Amazon released its new Kindle lineup on October 1st, 2026. A few days before the official launch, some images had already leaked online, and many people were freaking out over the cute colors.
For a long time, Kindle was mostly associated with black devices. Then came colors like Raspberry pink and Matcha green. Some of these colors might have been cute for those who liked them, but they weren't necessarily everyone's cup of tea.
So when Amazon introduced a wider variety of colors this time, including some lovely pastel shades, it appealed to a broader audience, including me.
01. Why I Bought a Kindle
I had been an Android e-reader girl since 2021. My first device was the Onyx Boox Nova 2. It was still working perfectly fine when I decided to buy my second e-reader, also from Onyx Boox: the Go Color 7.
I really wanted a color e-reader at the time. But my heart sank a little when I found out that the font size was still too small, even after I had increased it. I couldn't get it as big as the font I was used to reading on my Nova 2. The screen was also not as crisp as my old device. Turned out, I didn't really like reading on a color e-reader as much as I thought I would.
As if those downsides weren't enough, I also found the device to be quite fragile. It started with a little crack on the screen that somehow grew bigger over time, eventually making the screen unresponsive. It broke just one day before I would have owned it for exactly a year.
I finally had it repaired a couple of months later, once I had the budget. The repair alone cost almost half the price of a new device. Unfortunately it only lasted a few months before I broke it again. This time, though, it was entirely my own fault. I was getting out of bed when I accidentally put my elbow on the screen and used it to support my weight.
I honestly didn't know e-reader screens could be this fragile.
My first device, the Nova 2, had a flush screen, while the Go Color 7 had a recessed one. I wanted to say that my Nova 2 was better built, but perhaps I had just been lucky with it. At this point, I think we should simply be extra careful with our e-readers. Anything could happen, and getting them repaired here could cost a fortune, especially when official repair services aren't readily available.
After breaking my second e-reader, I was a little traumatized by Android e-readers. I know it wasn't the OS or software's fault, but that was how I felt at the time. If I were ever to buy another e-reader, I thought it would have to be either a Kindle or a Kobo.
Although I was also eyeing Bigme.
So imagine how glad I was when I found out, just a few weeks later, that Amazon was going to release a new Kindle lineup, and one of the colors was Ube. I remember myself screaming, that's my color!
Kindle has been one of the most established names in the e-reader market for years, so I was hoping it would offer a more durable device and a more stable reading experience. Something that would last longer, with minimal lag or other problems.
02. Purchasing My Kindle in Japan
It was almost the end of my trip to Japan when I decided to buy the Kindle Basic 2026. I was planning to buy it through a jasa titip (personal shopping service) on social media or wait until some offline stores started selling it, but I thought I couldn't wait any longer.
At first, I was thinking about buying the device from an offline store such as Bic Camera or Yodobashi Camera, but it turned out they weren't selling it yet. When I searched on Google, I found that the device was already available on Amazon Japan. I had never really bought anything from Amazon before, except for e-books through the Kindle app on my phone.
It turned out that to buy the device, I needed to register for an Amazon Japan account. Apparently the system is different from Amazon US, where I was already registered as a user. After I registered my payment method, it wasn't automatically verified. I needed to upload my passport, and it took several minutes before my account was finally verified.
When I arrived at my third and last hotel, I asked the receptionist if it was possible to receive a package during my stay. Right after they confirmed that it was allowed, I ordered my Kindle Basic 2026 in Ube color, along with a case. I made sure to check when it would be delivered, and the system said it would arrive the next day. That was the only thing I could think about until the following day!
I also compared the prices between Amazon US and Amazon Japan, and there was a slight difference. My purchase from Amazon Japan came with free shipping, so I didn't have to pay any additional delivery fees. The table below shows the price comparison between the two stores. Since sales tax in the US varies depending on the state and local area, I used an assumed tax rate of 8% for the comparison.
| Details | Amazon Japan | Amazon US |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Price | ¥29,980 | US$169.99 |
| Sales Tax | 10% (included) | 8% (assumed) |
| Price with Tax | ¥29,980 | US$183.59 |
| Converted to IDR | Rp3,424,770 | Rp3,315,241 |
| Price Difference | — | Rp109,529 cheaper |
Exchange rates as of November 10, 2026: JPY 1 ≈ IDR 114.235 and USD 1 ≈ IDR 18,059.30. US pricing assumes an 8% sales tax. Prices exclude shipping, import duties, and currency conversion fees.
As for buying it in Indonesia through a personal shopping service (jastip), I've heard that most sellers price it at around Rp3.7 million. If you have a friend or acquaintance in Japan or the US, it might be worth asking them to get one for you. But buying through a jastip service isn't a bad option either, especially if you prefer the convenience.
03. First Impressions: Design and Build Quality
The device arrived in a cardboard shipping box. Inside was the blue and white Kindle box, just like the one you might have seen on social media or even on Amazon Kindle's official social media accounts. Inside the box were the device, a USB Type-C cable, and a warranty card.
As someone who had never owned a Kindle before, I was so wonderstruck. I kept saying oh my God as I unboxed it. When I removed the plastic wrap around the device and slid it out, oh my God—there I said it again—it was amazing.
The Ube color looked just like it did in the promotional videos, exactly as I had imagined. The color might differ depends on the lighting. It might also be a little tiny for someone with bigger hands, but for me, it fits perfectly in my palm.
The device itself is made of plastic. I truly wish the aluminum version also came in Ube so I could finally have an e-reader with an aluminum body. All my life, every e-reader I've owned has been made of plastic.
04. Setting Up and Getting Started
Setting up the device was easy. You can log in with your existing Amazon account. As for me, I logged in with my Amazon US account.
I had The Witch by Freida McFadden waiting to be read. It was perfect timing that she had just released the book, and I had just gotten my Kindle. So The Witch became my first read on this device.
I didn't need much time to get used to the interface and adjust the settings to my liking. After that, I was ready to start reading.
05. My Reading Experience After One Month
Screen and Reading Comfort
I used to love my Onyx Boox with its tons of features, but right now, I don't mind having simpler features like the ones Kindle offers. It's enough for me to read. Compared to my previous e-reader, the Onyx Boox Go Color 7, I found that adjusting the screen colors to my liking could be quite troublesome. With this Kindle, I don't need to worry about the colors, contrast, and all that.
However, the screen and e-ink display reminded me of my first e-reader, the Nova 2. The crispness it offers is so comforting to my eyes.
This is something you really need to consider when buying a color e-reader, especially if you're coming from a black-and-white e-reader. So far, color e-ink screens still don't offer quite the same crispness and contrast you might experience on black-and-white screens.
I'm not a fan of dark mode, though. I'd rather have a warm light feature that allows me to adjust the screen to a warmer tone, especially when reading at night. Unfortunately, Kindle Basic doesn't have this feature, although it's available on the Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft. It's not a dealbreaker for me, but I do wish Amazon had included it. I think it would make the reading experience even more comfortable, especially for someone like me who enjoys reading for hours and at night before bed.
Performance and Features
I didn't notice any significant difference in performance compared to my previous e-reader. The Kindle 2026 feels responsive enough for everyday reading, and I haven't found its speed to be an issue so far. Of course, we need to remember that e-ink technology works differently from the screens on our phones or tablets. The screen refreshes differently, so we shouldn't expect the same level of responsiveness.
One thing I noticed when comparing the Kindle e-reader with the Kindle app on my Onyx Boox was the highlighting feature. On the Kindle, there's no option to choose between different highlight colors, which makes sense since it has a black-and-white screen. However, on my first e-reader, the Nova 2, which also had a black-and-white screen, the Kindle app still offered four different highlight colors.
As for dictionaries, Kindle offers several built-in dictionaries in different languages, much like the Kindle app on phones or tablets. Unfortunately, there's no Indonesian dictionary among the available options. If you want to use one, you may need to find a compatible third-party dictionary and manually add it to your device. I haven't tried doing this myself, though, but I've bought Indonesian dictionary!
Navigating through the Kindle is pretty straightforward. If you're already familiar with using a smartphone or tablet, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time. The interface is simple, and there aren't too many settings to figure out. You can adjust the brightness, font size, font style, margins, and other reading preferences without much trouble.
Coming from an Android e-reader with so many customization options, I initially thought I might miss having more features. But after a month with this Kindle, I realized that I don't really need that many. As long as I can comfortably read my books without having to worry too much about the settings, I'm happy with it.
Battery Life and Portability
Amazon claims that the Kindle's battery can last up to six weeks on a single charge, but I find myself charging mine roughly every ten days. I'm not sure whether it's because of my reading habits or if the battery life simply doesn't live up to the claim.
According to Amazon, Kindle devices may consume more battery during the first few days of use as they download books, install software updates, and index newly downloaded content. However, it's been a month now, and mine still doesn't last more than two weeks.
It's not really a problem for me, though. Charging doesn't take forever, and I find it reasonably quick. It might be a little inconvenient when traveling, but when I travel, I'd rather focus on the trip itself! Perhaps it would matter more if I wanted to spend hours reading at a park or by the beach. Even then, charging is simple enough, so I don't consider it a big issue.
I've also carried my Kindle in my sling bag while going on food trips, and I sometimes read while waiting in line. It's so handy and barely takes up any space in my bag.
Reading Habits: Did Kindle Make Me Read More?
I've been a reader since I was a kid, thanks to my mother, who introduced me to the world of reading. So, does reading on Kindle make me read more? It does!
Having a Kindle makes it even easier for me to read whenever and wherever I want. One thing I particularly love is being able to adjust the font size to my liking, and I happen to love big fonts. It makes reading so much more comfortable for me. So while Kindle didn't turn me into a reader, it certainly made me read more.
In October, I managed to finish five books. I only started reading on my Kindle after returning to Indonesia on October 12th, so that's five books in just over half a month!
Now, it's November 10th, and I'm already reading my fifth and sixth books of the month. Yes, I love reading multiple books at once!
06. What I Love and What I Don't
After spending a month with my Kindle, here are a few things I love about it, along with some things I wish were better.
What I Love
The Ube color. Of course this has to come first! It's the color that convinced me to buy this Kindle in the first place, and I still love how it looks.
The crisp e-ink display. Reading on a black-and-white screen feels so comfortable to my eyes, especially after my experience with a color e-reader.
Simple and straightforward interface. I don't need tons of features anymore. Kindle offers just enough for me to enjoy reading without worrying too much about the settings.
Portability. It's compact, lightweight, and fits perfectly in my sling bag. I can bring it almost anywhere.
What I Don't Love
No warm light adjustment. I really wish Kindle Basic had this feature, especially for reading at night.
Battery life. Mine lasts roughly ten days on a single charge, which is quite far from Amazon's advertised six weeks. It's not a dealbreaker, but I expected a little more.
No readily available Indonesian dictionary. I had to look for a third-party dictionary instead of simply downloading one from the built-in options.
Tiny Bezel. The bezel is quite narrow, so I sometimes accidentally touch the screen and turn the page while holding the device.
07. Kindle vs. Physical Books
Some people still prefer physical books over e-books because of the feel and the smell of the pages. But I'm an e-reader person. When I first learned about e-readers, I instantly fell in love with the idea of having one. Of course I still dream of having my own personal library someday, with shelves full of books I've collected over the years. But I also love e-readers for their portability and flexibility. I can carry hundreds of books in one small device without worrying about how much space they take up. And oftentimes, e-books are also cheaper than physical books, especially with all the Kindle deals available.
08. Is It Worth Buying?
For me, it's a simple yes! Yes! Yes!
After a month of using my Kindle, I can say that I'm happy with my purchase. It may not have all the features I used to have on my Android e-readers, but it offers everything I need for reading. The screen is comfortable, the device is handy, and of course, the Ube color is just too pretty! I don't regret buying it at all.
However, there's one thing you might want to consider before getting into the Kindle ecosystem, and that's digital book ownership.
When you purchase a Kindle book from Amazon, you're technically buying a license to read it rather than owning the book file outright. Amazon even states in its Kindle Store Terms of Use:
Kindle Content is licensed, not sold, to you by the Content Provider.
This means your access to purchased books is subject to Amazon's terms and licensing restrictions. For books protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM), you also can't freely download them as EPUB or PDF files to keep and read on other e-readers. Amazon does allow downloads of eligible DRM-free books, but that depends on the publisher's settings.
There's also the question of what happens if Amazon or a publisher decides to remove a book from the store. It doesn't necessarily mean the book will disappear from your library, but it does make me think about how much control we actually have over the digital books we've purchased.
I think this is something worth knowing, especially if you're planning to build a large Kindle library. Personally I still love the convenience of reading on Kindle, but I also understand that digital books and physical books offer different kinds of ownership.
So would I recommend the Kindle Basic 2026? Absolutely! Especially if you're looking for a simple, portable e-reader and don't need too many additional features. Just make sure you're comfortable with the Kindle ecosystem and its limitations before making your decision.
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