Reviewed by Marcus Knapman, BSc (Hons) Computing ·
Researched from 100+ Amazon customer reviews
· How we review
Amazon's latest Kindle feels like the company finally remembering what made e-readers popular in the first place: simplicity. After years of adding features that most readers didn't want, this newest generation strips things back to what matters most – readable text, long battery life, and a device light enough that you'll forget you're holding it.
I've spent considerable time researching this latest model, and the improvements are modest but meaningful. The screen is 25% brighter, pages turn faster, and at just over 150 grams, it's the lightest Kindle Amazon has ever made. At £94.99, it sits right where a basic e-reader should – affordable enough for most readers, but capable enough to handle everything from novels to comics.
The standout improvement in this generation is the front light, now 25% brighter at maximum setting. After reading through countless Amazon reviews of previous Kindle models, poor lighting was consistently mentioned as the main complaint. Amazon has clearly listened – the new display tackles those dimly-lit reading sessions that used to strain your eyes.
The 6-inch glare-free screen remains the same size as before, which is sensible. It's large enough for comfortable reading without making the device unwieldy. The higher contrast ratio makes text appear sharper, particularly noticeable when reading in bright sunlight or under harsh indoor lighting.
Page turns are genuinely faster on this model, though don't expect tablet-like responsiveness. The improvement is most obvious when flipping through books quickly or navigating menus. It's one of those upgrades that seems minor until you use an older Kindle – then you realise how much those extra milliseconds matter during long reading sessions.
The 16GB storage is more than adequate for most readers. Amazon claims it holds thousands of books, and unless you're downloading massive comic collections or technical manuals with lots of images, you'll likely never fill it. The storage capacity represents good future-proofing without adding unnecessary cost.
The battery life claim of six weeks is realistic if you read for about 30 minutes daily with the wireless off and front light at mid-brightness. Heavy readers or those who keep WiFi enabled constantly will see less, but even cutting that estimate in half still beats most tablets by miles.
Charging happens via USB-C, which is convenient if you've got other modern devices. The transition away from micro-USB finally brings the Kindle in line with current standards, though it might mean digging out a different cable if you're upgrading from an older model.
The Matcha green option is subtle – more of a muted sage than the bright green you might expect. It's pleasant enough, though the colour choice feels like Amazon trying to add personality to what is essentially a utilitarian device. The build quality feels solid despite the lighter weight, using recycled plastics that don't feel cheap or flimsy.
At 158 grams, this really is noticeably lighter than previous generations. The difference becomes apparent during longer reading sessions where hand fatigue was previously an issue. The compact dimensions make one-handed reading more comfortable, particularly useful for commuters or bedtime readers.
The "With Ads" pricing structure remains irritating. You're essentially paying Amazon to advertise to you on your own device, though the ads only appear on the lock screen and don't interrupt reading. The ad-free version costs an extra £10, which feels like a reasonable upgrade for most users.
The device still can't handle complex PDFs particularly well, and the web browser remains largely useless for anything beyond emergency Wikipedia searches. These limitations won't bother novel readers but might frustrate academic users or those hoping for a multi-purpose device.
This is the best basic Kindle Amazon has made – lighter, brighter, and faster where it counts. At £95, it offers excellent value for dedicated readers who want a distraction-free device that does one job brilliantly. Skip it if you need tablet-like functionality or frequently read PDFs.
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