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The price of Amazon’s Kindle Colorsoft was one of the biggest barriers to recommending when I reviewed the device earlier this year and compared it to cheaper options like the Kobo Libra Colour , but thanks to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, it’s now a significantly more attractive option. Normally selling for $280, it’s now down to $225, actually making it cheaper than the Kobo and similar color e-readers from Boox or Bigme.
That’s a pretty significant savings, especially because the Kindle Colorsoft has some key improvements over other color e-readers when it comes to the screen. It uses the same E Ink Kaleido 3 display as most other color e-readers, sure, but it also boasts some technical additions that give it higher contrast and better lighting. It’s not going to be as vivid as a more traditional tablet, sure, but it’s the best I’ve ever seen with color e-ink.
There’s also no denying the convenience of Amazon’s Kindle store. If you have a pre-existing library of content, getting a new Kindle device is the easiest way to upgrade without losing access to it.
That said, you’ll still be making some sacrifices here. Comics are easily the best use case for color e-readers I’ve found yet, and without access to apps from the likes of Marvel or DC, actually finding content to read on your new Colorsoft can be a bit harder than elsewhere. Amazon also recently made it much harder to read Kindle content on non-Kindle devices , so you should know that you’re potentially locking yourself into a future of Amazon e-readers if you start buying books using its store.
Still, if you’re willing to deal with all that, the Kindle Colorsoft is one of the more technically proficient color e-readers available right now, and at this price, doesn’t cost you any extra to buy over many competitors. Plus, it also supports wireless charging using a special dock , which is also now on sale.
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