Head-to-head · spec by spec, a verdict per need

Kindle Paperwhite vs Kindle Colorsoft 2026

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is the pick for novels and long battery, because one USB-C charge lasts up to 12 weeks.

See which one is for you Compare side by sideAffiliate

For comics and colour covers, pick the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft, which has a paper-like colour display and highlights in five shades: yellow, orange, blue, pink and green.

By Bez, Editor✓ Updated 28 October 2026

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads)See it on Amazon

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2024, 16GB)See it on Amazon

Which one is for you?

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Which pick suits which need
Ifyou mostly read novels	Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou read comics, graphic novels or cookbooks	Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2024, 16GB)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want the longest time between charges	Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou highlight and colour-code notes	Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2024, 16GB)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou read in the bath	Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads)	See it on Amazon

At a glance

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1★ Top pick
Amazon
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads)Best for novels and long battery
Read for up to 12 weeks on a single charge
See it on Amazon
2
Amazon
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2024, 16GB)Best for comics, colour covers and highlights
Bring comics and covers to life in full colour
See it on Amazon

Side by side

From the makers' and retailers' published factsAffiliate

The picks side by side
Pick	Best for	The fact that sets it apart	Where to buy
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads)	novels and long battery	A 7-inch Paperwhite display with a high contrast ratio and fast page turns.	See it on Amazon
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2024, 16GB)	comics, colour covers and highlights	A 7-inch Colorsoft display with paper-like colour that brings covers and content to life.	See it on Amazon

Get the Kindle that suits how you read, with no guesswork. If you're choosing between the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Colorsoft, the display, battery and highlights decide it. The Paperwhite has a high-contrast black-and-white screen, and one USB-C charge lasts up to 12 weeks. The Colorsoft has a paper-like colour display for covers and comics, with highlights in five shades.

Both in detail

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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads)

1★ Top pickBest for novels and long battery

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads)

Read for up to 12 weeks on a single charge.

What it is: The Kindle Paperwhite is a 7-inch e-reader, a screen made just for books. Its high contrast, the gap between dark text and light background, makes words crisp, and fast page turns keep you reading.
Perfect for: It suits you best if you love novels and want a battery that can run for weeks.
Why we picked it: Pick it over the other picks when you want to read more and charge less. It lets you read in the bath or by the pool, so your book goes wherever you do.

A 7-inch Paperwhite display with a high contrast ratio and fast page turns.
A single USB-C charge lasts up to 12 weeks.
Waterproof, so it goes by the pool or in the bath, with a display you can adjust from white to amber.

The catch: This is the 2024 model; Amazon's thinner, lighter 2026 Paperwhite is a pre-order due on 11 November 2026.

Check today's price on Amazon

2Best for comics, colour covers and highlights

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2024, 16GB)

Bring comics and covers to life in full colour.

What it is: The Kindle Colorsoft has a 7-inch display with paper-like colour that brings covers and content to life. The paper-like colour display brings covers and content to life, not just the cover.
Perfect for: This is the pick if you read comics, love colour covers or like to highlight as you go.
Why we picked it: Highlighting is the real treat: mark favourite passages in yellow, orange, blue, pink or green and pick the shade that suits each line. If colour is what you want, the Kindle Colorsoft is the one to choose over the Paperwhite.

A 7-inch Colorsoft display with paper-like colour that brings covers and content to life.
Highlight your favourite passages in yellow, orange, blue, pink and green.
Waterproof, with a light that adjusts from white to amber.

The catch: Battery is up to 8 weeks, shorter than the 12 weeks on the Paperwhite.

Check today's price on Amazon

How we chose

Our buying criteria

To make this list, a Kindle had to be a 7-inch model that is waterproof, so it goes by the pool or in the bath. The screen decides the rest. Paperwhite has a high-contrast black-and-white display, so dark text stands out sharply on the page. Colorsoft has a paper-like colour display, so covers and pictures come to life. Battery life counts too, and Paperwhite lasts up to 12 weeks from one charge. Every e-reader below was checked against its maker's specs and live UK listings, and each catch is shown.

Screen: black-and-white for novels, colour for comics, cookbooks and colour covers.
Battery: Paperwhite lasts up to 12 weeks on one charge, Colorsoft up to 8 weeks.
Water: both are waterproof, so check you want a reader for the pool or bath.
Highlights: Colorsoft lets you highlight passages in yellow, orange, blue, pink and green.

How we choose every pick

Your questions, answered

Is the Kindle Colorsoft worth it over the Paperwhite?

Go for the Kindle Colorsoft if you want colour. Its 7-inch paper-like colour screen brings covers and comics to life, and you can highlight passages in yellow, orange, blue, pink or green. For novels and long battery life, the Kindle Paperwhite is the one to pick.

Are both Kindles waterproof?

Yes, both are waterproof: the Kindle Paperwhite goes by the pool or in the bath, and the Kindle Colorsoft is waterproof too. Want novels and long battery? Pick the Paperwhite. Want comics and colour covers? Get the Colorsoft.

How long does the Kindle Paperwhite battery last?

The Kindle Paperwhite lasts up to 12 weeks on a single USB-C charge. That means you can read for weeks before you need to plug it in. It is the pick for novels and long battery life.

Can you highlight in colour on a Kindle?

Yes, on the Kindle Colorsoft. Highlight your favourite passages in yellow, orange, blue, pink or green. It is also the pick for comics and colour covers.

Is a new Kindle Paperwhite coming?

Amazon's thinner, lighter 2026 Paperwhite is a pre-order due on 11 November 2026. Want a Kindle now? Get the Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads), the pick for novels and long battery life.

Which one is for you?

At a glance

Side by side

Both in detail

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 16GB, without ads)

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (2024, 16GB)

Our buying criteria

Your questions, answered

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