After a fairly quiet year in 2023 for Amazon and its Kindle e-readers, we can expect some upheavals in the coming months, including the hypothetical arrival of a (long-awaited) color Kindle e-reader. We take stock of the situation in the rest of this article.
Writing a news story about a rumor is always difficult, but writing a news story about a rumor concerning both the Kindle e-reader range and color e-ink screens is virtually impossible.
And yet, that's what I'm trying to do here.
The facts
So, it all starts with a piece of information given by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who's pretty much a trusted reference for all things consumer electronics.
So, Ming-Chi Kuo has published that one or more color Kindle e-readers are expected from Amazon.
Manufacturing of these e-readers will start in 2024, for commercial release either in 2024 (Christmas) or early 2025.
He also indicated that these readers will probably not use Kaleido technology, but rather E Ink ACeP technology (i.e. Gallery 3), which provides colors that are better suited to Amazon's intended use.
All this, then, is just a statement from a source described as "reliable", but which may be wrong.
What we really know (the safe and the very safe)
Picture: this is a photomontage of a Kindle color e-reader
Now I'll try to explain what we really know.
First of all, we know that Amazon doesn't know what to do with its most expensive e-reader, the Kindle Oasis, which has more or less been cancelled (at least in the USA, but I've probably jumped the gun a bit).
Next, we know that color screens are much more expensive than black and white ones. We're talking 50% more expensive.
So a Kindle Paperwhite e-reader with a color screen would cost over $200.
But a simple 6-inch color Kindle would be sold for around $150 - which still makes it an affordable e-reader, given the technology involved.
What we also know is that Amazon has been investing heavily in color screens for years, and rumors of a color e-reader crop up regularly.
Amazon even bought a color screen technology called Liquavista, without success.
It's clear, then, that they're interested in this subject and are actively working to bring out a Kindle e-reader with a color screen, especially as some of the software has been ready for years, such as the Kindle in Motion animated books.
Finally, we know that Amazon has made no announcement about the release of a color Kindle (at the time of writing).
Will Amazon release a color Kindle e-reader?
Here are my predictions on the subject.
First of all, I think we'll obviously see a color Kindle e-reader in the years to come.
I also think it won't arrive in 2024. Indeed, I have a hunch that e-ink screens are hard to come by at the moment, which would explain why the new Kobo e-readers are taking so long to come out.
I also think that Amazon is only going to release one Kindle color e-reader, probably at a fairly high price to test the market.
We can therefore expect a Kindle with a 7-inch diagonal screen to cost in the region of $300.
