Leak reveals that a new entry-level Kindle could arrive as soon as this week
The base model of the Amazon Kindle (2022) has been out of stock on the online retail giant’s retail sites in several areas for a while now, and there’s probably a good explanation why. It looks like Amazon is ready to release a new Kindle e-reader soon.
A Spanish retailer accidentally posted a new 2024 edition of the entry-level Kindle on its site (as noted by Good e-reader), with a release date of September 30. Although the listing has since been removed, it lasted long enough for some upgrades to be announced.
If this claim is true, the upcoming 2024 Kindle – the twelfth generation – will have a more environmentally friendly design than any previous Kindle. Rumor has it that the ereader is made from 75% recycled plastic and 90% recycled magnesium. Amazon is also apparently changing the packaging of the new eReader, making it 98% wood fiber sourced from recycled materials or responsibly managed forests.
And going by the leaked image, it also comes in a nice match green color scheme.
The listing also revealed quite a bit about the device’s specs, starting with a 300ppi display – which is standard for grayscale ereaders these days – with 25% more brightness than the current 11th-gen model.
Like the 2022 Kindle, the 12th generation eReader will support dark mode and, according to the leak, will also have faster page turns, but it’s unclear whether the latter is down to a better processor or whether Amazon has adopted the latest E Ink. Carta 1300 screen technology. This new display debuted in the 2024 Kobo Clara BW, making it one of the best ereaders in terms of readability and performance.
It will also come with 16GB of onboard storage and up to 8 weeks of battery life, which is better than the estimated 4 weeks per charge we got in our Amazon Kindle (2022) review. According to the leaked dimensions, it will have exactly the same size and thickness as the current model, namely 157.8 x 108.6 x 8 mm.
Amazon Kindle 2024: What I’d really like to see
The one major upgrade I would like to see on the new 2024 Kindle is the use of the E Ink Carta 1300 display. This screen technology increases the responsiveness of the page by 25% and adds more contrast. I was so impressed with it on the Kobo Clara BW that I didn’t care that the Kindle competitor didn’t get better battery life than its Clara 2E predecessor.
Better yet, I’d like to see Amazon bring the competition to Kobo and release a color ereader that could rival the Kobo Clara Color. Kobo now has two color ereaders, compared to none from Amazon.
Adjustable warm light will also be a fantastic addition to the latest edition of the Kindle. Kobo’s basic Clara BW already offers it, but it also costs more than the entry-level Kindle.
I’d also like to see the base of the Kindle made waterproof – the current model lacks the IPX8 rating that the Kindle Paperwhite (2021) has, leaving it behind all current Kobo honorary readers.
And finally, I would really like to sideload ebooks in EPUB format without having to use the Send To Kindle app.