I've finally been converted to a Kindle - their luxurious latest model comes with colour, comfort, and complete convenience

If you're anything like me, packing for a holiday is a battle between bikinis and books. I’ve always been that girl lugging a suitcase that’s half floaty dresses, half paperbacks (and usually tipping over the weight limit at the airport). But this year, something changed. I swapped my towering TBR pile for the Kindle Colorsoft, and it transformed the way I read.

Over the years, I've tried my fair share of e-readers, but the Kindle Colorsoft is the one that's really wowed me. It’s hands down one of the best Kindles Amazon has ever released: lightweight, waterproof, and with a brand new colour display that brings everything from book covers to cookbooks, magazines, travel guides, and art books to life.

What really sets the Kindle Coloursoft apart, though, is that it manages to feel luxe without being complicated. The screen is gentle on your eyes, it charges quickly, and the storage is big enough for thousands of books (so you’ll never be stuck choosing between thrillers or rom-coms again). Plus, with all the Kindle book deals that pop up regularly, I’ve found myself reading more and spending less. So, if you’re after an e-reader that feels fun, a bit fancy, and totally effortless to use, this is the one I’d recommend in a heartbeat.

Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition eReader Specifications

Who would the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition eReader suit?

This is definitely one of the more luxurious Kindles you’ll find on Amazon, but once you see what it offers, it’s easy to understand why. The colour screen is a real treat, especially if you’re planning to use your Kindle for more than just novels. If you're into cookbooks (and who isn’t?), you’ll love flicking through all those vibrant, vivid food photos. It’s just as lovely for magazines (I highly recommend woman&home), as well as non-fiction, travel guides and coffee table-style info books.

If you’ve already decided colour is a must-have and you’ve been eyeing up the alternatives, I can tell you from experience: this is the brightest, most vivid one I’ve seen. It really stands out.

I also really enjoyed the premium feel of the Colorsoft Signature Edition. It’s full of clever upgrades you won’t find on the older or more basic models. The screen adjusts to the light for you, it’s waterproof (perfect for reading in the bath or by the beach), the page turns are snappier, and the whole interface feels a lot more polished. That’s just a few of the perks. You can even switch to audiobook mode and have your book read aloud, which is brilliant when you just want to close your eyes and unwind without hitting pause on your story.

That said, there are a couple of things missing. I did miss the page-turn buttons (I loved those), and there’s no stylus support either. And yes, this model is a bit of a splurge, especially if you're mostly reading fiction. If that’s the case, you can still get a gorgeous reading experience for less with a classic Kindle or a Kindle Paperwhite.

Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition eReader Design

The Kindle Coloursoft is sleek, slim, and fits perfectly into even the smallest beach bag. I packed light when I went on holiday year and it still came with me everywhere.

It’s a little more premium-looking than the Paperwhite, with a gorgeous flush-front screen and a soft matte finish that doesn’t cling to sun cream-covered hands (we’ve all been there). It’s also waterproof, so I didn’t worry once when it got splashed by the sea.

Compared to the Oasis, it’s not quite as ergonomic (there are no page-turn buttons) but it’s lighter, more compact, and easier to hold one-handed while sipping something cold in the sun. My partner has the classic Kindle and his is much smaller again. We'll do a debrief of the different Kindles further down.

Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition eReader Display

The colour screen is where the magic happens. It’s still gentle on the eyes like other Kindles, but this one brings book covers, cookbooks, magazines, and even kids’ books to life in a way the classic black-and-white models just can’t. It’s not as vibrant as a tablet, but it’s beautifully soft and easy to read in bright sunlight, which was perfect for my lazy afternoons under a parasol. Compared to the Paperwhite’s crisp monochrome, the Coloursoft feels like a treat, especially if you enjoy flicking through magazines or highlighting your reads in style.

It's worth noting that lots of reviewers (as well as me) noticed that the texture was a little less obvious and the display seemed a little brighter than the Kindle Paperwhite, but that was brilliant for holidays. You can adjust it on the settings tab on the Coloursoft and I quickly adjusted to it.

Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition eReader Performance

The first thing that I noticed about the Kindle Coloursoft is that it's quick. My page turns felt really snappy and everything from definitions to the library loaded really quickly. Compared to older Kindles (even the Paperwhite Signature), everything just feels a little smoother and more polished.

I had several books downloaded at the touch of a button and I zipped between them depending on my mood. I was enjoying a romance in the morning and a thriller at night with no fuss. It made holiday reading feel seamless, like having a mini-library in my hands 24/7.

You'll also spot that you can use audiobooks on the Kindle Colorsoft. There aren't any speakers, but if you connect up headphones via Bluetooth (which is beyond easy), you can be reading with your eyes closed.

I synced my Kindle and Audible app from my phone with the Coloursoft, which you do via Bluetooth. This transferred all my purchases across both devices, which is really handy if you don't want to have your phone on you, but you want to press on with the latest few books that have been in your ear.

Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition eReader Software

I’ve always loved how Kindles are fuss-free, and this one’s no exception. You get all the usual perks (adjustable fonts, dark mode, easy dictionary lookup) but the Coloursoft adds a pop of joy with its multicolour highlighting which is perfect if you're a note-taker like me.

I also signed up for Kindle Unlimited, because the first three months were free and then subscription runs at £9.99 per month. That's still cheaper than buying a book every month and you get unlimited access to genuinely good authors. On holiday, I made my way through Freida McFadden's fantastic thrillers and I didn't have to pay a penny. You can think of it as Netflix for books.

Compared to the Kobo Libra Colour, which can feel a bit more DIY, Amazon’s software is smooth, simple, and synced across all my devices, which meant I could pick up on my phone if I accidentally left the Kindle in my beach bag.

How does the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition eReader compare?

The Kindle Colorsoft is certainly a luxury eReader, so I thought I'd draw up a table to compare this model to other similar ones. You'll see below that if you have your heart set on a colour Kindle, you've got to choose between the Kindle Colorsoft and the Kobo Libra Colour. Whilst the Kobo is cheaper, with the same storage space, and comparable on battery life (it's only 8 hours shorter on average), the colour resolution and brightness isn't quite as vibrant. If I hadn't used the Colorsoft, I'm not sure I would have had any grievance with it, but given that I have, I noticed the difference.

If you're not fussed about colour and you just want a good Kindle, I'd go for the Kindle Paperwhite every time. It is nice to hold, the resolution is identical, and you get a similar reading experience. The main difference is that you don't have the same battery life and have less storage, but for over £100 less, that's a compromise worth making.

Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition eReader Battery

I took the Kindle Coloursoft on a mini holiday, read 7 books, and didn’t charge it once. That says it all, really. Even with the front light on and plenty of page turning, the battery just kept going.

It’s not quite as long-lasting as the black-and-white Kindles, because the colour does take a tiny toll, but it still outlasts a tablet by miles. Plus, it charges via USB-C or even wirelessly (if you’re fancy), which felt super convenient compared to my old Paperwhite with its fiddly micro-USB cable.

Should you buy the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition eReader?

If you like your life in colour, especially with magazines, cookbooks, and travel books, the Kindle Colorsoft is a lovely eReader. It really changed the way that I thought about the whole tablet category, as I've been historically reluctant to make the switch, often touting that I (unsurprisingly) want to buy my magazines on holiday. However, with ample storage, an ergonomic design, and plenty of colour, this has become one of my luggage essentials.

How we test eReaders

You won't be surprised to know that we're a crowd of bookworms at womanhome. We've bene in fierce debate about the tangible book vs eReader dilemma many a time and lots of us brandish our Kindles, Kobos, and reMarkables to make a case for these.

I have always sat on both sides of debate. Having studied English Language and Literature at Oxford University, it won't surprise you to know that I'm a traditionalist. However, ever practical, I know that I can't carry 14 books on holiday with me anymore, so I've been making the switch into convenience.

On this journey, I've been using my eCommerce skills to make sure that I find the best one for me. Each eReader that the team and I review goes through a series of standardised tests. We take them on holiday, we take them to bed, and we take them on our commutes. Then, we make notes on everything from what it's like to hold and how responsive the screen is through to whether the charge lasts and how long it takes to re-charge too. If you want to find out more about how we test eReaders, don't hesitate to ask me. I'm always happy to chat about all things books.