Review: Kindle Basic 2024 Edition Fails to Deliver Expected Upgrades

What You Need to Know About Kindle 2024

• Leaks suggest that Amazon’s 12th-generation entry-level Kindle is a minor update that does not impress.
• The Kindle (2024) closely resembles the Kindle (2022), featuring only a new color option.
• Notable improvements include enhanced page-turning speed and a new inverted monochromatic dark mode.

Just when we thought we might not see a new Kindle this year, recent Kindle 2024 leaks proved us wrong. The new 12th-generation Kindle represents the continued evolution of the basic Kindle, last updated in 2022. However, upon examining the upcoming Kindle (2024), it quickly becomes clear that our hopes for exciting new features may be dashed.

TL;DR: NO!

Introducing Kindle 2024: Not What We Hoped For

The new 2024 version of the entry-level Kindle first appeared on the Amazon Spain website and was later discussed on Reddit, where users expressed their opinions (read: dissatisfaction).

The so-called ‘upgrades’ hardly align with what current Kindle users and potential buyers are eager to see in the basic Kindle lineup.

For instance, many users have long been requesting the addition of physical buttons, yet they remain absent. One Reddit user captured this sentiment well:

Comment by u/reuben97_ from discussion in kindle

Other anticipated features included improved color options, warm lighting on the basic Kindle, better power button placement, and waterproofing capabilities. However, none of these requests have been met. Here’s what we receive instead.

New Features and Specifications of Kindle 2024

Some of the so-called ‘new’ features of the entry-level Kindle (2024) are:

• A fresh ‘Matcha Green’ color option.
• A 25% brighter backlight.
• Faster page turns.
• A slightly lighter device weighing in at 154 grams.
• A new dark mode that inverts the monochromatic E-ink screen.

And that’s essentially it! Everything else remains unchanged. Kindle 2024 is scheduled for release on October 1st, though no official announcement has yet been made (as of writing).

Comparing Kindle 2024 to Kindle 2022

Apart from the ‘Matcha Green’ color, the Kindle 2024 will also be available in traditional Black, and potentially Blue Denim, both of which were offered with the Kindle 2022.

Most specifications remain consistent between the two models, including the six-inch display with 300ppi, 16GB of storage, a negligible weight difference (just 4 grams), USB-C charging, an eight-week battery life, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and no warm light feature. While screen details are yet to be disclosed, it’s likely to feature the same E ink Carta 1200 screen found in the Kindle 2022.

As we await an official release, there is little reason to believe that Kindle 2024 will be anything beyond a simple refresh. Kindles, in general, have excellent longevity (I used my father’s 7th-gen Kindle Basic until 2023, and it still works wonderfully!). Thus, a basic refresh without new features seems unnecessary.

Comment by u/reuben97_ from discussion in kindle

Should You Purchase Kindle 2024?

While the upgrade appears minimal, the new green model is visually appealing. If you’re excited about the new color and are searching for an entry-level Kindle, it may be worth considering. The new inverted monochromatic dark mode might also attract some users. However, if you’ve recently purchased the Kindle (2022), you don’t need to worry—you aren’t missing out on much.

There’s a possibility that a new Kindle, perhaps a new Paperwhite, may be introduced soon. Only time will reveal what it will entail. The underwhelming new Basic Kindle (2024) will definitely be released, even though Amazon has yet to make an official announcement. We hope that any future Kindle models will feature more substantial upgrades. Or, ideally, just give us a mini Scribe with buttons!

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