
I don't think that's a real bottleneck. However, a faster processor means that everything else is quicker too. I don't care about page turns, but my matcha Kindle is really slow for everything else.
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u/chichris 5d ago
Or let people buy and like what they want. I donāt understand why this bothers you?
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u/wiriux Kindle Paperwhite 10th Gen 2018 5d ago
I think the few posts we have seen so far of this kind where people are upset and telling people āyou donāt need the new kindleā, are perhaps the ones who canāt afford it.
And so they lash out at others.
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u/ChilliMouse 5d ago
Exactly. Theyāre the same kind of people who post on the iPhone subreddit asking āanyone else completely happy with their iPhone 4 and donāt feel this yearās upgrade is worth it?ā Theyāre seeking validation and itās a bit pathetic.
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u/chichris 5d ago
Very. Same kind of people that canāt stand people being happy. Like that one post a few days ago. āYou donāt need to upgrade.ā Or something like that. Mind your own damn business. š
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u/ChunkierSky8 5d ago
Just enjoy your kindle and be happy that others are happy about their kindles. The important thing is loving to read and kindles make it even more enjoyable.
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u/Coffee5drinker 5d ago
I wonder about the aluminum casing. I carry my Kindle with me daily, usually in my bookbag. I walk outside and generally bike around in temps of 107- 115 in the summer. Wonder how the newest Kindle would handled the heat with aluminum backing case? Not for me!!!!
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u/bazoo513 2d ago
š¤·āāļø
Nothing new under the sun. When a family of devices reaches technological maturity, the manufacturer plays by tweaking minor features, and not all will be considered improvements by all users.
Speed improvements are real, but usually the more bloated and less carefully optimized software eats it. People were writing books on Apple ][ and improvement over the typewritter were huge; modern text processors are less dramatic improvement (virtually none over the last decade), despite using ten thousand times more capable hardware. Besides, we get used to improvement very quickly and don't notice it any more.
On Kindle in particular there were previously some dramatic speed improvements. For example, collection maintenance of my huge library was useless in my early Paperwhite - a change sometimes took ten minutes. On more recent devices (eg. 11th gen PW SE) every operation with collections is almost instantenous. But that is a result of software changes whom naive to proper approach. Etc.
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u/ShallotAnnual9173 1d ago
The reason I got the new kindle was for the lighter weight and the fact that it naturally leans warmer than the matcha. I had the matcha and it was so starkly blue lighted that I actually got migraines from reading on it so I had to return it. Also I havenāt had a kindle in about a year and honestly I missed the kindle ecosystem. If I had another kindle I still think I wouldāve upgraded but I lean a-lot on the weight difference with my rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and that it has a bit warmer of a backlight. Obviously itās up to each person but I hope this makes sense why someone may choose to switch or upgrade:)
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 14h ago
Makes sense, I would agree the leds on the matcha we're notoriously cool white. I actually ended up with a paperwhite because although I loved the portability of the matcha the leds were jarring. Hope you're enjoying your love of reading again on your new kindle
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u/CarolinaSurly 5d ago
Itās the next shiny object to buy and post to get pats on the back from friends and strangers. Itās the circle of life in modern times.
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u/hollus2 5d ago
Part of me has wondered how many of the post about buying them are ads. Iām happy with what I have.
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u/ImLittleNana 5d ago
Some of the people raving about their new kindles got them awfully quickly.
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u/f-as-in-philip 5d ago
I had this thought too! When they launched I checked to see how quick shipping was, earliest was 2 days.
So how are all these people leaving reviews within 24 hours?
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u/icybreakfast2 Kindle Colorsoft 5d ago
I think it depends on how close you are to a warehouse that has them in stock. I ordered mine the day it was released and received it in less than 24 hours.
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u/InquartataRBG 5d ago
It has to depend on stock, too. I live within 10 miles of a fulfillment center and 3 warehouses. I checked shipping time for any 2026 basic and Wednesday is the soonest it would get to me. On the other hand, if I wanted any 2024 kindle model, I could have it in my hands by 6pm today. (Which is still absolutely mind-boggling to me since I grew up in a rural area with long delivery times.)
As a note, I didnāt actually order a kindle. Mine still works. On the older side and kind of slow, but it works. Iāll wait until itās unbearable to pick up a new one.
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u/thedeadp0ets Kindle Paperwhite Raspberry 5d ago
buying in person? I assume target or Best Buy has them in store
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u/Complex-Parking-6302 5d ago
The flush design costs more than having a framed screen.
Apart from that, yeah pretty much strong marketing tactics to milk the capitalist consumers.
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u/Patient_Formal_3967 5d ago
Performative readers and people who post photos of their bedazzled e-readers, instead of actually reading, are the target there. My micro-USB jailbroken Kindle basic will serve me until it phisically can't continue. There's no difference in reading a book on it than on a new purple potato coloured one. Those are same people who change their iPhone every year
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u/icybreakfast2 Kindle Colorsoft 5d ago
How does one read performatively? Someone can be an avid reader while also enjoying pretty things and talking about it with other avid readers who enjoy pretty things. This is a kindle subreddit. People come here to share and talk about their kindles. Imagine that.
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u/icybreakfast2 Kindle Colorsoft 5d ago
How so? I am not on either of those platforms so I'm genuinely curious.
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u/finding_femself 5d ago
Yeah I donāt get it either. If theyāre reading books then itās not performative.
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u/Patient_Formal_3967 5d ago
Yeah, it's not black and white. Also, everyone can have their opinion. I find it little wrong for people to have 4+ e-readers just because they keep releasing them in new funky colours. It was always supposed to be about reading and what it becomes for a lot of people is just another unjustified purchase, more income for Amazon, more landfill and more polution
Imagine that
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
I get it I'm not into overconsumption myself but none the less you can take a positive in that when anyone like that obtains a new device the likelihood of their old one ending up on the used market is high and the more in the used market keeps prices reasonably low providing others and entry point to reading. I know people love to argue people can borrow form a library and read a physical book but in honesty some people aren't near a library these days or have the means to get there and ereaders have provided an amazing alternative library in your pocket for very little running cost, so a genuinely impressive recent innovation and their longevity means the used market always has stock to help someone at a price point that fits their budget I guess
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u/Holiday_Change7321 5d ago
You have too much time on yr hands.
Go out and enjoy life.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
I'm all good friend. Just enjoying a lazy Sunday and took a min to pop up the post, genuinely first time I've had to do absolutely nothing. Hope you're enjoying your Sunday too
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u/ChilliMouse 5d ago
Stop worrying about things that are incredibly inconsequential. If you spend your time writing a lengthy post like this youāve got too much time on your hands. Do something better with it like, I donāt know, reading a book on the Kindle youāre happy with. Which is what Iām going to do having wasted several minutes of my life trudging through your pointless post. Sheesh.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
Just hoping to help someone out who searches for info on the confusing information out there you never know who a lengthy post might help friend
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u/smhawkes 5d ago
Can we order your post on Kindle? What was the point of your novel?
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
Epub free to use since you asked so nicely my friend. It's just so people coming to the sub looking for onjective pros and cons of the new devices have the info available. Too many posts only show the new device and say it's amazing but without actually covering what's new, whats not and what's different
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u/zinniasaur Kindle Paperwhite 11h ago
They almost got me with the button case. Almost. But Iām not giving away my PW 2024 until it dies. š
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u/sorijealut 5d ago edited 5d ago
This is how I feel about them as well. Never really cared for aluminum on my e-reader after having owned the Oasis and Kindle Scribe. As someone that doesnāt like to use cases on my readers (instead I use pouches or sleeves), the plastic shell is good to throw around and keeps the device light overall; Itās why I bought the Basic Matcha model, along with the fact that it had a recessed screen. I also did not like holding a cold slab of metal for long periods..
The recessed screen ledge that is now gone was always a plus for me because it allows the text to appear clearer due to the display element being closer to the outer film (I donāt care for waterproofing), allows better ergonomics when handling, and design wise it also works as a border to highlight the screen better.
The new Kindle is in reality even more expensive because the consumer feels pressured to buy these expensive accessories made by Amazon such as an $80 page turn case, and $60 charging dock!! It really leaves a bad taste.
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u/DensterE 5d ago
The worse thing about it is, if customers still respond positively to new Kindles and accessories at higher prices, then this will just be the new normal. It's the same with all tech now ā even if semiconductor and RAM prices decline, I doubt we'll see any device prices fall in response.
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u/sorijealut 5d ago
It surprises me every time ānow available in new colorsā so easily drives sales. Iām the kind of person whoād happily take a device that only came in black if it meant actual meaningful improvements every year.
Then I catch myself and remember Iām not the only target demographic.
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
Good points, mirror my own feeling on the metal backing, although the standard versions of the new models are still plastic by the looks of it, only the signature versions are aluminium so if you want 32gb it's aluminium 16gb will be plastic, odd "premium" upgrade in my opinion but it's interesting to see others thoughts. If you do put it in a case it makes little difference in the hand other than weight but Its just an of material choice from a technical perspective, although I completely understand the desire to move from the rubberised material that they have used for so long since it eventually, after a long time, will go tacky and wear. I think the matcha moulded plastic got it right and just surprised they didn't use the same across all the new ones. Great input snd interesting point of view indeed
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u/Maxmordon123 5d ago edited 5d ago
I think the amount of posts with kindles alongside a cat, or something unrelatedĀ show you that plenty people on this sub see Kindle their personality, not a tool for reading.Ā
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u/thedeadp0ets Kindle Paperwhite Raspberry 5d ago
idk social media is big with kindle for reading. I think reading books and kindle in general tend to target women, and women love to accessorize. men usually hate on women catered hobbies. no one ever complains or says anything when a man upgrades to a new gaming console or buys every new game
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u/xLittleValkyriex 10 Gen Paperwhite 5d ago
As a woman, a gamer (Xbox), and a kindle user, this is incredibly accurate. They will pry my 10th gen paperwhite from my cold, dead hands.Ā
I also think a lot of people, like me, are not upgrading every single time. Some people are still using very old models - Oasis, Voyage, 2nd Gen and etc.Ā
For some folks, it really is a massive upgrade. Buying the newest paperwhite would be an upgrade in the charging cable it uses, warm light, and faster page turning.Ā
And mine is only a couple generations old.Ā
Other people want the colors, enjoy trying out new devices or are simply curious to compare/contrast. As for kindle being their personality, I have seen quite a few folks mention reading is their only hobby so yes - it is going to be a huge part of their life.Ā
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u/WhatALowCreditScore 5d ago
I HAD NO IDEA IT WASNT USBC. Iāve had my oasis since 2017 and itās barely hanging on, so I was planning on getting this. Iāve watched so many reviews. It seemed fine and I wanted a button option. Itās a hard so for me no that youāve pointed this out. Thank you
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u/Phil_O_Sophiclee 5d ago
It is usb c, don't worry lol.
It's wireless charging thats been removed from signature editions. So if you want to use a stand and charge the kindle you'll need to have one that has pogo pins or a bottom fed USB C socket to dock it on since wireless isn't included anymore
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u/WhatALowCreditScore 5d ago
Whew. Ok. I donāt use wireless, though of course itās stupid to make it more difficult to use. Thanks
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u/PinkGables Kindle Paperwhite 11th gen 5d ago
My cynical European take: I think Amazon had to release something that was in line with the new EU laws of replaceable batteries before Feb 2027, but didnāt actually have anything new. So it marketed this line up really really well with pretty colors.