During a presentation at a Black Hat convention in London, an ethical hacker revealed an exploit that could expose Amazon accounts and credit card information. For the most part, the best eReaders are safe from most hacks, but everything has a vulnerability.

Valentino Ricotta, an engineering analyst at Thales, gave a presentation during the conference where he created a malicious ebook that enabled him to exploit loopholes in the Kindle. After downloading the book to a Kindle, he was able to access the linked Amazon account.

“It can even buy books from the store with my credit card in a single click,” Ricotta said during the presentation, according to Cybernews.

It’s long been possible to side-load books onto your Kindle from third-party sellers by downloading the titles and then transferring them via USB or the Amazon website. Meaning the exploit can get onto your Kindle even if it's not connected to the internet.

How the exploit works

When a book, audiobook, PDF or image is placed on a Kindle, the system enters “parsing,” where it automatically scans the file to extract metadata such as the title and author and converts the content into a readable format. This parsing zone is where Ricotta found the fault.

“It’s about being aware of these kinds of threats, and not trusting third-party websites,” Ricotta added.

Ricotta claimed that the flaw could be turned into a code execution, which would allow an attacker to make the Kindle run their instructions. Because Kindles aren’t regularly turned off or reset like other devices, even though the exploit isn’t reliable, it could be brute forced through persistence in the background as the eReader sits on your nightstand.

Once the code gets through, it gains limited access to steal Amazon session cookies that keep you logged in. This could let hackers access an Amazon account without the password. From there, Ricotta showed how he eventually gained complete control of the device by chaining the original flaw to a second one that let him use the on-screen keyboard.

Ricotta reportedly informed Amazon of the flaws, which were deemed critical and fixed before he gave his presentation. He was awarded a $20,000 “bug bounty” for finding the vulnerability, which he says he donated to charity.

Similar flaws found previously

As Cybernews notes, this flaw seems very similar to one found in 2020 by security researcher Yogev Bar-On and his colleagues, who discovered a series of loopholes that would have let hackers take over a Kindle via an ebook.

The “KindleDrip” exploit also took advantage of code in the parsing and the “Send to Kindle” feature. Similar to Ricotta, Bar-On’s exploit was patched in December 2020, and he received an $18,000 bug bounty. As far as we’re aware, no active abuses of either of these flaws have been reported.

When asked about the flaws an Amazon spokesperson told Tom's Guide, "We identified and fixed vulnerabilities affecting Kindle E-readers and the Audible functionality on these devices. All affected devices have received automatic updates addressing these issues. We appreciate the security researchers who help us maintain high security standards for our customers."

We were also informed that there is no evidence that the vulnerability has been actively used outside of Ricotta's tests.

How to stay safe from Kindle exploits

A common thread between Ricotta’s exploit and the older KindleDrip is related directly to self-published titles. Amazon lets authors self-publish eBooks and audiobooks as a great way for newer authors to sell their stories.

However, as these vulnerabilities show, they can also be used to introduce malicious code to your Kindle. Before you download an eBook or Audiobook, make sure you do some research on the author or publisher. Check the ratings and reviews, look up the author or publisher to make sure they exist.

Additionally, you’ll want to be wary of free eBook offerings. Outside of apps like Libby, which pulls from your local library, or the long-running Project Gutenberg, which provides classic, public domain literature. Otherwise, you’ll want to avoid third-party sites, especially ones you’ve never seen before.

Fortunately, as mentioned above, this exploit has already been patched.

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Amazon finally brought color to its Kindle Colorsoft lineup in the last year, but the color e-paper displays may not be the best for reading.

Notably, the Good e-Reader spotted recently-updated FAQ pages for the Kindle Colorsoft and the just announced Kindle Scribe Colorsoft that assert the Colorsoft displays deliver a "high-quality reading and writing experience." However, they also note that other Amazon e-readers offer a "slightly crisper black and white" reading experience.

"You may notice that the texture or brightness of the display looks different than the Kindle Scribe display. That’s because of the color filter layer that creates the easy on the eyes color reading experience on Kindle Scribe Colorsoft," reads an excerpt of the FAQ.

The page goes on to recommend one of Amazon's monochrome readers for customers who want the crispest reading experience. And it's likely correct, which is a surprising and welcome admission from any company, let alone Amazon.

Display tech

The folks at Good E-Reader claim most color e-readers today (like the Kobo Clara Colour) feature a Kaleido 3 e-paper display, which halves the resolution to 150ppi when in color mode. So if you're looking at a page in color and hold it side-by-side with the same page on a monochrome e-reader, the black and white version should look sharper.

The color is pretty good for comics, magazines, and more colorful PDFs. In our Kindle Colorsoft review, Tony Polanco praised the e-reader for reading comics and manga. However, he has found that the Paperwhite is sharper for regular black and white.

I've found that it's not a huge difference, but you might notice a slight fuzziness in side-by-side comparison.

Colorful alternatives

One of the advantages of an e-reader is that the e-paper display is easy on the eyes, especially in darker rooms. Adding color gives you more reading options, but it may not be the best way to read graphic novels and other hued texts.

We've found that the iPad is an excellent way to read comic books. The iPad Pro OLED (one of the best iPads and best tablets in general) features a vibrant OLED display, and its thinner design makes it more comfortable to hold. As we found, it's especially good for double-page spreads.

If you prefer the size of the Kindle, the iPad mini 7 is a great alternative that's cheaper than the Kindle Colorsoft Scribe and only marginally more expensive than the 16GB Kindle Colorsoft, which costs $249.

The current iPad Mini, meanwhile, starts at $499 for the base 128GB model.

When we compared the iPad Mini and the Kindle Paperwhit, we found that Apple's tablet is perfect for manga or comics thanks to great contrast and a similar size to Amazon's device.

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After overcoming a rather heinous reading slump, I have rediscovered my love for all things books. From burning through overrated 'romantasy' (romance/fantasy) novels to digesting the occasional biography, I spend all my free time reading, and now, my most-wished-for ereader has come within reach, making it easier to carry my favourite books with me everywhere.

The Kindle Colorsoft — the first ever colour Kindle — launched overseas late last year, but Amazon AU quietly released the device in July this year in Australia, listing it for a not-so-nice price of AU$399 for the 16GB model and AU$449 for the 32GB Signature Edition.

Since then, I've had an eye out for a discount, waiting with bated breath for a fair chunk of change to be knocked off the RRP. And after reading our glowing Kindle Colorsoft review, I knew it was the ereader that I wanted to get my hands on.

Right now, the Colorsoft has been discounted to AU$329 on Amazon — that's AU$70 off RRP! It’s the first discount in Australia on the colour Kindle, putting it within grasp for many a bookworm and entry-level ereader user (like me). Sure, it’s probably going to get a better discount when the second Prime Day sale in Australia takes place in October (even Black Friday sales aren’t too far away), but it's definitely worth considering if, like me, you've been eyeing this new Kindle.

Scoring an impressive 4.5 stars out of 5, our reviewer praised the Colorsoft’s sharp and vibrant display. A half star was knocked off as we thought the device was "decidedly expensive," given that it costs more than the entry-level Paperwhite and the Paperwhite Signature Edition. Even the Kobo Libra Colour is a better value at AU$379 with 32GB of storage and writing capabilities. But with this AU$70 discount on offer, this little niggle becomes almost irrelevant.

Thanks to its display, you can also enjoy book covers, comics and graphic novels in all their vibrant glory. You don't have to read colour texts to take full advantage of the display, as our reviewer found that the "monochrome performance remains strong" as black text benefits from the Colorsoft’s boosted contrast.

You can also fuel your reading addiction with Kindle Unlimited for AU$13p/m. Kindle Unlimited is similar to an online library, where you can "borrow" up to 20 books every month. The storefront is home to over 4 million ebooks and audiobooks; however, it’s important to note that Bluetooth connectivity is not available on any Kindle sold in Australia, so you can't listen to audiobooks via an Amazon ereader.

You'll need to be on the same page as me (pun very much intended) to snag this deal — this Kindle Colorsoft discount won't stick around long.

When it comes to Kindles, Amazon has not had a great week. It started with reports that new Kindle Colorsoft owners were seeing a distracting yellow band at the bottom of the display.

Soon after, it was alleged that Amazon was cancelling Colorsoft shipments. The shopping giant has acknowledged the display flaws and offered refunds and replacements for affected Colorsoft owners. "We’re making the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue moving forward," a spokesperson told Tom's Guide. At the time, it was not revealed what might be causing the yellowing issue.

But now, we might have an idea of why the flaw appeared. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote on X that the issue has been traced to Amazon utilising a different version of a component for the Colorsoft display than the one used on the best Kindles with a monochrome screen.

Kuo wrote, "Amazon's use of a different OCA [optically clear adhesive] than that used in grayscale e-paper displays. This change was implemented to enhance the limited contrast capabilities of E Ink's Kaleido color e-paper technology. While component suppliers have developed several hardware solutions, Amazon seems to be leaning toward a software-based fix."

Assuming this is correct, whatever adhesive Amazon picked appears to degrade quickly, causing the yellowing problem.

We should note that in our review of the Kindle Colorsoft, the yellowing issue was never a problem. We've checked the device multiple times since the reports started coming and the Kindle we tested does not appear to have the yellow band.

Tom's Guide has reached out to Amazon to confirm that the adhesive is behind the yellow band and will update this article if the company responds.

Presumably, Amazon either via software or hardware fixes, will have the problem resolved soon so future models of the Colorsoft shouldn't have a yellow band.

Still, if you're looking to try the first Kindle with a color display and willing to roll the dice, it will hit the wallet for $279.99 / £269.99. As we said in our review, "this is the Kindle I've been waiting for. It really is a terrific device." Once the stripe issue is resolved, it might be the Kindle to get.

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In mid-October, Amazon introduced four new Kindles, including the company's first-ever e-reader with a color display on Colorsoft. As we go into November, devices are supposed to be getting into people's hands, but suddenly, they are encountering problems.

Earlier today, it was reported that new Colorsoft owners are reporting a strange yellow strip on the display. An Amazon spokesperson told The Verge that it was aware of the yellow issue and is looking into it.

The folks over at Good e-Reader are reporting that Amazon is "canceling" shipments of the Colorsoft, at least until after November 26. According to their report, the delay could be through November 18 in the United States and November 26 in the UK. 

Supposedly, Amazon is holding any pre-ordered Kindle Colorsoft e-readers in warehouses due to the yellow stripe on the display. Purportedly, Amazon is working on a software update, or that is, Good e-Reader is claiming Amazon has told customers. 

We are taking this report with a grain of salt, as they did not provide any sources or quotes from anyone who has dealt with Amazon reaching out to them about their orders or the display issues. It's unclear where the information is coming from.

Tom's Guide has contacted Amazon to confirm that shipments are being paused and to comment on the yellow stripe claims. We will update this story if Amazon responds. 

Here is what we do know regarding the Colorsoft display. According to customer complaints, some people see a yellow bar on the bottom of their display, which Amazon is aware of. Supposedly, turning off the e-reader and leaving it off for a few minutes before restarting the Kindle might resolve the yellow bar issue.

In our review, we did not notice a yellowing on the Colorsoft that we used. We found the newest Kindle, which was so good that it immediately made our best e-readers list.

Otherwise, one annoyance is that the Kindle Colorsoft does not have Dark Mode, which Amazon acknowledges on the Colorsoft store page. "Dark Mode is currently not available on this device. Customers can enable a similar reading experience within millions of books using the Page Color feature, which, like Dark Mode, inverts the book page color to black and the book text color to white." 

It's not quite the same.

If your order has been canceled or pushed out to a future November date, please contact us and share your experience. 

Amazon responds

Amazon responded to Tom's Guide and acknowledged the yellow band issue. 

“A small number of customers have reported a yellow band along the bottom of the display," a spokesperson said. "We take the quality of our products seriously—customers who notice this can reach out to our customer service team for a replacement or refund, and we’re making the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue moving forward."

Amazon spokespeople did not confirm that shipping has been halted or that Kindle Colorsofts are just sitting around in warehouses. However, it was said that availability dates may shift as new and replacement devices are made available as the "adjustments" are made to remove the yellow band. What those adjustments are was not stated. 

It is unclear if this is a software or hardware issue, though since Amazon is offering replacements, we're inclined to think it's a hardware issue.

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Amazon could be readying the next device in its long line of Kindle e-readers for a surprise launch. According to a new report, the company could be so close to launching the next Kindle that we'll see an announcement as soon as next week (the week of September 30). 

While there hasn't been much in the way of leaks leading up to this news, this latest tip from GoodEReader (via The Verge) reveals some vital information about the next device from Amazon, including some specs. A listing appeared on the Spanish retailer MediaMarkt's website but has since been deleted.

Officially, we don't know the release date for Amazon's next Kindle, but the listing said the device would launch on October 1, which is right around the corner. The predecessor was shown off for the first time in October, so it would make sense for Amazon to put out the new one around that time.

Regarding specs, the listing mentioned that the 12th-gen Kindle offers a front-lit 300ppi display that is 25% brighter than the 11th-gen model. That puts it closer to the brightness provided by the more expensive Kindle Paperwhite, though with enough difference to make that model an upgrade worth considering. 

The listing claims the new device will offer smoother page turns and a dark mode that spans the entire OS for those who prefer that look. 

Before the listing was pulled (which adds some credence to its accuracy in a way), The Verge managed to snag a few screenshots with crucial information. You can see a more recessed screen with rising bezels in a "matcha green" color in one photo. 

Some other notable tidbits from the leak include 16GB of RAM, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C charging and up to eight weeks of battery life on a single charge (up from six on the 11th-gen). 

Finally, the price listed was €119 (about $133), a big jump from the previous model, which retails for $99. Also adding credence to this leak is that Amazon shows the current model as out of stock with no date for when the devices will return.

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I never really got into Kindles when they were released. At first, I simply preferred using real books, but when I finally tried a Kindle there was something about the page look and the tablet layout that just turned me off. While I knew I could use the app on my phone to read books, I never considered the option — at least until I had to.

I recently started reading the Horus Heresy series from Warhammer 40K and hit a minor snag. One of the biggest issues with this series is that many Horus Heresy books are no longer being published, and most copies in circulation can easily cost up to £100. 

Luckily, one option was left open to me, because the books are all available on Amazon Kindle. With this in mind, I downloaded the app and got ready to see if this was a more viable option to continue with this series. Here is what I found over the last week using the app on both the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Buying the books is more of an annoyance than it should be 

The basic premise of finding and buying a Kindle book is surprisingly streamlined. You purchase the book on your Amazon account, and it is linked to any Kindle App you sign into. It's the same process with your progress through the books you read too. However, that’s where the simplicity ends, and there is one minor aspect that is pretty frustrating because, for whatever reason, you cannot buy books in the actual app on either Apple or Android phones.

I was pretty surprised when I opened my app, went to the library and tried to buy the book I wanted to read. However, there was no means to do so; instead, all I could do was download a sample. This meant that, rather than instantly starting on the app, I had to go on a computer, buy a book there and then go back to the app. While this isn’t the end of the world, it is surprisingly tedious.

It should be mentioned that the Kindle versions of books tend to be considerably cheaper than buying a paper book, and there's Kindle Unlimited, a subscription-based service. However, books bought this way are linked to the Amazon account, so if you lose that, you lose the books.

Using the phone was less of a day-to-day hassle 

I live in London, and that means taking the train a lot. As many of you may know there isn’t a lot of WIFI on the London Underground, so people will either read or listen to music. I was one of the people who liked to read while on the train, but this came with its own complications. First and foremost, it means I have to have some form of bag to carry the book. This isn’t the worst thing in the world, but sometimes you don't want a backpack, especially for a single book. 

The other issue is how much space you can reasonably have around you and if you have to stand up. If you’re standing on a crowded train you don’t have a lot of room to move and need one hand holding onto something so you don’t fall over. However, having a book on your phone lessens both of these issues. 

First and foremost, a phone fits in your pocket, and it's not like you wouldn't have a phone with you anyway. It is also much easier to hold in your hand and turn the page with only a thumb, something that books don’t allow. I could stand on a crowded train with the phone in my hand and continue reading without accidentally elbowing people or risking falling over when I had to take my hand off the railing and turn the page. 

I surprised myself by finding that I preferred reading the book on the iPhone over the Galaxy Z Fold 5. I originally thought the bigger screen would be an improvement, and I can see how a foldable phone might work for some, but I wondered why I wasn’t just reading an actual book as I still needed both hands to hold the unfolded phone.  

Actually reading the book on the screen went better than I thought

The real question is “How does it feel to read the book?” The answer is a bit complicated. Firstly, I was always conscious that I was reading a phone. I don’t think it would be possible to change that fact, and the page layouts still feel strange. The page-turning also took some getting used to despite being simpler overall. Some of these feelings lessened when I changed the overall theme of the app, which was set to black, but it still felt a little off initially.

The other issue was that I initially had to clean my screen more than usual as the smudges and fingerprints were a distraction. This was an issue because you had to tap the page to turn it. However, the smudges were much less noticeable when I changed the page color to white. For reference, you do this by pressing the Aa button and selecting the Layout tab. 

I also found that the paragraph structure is a little strange on the phone as it tends to cram everything in a bit. However, several options let you fiddle with how the screen looks so that can help. I also like the little timer at the bottom that tells me how many more minutes in a chapter.

Overall, reading the book started a little strange, but over time I did get used to it. I also found that the wealth of options to customize what I was looking at made the experience a lot more pleasant. I think that you need to tweak them a bit to get the best options, but otherwise, it is much better than I thought it was going to be.

Conclusion: would I recommend using your phone as an e-reader?

Honestly, depending on the book, yes I would recommend it. While I still think there is something special about having a real book I can see the benefit of the app and using the phone. However, I still wouldn’t recommend using a tablet. Their size means that you still need to carry them in a bag, and you still need both hands to use them. However, if you don’t have a wealth of space or, like me, have a series that is just a nightmare to either find or afford then go for it. I know I’m going to keep reading on my phone.

I did not expect to be convinced this thoroughly, and I’m excited to finish the Horus Heresy series…eventually… There are, like, fifty books or so. However, let me know if you like to use your phone or tablet as an e-reader. Do you prefer a real book and would never consider using an app, or do you see apps and Kindles as the wave of the future?

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Amazon didn’t need to reinvent the wheel with the Kindle 2022 ($99). E-readers can have all the bells and whistles they want, but in the end they have one job: to allow you to read. Well, more accurately, allow you to read a collection of books comfortably, all on one device. 

So it was a pleasant surprise when Amazon decided to refresh the Kindle in a noticeable way. This latest version’s e-ink display got upgraded to a 300 pixels per inch (PPI) resolution and Amazon swapped the old micro-USB charging input for USB-C. 

There are still enough differences to make the Kindle Paperwhite the superior choice. The new Kindle 2022 is still not waterproof and it lacks the softer display lighting options of its more expensive counterpart. It’s also smaller, but whether or not that is better or worse is subjective. If you want a Kindle and don’t care about it being waterproof, the $40 cheaper price point makes the Kindle 2022 the better value for most readers. 

Amazon Kindle (2022): Price and configurations 

If you’re someone who gets overwhelmed by choices, then I have good news. The Amazon Kindle 2022 comes in just a single 16GB model for $99. There are two color options though: Black or Denim. So if you want a little choice you’re covered there too. I tested the Black model and it was nice, though fingerprints did show up on the Kindle where I handled it.

Some may complain that the price went up $10 versus the $89 price point of the Amazon Kindle (2019), but at least you get something for that price increase. Between the upgraded resolution and the switch to USB-C, Amazon did at least make some improvements that could justify a price hike. 

Amazon Kindle (2022): Design 

The Amazon Kindle has always had a relatively simple design, and that has not changed with this latest iteration. The 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32-inch Kindle (2022) is slightly smaller than the Kindle (2019), but you probably wouldn't notice. It remains comfortable to hold, and at 5.56 ounces it’s even easier to bring with you anywhere.

It also remains a no-frills device in terms of extra physical features. Aside from a power button and the USB-C charging port, there’s nothing else. To be fair, there isn’t really a need for anything else. Some people like to have physical page-turn buttons, but personally, I don’t view the lack of those as a negative. 

The only design change I would advocate for is upgrading the chassis for the Kindle to be IPX8 waterproof resistance rated. I think that Amazon could accomplish this without undercutting the more expensive Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, which still offers improved lighting options and a larger size than the base 2022 Kindle.

Amazon Kindle (2022): Display 

One of the biggest complaints about the previous iteration of the Kindle in our review was the mediocre display resolution. While the Amazon Kindle 2019 upgraded the display by adding four front lights, which allow for a better and more energy-efficient reading experience, it still featured a relatively low resolution at just 167 ppi. That's fine for reading, but noticeably below the resolution of the rest of the Kindle lineup.

Now, Amazon is fixing that with the Kindle (2022). This Kindle has an upgraded 300 ppi 6-inch display that felt incredibly comfortable for this former Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (3rd generation) user. The e-ink grayscale display looked fantastic and was easy to read. 

The biggest complaint I had was that I found the light to be a bit harsher than the warmer tones you can get on the Paperwhite. However, I found with a little tinkering — and turning on the Kindle 2022’s dark mode — I was able to land on an enjoyable display experience. 

Amazon Kindle (2022): User experience and features 

The Kindle user experience is pretty simple, and I found it easy to use and intuitive. When the Kindle boots up, you’re presented with a home page that displays some selections from your library and recommendations from Amazon. There’s also a search bar to allow you to just search for content directly from the home page.

At the bottom there’s also a “Library” tab that shows everything you have in your Kindle library. You can filter this library by using the filters icon located directly under the search bar, which is great if you’re in the mood for something you haven’t read yet or searching for an Audible audiobook.

Speaking of Audible, you can listen to your Audible audiobooks on the Kindle using Bluetooth. I found it easy to connect my headphones to the Kindle, but be warned — it may be loud at first. Make sure to set your volume using the Settings pull-down menu (drag your finger down from the top of the screen to access) once you’re connected. The volume slider only appears with Bluetooth connected.

Finally, our past reviews have spoken at length about the awfulness that is Goodreads, Amazon’s widely-disliked social network for recommending books. Unfortunately, it hasn’t entirely gone away. While I’ve had a largely Goodreads-free experience, when you open a new book there is an annoying “About this book” pop-up that appears. While technically not a Goodreads feature, it’s still an annoying distraction that the Kindle could do without. Still, overall Amazon largely didn’t overwhelm me with distractions, so it's a vast improvement over some of the previous Kindles in that regard.

Amazon Kindle (2022): Battery life 

While the 6-week battery life of the Amazon Kindle 2022 is less than the Kindle Paperwhite’s 10-week, it’s more than enough. Amazon claims that the Kindle can hit six weeks on a single charge based on 30 minutes of reading a day with Wi-Fi off and the brightness set at 13. Using the Audible audiobook streaming feature over Bluetooth will reduce battery life below this figure.

While I have not tested the battery life of the Kindle as rigorously as Amazon has (I haven’t even had 6 weeks to try and drain the battery) I can tell you so far I’ve been impressed. I’ve been using it for a while now and still have not had to charge it. While it may fall short of the six weeks Amazon promises, it won’t be by much.

Amazon Kindle (2022): Content

Content is both a major advantage and disadvantage of the Kindle ecosystem. Amazon Kindles, of course, have access to the massive Kindle Store and its millions of books. You also get access to Audible audiobooks, which as mentioned you can listen to using Bluetooth. If you have an Amazon Prime account, you can even download a free eBook a month from a selection of new books curated by Amazon. You even get free cloud storage for all Amazon content.

Unfortunately, alongside offering this wealth of content Amazon does everything it can to lock you out of other ecosystems. The Kindle can download eBooks from your public library through the Overdrive service, but other services (like Hoopla, which works on Kindle Fire tablets) don’t work on the Kindle 2022. And if you have Google Books eBooks, those won’t work either.

Amazon Kindle (2022): Verdict 

The Amazon Kindle (2022) is nearly a perfect device for what it is, and some of its flaws are more down to Amazon than the device itself. Being locked into Amazon’s ecosystem is a drag, but you can’t really knock the Kindle for that.

That’s not to say there aren’t improvements that could be made. The fact that the Kindle 2022 isn’t waterproof is probably the biggest reason that I couldn’t rate it above four stars, and the ability to adjust the warmth of the display light is something I sorely miss from the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) — though if you’re fine with using dark mode it’s easy to move past that shortcoming. Admittedly, if Amazon fixed those things there would be no reason to get the Paperwhite, so while I’m disappointed, I’m not shocked.

Ultimately though, the Kindle 2022 is probably the best Kindle for most people, dethroning the Paperwhite when both are at full price. It’s lightweight and comfortable to hold, the display is bright and crisp — a massive improvement — and the battery lasts for ages. Unless you really need a waterproof Kindle, it’s tough to advocate spending more than the $99.99 for the Amazon Kindle 2022.

If you were an avid reader of Kindle books on your Android device, you’re in for some bad news, as Amazon has removed the option to buy ebooks using the Android Kindle app.

Until very recently it was possible to buy Kindle books from within the Amazon app on Android. But as Ars Technica noted, that option has been removed by Amazon — now users are directed to a screen that explains the option to buy books in the app has been removed, in order “to remain in compliance with the Google Play Store policies.” 

The policy is one that came into action this April and requires companies with a turnover of over $1 million to pay a 30% commission on all in-app purchases on Android.

This could be bypassed by companies enabling in-app purchases to be done though their own payment service rather than Android’s Google Pay. But since March, Google has been preventing apps that don’t use its payment platform from being able to issue updates. And from June 1, any apps not using Google-approved payments will be removed from the Play Store. 

As such, it looks like Amazon is getting in early to remove non-Google Pay payments from the Kindle app. But rather than surrender 30% of the Kindle app purchases, Amazon now directs users to its website in order to buy books that can then be downloaded to the Kindle app. This is the same reason why Amazon recently removed the purchase of Audible audiobooks through its Android app. 

Such moves aren’t surprising as the same happened to the Kindle app on iOS, as  Apple had inflicted ‘tax’ on companies' digital goods purchased through apps on its App Store, which also saw Amazon remove the purchase of Kindle books via its on iOS app back in 2011.

This new move by Amazon doesn't mean the Kindle app on Android becomes useless, but it does make it trickier to make quick book purchases, say downloading an ebook before a flight or long commute. Effectively, the user experience for Kindle has got a little worse, meaning you may want to consider an alternative, so check out our rundown of the best ebook apps. 

Trying to figure out if your Kindle will lose internet access? We're guessing you heard about Amazon's upcoming changes that will stop some older Kindles from accessing the internet entirely, once the change happens in the U.S. this December.

Fortunately not all Kindles will be affected in the same way. It all depends on which model you have, as Amazon's move to walk away from older 2G and 3G networks (moving to 4G and 5G) is a bigger deal for Kindles that don't have Wi-Fi access. The slightly newer Kindles will still have Wi-Fi, but lose cellular connections That said, the convenience of downloading a book on the go via cellular is a huge thing to lose. And interestingly enough, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) doesn't even have a cellular option.

But in order to figure out which Kindle you have, it's time to dive in to your settings. Here, you'll find your serial number, which can be used to deduce the Kindle you have. You'll also (possibly) find the year of your Kindle, which can also be used for deducing if you'll be affected or not. All of our current picks for the best Kindles, you'll note, won't be losing connectivity.

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Your Kindle's name may help identify it

Personally, I was able to figure out which Kindle I have by turning it on and seeing the name "Henry's 2017 Kindle Oasis" at the top of the screen. Then, I would just scroll below to the lists of affected Kindles, to find that mine will not be affected. 

Unfortunately, not everyone's Kindle has such a convenient name. Yours may just be named "Brian's 1st Kindle," (which is probably eerie to read if your name is Brian, so hi to all the Brians out there). In that case, you need to do some more work. 

We also advise using the serial numbers to confirm the model you have. No other way is as fool-proof. This is because you may have purchased a model in the year after it was released, so take the below list as just help for figuring out what situation your Kindle is in. 

Identify your Kindle model and serial number online

There are two ways to figure out your Kindle's model and serial number, the first starts with going online.

1. Sign into Amazon.com and hover over Account & Lists.

2. Under Your Account, select Content & Devices.

3. Select Devices from the row of options.

4. Select Kindle.

5. Select your Kindle. You may see the name and year of your Kindle, or like us, you may just see a Kindle named "Your #th Kindle" using your name and which number Kindle purchase this was for you.

6. Here you'll find your serial number! The prefix of you serial number will be useful for finding your specific model. 

Identify your Kindle model and serial number on your Kindle

You can also find this info out on your Kindle!

1. Tap Settings. As you'll see above, my 2017 Kindle Oasis was easy to figure out based on how its name appeared at the top of the screen.

2. Tap All Settings.

3. Tap Device Options.

4. Tap Device Info.

5. Take note of your serial number!

The Kindles losing all internet connectivity

OK, now that you know your Kindle's serial number, we've got a list of all the Kindles along with the year they were released and their model name. You'll probably need your serial number, though, as the prefix is used to figure out which model is yours.

We've got the Kindle serial number prefixes for the four oldest Kindles listed below. If yours is not one of those, check out this guide to figure out which is yours.

• Kindle (first generation, 2007) [serial number prefix B001]
• Kindle (second generation, 2009) [serial number prefix B002 or B003]
• Kindle DX (2009) [serial number prefixes B004, B005]
• Kindle DX Graphite (aka Kindle DX second generation, 2010) [serial number prefix B009]

Kindles losing 2G/3G internet that still have Wi-Fi

• Amazon Kindle (third generation, aka Kindle Keyboard, 2010) 
• Amazon Kindle 4 (fourth generation, 2011)
• Amazon Kindle Touch (2011)
• Amazon Kindle (fifth generation, 2012)
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (first generation, 2012)
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2 (second generation, 2013)
• Amazon Kindle 7 (seventh generation, 2014)
• Amazon Kindle Voyage (first generation, 2014)
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (third generation, 2015)
• Amazon Kindle Oasis (first generation, 2016)
• Amazon Kindle 8 (eighth generation, 2016)

Note that Amazon refers to the 2012 - 2015 Kindle Paperwhite, 2014 Kindle Voyage and 2016 Kindle Oasis using the "generation" numbers for its overall Kindle line. Knowing the year your Kindle came out will help a lot here. 

Kindles not losing any connectivity

• Amazon Kindle Oasis (2017) (second generation)
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018) (fourth generation)
• Amazon Kindle (2019) (10th generation)
• Amazon Kindle Kids Edition (first generation, 2019)
• Amazon Kindle Oasis (2019) (third generation, aka Oasis 3)

Should you buy a new Kindle?

This is probably the right time for many to upgrade their Kindle, especially if they're looking for features such as Bluetooth connections for audio books (in all Kindles) or waterproofing (Kindle Paperwhite 2018) for when you're at the beach.

That said, if your Kindle isn't one of the models losing all internet access, we could understand holding onto it. You just need to make sure you load up on books before you go out, so you're not caught without cellular connectivity.

FYI: Amazon just made the Kindle app on Android worse — here’s how.

Figuring out how to update your Kindle, to get the latest version of the Kindle operating system, is supposed to be easy. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. We learned this with Amazon's latest update, version 5.13.7, which the company announced would be going out to the 8th Gen Kindle and above, 7th Gen Kindle Paperwhite and above and Kindle Oasis e-readers.

So no matter which of the best Kindles you've bought, you may run into the same problem we did: our Kindle Oasis just never got the update (it's running by default on the new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2021 and the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition). We don't know why, and we found it odd. Days later, we found the way to manually update it, to get the new-look home screen, which primarily does two key things to your home screen. It adds a (much needed) Library button on the bottom of the screen, and makes the search field larger.

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How to update your Kindle the easy way

Your Kindle should just get the new update as long as it's connected to the internet. But if that doesn't work, there's an easy way to find the system update setting on your Kindle. 

1. Tap the Settings button in the top row.

2. Tap All Settings.

3. Tap Device Options.

4. Tap Advanced Options.

5. If you can, tap Update Your Kindle. As you can see here, it's grayed out, and we can't. Time to move to the hard way.

How to update your Kindle the manual way

This is how I updated my Kindle Oasis, as the normal update protocols did not work. So if you are waiting and waiting for the update to just happen, you can force it to happen with this process.

1. You need to identify your Kindle model (we explain more about this here).

2. Visit this page for the Kindle E-Reader Software Updates.

3. Find your model and click the "Download Software Update" link next to it to download the update.

4. Connect your Kindle to your computer via USB cable.

5. In your file manager, drag and drop the update to the Kindle's drive. Wait for the transfer to complete.

6. After the transfer has completed, eject the Kindle drive from your computer.

7. Disconnect your Kindle from your computer. Now, we're going to repeat some of the first steps to open the Advanced Settings menu.

8. Tap the Settings button in the top row.

9. Tap All Settings.

10. Tap Device Options.

11. Tap Advanced Options.

12. Tap Update Your Kindle. It should no longer be grayed out. 

13. Tap OK, and wait for your Kindle to restart and process the update. 

After a while, your Kindle should be updated! Congrats!

How to update your Kindle on version 5.13.7 or later

So, if your Kindle is on version 5.13.7, and you still want to update it (or see if an update is available), the steps have changed ever so slightly.

1. Tap the three dots button in the top-right corner.

2. Tap Settings.

3. Tap Device Options. This should look familiar, and I bet you can guess the next steps. 

4. Tap Advanced Options.

5. See if you can tap Update Your Kindle. Repeat the steps under "How to update your Kindle the manual way" if the option is grayed out, but you know an update is out there.

Now you know how to update your Kindle in two ways, and we hope you only need the easy one. That said, the manual method didn't take a whole lot of effort, we just needed to find a microUSB cable.

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Amazon Kindle e-readers are getting a long-awaited feature that will allow them to display a book's cover art on the device's lock screen.

The firmware update, which is rolling out right now, adds the option to set your Kindle’s lock screen as the cover of whatever book you’re reading. Previously, Kindle e-readers would cycle through a selection of preinstalled backgrounds when not in use.

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The Display Cover option isn't just limited to books, either: it will also support the covers of most magazines, comics, and Manga. 

Amazon claims the feature is "a great way to remind you to set aside more time to read" — and it'll certainly be welcomed by many Kindle owners. Users have been asking for it pretty much since the first Kindle launched, so we’re glad to see Amazon is finally implementing it, even if it has taken them nearly a decade and a half to do so. 

All three current Kindle models will receive this feature: the 5.13.5 firmware update is coming to selected versions of the Amazon Kindle, the Kindle Paperwhite, and the Kindle Oasis, plus one version of the older Kindle Voyage. Here's the full list:

• Amazon Kindle (8th and 10th generation)
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (7th and 10th generation)
• Amazon Kindle Oasis (8th, 9th and 10th generation)
• Amazon Kindle Voyage (7th generation)

Enabling the feature on these devices is super simple: once your e-reader has been updated, a toggle option will appear in the system settings. And the ability to switch the feature on and off may come in handy, given that you might not want everyone around you knowing that you’re enjoying some trashy romantic fiction. 

What's more, Good Ereader has discovered that the feature is also compatible with ebooks that have been sideloaded, which means those that have been purchased somewhere other than the Kindle Store will also work. 

Disappointingly, the editions of Kindle marked as Special Offer models, which are significantly cheaper due to the inclusion of in-device advertisements, won’t be receiving this feature — though you can remove ads for a $20 fee. 

The firmware update is being rolled out globally right now, so it should arrive on your Kindle soon. 

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Meet the InkPad Color, the latest e-reader from Pocketbook that aims to take on the Amazon Kindle with a color-rich display. 

The successor to last year’s PocketBooker Color, the InkPad Color is a 7.8-inch e-reader that uses the latest version of the Kaleido tech seen in previous PocketBook devices, reported The Verge.  

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The Kaleido panel on the InkPad Color helps to enhance the onscreen contrast and saturation, as well as boosting the screen’s refresh rate for smoother page-turning. This promises to make the InkPad an excellent device for reading magazines, children’s books, and graphic novels, something that other e-readers don’t always excel at. 

The InkPad Color is far from the first color e-reader on the market, but its 7.8-inch screen is certainly a unique selling point. The display beats Amazon’s largest e-reader, the Kindle Oasis, by a reasonable margin in both size and contrast. 

Thanks to the upgraded Kaledio technology, the device is able to display around 4,100 colors, but it does have its drawbacks. The color output is limited to 100ppi, whereas its greyscale resolution is a significantly higher 300ppi. 

The rest of the specs make solid reading as well. The InkPad Color runs a custom version of Linux, is 8mm thick, and weighs 225g, making it slightly on the heavier side but overall still very portable. 

It offers 16GB of internal storage, which can be expanded thanks to an SD card slot, and a 2,900 mAh battery, plus it offers Bluetooth connectivity for pairing wireless headphones which allows you to listen to audiobooks. 

The InkPad Color is available to buy right now from Amazon and retails for $329 / £366.

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