Kindle Paperwhite vs Kindle Colorsoft - Compared
The Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft are nearly the same reader with one headline difference: the Colorsoft has a colour screen, and costs more for it. Everything else, the Kindle software, the store, the waterproofing, the great reading experience, is broadly shared. So this comparison really comes down to a single honest question about your own library: how much of what you read is actually in colour?
| Kindle Paperwhite | Kindle Colorsoft | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.8" | 7" |
| PPI | 300 | 300 |
| Colour | No | Yes |
| Frontlight | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
| Stylus | No | No |
| Storage | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Weight | 211 g | 219 g |
| Price | $159 | $279 |
| Check price | Check price |
Quick Verdict
Get the Paperwhite if you mostly read novels and plain text, which is most people. It is cheaper and its black-and-white screen is a touch sharper. Get the Colorsoft only if you genuinely read comics, manga, magazines or illustrated books where colour matters. Do not pay the colour premium for a feature you will rarely see.
The Screen Difference
For plain text, the Paperwhite's mono screen is actually slightly crisper, because colour e-ink is lower resolution and dimmer by nature. The Colorsoft adds colour that makes covers, highlights and comics come alive, but colour e-ink is muted rather than vivid, so temper expectations.
If you never read colour content, the colour panel is a downside, not an upside: you pay more for a slightly softer, dimmer screen.
Price and Which to Choose
The Paperwhite lists around 159 USD and the Colorsoft around 279, a real gap that buys you colour and little else. Choose the Paperwhite for the best value and sharpest text, or the Colorsoft if colour comics, manga or magazines are a real part of your reading. If colour is your main goal, also weigh a Kobo Libra Colour, which adds page-turn buttons and open formats.
Frequently asked
Is the Kindle Colorsoft worth it over the Paperwhite?
Only if you read colour content like comics, manga or magazines. For plain novels the Paperwhite is cheaper and has slightly sharper text, making it the better buy for most readers.
Is the Colorsoft's text as sharp as the Paperwhite's?
Not quite. Colour e-ink is lower resolution and dimmer than mono, so black-and-white text is a hair crisper on the Paperwhite. The Colorsoft trades a little text sharpness for colour.
Are both waterproof?
Yes, both carry an IPX8 rating, so both handle accidental immersion and are fine for the bath or poolside.
Did the Colorsoft have a screen issue?
Early units showed a faint yellow band at the bottom of the screen. Amazon addressed it, but buy from a returnable source and inspect your unit on arrival to be safe.