Kindle Paperwhite vs Kindle Colorsoft
Quick verdict
For novels the Paperwhite is the better buy: sharper black-and-white text and longer battery. The Colorsoft is worth it for comics, magazines, cookbooks and colour highlights.
| Criterion | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Text sharpness | Kindle Paperwhite | 300 ppi black and white |
| Colour | Kindle Colorsoft | Colour E Ink display |
| Battery | Kindle Paperwhite | Up to 12 weeks vs up to 8 |
| Comics and magazines | Kindle Colorsoft | Colour pages |
| Water resistance | Tie | Both IPX8 |
| Price | Kindle Paperwhite | Clearly cheaper |
At a glance
| Feature | Kindle Paperwhite | Kindle Colorsoft |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 7-inch E Ink, black and white, 300 ppi | 7-inch colour E Ink, 300 ppi black and white, 150 ppi colour |
| Battery | Up to 12 weeks | Up to 8 weeks |
| Front light | Adjustable warmth | Adjustable warmth |
| Water resistance | IPX8 | IPX8 |
| Wireless charging | Signature Edition only | Signature Edition only |
| Storage | 16 GB or more | 16 GB or more |
Swipe sideways to see both columns.
Which one should you buy?
If you mainly read novels and non-fiction, the Paperwhite is the better e-reader: crisper text, longer battery and a lower price. If you read comics, manga in colour, magazines or cookbooks, or like colour highlights, the Colorsoft is the first Kindle that really does colour well.
Independent recommendation · Retailers can’t pay for rankingChoose Kindle Paperwhite if…
- you mainly read books with text
- you want the longest battery life
- you want the cheaper e-reader
Choose Kindle Colorsoft if…
- you read comics, magazines or cookbooks
- you like colour highlights and book covers
- you do not mind charging more often
Questions and answers
Is colour text on the Colorsoft as sharp as on the Paperwhite?
Black-and-white text is equally sharp at 300 ppi. Colour content is shown at a lower resolution of about 150 ppi and looks softer, like printed newspaper colour.
Can I read library books on a Kindle in Europe?
Mostly not directly: Kindles do not support the library apps common in Germany and the Benelux. Kobo e-readers do.