Is a New Kindle Model Launching Soon? Signs Point to Possible Update
Since 2016, Amazon has been offering the Kindle in its current version. This is the entry-level model from the retail giant, designed to persuade skeptics of digital reading with its lower price.
Just like with the Kindle Paperwhite 3, there have been numerous speculations in the past about Amazon potentially updating the eBook reader. The Paperwhite got its update not too long ago. Is it now time for the Kindle to do the same?
Sold Out in the US
A sign of an impending change could be the recent price promotions in the US, followed by an empty stock. The Kindle is sold out on Amazon.com in all four versions (white, black; with and without ads). Only the separately available Kindle for Kids Bundle is still available.
Otherwise, there is also no possible restock date mentioned. The only information on the product page states that the eReader is currently unavailable.
Looking at the Kindle’s specifications, it’s undeniable that the device could use an upgrade. The 2016 Kindle was admittedly just a minor upgrade from the 2014 predecessor. The only new features at the time were Bluetooth (which only became truly useful with the Audible integration) and the higher quality, slightly sleeker casing.
The Lone E-Ink Pearl eReader
The screen has always had room for improvement. To my knowledge, the Kindle is now the only eBook reader with an E-Ink Pearl display. While not bad, the difference between the screen generations becomes clear when compared directly to the Tolino Page.
Aside from that, constant price promotions made the Kindle Paperwhite 3 usually the better choice anyway. And even with the Paperwhite 4, you get significantly more for your money.
The question remains as to what Amazon plans to do with the base model. Despite the recent somewhat unclear positioning (due to the sometimes massive Paperwhite discounts), the Kindle has been an important model in Amazon’s product portfolio for a long time.
It would thus be quite surprising if the retail giant retired the device – like the Voyage – without a replacement. For a hardware upgrade, one can expect E-Ink Carta technology for the display and possibly a higher resolution. An integrated light is also conceivable, although there’s a risk of cannibalizing Paperwhite sales in that case.
So it remains to be seen how Amazon will proceed with the entry model. It is also quite possible that the market situation has changed so much in recent years that an inexpensive base model is no longer necessary due to stiff competition in the mid-price segment.
