Amazon has redesigned the Kindle Paperwhite, and preorders are open now. The 2026 model costs $199.99 with 16 GB of storage in Graphite, while the Signature Edition with 32 GB costs $249.99 in Graphite or Seaglass Green. NBC Select reports that shipping starts October 28.

What is new

The Paperwhite is part of a redesigned Kindle family that Amazon describes as thinner and lighter, with a new display stack. According to Amazon and Notebookcheck, the key points are:

  • A 7-inch, flush-front screen with no raised border, which Amazon calls the largest Paperwhite display with the highest contrast ratio
  • Waterproofing (IPX8, per Notebookcheck) and an adjustable warm light
  • Up to 12 weeks of battery life on a single charge
  • Colour that wraps from the back of the device to the front

The Signature Edition adds an aluminum back, an auto-adjusting front light, pogo pin dock charging and double tap to turn pages.

Why it is in demand

This is the model most Kindle buyers pick. Amazon says customers have made the Paperwhite its best-selling Kindle since the line debuted in 2012, and the company reports more than 720 billion pages read on Kindle in 2025. A full redesign of that bestseller, landing just before the holiday gift season, puts it near the top of many shopping lists. NBC Select also featured the new Kindle family in its roundup of the best new products of October 2026.

Preorders open on a rolling basis in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Australia, according to Amazon.

A new accessory is getting attention too. Kindle Click is a small Bluetooth remote for turning pages, handy in bed, on a treadmill or on a plane. Amazon says it works with all the new Kindles and any Kindle from 2024 or later.

Paperwhite or the basic Kindle?

The obvious alternative is the new 6-inch Kindle at $149.99. It is smaller and lighter, but Notebookcheck notes it has no warm light and no water protection, and its battery is rated for up to 6 weeks. If you read in the bath, by the pool or late at night, the Paperwhite is worth the extra money. If you want colour for comics and book covers, the Kindle Colorsoft starts at $289.99.

Who should buy it

It suits first-time e-reader buyers, people replacing an old Kindle with a raised bezel, and anyone shopping for a gift that works for almost every reader. The standard model covers most needs; the Signature Edition makes sense if you want the auto light, more storage and the dock.

Skip it if you bought a recent Paperwhite: the 2026 changes are mostly design, screen contrast and size, not a new way of reading. Prices above are Amazon’s official list prices in U.S. dollars, and stock can change as launch day approaches.