Amazon Kindle Colorsoft
Exact average 72.5 · 6 printed, 6 estimated · printed scores only: 73
Image: Amazon12 professional reviewers tested the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft, and 4 recommend it. Most praised: picture quality and performance. Most common complaint: price.
Reviewed by Tom's Guide, Woman & Home, WIRED and 9 more
The catch: Expensive for an e-reader.
6 of these 12 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text, then adjusted the estimates against the ratings outlets actually print (ours ran slightly low). An estimate is never higher than 92.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes a score.
What 12 critics said
Highest score first · all converted to 0–100- 90Tom's Guide
The reviewer is delighted, calling it the color Kindle he waited for, with a fast interface, slim design and excellent battery life.
Read Tom's Guide review - 80Woman & Home
A vivid, fast and long-lasting colour e-reader that is great for magazines and cookbooks, but pricey if you don't need colour.
Read Woman & Home review - 70WIRED
A good color e-reader with a big screen and long battery life, but it is pricey and omits page-turn buttons and stylus support that cheaper rivals include.
Read WIRED review - 70How-To Geek
After testing, the reviewer finds the launch problems resolved and the color screen pleasant, but calls it a pricey choice that is not essential.
Read How-To Geek review - 70The Verge
The best color screen on an e-reader so far, but the reviewer says color alone does not justify the extra cost over a Paperwhite.
Read The Verge review - 60Trusted Reviews
Color is welcome, but this first-generation Kindle feels like a prototype with softer text than the Paperwhite and a high price.
Read Trusted Reviews review - 83est.TechRadar
The reviewer loves the fast, smooth color E Ink display and performance and would buy it, but finds the build cheap and the price steep for the extra color.
Read TechRadar review - 83est.Digital Trends
A warm review that recommends the Colorsoft mainly because it is a great Kindle rather than for its color screen.
Read Digital Trends review - 77est.The Guardian
With launch faults fixed, the reviewer finds color improves browsing and in-book images without hurting reading.
Read The Guardian review - 77est.Engadget
A solid premium e-reader that works well in color and black and white, best for Kindle-ecosystem users who want color.
Read Engadget review - 60est.Expert Reviews
The reviewer finds the Colorsoft easy to use but argues the color tradeoffs hurt plain reading, with a greyer page and shorter battery than a Paperwhite.
Read Expert Reviews review - 50est.Six Colors
The reviewer finds the color screen reduces contrast for ordinary reading and adds little beyond comics, so he tells readers to save money.
Read Six Colors review
"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
How it compares
Direct comparisons by professional outlets, exact models only, in our words. Shown as evidence; they never change the critic score.
vs Kobo Libra Colour84
- Good Housekeeping UK: it depends. Choose this one if: you want a standard e-reader with color, already use Kindle, or read many graphic novels.
- Good e-Reader (2025): it depends. Choose this one if: your books are already on Kindle and you use Audible regularly.
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
Other e-readers critics rate highly
Common questions
Is the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft worth it?
Critics are divided: 4 of 12 recommend it. Expensive for an e-reader.
Do critics agree about the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft?
Critics split: scores range from 50 (Six Colors) to 90 (Tom's Guide), a spread of 40 points across 12 reviews. Reviewers disagree, so read the individual reviews before buying.
What do critics dislike about the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft?
Price (10 of 12 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft?
The Kobo Clara Colour (critic score 86), top pick, narrowly.