I rarely leave the house without my trusty Kindle and estimate that I read close to 150 books a year on my device. In fact, I’ve been using Kindles for over a decade, from my first device (complete with a keyboard!) to the Kindle Colorsoft, Amazon’s first color e-reader. Suffice it to say, I keep close tabs on the latest models and was excited to learn that Amazon has completely redesigned the Kindle family, giving all of the devices a flush-front display, introducing models with sleek aluminum builds, and rolling out a series of exciting new Kindle accessories.
Most notable among the changes is the revamped entry-level Kindle—often dubbed the Kindle Basic. I got my hands on the $150 device, now available for purchase, and I’ve already started reading on it. While I’ll save my full review for after I get a few more weeks of use under my belt, I have some exciting first impressions to share below.
The size
If you’ve spent any time on BookTok, you’ve likely seen the “purse Kindle” trend, in which users tuck pocket-sized e-readers into their tiniest bags. While both my Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft fit in most of my purses, this redesigned Kindle is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, making it Amazon’s smallest Kindle yet—meaning it should fit in your smallest bags with ease.
With a 6-inch screen, it’s smaller than my hand, so it’s the ideal portable device to tuck into a purse for reading on the go (if you prefer to stay in the Kindle family). It’s about half an inch shorter than my iPhone Pro Max—and while both devices are roughly about 0.3 inches thick, the Kindle weighs in at just 4.9 ounces, compared to my 8-ounce iPhone. In fact, I was easily able slip the new Kindle into my dress pocket!
The power button relocation
Perhaps my favorite element of the Kindle redesign is the relocation of the power button. It was previously on the bottom of the device, which meant that if I propped my Kindle up on a table to read, I would accidentally turn the screen off while tapping to turn the page. Now it’s on the side of the e-reader, eliminating one of my biggest Kindle pain points.
The color options
Those who have been yearning for new color options will be pleased to learn that this Kindle is available in four colorways: Ube (a light purple), Graphite (a sophisticated grey), Alpine Sky (a soft blue) and Seaglass Green. Both the Alpine Sky and Seaglass Green options feature an aluminum back that lends the device a premium feel and allows some cases to magnetically attach (although that bumps the price up to $190).
The new page turner accessories
Amazon also announced a slew of new accessories designed to level up your reading experience. While I’m excited to test out the new cases that feature page-turn buttons (a callback to the now discontinued Kindle Oasis), I predict that the Kindle Click, the brand’s first Bluetooth page turner, will be the most popular addition to the Kindle line-up.
What sets the Kindle Click apart from the third-party options I’ve tried is its design. Instead of coming with two pieces—typically a remote and a “receiver” that clips onto your device, the Kindle Click is a slim remote that connects to your Kindle via Bluetooth, eliminating the need to keep track of two pieces. Plus, it has designated buttons for both page-turning and adjusting the screen’s brightness. Although I’ve only tested this for a few hours, I’m certain that it will replace the page turner I’ve been using for years.
Final thoughts (for now)
As someone who tends to prefer Amazon’s higher-end, larger e-readers—this is my first time using such a tiny e-reader!—I’m eager to see how this basic device compares with my current go-tos, especially in terms of battery life. (Per Amazon, it should last up to six weeks.)
Although the new Kindle Basic lacks the water-resistance and warm light of the Paperwhite (the next level up in the Kindle family), I’m initially impressed with the Basic’s compact size, redesigned screen, and new accessory functionality. It might just replace my larger e-readers. Stay tuned.
