Guide · Checked 13 October 2026
Kindle Colorsoft vs Paperwhite: which should you buy?
If you read novels, buy the Paperwhite. If you read anything with pictures, read on.
The Paperwhite and the Colorsoft are the same size and feel much the same in the hand. The Colorsoft adds a colour layer for covers, comics, cookbooks and coloured highlights. The Paperwhite costs less and lasts longer between charges. For text-only reading the Paperwhite is the better buy, and for illustrated books the Colorsoft is worth the extra.
We have not tested these products. This guide is based on the manufacturers' Amazon UK listings and buyer demand, checked on 13 October 2026. We do not show prices because they change constantly. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How we choose.
The differences that matter
| Kindle Paperwhite | Kindle Colorsoft | Colorsoft Signature Edition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 7-inch, black and white | 7-inch, colour | 7-inch, colour |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB | 32GB |
| Battery (Amazon's figure) | Up to 12 weeks | Up to 8 weeks | Up to 8 weeks |
| Auto-adjusting front light | No | No | Yes |
| Wireless charging | No | No | Yes, dock sold separately |
| Coloured highlights | No | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Lowest of the three | In the middle | Highest |
2024 models, from Amazon's listings. A Paperwhite Signature Edition also exists, with 32GB, the auto-adjusting light and wireless charging. Confirm the details on the listing before you buy.
Which one for which reader
Novels and other text
Kindle Paperwhite 16GB
The best value of the three. Text looks just as sharp as on the Colorsoft and the battery lasts longer. This is the version with adverts on the lock screen. A version without them is a separate listing.
Paid link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Comics, cookbooks and children's books on a budget
Kindle Colorsoft 16GB
The same colour screen as the Signature Edition. You lose wireless charging, the auto-adjusting light and half the storage, and most readers will not miss them.
Paid link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Big comic and manga libraries
Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition 32GB
Comics and manga files are large, so 32GB matters if you keep a lot on the device. It also adds the auto-adjusting light and wireless charging.
Read our full guide to the Amazon Colorsoft Signature Edition →
Paid link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Text only, with the extras
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
Black and white with 32GB, the auto-adjusting light and wireless charging.
Paid link · opens Amazon.co.uk
Check which generation you are buying
When we checked on 13 October 2026, Amazon UK listed "newest generation" versions of the Paperwhite and the Colorsoft Signature Edition alongside the 2024 models. The names are almost the same. Read the listing title to see which generation it is, and compare both before you buy.
What colour on a Kindle is really like
Colour e-paper is soft. It looks like a printed newspaper, not a tablet. That is the trade for a screen you can read for hours and in sunlight.
Neither Kindle supports UK public library ebook lending.
Questions people ask
Is the Kindle Colorsoft worth it over the Paperwhite?
Only if colour matters for what you read: comics, manga, cookbooks, children's books, or colour-coded highlights. For novels the Paperwhite is better value.
Does the Colorsoft have worse battery life than the Paperwhite?
Yes. Amazon quotes up to 8 weeks for the Colorsoft and up to 12 weeks for the Paperwhite.
Is text as sharp on the Colorsoft?
Amazon lists black-and-white content at the same 300ppi on both. Colour content is shown at a lower resolution.
Will Kindles be cheaper on Black Friday?
Usually. Amazon discounts its own devices heavily at Black Friday, which is on 27 November 2026. This is one where waiting tends to pay.
