Amazon announced four refreshed Kindle models on October 16, 2024: its first color Kindle, a redesigned Scribe, a larger Paperwhite and a lighter entry-level Kindle in Matcha. The lineup also included Kids editions of the entry Kindle and Paperwhite. Amazon described the devices’ features and specifications, but the announcement was not an independent hands-on review.
What Amazon announced
The four core devices serve different reading needs: Colorsoft adds color, Scribe adds handwriting and notebook tools, Paperwhite focuses on a larger waterproof reading screen, and the entry Kindle is the smallest and lightest option in the announcement. The figures and performance descriptions below are Amazon’s 2024 claims, not independent measurements.
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| Model | Display and use | Other announced details | US launch price and timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition | Color display; Amazon highlighted book covers, images, photos and searchable color highlights. | Wireless charging, waterproofing and up to eight weeks of battery life, according to Amazon. | $279.99; shipping began October 30, 2024. |
| Kindle Scribe | Black-and-white, 300 ppi display, with handwriting and notebook features. | Redesigned white borders and paper-like screen texture; Amazon described an AI-powered notebook feature that summarizes notes into bullets. | From $399.99; shipping scheduled to begin December 4, 2024. |
| Kindle Paperwhite | 7-inch display; Amazon said page turns were 25% faster than on the prior generation. | Waterproof, 16 GB storage and up to three months of battery life, according to Amazon. | From $159.99. |
| Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition | 7-inch display. | 32 GB storage, optional wireless charging and an auto-adjusting front light. | $189.99 in Amazon’s October 16, 2024 press release. A separate Amazon family overview updated September 1, 2026 lists $199.99; these are conflicting published prices, not current-price guidance. |
| Kindle | 300 ppi glare-free display. | 158 g, 16 GB storage, brighter front light, faster page turns and a Matcha color option, according to Amazon. | From $109.99. |
Prices and shipping dates in the table are historical US launch details. They do not establish today’s price, availability or terms in other countries. Amazon’s October 2024 release is the source for the launch prices, shipping schedule and most specifications. Its later family overview gives the conflicting Signature Edition price and carries a September 1, 2026 update note.
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What changed on each Kindle
Colorsoft brings color to the Kindle lineup
Amazon called Colorsoft its first color Kindle. It pitched the color screen for browsing covers and viewing illustrations, photos and other images in books, as well as making searchable highlights in color. In a separate announcement, Amazon named cookbooks, travel guides, comics and graphic novels as examples of content that can benefit from color. The company attributed the display design to an oxide backplane, custom waveforms and a redesigned light guide; those are manufacturer descriptions, not independently measured display results. See Amazon’s Colorsoft announcement.
#1 Best Overall
- Read in color – The 7" Colorsoft display is high-contrast and easy on the eyes, with paper-like color that brings covers and content to life.
- A brand-new experience – The Kindle Colorsoft display is optimized for reading in color and is different from the Kindle Paperwhite display, which is optimized for black and white reading.
- Color your pages – Highlight your favorite scenes in yellow, orange, blue, and pink.
- Marathon reading – A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 8 weeks.
- Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
Scribe combines reading with handwriting
The 2024 Scribe redesign added white borders and a textured screen that Amazon described as paper-like. Amazon said the display was 300 ppi and introduced Active Canvas, which lets a reader write directly in a book while the text flows around the note. The announcement also described margin notes and an AI-powered notebook tool that summarizes notes into bullet points. There is a timing distinction: Amazon’s October 2024 release said side-panel note writing was coming soon, while its later family overview describes margin-note functions. The features should not be read as proof that every function was available on launch day.
Paperwhite gets a larger screen
The standard Paperwhite moved to a 7-inch display, with 16 GB of storage and waterproofing. Amazon said it was 25% faster in page turns than the preceding generation, was its thinnest Paperwhite to that point, and could last up to three months on a charge. Those speed and battery figures are Amazon’s claims; the release does not provide an independent comparative test or the conditions behind a measured result. Standard colors were Raspberry, Jade and Black. The Signature Edition colors were Metallic Raspberry, Metallic Jade and Metallic Black.
Rank #2
- Our most advanced Kindle Scribe – Features an 11” Colorsoft display with front light, built-in notebook, AI tools, and support for popular cloud services.
- Bring ideas to life in color – The custom-built Colorsoft display delivers high-contrast, paper-like color that’s easy on the eyes without distracting flashes when writing.
- Get a pen-on-paper feel: The textured surface and responsive display create a smooth, paper-like writing experience. Plus, the included pen never needs charging and has a built-in eraser and shortcut button for tools like the highlighter.
- More room to read, write, and think – Just 5.4mm thin and 400g light, with fluid performance and a large 11" display that gives you space to work comfortably.
- Get more out of your notes – Take notes in the built-in notebook, then use AI to find information, ask questions about what you’ve written, and generate summaries. You can also clean up handwriting or convert it to text.
The entry Kindle adds Matcha
Amazon’s entry model retained a 300 ppi glare-free display and 16 GB of storage. The company said the 158 g reader had a brighter front light and faster page turns than its predecessor, and introduced Matcha as a new color. Amazon did not attach a percentage to the page-turn improvement in the release.
Which 2024 Kindle fits which reader?
- Choose by content: Colorsoft is the color-focused model for readers who want color covers, illustrations, photos or color highlights. Amazon’s announcement describes the intended uses but does not establish independent display-quality comparisons.
- Choose by interaction: Scribe is the model in this lineup for handwriting in books and using notebook tools. Paperwhite and the entry Kindle are presented primarily as e-readers.
- Choose by reading format: Paperwhite offers a 7-inch waterproof screen. The entry Kindle is the lighter option at Amazon’s stated 158 g.
- Compare storage and charging: Amazon listed 16 GB for the entry Kindle and standard Paperwhite, and 32 GB for Paperwhite Signature Edition. Wireless charging was listed for Colorsoft and as an option on Paperwhite Signature Edition.
Kindle Kids editions
Amazon also announced Kids versions of the entry Kindle and Paperwhite. These are variants of those devices, not additional core adult models. The October release said the bundles included themed covers, a two-year worry-free guarantee and six months of Amazon Kids+.
Rank #3
- Kindle Paperwhite – 7“ Paperwhite display with high contrast ratio and fast page turns.
- Ready for travel – The ultra-thin design has a larger glare-free screen so pages stay sharp no matter where you are.
- Escape into your books – Your Kindle doesn’t have social media, notifications, or other distracting apps.
- Battery life for your longest novel – A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 12 weeks.
- Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
What the launch story does—and does not—establish
Amazon’s release attributed to Kevin Keith, vice president of Amazon Devices, the statement that Kindle sales the previous year had reached a decade high, with most purchases going to first-time Kindle device owners. The release did not provide a numeric sales series or independent validation, so this is best understood as Amazon’s characterization of its business rather than a separately verified sales statistic.
Contemporaneous coverage by Axios on October 17, 2024 also reported the launch, describing Colorsoft as Amazon’s first color Kindle and noting the refreshed Scribe, Paperwhite and entry reader. That coverage provides launch context, not hands-on test results. The source-backed story is therefore about what Amazon announced and claimed, rather than an author’s experience trying the devices.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Light and compact - With adjustable brightness, high contrast ratio, and fast page turns.
- Effortless reading in any light - Read comfortably with a 6“ glare-free display, adjustable front light—now 25% brighter at max setting—and dark mode.
- Escape into your books - Tune out messages, emails, and social media with a distraction-free reading experience.
- Read for a while - Get up to 6 weeks of battery life on a single charge.
- Take your library with you - 16 GB storage holds thousands of books.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
