Amazon Refreshes Kindle Lineup with Fresh Colors and Design Changes

Amazon has introduced its latest lineup of Kindle e-readers, boasting fresh colors and design changes. The devices' prices remain the same as their predecessors, despite Amazon increasing Kindle hardware costs in August due to an industry-wide memory shortage.

The new 6-inch Kindle starts at $150, with a more premium aluminum-encased variant priced at $190. The 7-inch Kindle Paperwhite costs $200 and features water resistance and longer battery life, totaling 12 weeks compared to six. A 'Signature' edition of the Paperwhite offers double storage, wireless charging via a dock accessory, and an auto-adjusting front light for $250.

The company's Kindle Colorsoft model also has a 7-inch screen and costs $290 in its standard version, with a Signature edition priced at $320. The devices are thinner and lighter than their predecessors, with Amazon achieving this by slightly reducing the battery size.

Amazon attributes the renewed momentum in Kindle sales to younger consumers, who make up roughly 60% of new hardware purchases. Total reading volume hit a record in January, according to the company.