New Kindle Available for Pre-Order

screenshot_68Amazon released information about new kindle this morning (available for pre-order with delivery in early July). The new kindle replaces the Kindle Basic Touch (lowest end) Kindle. It keeps the same $80 price, but adds several good features and upgrades.

The best new feature is Bluetooth audio. Amazon removed text to speech nearly 5 years ago when it removed the speaker to make the Kindle a smaller device. With Bluetooth Audio, the kindle will connect to a Bluetooth speaker (widely available starting at about $10) and will read the book in a kindle voice. It is not clear from the description and other news reports if it will support immersive reading (audiobook narration synced to the kindle book).

Other features are more mundane. For the first time in five years, Amazon has the option of a white kindle. The new Kindle will also be 16% lighter (5.7 oz) to be the second lightest kindle after the $300 Oasis. The kindle will also be slightly smaller (9 mm shorter and 4 mm narrower). Also the storage increases from 2GB on the old Kindle basic to 4 GB on the new Kindle.

There are some new software updates as well (according to other news reports) that will also be rolled out to other kindles. One of these is making your notes and highlights easier to access through a direct email and export feature directly from the kindle.

Overall this is a solid update and a still very reasonable price for the low end Kindle.

Preorder here

Leave a Comment