Amazon unveiled its first Kindle e-reader equipped with a built-in front light for under $100. The new Kindle model features a refreshed design weighing 174 grams and should provide up to four weeks of battery life on a single charge. The model is also accompanied by a couple of software improvements, one of which will arrive later through an OTA update.
One of the new features comes in the form of improved syncing. When finishing an eBook the new Kindle e-reader will automatically mark it as “read” and will now sync it across the entire library for devices including Amazon’s fire tables and other Kindle readers, as well as the mobile Kindle application for Android and iOS.
In the coming months, Amazon will release an over-the-air update which will continue to improve the user experience by providing additional recommendations based on the user’s reading history. The update will launch for the new Kindle, as well as the Kindle Paperwhite launched in 2013 and newer models.
One of the most exciting additions to the new Kindle is the new adjustable front light complementing the 6-inch 167ppi display. It’s based on four LEDs and gives users the option to read their eBooks in any lighting condition, with the brightness level being adjustable. In contrast, the Kindle Paperwhite has five LEDs while the Kindle Oasis has a total of twelve.
According to Amazon, the new e-reader can last up to four weeks on a single charge, assuming that the user reads for half an hour a day with the screen brightness option set at 13. Other hardware details include a 16-level grayscale panel with optimized font technology, 4GB of built-in storage which should be enough to hold thousands of books, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the latter of which can be used for listening to audiobooks via external speakers or Bluetooth-enabled headphones.
All-new Kindle bundle and availability details
For a limited time, Amazon will bundle the new Kindle with three months of free access to the Kindle Unlimited subscription service which normally costs $9.99 per month. This will give new buyers free unlimited access to countless eBooks from various genres, as well as free audiobooks as long as they are included alongside the e-paper variant, as denoted by the “with narration” icon.
As for other features which will be compatible with the new Kindle, this includes Whispersync and Whispersync for Voice which synchronizes pages, bookmarks, and annotations between eBooks and Audible books across Kindle devices and the Kindle mobile application.
The e-reader is also integrated with Goodreads, Smart Lookup, and the X-Ray feature, the latter of which can be used to highlight passages containing similar places, characters, and other topics across an entire book.
The new Kindle is now available for pre-order in Black or White for $89.99 via Amazon and will start shipping on April 10. The package includes the Kindle itself along with a power adaptor and an Amazon protective cover. Additional fabric covers will also be available for purchase separately on April 10 for the price of $29.99, and they will arrive in four color options including Charcoal Black, Cobalt Blue, Punch Red, and Sandstone White.
