There are too many Kindle models being sold

Summary

There are too many Kindles with varying features, leading to confusion among consumers.
Consumers may end up buying a Kindle with features they don’t need, causing unnecessary financial loss.
Justifying models like Scribe and ColorSoft can be challenging, given their high prices and limited utility.

The Kindle line started off simple enough, and any buyer knew the device they were buying would be good reading books. At its core, that’s what the Kindle line has largely been over its lifespan, but recently, Amazon started to push the boundaries of what a Kindle can do. In 2024 alone, there were five Kindle editions released, and each of them does different things.

These models include the regular Kindle, two versions of the Paperwhite, the Colorsoft, and Scribe. For people in the know, it’s easy to make a decision, but for the casual consumer, I can see there being many problems. Amazon even cut back on the models by eliminating the Oasis, but there are still too many, at least in my opinion.

The main thing I want a Kindle to do is be an e-reader, and all of them do that. As it turns out, other people want their Kindle devices to do a little bit more, but that could spell bad news for the average person. I tend to do a lot of research before I buy something, but not everybody else is in the same boat. This results in a scenario where the Kindle that you end up buying could be something you don’t need, and I don’t think that’s a good thing. It’s especially an issue if you end up spending hundreds extra on a Scribe without ever taking notes.

Storage: 16GB
Screen Size: 6-inch E Ink (300ppi)
Connections: USB-C
Battery: Up to 6 weeks
Size: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32-inches
Weight: 5.56oz (157g)

Should you upgrade to the latest Kindle generation?

For some people, it’s may a question of switching models, not just getting something newer.

There are too many Kindle models

This gets confusing fast

A hand holding a Kindle Scribe in front of a bookcase.

I know I’m just one person with an opinion, but I feel like Kindle needs to get back to what it used to do best. For me, this would mean focusing on just the regular Kindle and the Paperwhite. It’s nice to have a budget-friendly option, like the traditional Kindle, and a premium option, this one being the Paperwhite. This is how Kindle worked for a few years before experimenting with things like the Voyage and Oasis. From my perspective, that’s when things started getting confusing. I like to consider myself tech-savvy, but even I had to do a lot of extra research before buying a Kindle.

For example, the original Kindle didn’t come with a front-lit screen, and that’s what made the Paperwhite feel like a revolution. Fast forward to today and the base model Kindle now has a lit screen. That’s not abundantly clear to somebody looking to replace their old Kindle, and it’s something that surprised me when I picked up my 2022 model. This is an interesting shift, because it let me ditch my old Paperwhite for a lesser model, something that Amazon likely doesn’t want anybody to do. The light was the main selling point of the Paperwhite to me, and I don’t think the additional speed on page turns is worth shelling out extra money for.

The confusion runs even deeper outside of the naming scheme as well. Looking at a chart of all the available Kindle devices — which includes the Kindle, Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, Colorsoft, Colorsoft Signature Edition, Colorsoft Kids, and Scribe — you have to sift through things like resolution and display type. Resolution is simple enough, although I do question how much that matters when all I’m doing is looking at words on a screen. The big thing is whether E Ink Kaliedo is better than E Ink Carta. On top of that, where does regular E Ink fit into all of this? To the average person, these are just random words put together that don’t mean a whole lot.

The Boox Note Air4 C sits on a wood coffee table.

This could be what finally forces Amazon to open up its Kindle ecosystem

I’m not holding my breath, but a change might be coming.

The names are getting out of control

Amazon should simplify the line

A close-up of the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite.

Having too many products on the market only confuses potential buyers, and it’s something you see time and time again. Just look at the Xbox naming scheme this generation between the Xbox Series X and Series S. It’s very easy to confuse those with the One X and One S unless you know your stuff. Something similar happened with the Wii and Wii U, and that was just one of the plethora of problems Nintendo had that generation.

Simpler naming schemes go a long way. PlayStation and Apple won’t confuse people with their names because you know the most recent product is the one with the highest number. Similarly, you know the Pro is better than the regular model. There’s little to no way to tell if a Paperwhite is better than a Colorsoft, and vice versa. Part of the reason behind that is it’s not a matter of one being better than the other, but it’s more about how they do different things than each other.

The Scribe is a good pick for people looking to read and take notes. That doesn’t describe me, and at $400, I don’t know who it does. It has high scores on reviews, so it looks like it’s worth the price of admission. The Colorsoft is for people looking for a bit of color with their Kindle. This means it’s a model that lends itself nicely to reading comics, but doesn’t have a ton of value otherwise. Even then, it’s not as vibrant as a tablet would be, so there are still some tradeoffs there.

Amazon doesn’t do the consumer any favors with how things are named. If you go to Amazon and look up the Kindle Paperwhite, you’ll notice the listing only mentions how its the latest model. At the time of this writing, there have been six iterations of Paperwhites. While it’s nice to know you’re getting the newest one on Amazon, that doesn’t help if you’re buying a used one. Somebody at a yard sale might have no idea what generation their Paperwhite is, and the same goes for somebody selling one on Facebook Marketplace.

Ultimately, the way Amazon’s Kindle line works is it feels like there has to be a lot of research that goes into your purchase. For simplicity’s sake, I’d argue the regular Kindle is fine for most people, especially since it comes with a front light now and fits comfortably in your hand. If you want a bit more from your purchase, the Paperwhite is faster, brighter, and has a larger screen. It could very well be the best Kindle on the market, but if you don’t want to do any research and just buy a Kindle, the regular one will do.