Kindle Colorsoft vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Which Kindle should you buy?

It’s not very often that Amazon announces an wholly caller Kindle product. But it did this twelvemonth pinch nan upcoming Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, nan very first Kindle to athletics a colour display. How does this exemplary comparison to nan also-announced Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024)? It’s clip to find out.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft vs. Kindle Paperwhite: specs

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft vs. Kindle Paperwhite: creation and durability

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The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft and Kindle Paperwhite are very akin successful design. They person nan nonstop aforesaid dimensions, astir identical weights, and h2o resistance. But that’s not a bad thing. After all, Amazon was onto a victor erstwhile it deed nan existent creation of nan Kindle, truthful why alteration thing that decidedly works? Sure, there’s not overmuch to constitute location about, arsenic some Kindles are fundamentally integrative bodies surrounding a large e-ink display. They’re not lookers, that’s for sure, but they’re lightweight, durable (with water-resistance to boot), and supply an fantabulous and easy measurement to read.

However, nan Kindle Colorsoft is only disposable successful Metallic Black. In contrast, nan regular Paperwhite comes successful 3 colors: Black, Raspberry, and Jade. The Signature version of nan Paperwhite is offered successful Metallic Black, Metallic Jade, and Metallic Raspberry. But really that doesn’t connection excessively much, and doesn’t alteration this from a coagulated tie.

Winner: Tie

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft vs. Kindle Paperwhite: display

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The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft is nan first Kindle e-reader to characteristic a colour display. This 7-inch screen, equipped pinch a built-in light, utilizes Colorsoft technology, a caller colour e-paper show based connected E Ink Kaleido. Adding a colour select furniture to nan accepted black-and-white e-ink display, nan Colorsoft delivers a much vibrant reference experience, particularly for contented pinch images and graphics. The colour constituent of nan show has a solution of 150 pixels per inch (PPI), while nan black-and-white information boasts a sharper 300 ppi for crisp text.

In comparison, this year’s Kindle Paperwhite retains nan classical 7-inch e-paper show pinch a 300 ppi resolution, which is fantabulous for rendering crisp black-and-white text. While it lacks Colorsoft’s colour capabilities, it maintains nan exceptional clarity and readability that Kindle e-readers are known for.

The Paperwhite is sharper overall, but nan Colorsoft’s colour show is simply a beardown advantage. It wins here.

Winner: Kindle Colorsoft

Amazon Colorsoft vs. Kindle Paperwhite: performance, artillery life, and charging

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While accepted e-ink devices for illustration nan Kindle Paperwhite prioritize powerfulness ratio complete processing speed, nan Kindle Colorsoft’s colour show mightiness alteration that. It’s logical to presume that generating colour requires much processing power, perchance impacting performance. Unfortunately, we tin only estimate connected nan capacity differences without entree to nan devices aliases accusation connected their chipsets.

However, artillery life expectations for each instrumentality are already known. The quality successful estimated artillery life betwixt nan Colorsoft (eight weeks) and nan Paperwhite (12 weeks) suggests that nan colour show consumes much power. Other factors could lend to this difference. Real-world usage and independent testing will supply a clearer image of nan colour display’s effect connected artillery life.

It’s adjuvant to cognize that charging times stay accordant betwixt nan 2 models, moreover pinch Colorsoft’s added colour technology. This suggests that Amazon has optimized nan charging process to present a akin charging acquisition crossed some devices, aliases has put nan same-sized artillery successful both.

The Paperwhite’s longer expected artillery life wins here.

Winner: Kindle Paperwhite (by a hair)

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft vs. Kindle Paperwhite: package and typical features

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Both devices connection nan aforesaid package features, including celebrated Kindle functions for illustration Whispersync, X-Ray, and Vocabulary Builder. Whispersync allows you to synchronize your reference progress, bookmarks, and notes crossed aggregate Kindle devices and apps, enabling you to move betwixt devices seamlessly without losing your place.

Meanwhile, X-Ray provides elaborate accusation astir characters, locations, and position mentioned successful nan book, giving you deeper insights into nan content. Vocabulary Builder automatically adds immoderate unfamiliar words to a vocabulary list, and flashcards are generated to thief you study these caller words.

Both nan Kindle Colorsoft and Kindle Paperwhite seamlessly merge pinch nan broader Kindle ecosystem, offering entree to nan Kindle Store for browsing and purchasing ebooks, Goodreads integration for search your reference history and connecting pinch chap book lovers, and Amazon Prime Reading for a rotating action of free contented for Prime members.

Regarding storage, nan Kindle Colorsoft offers a generous 32GB, double nan 16GB of nan regular Kindle Paperwhite. While this quality suggests that nan Colorsoft type tin clasp much books, it’s difficult to quantify precisely really many. Amazon states that some devices support “thousands of titles,” but nan existent number varies depending connected factors for illustration record size and formatting, particularly pinch nan summation of color.

It’s reasonable to presume that Colorsoft tin clasp importantly much books than Paperwhite, though apt not double, arsenic colour contented mostly requires much retention abstraction than black-and-white text. However, a precise comparison remains elusive without elaborate testing and study of different ebook record sizes connected some devices.

Ultimately, nan Kindle ecosystem’s unreality retention minimizes nan request to shop galore books straight connected nan device. Amazon provides free unreality retention for each your Kindle purchases, allowing you to download and region titles arsenic needed, freeing up valuable instrumentality storage. This ensures you tin entree your full room without worrying astir section retention limitations.

Winner: Tie

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft vs. Kindle Paperwhite: price

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The Kindle Colorsoft has a premium value tag of $280 for nan instrumentality alone. However, you tin opt for a bundle pinch a screen and a wireless charging dock for an further $80. The modular Kindle Paperwhite is much budget-friendly astatine $160, while nan Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition sits successful betwixt astatine $200.

Interestingly, nan Signature Edition offers akin features to nan Colorsoft, including 32GB of retention and wireless charging, for a $40 premium complete nan modular Paperwhite. This makes it a compelling replacement for those who prioritize these features but aren’t fresh to put successful Colorsoft’s colour display.

Additionally, it’s worthy noting that Amazon often offers discounts connected its Kindle lineup, particularly during holidays and Amazon Prime events. Watch for these promotions, occasional trade-in offers, and different deals that importantly trim upfront costs. By taking advantage of these opportunities, you tin snag a Kindle Colorsoft aliases Paperwhite astatine a much charismatic price.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft vs. Kindle Paperwhite: which should you choose?

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Both of these Kindles are judge to supply you pinch years of enjoyment. The modular Kindle Paperwhite is nan champion prime if you are chiefly a non-frills scholar and don’t request a colour display. However, if you scheme to shop galore books connected your instrumentality and want nan convenience of wireless charging, nan determination becomes much complicated.

For an further $80 complete nan Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, you tin get a colour show and nan aforesaid magnitude of storage. And while nan Kindle Colorsoft provides 4 weeks little artillery life, that’s really not a immense problem erstwhile nan artillery life is already truthful long. We judge $80 other is much than reasonable for nan first Kindle pinch colour — forgo nan premium type of nan Kindle Paperwhite, if you tin spend to.