Amazon has refreshed its Kindle line-up in Australia with redesigned Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft models, alongside several new accessories. There’s also a new Fire TV Stick 4K joining the announcement, bringing faster performance, Wi-Fi 6 and a redesigned Fire TV Remote.
Amazon says the new devices are thinner and lighter, while introducing a new display architecture and a flush, edge-to-edge design across the range. There are also plenty of new colours to choose from, including Ube, Alpine Sky, Seaglass Green, Graphite and Fig.
The new Kindle gets lighter, faster and more colourful
The entry-level Kindle remains the smallest of Amazon’s eReaders with its 6-inch display, but now gets 16GB of storage, up to six weeks of battery life and book opening that Amazon says is 30% faster than the previous generation.
It also adopts the new flush-front design and starts from A$279 in Ube or Graphite.
For the first time, there’s also an aluminium version of the 6-inch Kindle. It keeps the same compact form factor but moves to 32GB of storage and comes in Alpine Sky or Seaglass Green for A$299.
I quite like that Amazon is putting more effort into the physical design of the Kindle range. eReaders tend to be devices you keep for years, so having a few more interesting finishes beyond the usual black or dark grey is certainly welcome.
Check our Kindle 2024 review while you’re here too.
Kindle Paperwhite gets a slimmer design
The new Kindle Paperwhite is thinner and lighter than before while retaining some of the features that make the Paperwhite the more appealing choice for frequent readers, including waterproofing and an adjustable warm light.
Battery life is rated at up to 12 weeks on a single charge. The standard model comes with 16GB of storage and is available in Graphite from A$369.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition steps things up with an aluminium rear housing, 32GB of storage, an automatically adjusting front light and pogo-pin charging support. Amazon has also added a double-tap gesture for turning pages.
The Signature Edition is available in Graphite and Seaglass Green for A$399.
We reviewed the Paperwhite Signature Edition back in 2021 if you want to check it out.
Kindle Colorsoft brings colour into the mix
Amazon is also expanding its colour eReader range with the latest Kindle Colorsoft.
Unlike reading on a conventional tablet display, Kindle Colorsoft is designed to provide more paper-like colour without the glare associated with a typical LCD or OLED screen. That should make it particularly useful for books where colour actually matters, such as comics, graphic novels, travel guides and illustrated books.
The standard Kindle Colorsoft includes 16GB of storage and starts from A$449 in Graphite.
Meanwhile, the A$499 Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition increases storage to 32GB and adds an aluminium housing, auto-adjusting front light, double-tap page turning and pogo-pin dock charging. It is available in Graphite and Fig.
Amazon introduces Kindle Click and new Kindle accessories
There’s a surprisingly substantial range of accessories arriving alongside the new Kindle devices as well.
The first one is Kindle Click, a compact Bluetooth page-turning remote priced at A$49.95. It works with the new Kindle family as well as Kindle devices released from 2024 onwards.
Amazon is also launching a Page-Turn Cover for A$119.95. Designed for the Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft Signature Edition, the magnetic case includes physical page-turn buttons and connects through the Kindle’s pogo pins.
A new A$89.95 Charging Dock can keep compatible Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Edition models upright while charging, while Amazon’s regular Kindle covers start from A$54.95 and are available in several materials and matching colours.
The new Kindle devices and covers are available through Amazon Australia and participating Australian retailers, with selected Paperwhite, Colorsoft and accessory models available for pre-order.
Fire TV Stick 4K gets faster performance and Wi-Fi 6
Amazon hasn’t forgotten about the television either, announcing a new Fire TV Stick 4K alongside the Kindle range.
The latest model offers faster performance than the previous-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Select and supports Wi-Fi 6, which should help maintain more consistent streaming performance on busy home networks with plenty of connected devices. Naturally, it continues to support 4K video as well.
The new Fire TV Stick 4K can draw power directly from a compatible TV’s USB port using the included cable, eliminating the need for a separate wall adaptor. That makes the Fire TV Stick cleaner to install behind a television and potentially more convenient to take with you while travelling.
The device also includes Alexa+ Early Access and Amazon’s latest Fire TV interface, allowing viewers to use natural-language searches across compatible apps and receive personalised recommendations.
The new Fire TV Stick 4K is priced at A$129 and is available in Australia through Amazon.com.au and JB Hi-Fi.
We’ve also recently reviewed their latest Fire TV Stick HD here at Craving Tech.
A redesigned Fire TV Remote
Amazon is also introducing an updated Fire TV Remote with more tactile controls that should make buttons easier to identify without constantly looking down at the remote.
There’s now a customisable star button too, previously reserved for Amazon’s more premium remote. It can be assigned to quickly open a favourite app or toggle accessibility features such as closed captioning and Screen Magnifier.
The new Fire TV Remote costs A$24.95 and is available separately for existing compatible Fire TV owners. Pre-orders are open now, with Australian shipping scheduled to begin on 22 October.
