Amazon has introduced two affordable versions of Kindle Colorsoft

Amazon has announced two new Kindle Colorsoft e-reader models: a basic version with 16GB of storage for $249.99 and a Kindle Colorsoft Kids version for $269.99, complete with a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+ and a colourful case. This makes the coloured Kindle more accessible to adults and children alike.

The new price is less storage, but not the point

The new device offers minus $30 in price due to a reduced amount of memory: 16GB instead of 32GB like the original Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition. For those who read books and not store all the volumes of Harry Potter in PDF, this volume will be quite enough.

Model specifications

Kindle Colorsoft 16 GB: Features a 7-inch Colorsoft display with high contrast, warm adjustable light, fast page turning and up to eight weeks of battery life. Supports USB-C only, with no wireless charging or auto-brightness adjustment.

Kindle Colorsoft Kids 16GB: Same feature set, but aimed at kids ages 3-13. It comes with two colourful case options ("Fantasy River" or "Starlight Reading"), a year of Amazon Kids+ subscription, a parental panel and features like Word Wise and OpenDyslexic.

Why it matters

The arrival of the Colorsoft with less storage and no premium features lowers the price threshold for consumers wanting to try a coloured Kindle. A children's model with learning and reading support strengthens Amazon's position in the educational gadget segment for kids.

Reviews of the Kindle's predecessor, the Colorsoft Signature Edition, noted some issues with the display's yellow tint - Amazon has addressed these with updates. It remains to be seen whether such problems will recur with the new models

Source: TechCrunch