Don't think you're a Kindle person? This empowering e-reader will change your mind

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft 16GB: was £239.99 now £164.99 at Argos

Today is your lucky day, because the Kindle Colorsoft is reduced in the Black Friday Weekend sales event at Argos. It's rare to have a saving this big on a device that's as fresh to the market as this one, so you won't want to miss it.

View Deal

It’s official. I’ve lost count of how many times someone has solemnly told me, “I’m just not a Kindle person,” or, even more dramatically, “I could never imagine not holding a real book in my hands.” And, honestly, I get it. That was me too, clutching my paperbacks like a Victorian heroine clutching her pearls. But the Kindle Colorsoft will change your mind, and I have the proof to hand.

Not only is the Kindle Colorsoft one of the very best Kindles Amazon has ever released, it’s part of their foray into colour e-ink, a deceptively subtle upgrade that genuinely transforms the reading experience. I was already an e-reader convert thanks to their classic Paperwhite, but after taking this model for a spin, I handed it over to one of our trusted testers, Sally.

Sally told me, “I’m not really an e-reader person, but my eyesight is getting worse and I’d rather not have to wear glasses every time I read. Lots of my friends keep recommending e-readers, so I’m wondering if it’s the right solution.” I won’t ruin the entire story, but she ended up taking this Kindle on holiday and, in her words, has been reading “more than ever.” There’s a lot to love about Amazon’s latest launch, even if you’ve sworn your allegiance to ‘real’ books.

Kindle Colorsoft review

• Size: 127.6 x 176.7 x 7.8 mm
• Weight: 215 g
• Screen: 7-inch
• Display: 300 ppi in black and white and 150 ppi in colour, using a 16-level greyscale
• System: requirements None at all — Kindle’s OS is consistent across models
• Charge: lasts up to 8 weeks on typical usage

Who would the Kindle Colorsoft suit?

The Kindle Colorsoft suits just about anyone, but especially readers who’ve stubbornly clung to paperbacks because “tablets just don’t feel the same.” If you’ve ever said those words, beware: this Kindle is coming for you.

The new colour display is brilliant for capturing so many little pleasures of physical books that older e-ink readers struggled with: the lushness of fiction covers, the diagrams and maps in non-fiction, the cheerful chaos of colourful cookbooks, even the glossiness of magazines. For that reason, it’s a wonderfully versatile pick for people who read widely across genres.

It’s also a dream if you’re someone who reads with a pen in hand. The ability to highlight and annotate in different colours makes mark-ups feel more intuitive and, dare I say, more fun. It genuinely enhances learning, whether you're reading for work, a course, or simply your own curious mind.

And then there’s eye comfort, one of the biggest wins. Sally told me, “I really should wear glasses for reading and I need bright lights too, but with the Kindle I can enlarge the text and use the backlight, so I can hold books comfortably without straining. I’ve even been reading at night while my husband sleeps: no more blasting him with my bedside lamp.”

The light isn’t harsh, it’s not blue-light heavy, and it doesn’t glare. It’s essentially built for bedtime reading and bright summer daylight: two of the trickiest environments for traditional screens.

Design of the Kindle Colorsoft

If there’s one thing Kindle consistently gets right, it’s making technology feel unfussy and elegant. The Colorsoft has soft curves, a slim silhouette, and that “throw it in your tote bag without thinking” practicality that makes it feel more like a notebook than a gadget.

It’s a touch bigger than the Colorsoft Paperwhite (which is the model I personally own), but still very easy to hold in one hand. You get the payoff of a bigger screen without the wrist ache. Sally noticed the same: “I thought it might get heavy, especially since it’s larger than the Kindles my kids have, but this is a nice weight. I read for hours, even lying down, and never struggled to hold it.”

Our review unit was black, which gives a sense of functional elegance that defines the Colorsoft range. It feels like a piece of tech designed specifically for readers, not just another tablet in disguise.

What is the Kindle Colorsoft display?

The 7-inch, glare-free display is lovely to read on. Amazon promises it’s waterproof, which means bathtub novels, poolside thrillers, and beach reads are all fair game, something you can’t say for your phone.

Thanks to the high contrast and colour layer, illustrations and covers look subtly richer without straying into iPad territory. You still get that classic e-ink calmness, just with a touch more life.

If you’re coming from a Paperwhite, you might notice the brightness and texture differ slightly, simply because of the colour filter, but not in a way that detracts from reading.

Performance of the Kindle Colorsoft

I warmed to the Kindle Colorsoft almost instantly; the interface is familiar if you’ve used any recent Kindle. Navigation is smooth, the home screen, library view, and settings all feel intuitive. Adjusting brightness, warmth, and font size takes seconds, and nothing ever feels buried or confusing.

This model has 16 GB of storage, which is plenty for most readers. Unless you’re downloading extremely image-heavy books or storing hundreds of titles at once, you’ll be absolutely fine.

Sally, who describes herself as “not really one for technology,” told me she found the whole experience strangely empowering. “I thought I’d get lost trying to change settings, but I didn’t. Everything just made sense.”

She also noticed her reading habits shift: “I started using the Kindle at the times I’d normally reach for a physical book, evenings, weekends, but then I found myself using it more and more. In the mornings, when I don’t want to wake my husband by turning on the light, I can use the Kindle’s automatic brightness and read from 4am. It’s such a gentle way to wake up.”

Her favourite part was the font and size adjustments. “I’ve been reading books at arm’s length under bright lights for years. Being able to bring the Kindle close and actually see without glasses felt like a luxury.”

If you’re wondering whether colour is worth it, here’s the honest answer: if you read magazines, cookbooks, nature writing, gardening guides, or non-fiction with charts and images, yes, it makes a noticeable difference. Photos feel livelier, diagrams clearer, and book covers closer to what you’d see in a shop.

How does the Kindle Colorsoft compare?

Against the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition, this model is almost identical. The Signature Edition is slightly smaller (6 inches) and comes with larger storage (32GB), but for most people, the 16 GB here is more than enough: you can store roughly 10+ average books per GB.

A bigger screen can be a blessing if you want larger text without shrinking your page to a single paragraph. If eyesight or comfort is your priority, the Colorsoft wins. But if you read while commuting or love a more compact device, the Signature Edition’s smaller footprint and lighter weight may appeal.

If you’re not fussed about colour at all, then the classic Kindle Paperwhite remains the best-value alternative. The display is crisp, the reading experience is superb, and you’ll save £100, which is money you can happily redirect into your reading list.

Should you buy the Kindle Colorsoft?

If you’ve resisted e-readers for years, the Kindle Colorsoft might be the one that brings you round. The sleek design, soothing adjustable display, and gentle touch of colour give it that sweet spot between traditional reading and modern convenience.

It shines on holiday, when reading in bed, and for anyone who wants bigger, clearer text without compromising on comfort. If you’ve ever found yourself balancing a book under a lamp or squinting at small print, consider this your sign.

How we test e-readers

At woman&home, we are an unabashedly bookish bunch. We read constantly: on trains, in bed, over breakfast. And we put that to good use by testing e-readers in the way readers actually use them.

When we review these devices, we consider everything:
• what it’s like to hold, whether you can grip it easily with one hand
• how heavy it feels after a long reading session
• screen clarity, brightness, and warmth adjustments
• how the text looks at different sizes
• colour performance
• storage, battery life, and technical specs for the geeks among us

We leave no page unturned (forgive the pun). By the end of our reviews, you should feel completely confident about what each e-reader is like to own and use. And if you’re still wondering which one is “your” Kindle, email me anytime, my inbox is always open, especially for chatting about books.