Amazon's Kindle Aluminum (2026) Review: New Colors, Higher Price

Earlier this month, Amazon introduced an updated range of Kindles, including the Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Colorsoft. The basic Kindle is available in two versions: a plastic variant and the Kindle Aluminum. The aluminum editions of the Paperwhite and Colorsoft are now Signature Editions, featuring wireless charging, an auto-adjusting front light, and certain AI capabilities. Priced at $190, the Kindle Aluminum offers 32 GB of storage and does not include lock screen ads, but its lack of a warm front light raises questions about its value. It comes in Seaglass Green and Alpine Sky. The 12th-generation Kindle retains its 6-inch display, which is now flush with the body, and is a quarter-inch shorter than the 2024 model. Its weight is 5.7 ounces, compared to 4.9 ounces for the 2026 plastic version and 5.56 ounces for the 2024 plastic Kindle. Books load almost instantly compared to the 2024 model, and the front light has a slightly warmer tone, although it remains somewhat blue for nighttime reading. The Kindle Page Turn Cover ($80) is compatible only with the Signature Editions, while the Kindle Aluminum and plastic model can use the $35 Kindle Click remote. The plastic Ube variant is priced $20 to $40 lower but offers only 16 GB of storage.