[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong] Amazon has overhauled its Kindle e-reader lineup. From the base model to Paperwhite, color models and kids devices, it unified design and controls and reduced thickness and weight. The company expanded the lineup with color e-books, kids products and a page-turning accessory as it steps up its push in the e-reader market.

On Oct. 2 (local time), major foreign media outlets including Gigazine reported that Amazon applied a flat front design across all Kindle models, removing the step between the screen and bezel. It redesigned the stacked structure of the display, lighting and touch components to make the body thinner and lighter. It also moved the power button to the upper right of the device.

The power button change aims to reduce accidental presses when holding the device in one hand. A display that reduces light reflection and an adjustable front light remain as before.

The base 16GB Kindle has a 6-inch black-and-white display. It is thinner and lighter than the previous generation, and Amazon said book-opening speed is about 30 percent faster. Storage is 16GB and the battery lasts up to 6 weeks. It comes in Ube Purple and Graphite and costs 29,980 yen. In Japan, sales and shipments began on Oct. 1.

The 6-inch Kindle 32GB doubles storage and changes the back material. It uses a matte aluminum back, with 80 percent of the aluminum made from recycled material. Battery life is up to 6 weeks, and it comes in Alpine Sky Blue and Seaglass Green. It costs 33,980 yen.

The higher-end Kindle Paperwhite highlights water resistance and longer battery life. It supports IPX8-rated water resistance and can be used for up to 12 weeks. Amazon said it uses an oxide thin-film transistor to deliver the highest contrast ratio in the Paperwhite series.

The standard Paperwhite offers 16GB storage in Graphite and costs 39,980 yen. The Paperwhite Signature Edition has 32GB storage and an aluminum back, and supports automatic brightness adjustment, double-tap page turning and dock charging. Both models began taking preorders on Oct. 1 and will ship from Nov. 11.

The Kindle Colorsoft, aimed at color e-books, was also updated. Its 7-inch color screen shows book covers, illustrations and color comics in color, and the highlight function offers 5 colors.

Amazon said it improved LEDs and light-diffusing components in the new Colorsoft to enhance color rendering, brightness and lighting uniformity. It also optimized internal optical coating and the driving method to improve sharpness, operating speed and contrast. The battery lasts up to 8 weeks.

The standard Colorsoft has 16GB storage in Graphite and costs 51,980 yen. The Signature Edition offers an aluminum body and 32GB storage and supports automatic brightness adjustment, double-tap page turning and dock charging. It comes in Graphite and Fig and costs 56,980 yen. Both models began taking preorders on Oct. 1 and will ship on Nov. 11.

Amazon also strengthened its kids lineup. Amazon Kids Kindle has a 6-inch black-and-white display, while Amazon Kids Kindle Colorsoft has a 7-inch color display. Both offer 16GB storage and a dedicated protective cover, and include a 1-year Amazon Kids+ subscription that provides access to more than 2,000 children's books and learning comics. Parents can use a dedicated dashboard to check a child's reading time and progress. Amazon Kids+ automatically renews as a paid service after the 1-year period ends.

Accessories also changed. Amazon introduced the Kindle Click, a Bluetooth page-turn remote. It lets users turn pages forward and back without touching the device, and works not only with the new products but also with Kindle devices released after 2024. It costs 5,180 yen, began taking preorders on Oct. 1 and is scheduled to ship in mid-November.

A dedicated cover for the 2026 Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft Signature Edition will also be released. It includes physical page-turn buttons and uses plant-based leather material, magnetic attachment and a contact terminal connection. It costs 11,980 yen. The page-turn remote and dedicated cover are both sold separately.

A key feature of the overhaul is that it did not stop at improving one specific model but revised the design and user experience across the entire Kindle lineup at once. The base model emphasizes a thinner and lighter design and faster launch speed, Paperwhite highlights water resistance and long battery life, Colorsoft focuses on color content, and the kids models emphasize a children's reading environment.

Amazon plans to sell the base model first, while higher-end models including Paperwhite and Colorsoft are set to begin shipping in November. It is seen as a move to reshape the broader Kindle ecosystem, from black-and-white e-books to color content, kids products and accessories, ahead of year-end shopping demand.